myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hello,

I already been in Tobago for the Tobago CYcling classic. I would like to came back in february for a cycling trainning camp with some other cyclists and I would like to know what would be the best option.

We are from Québec.

I have been in Johnson Apparts and like them but they are fully booked. They had a big room at good price which would have been the perfect solution.

Do you know where I can find an hotel or house for 1-2 weeks locations for 4-10 persons, preferably near the airport.

Also, what is an estimation of location of a car for 1-2 week?

Thanks a lot!

Jean-Michel

Jean-Michel, there are lots of choices of 3-bedroom houses or villas that can accommodate 4-8 people, in the Bon Accord area which is near to the airport (5 minutes by car or bike, 20 minutes walking). For 10 people you will have to look for a 4 bedroom villa. If you want to rent in February please bear in mind that Carnival is February 19 & 20, and this is a very popular time for rentals so it is very important that you book as early as possible. Many locals go to Tobago at that time and villas in the Bon Accord area will get booked up very quickly.

Jean-michel wrote:Hello,
Also, what is an estimation of location of a car for 1-2 week?

Jean-Michel

Hi Jean-michel

If you need to hire a car for your stay, then look in the car hire section of the forum, here -
http://www.mytobago.info/reviews-miscel ... %20Reviews

If you click on the Yes Tourism car brokerage link this will take you to the excellent service offered by Yes Tourism.

They only use the most reputable car hire companies, offering a wide range of well-maintained vehicles and charge no more for this service.

Hope that this helps

Steve

Hello,

thanks for your answer.

I notice their is always high and low season.

When begin and anr ending these season?

Their is a huge difference in pricing.

Thanks

Jean-Michel Lachance

Hi Jean-Michel

High and low season rates very much depend on the establishment, so best to check out each one individually.

Some have the same rates all year round, whilst others have a high season during the dry season (December to May and a low season during the rainy time of year (June through to November).

Jean-Michel, there are two main target markets for Tobago rentals - Trinidadians ("Trinis") and overseas visitors. Places that target Trinis tend to define their High Season around our public holidays/long weekends and especially when schools are on vacation - this is mainly the Christmas & New Years holidays, the week before/after Carnival (this year Feb 19/20), the Easter vacation period (this year first half of April), and the July/August school vacation time. For places that target overseas visitors, the High Season is the typical "winter" period, which is typically mid-December to April. Note also that this year, the Tobago Jazz Festival will be April 27-29, and this will be a very busy time in Tobago, with lots of Trinis coming over from Trinidad. You can start your research by checking the accommodation section of myTobago http://mytobago.info/accommodation.php. Also, the Tobago-based real estate agents all manage rental apartments and villas, so you can contact them with your request. Check my post http://mytobago.info/forum/viewtopic.ph ... ght=#20857 for some real estate agents' email addresses.

Clyde

Hi again,

Do you think it is possible to find a small vila house or anything else than can accomodate a group of 3 or 4 or 5 or 7 cyclist for very cheap price / persons

I find Federals appart at 12 $ /day / person but is it safe.

I prefer a cheap location in the middle of the island and renting a car than a more expensive one near the beach.

We would be there mostly for cycling so the beach is not much important. But a car would be great for visiting the island.

Well,

after searching a lot, I think that despite some negative feed back Rex Turtle Beach will be the best solution for us.

At 47$US for 3 persons all inclusive it is very cheap and leave us some budget to rent a car for the hole period and go to the restaurant some times.

Anyway, we are not goint to stay at the hotel much time. I think the real thing in Tobago is to discover the forest, snorkeling, activities, etc.

I still have some questions:
about the RTB:
- are we going to receive big enough portion of food? (we are going to ride 100km average per day, so we need to eat more)

about car rentals:
- can the car be delivered to the airport?
- is 30$ / day enough for safe car with insurance?
- any trailer available to carry the bike boxes?

about the island:
- Is it safe and or possible to go explore the island (forest) ourself (I got a GPS)
- where are the best snorkeling spot, and those we can go without a boat (we'll bring our mask and tubas)
- is fishing possible everywhere?
- is it safe to ride when big rain?
- any other must we should do?



Thanks for anyone answering one of my question.

JM

Hi Jean-Michel

The meals at the Turtle Beach are buffet style - so you can help yourself to as much as you like.

Yes, most firms deliver rentals to the airport or to your accommodation. US$30 will not get you anything decent I'm afraid - you will have to use one of the very small operators and possibly get a car older than yourself with a dubious service record. I joke not when I say that most people will tell you that having to have your car changed at least twice in a week is far from uncommon with many of the rental firms.

If you want to use one of the more reputable/reliable agencies, scout the Yes Tourism car rental pages (http://www.Yes-Tourism.com) where you will see the sort of prices you must expect to pay (with or without full CDW insurance).

NO, you would be exceedingly foolhardy to attempt to enter rainforest on your own. The honest truth is that you can't really - primary bush (and even secondard) is normally so dense that you simply can't wander through it like a "wood" - the sort of cover you would expect in Canada.

See the menu: Out & About/Activities/Snorkelling for full details of the best spots.

There's lots of fishing possibilities. See the Sport & Activities forum and the Fishing articles in Out & About/Activities

You will find cycling exceedingly difficult/impossible during a real downpour. Believe you me, when it rains, it RAINS. This is the genuine tropical rainfall - but at least it's warm.

Jean-Michel, you should revalidate that $47 rate that you quoted. The mytobago listing for RTB says "Rates (Low/High Season) Seafacing Room $350-$470 Rates shown are per room (double occupancy), per night, shown in US Dollars and inclusive of all taxes." That translates into $235 per person per night if two to a room, and that is a BIG difference compared to the $47 you mentioned. Especially since RTB's rates are all-inclusive which includes the room plus buffet breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus afternoon tea, and unlimited non-alcoholic and some alcoholic drinks. Frankly, I think the $47 is too good to be true.

oh la la,

true, I heard bad on the phone. But 235$ sound very expensive then, even if all inclusive. I will call back, but I don't remind she says hundred after 47. Also, the reviews say this resort is searched for his low price so...

Does accomodation like Federal Villa Guesthouse
http://mytobago.info/accommodation2a.php/36

could be good?

If not, I'll call back someone who offer me a gym to share. But I don't know if I could sleep without AC.

Thanks for noticing.

JM

JM, I am certain that you heard the RTB information wrong. I stayed at RTB 2 weeks ago, and the charge for me was $238 US all-inclusive with meals and drinks for 2 people and those were the rates for locals. Foreigners pay a higher rate.

As you are on a very tight budget, I recommend that you contact Candles in the Wind, or Jimmy's Holiday Resort. They are both in Crown Point/Bon Accord, both offer fairly basic accommodations, but the bedrooms are airconditioned, and you have access to cooking facilities. They both have quoted rates is $55US per day for a room with double occupancy. I remember seeing very good reports posted in the forums on Andrew Lee Kit, the owner of Candles, as he takes a personal interest in his guests. He can be reached at 868-631-5335. Jimmy's Holiday Resort's number is 868-639-8292. Another good option is H Ceas Villa, which is a house in Bon Accord where the owners live upstairs. Their rates are very reasonable (I believe it might be $80 US for up to 4 people). Contact the owners, the Assams at 868-631-5127.

Thanks for the links.

I really thought such rates were possible since their is often all inclusive trips from montréal Canada to Dominicain republic for 600$CAD tx included, airfaires includes from Transat Vacances.

I know, airfare is more for Tobago, but may be accomodation can be cheap and as I have been twice, I know the food is very inexpensive.

JM