Thoughts on Tobago
Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 6:37 pm
Just returned from Tobago after two weeks spent in Parlatuvier and Castara. I found this board immensely useful when planning our trip so thought I'd share a few thoughts of a first timer.
We stayed at Gloucester place (In the cottage) which I cannot recommend too highly. Lovely views, fantastic pool, great hosts. Only issue is occasional noise from the nearby Late Night Parlour - it was only a problem on one night of our stay (until 2.30am) and we were assured it's not normally that late. There was music until about 10pm on other nights - it was such a lovely spot we would have preferred silence, but as we discovered...loud music (either blaring from cars or from rum shops) is part of the culture and pretty much impossible to avoid. We had the same at Castara (where we stayed at Castara Cottage) - where music started up the road at about 8am or earlier and went on until 10pm or so. It does get a bit annoying if you're seeking peace and quiet.
We loved: Clay Pot restaurant in Castara, Riverside restaurant in Parlatuvier, Englishman's Bay (including Eula's), Pirates Bay, the amazing bird life, driving in the north of the island, buying fish off the beach at Parlatuvier, hearing the kids practice their steel pans at the school in Parlatuvier, Porridge, Pigeon Point (touristy but lovely beach), Ringo (a real star at Pigeon Point who on our snorkelling trip dragged both of us through the water when the current was too strong for us to swim), the rehearsal for carnival at Bloody Bay, friendly locals, feeling safe when walking around at all times
We didn't love: The all day music, the ATM in Charlotteville that won't take foreign debit cards
We used Porridge for care hire - he's great. Bear in mind, though, that there is an excess of 10,000 TT dollars. A broken aeriel cost us £75 - no problem. It was swings and roundabouts - he gave us a good rate for a Suzuki hard top jeep and a free day, but I was a little nervous leaving it parked at night!
We stayed at Gloucester place (In the cottage) which I cannot recommend too highly. Lovely views, fantastic pool, great hosts. Only issue is occasional noise from the nearby Late Night Parlour - it was only a problem on one night of our stay (until 2.30am) and we were assured it's not normally that late. There was music until about 10pm on other nights - it was such a lovely spot we would have preferred silence, but as we discovered...loud music (either blaring from cars or from rum shops) is part of the culture and pretty much impossible to avoid. We had the same at Castara (where we stayed at Castara Cottage) - where music started up the road at about 8am or earlier and went on until 10pm or so. It does get a bit annoying if you're seeking peace and quiet.
We loved: Clay Pot restaurant in Castara, Riverside restaurant in Parlatuvier, Englishman's Bay (including Eula's), Pirates Bay, the amazing bird life, driving in the north of the island, buying fish off the beach at Parlatuvier, hearing the kids practice their steel pans at the school in Parlatuvier, Porridge, Pigeon Point (touristy but lovely beach), Ringo (a real star at Pigeon Point who on our snorkelling trip dragged both of us through the water when the current was too strong for us to swim), the rehearsal for carnival at Bloody Bay, friendly locals, feeling safe when walking around at all times
We didn't love: The all day music, the ATM in Charlotteville that won't take foreign debit cards
We used Porridge for care hire - he's great. Bear in mind, though, that there is an excess of 10,000 TT dollars. A broken aeriel cost us £75 - no problem. It was swings and roundabouts - he gave us a good rate for a Suzuki hard top jeep and a free day, but I was a little nervous leaving it parked at night!
