Arnos Vale snorkelling - recent visit

[Joanne Green]

We decided to get onto the Arnos Vale beach via the "front door", i.e., booking a table for lunch. The guard had our name & waved us right through. The lunch was nothing great, except for my husband's hamburger, which he raved about. But the price was reasonable. The best thing about being a recognized guest is that we got free sun loungers, free used of the pool (which after being in Castara for a week with none was a delight) and the changing facilities (restroom with shower). We spent the wholde day there & had a great time. The surf was high, which made getting into the water to snorkle a real challange, but was worth the effort. Great reef!!

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Folks

Just to put the record straight - the Arnos Vale Hotel appear to have lifted their 'closed gates' policy during the past two weeks. I have visited the premises twice and each time the gates have been open and no guard on duty. I have now tried to ring the manager three times, but he has never been available. The last time I left my name and number and asked him to contact me - to no avail. I get the feeling that I'm being given the brush off, so suspect that they did not take kindly to comments on the forum. Either way, I'm glad that they have seen sense.

[Joanne Green]

Dear Steve--
The guard was certainly on duty when we arrived about 11AM on Feb. 23! The food was good enough so that we didn't feel like we got taken.

[Paul Tallet]

Positives and negatives here ... plus I am a bit confused.

I am worried that there are no sunbeds anymore in Castara ... there used to be quite a few and they came in quite handy for keeping my pretty flesh at least 9 inches above the sand from where little voracious sandflies would leap up and get a mouthful of my beachtowel.

But I am pleased to see that, as a guest, the sunbeds were free at Arnos Vale ... that is significant because they used to charge very high prices ... plus the other services ... are you sure you did not pay an entrance fee Joanne??

Now I am confused because Steve has been there twice with no guard at the entrance.

It would be nice if the Arnos Vale would publicly state the position ... then I would follow their protocol for access to the premises ... it is a lovely resort for which every visitor to Tobago should spare a few hours at least.

Regards

[Joanne Green]

Dear Paul--
We saw a sign that stated a charge for the sunbeds for non-residents, but no one tried to make us pay. I think perhaps that there are new guests arriving daily, esp in the high season, so the employees don't know who's a resident and who isn't. We just acted as if we belonged there!

[Alan Davies]

We visited Arnos Vale 3 times Easter 2005.

There was a guard on the gate each time, but we said we were using the restaurant and he waved us through and no entrance fee. We did eat at the beach restaurant and the food was ok.

[Stephen Bellamy]

In April, we visited Arnos Vale several times for the snorkelling. On the first occasion, we got in having booked afternoon tea (unimpressive tea, wonderful birds). Second time, there was no guard and we took a chance. After that, we left our car on the road outside the hotel and took the path that goes to the beach from the main road by the hotel fence. I am told that the beach is public, a fact that the hotel are reluctant to publicise. You have to pay for loungers - but we were too busy snorkelling to spend time lying on the beach!