Tobago report
Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2005 3:27 pm
Just got back from a lovely two weeks stay in Castara and although the place is just as beautiful and the people just as friendly as I remembered there are a few points that I would like to mention. (I have already sent this report to Steve to check if ok to post).
1) We had one night without booked accommodation and Ancle George (Naturalist) very kindly took the time to book us in at Sundeck apartments. I had read the negative comments about the place, but as Tina had been very helpful on e-mail and phone before leaving and had offered lots of help and advice on accommodation, as well as thinking it might all have been a misunderstanding, we decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. However when we arrived on the day we were due to stay no-one was there and when Ancle called her she was away in Trinidad and had forgotten all about the booking and given our room to someone else. Very frustrating and although Ancle found us somewhere else in the end, it does not look good for Sundeck.
2) Naturalist restaurant / cafe - reasonable food but we had to wait an 1 hour or more each morning for breakfast even though only a few guests were eating + sometimes the younger member of staff would seem a bit rude and unhelpful (even though we were always very polite) and often forget part of our order. The barbecues on Fridays and Sundays were very good though.
3) Quite a bad feeling between some guesthouse managers / different businesses in Castara. I.e. upset if you booked a barbecue with another guesthouse even though different night from when they were arranging one and badmouthing of each other quite openly. I know conflicts happen and maybe they have reason to be annoyed with each other, but unnecessary to involve the tourists and creates a bad feeling.
4) Much more touristy than last year and worried what it will be like when new Angels apartment opens. It will surely change the tranquility of Heavenly Bay. Already the beach is much more busy than last year and it is such a small beach already.
But we had a fantastic stay - met up with friends, bush-meat cook-out in Parlatuvier, harvest in Mason Hall and Moriah, swimming with turtles in Charlotteville + dolphins surrounding us on boat trip to reef, taking part in pool competition, fishing and swimming + almost being completely knocked out by monster waves - quite scary, but exciting!
Weather much more humid and warmer than February last year and several days without any rain at all which made it very dry. Unfortunately snorkeling not very good because of all the sand in the water (and waves) and since the landslides there are a lot of road works going on everywhere.
Also very impressed with Virgin Atlantic. Flight back only 7 hours 20 min, makes such a difference to not change in Antigua as last year.
One more thing; if you want a very nice meal outside the tourist areas and have a car; please head for Sunshine Restaurant & Bar on Bloody Bay Main Road (868) 639-1979. The food is really good and they offer a lot of variety, but as hardly any tourists ever stop it is best to phone Vaness or Simon before going and they will keep the place open for you.
We still love Castara, the surrounding area and the people living there, but hope it still has all its charm when we visit next…
1) We had one night without booked accommodation and Ancle George (Naturalist) very kindly took the time to book us in at Sundeck apartments. I had read the negative comments about the place, but as Tina had been very helpful on e-mail and phone before leaving and had offered lots of help and advice on accommodation, as well as thinking it might all have been a misunderstanding, we decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. However when we arrived on the day we were due to stay no-one was there and when Ancle called her she was away in Trinidad and had forgotten all about the booking and given our room to someone else. Very frustrating and although Ancle found us somewhere else in the end, it does not look good for Sundeck.
2) Naturalist restaurant / cafe - reasonable food but we had to wait an 1 hour or more each morning for breakfast even though only a few guests were eating + sometimes the younger member of staff would seem a bit rude and unhelpful (even though we were always very polite) and often forget part of our order. The barbecues on Fridays and Sundays were very good though.
3) Quite a bad feeling between some guesthouse managers / different businesses in Castara. I.e. upset if you booked a barbecue with another guesthouse even though different night from when they were arranging one and badmouthing of each other quite openly. I know conflicts happen and maybe they have reason to be annoyed with each other, but unnecessary to involve the tourists and creates a bad feeling.
4) Much more touristy than last year and worried what it will be like when new Angels apartment opens. It will surely change the tranquility of Heavenly Bay. Already the beach is much more busy than last year and it is such a small beach already.
But we had a fantastic stay - met up with friends, bush-meat cook-out in Parlatuvier, harvest in Mason Hall and Moriah, swimming with turtles in Charlotteville + dolphins surrounding us on boat trip to reef, taking part in pool competition, fishing and swimming + almost being completely knocked out by monster waves - quite scary, but exciting!
Weather much more humid and warmer than February last year and several days without any rain at all which made it very dry. Unfortunately snorkeling not very good because of all the sand in the water (and waves) and since the landslides there are a lot of road works going on everywhere.
Also very impressed with Virgin Atlantic. Flight back only 7 hours 20 min, makes such a difference to not change in Antigua as last year.
One more thing; if you want a very nice meal outside the tourist areas and have a car; please head for Sunshine Restaurant & Bar on Bloody Bay Main Road (868) 639-1979. The food is really good and they offer a lot of variety, but as hardly any tourists ever stop it is best to phone Vaness or Simon before going and they will keep the place open for you.
We still love Castara, the surrounding area and the people living there, but hope it still has all its charm when we visit next…