myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hello everyone,

I know I shouldn't be asking this question at the forum of the definitive visitor guide to Tobago , but can you please recommend any further reading on Tobago like a Lonely Planet guide, a road map etc etc?
(Do I need anything else? )
Thanks!

On our first trip to Tobago (3 years ago - pre myTobago as far as we were concerned!) we took the Rough Guide to Trindad & Tobago and found it was really useful and reasonably accurate. I think it has probably been updated since then - and the other plus is that it is also a convenient size for travelling ie not too big or heavy.

Mind you - myTobago really is THE definitive place for information, reference etc - but not everyone wants to take a laptop on holiday with them! (Do they???)

Jane

Although we have yet to put it to the test (the days to our departure are slipping past rapidly), we have been digesting the "Rough Guide to...." and comparing the information with "MyTobago.info" gems. This is the second edition, last updated in Nov 2001 with a Tobago section appearing to be the largest we could find from any of the usual guides.

Can I expand this topic slightly and ask if there are any good novels or travelogues that might make interesting reading and put the island in context. Historical, social, food etc etc.

Ta

Phil

The best map is the Insight May for Trinidad & Tobago. It's laminated and yet folds easily. Look in My Tobago's map section. It's the map that Steve Wooler uses. It costs $7.95US. I'm sure it's available on Amizon UK. Another useful book is the Adventure guide to Trinidad and Tobago. It costs $16.95US. I'm sure it's also available on Amizon UK. I agree however that the Rough Guide is the best.

Has anybody seen the "The Rough Guide" and the "Trinidad and Tobago Insight Guide" and the "Adventure Guide" and which would you recommend. I notice that the "Adventure Guide" was published in Oct 1996, the "Rough Guide" in Jan 2002 and the "Insight Guide" in Oct 2004, which may indicate that the "Insight Guide" is more up to date?

Also is the "Rough Guide" map the same, better or worse than the "Insight Flexi" map?

I wish I hadn't read this thread - I wasn't even considering buying a book or a map! [/b]

Sorry, can't claim to have seen the Adventure Guide but comparing the other two, in my humble opinon the Insight Guide had too many glossy photos and not enough information. Although mainly printed in black and white, the Rough Guide by comparision gave more detail if you are looking to explore the island. It's also cheaper (£9.99 Vs £14.99) and lighter to carry.

Personally, I would pay a reasonable price (£10-£15) for a printed and bound pocket edition of the myTobago site that I could carry with me, and I wouldn't mind updating it on each visit. I don't know if anyone else feels the same, but the website is becoming more structured like a book now, with excellent photographs, and this might be another way to assist funding of the site?

Steve, have you ever considered this?

Steve F.

Hi Steve,
I fully agree with your opinion that this 'paper-version' of the website would cover the needs and wishes of many visitors and definitely not only the first-time visitors. I also estimate that people will be prepared to pay for it. Although everyone will find parts he is not especially interested in I guess for everyone the interesting parts and practical value is caused and presented by far more than 50% of the content.
So Steve W will indeed have a method of contribution and a well deserved coverage of at least part of the costs.
Your suggestion of pricelevel seems quite acceptable to me.

Kind regards, Roel

The Insight Map (not to be confused with the Insight Guide) is an 18"x26" laminated fold-out map that is very detailed. Sections are shown on My Tobago. It's definitely worth the expense!

Hi everyone, this is Steve from Tobago, Roel is replying on behalf of me.
Whilst I am getting email copies of forum posts, I am unable to reply at the moment. With regard to the book, that is most certainly one of the things I wish to explore so if anyone knows a publisher who might be interested, please let me know. I’ve even considered trying to find a printer/publishing house that will do it for me and market it simply through the site. I will be making printable copies of all major articles available online, at a small charge.

Tobago: An Introduction and Guide -- by Eaulin Blondel is also useful, well-written and more "colourful" than usual guidebooks, especially for first-time visitors.

Hi Erik,

We are off to Tobago in March for the third time in 1,5 years. The first time we went, we bought everything we could find on the Internet, the Rough Guide, the Lonely Planet on diving T & T, Insight, etcetera. You name it , we bought it.
When we came up to mytobago.info our printer was working overtime. What we used the first time?? The prints of Steve’s website.
Don’t look any further, buy the books for the nice pics and to put them on your book shell to show off, but use the info from this website because it accurate, up to date and good.

Have fun in Tobago
Cheers,
Toine & Lia and little Sam

Thank you all for the recommendations!
I ordered the following books at amazon.com:
- the Rough Guide to Trindad & Tobago
- Insight Map for Trinidad & Tobago
- the Lonely Planet on diving T & T
- Birds of Trinidad and Tobago
- last but not least: paper copies of mytobago.info!

Hi Eric,

Enjoy your reading!!

Seriously - you aren't going to take ALL that lot with you, are you? You won't have any room for anything else in your luggage! (Or maybe you just don't take as much stuff with you as Hugo and me!!)

Jane

Hi Jane,

I will do most of the reading at home... ..and to be honest, the more I read, the more I am looking forward to the real holiday!