myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

this is my first post on this site...my husband and i are off to Le Grand Courlan Spa on the 24th January for 2 weeks and after reading all these really poor reports about it i'm now very apprehensive!

this will be a 'special hols for us to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary last september, when we couldn't get away for 2 weeks, so we've been really looking forward to it and dreaming about it!

We love the Caribbean, we've always been to Antigua, and Jamaica, and so this is our first trip to Tobago, and we thought we'd picked an 'upmarket' 4 star hotel?

Hasn't anyone had a positive experience at this Hotel??

Susy

Hi Susy

Welcome aboard!

Forgive me, but you seem to be focussing on the negative reports and ignoring the good reports, surely? There's at least as many, if not more, good reports than there are bad.

As you know, the hurricane wiped out Grenada last summer. Most resorts/hotels were closed. The tour operators had to switch their guests to other destinations. Tobago was the obvious choice, not just because it is very similar to Grenada in many ways, but because most of the flights that go to Grenada also call at Tobago - so shifting guests was easy.

Now, this meant that most hotels on Tobago have been full right through the latter part of the summer last year - at a time when they are normally VERY quiet. Many of the hotels would have laid off staff for the low season (summer) and simply weren't geared up for it when they suddenly got this influx of unexpected custom. Some resorts managed to cope with the situation better than others, I guess.

The bottom line is that a lot of Tobago hotels were caught on the hop late last summer. Le Grand Courlan appears to have been one of these. I know it did suffer from over-bookings during that period and suspect that their occupancy was probably double what they would normally expect during the summer. They simply didn't gear up quick enough and service suffered as a result.

From everything I hear, I think I am safe in saying that all the hotels have got their houses back in order and normal service has resumed.

Don't worry, you'll have a wonderful time.

Susy

My now wife and I had our first trip to Tobago last January and stayed at the LGC with friends who were there for the second time. We had a wonderful time, the hotel is quiet and unassuming, the staff were friendly and helpful, the food was excellent. Last year the hotel was only half full and all the guests we spoke to were having a wonderful and relaxing time. (Many of them were repeaters) We are returning on the 20th for 2 weeks to celebrate our 1st wedding anniversary having got married on the beach there last year. I'm sure you will be more than satisfied with the standard and warm welcome you will receive when you arrive.

Hopefully we can join you and your husband for a drink at the bar!!!

Thanks for that both of you, it's put my mind at rest! I hadn't thought of the knock on effect of the hurricane.

I'm looking forward to trying out the spa treatments there as i'm a bit of a spa addict!

one other thing though, i've read on another site that the beach 'isn't up to the usual Caribbean standard' and 'the sand isn't very nice' is this the case?...i must admit we tend to go to the beach as i love the sea, and like to sit and look at the sea all day!...and is there a sewage outflow pipe draining onto the beach?

Sorry for all the questions!!

susy

Susy

I'm signing off now because I've got a hotel to catch before our morning flight to Tobago.

Please read our review of Le Grand Courlan. It would also be worth reading the review of the Grafton Beach. They will tell you about the beach. Yes, if you want fine golden sands and a constant headache from the glare, go to Anguilla or one of the other coral islands. The beaches on Tobago vary from black to white through with every shade of gold in between. They are great.

Hi Susy,

My wife and I were in the LGC 10 days after Hurricane Ivan in Sept/Oct. We really enjoyed our stay, even when as Steve says the LGC was full of guests and coping with the aftermath of the Hurricane.

The Spa was fine and my wife took 11 out of her 12 treatments which she really enjoyed. They may not all be up to your western hotel £50 for 30 minutes standard but for something that is included in your package and 80% of the guests (all the non scuba divers) in the hotel are taking what do you expect.
Relax and take time to get to know the staff and it makes all the difference. Tobago is a laid back friendly place where people take their time. Once you get used to the idea, you quickly learn to adjust to the Islands pace.
This is one of the things that most people find so attractive about Tobago. It is not the end of the world if folk have to slow down for 2 weeks. Everything you require still manages to get done in the end.

The beach is fine and quite except there was no cooling breeze while we were there. The open sewer does not exist, what is actually there is a tiny river fed by freshwater runoff. It is harmless and does not smell.
What is missing from the beach though is sun loungers. There are about 20 and most are a bit tatty. This results in most people using the loungers by the pool. This has the advantage of helping you get to know your fellow guests by the pool and means the beach only has a few people on it if you require peace.
The LGC has the overall atmosphere of a upmarket social club where the members exchange holiday stories in a non stuffy easygoing way.
Hope this goes towards answering some of your questions.
Read my post "LGC experience" for more info if you have not done so already.
Regards
Richard

hi
we too were somewhat concerned by the negative points raised on this site about the hotel, however, we have just returned from LGC and would like to say that we found the hotel's report by steve wooler to be accurate. the hotel is a 4* hotel not a luxury 5* and l would suggest to people who want luxury on the cheap to go elsewhere!

The staff are excellent and well trained, do make an effort to chat to them as they have a great sense of humour and errupt in fits of giggles!

Restaurants: There are 2, the bistro [buffet] has a relaxed attitude to dress whilst the Pinnacle does enforce a dress code
Tennis Courts: no holes that l could see and 2 new nets
Internet access: free use in customer relations room
Spa: no problem staff a laugh a minute!
Bedrooms: we had opted for the ocean view, fab views, only fault l could see was that the bathrooms[very clean etc] are ready for a revamp.
We spent time on the beach so didn't use swimming pool but the poolside area was fine
Beach: the beach is lovely, unspoilt, but the sand is very fine and dark. the beach in front of the hotel is cleaned by 2 ladies daily. there is, depending on the tide, quite a bit of surf, take your body board! loads of pelicans and go and watch the fishing nets being pulled in! hardly any hassle from beach vendors

We have really enjoyed both the hotel and the island on this our first visit, take time out, relax, hire a car and armed with the Rough Guide go and explore the island is an unspoilt joy!!