myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hello all,

Firstly, what a great forum this is, congrats to the admin of this site for keeping it 'real'. I have been an avid reader since i found out i was planning on a trip to this beautiful island & as i try to get as much research done before i travel to any foriegn soil.

Myself & a friend, both in our mid-twenties, we are well travelled, pretty streetwise & aware when it comes to avoiding dangerous situations. We are starting our holiday in Port of Spain, Trinidid, where we plan to watch the cricket test match Vs England. Then are planning fly to Tobago to spend 4/5 nights in & around the Crown Point area in the middle of March.

We plan to base ourselves in the Crown point hotel that we have heard mixed reviews about. I just need some advice really as to the night life & places to go & avoid. Sounds like the island is getting a bit of bad press in recent times (http://www.thetobagonews.com) but i realise its like any country having its dodgy areas & dos & donts.

We plan to;-
Get a glass bottom boat tour, (which company would you reccommend??)
Visit the Nylon Pool, (everyone says this has to be done but be causious of live coral)
Hire a driver for the day for a tour of the island, (is this worth it? how much would this cost??)
Visit Robinson Crusoe's cave, (i heard this aint worth the walk??)
Turtle watching, (is mid march good season for this??)
Enjoy the local Rum, late night bars & clubs (any reccommendations??)
Visit the waterfalls (with reputable guides etc)
Repect & make friends with the locals, (are locals generally friendly towards tourists in the clubs??)
Admire surrounding wildlife, (any suggestions on hiking or bird watching tours??)

Now we are good time blokes & arent trouble makers is any way, shape, or form! I just wanted to directly ask about the drugs scene! Although hard drugs i wouldnt ever touch, ive have been told that the odd puff of smoke is widely available & is pretty safe to score? wondering how true this is?

ps. Anyone else plan on watch the Cricket test match in Port of Spain??

Many thanks in advance everyone

Hi Guy

Welcome aboard and thanks for kind words!

I'm up to my eyes in things at the moment and need to leave the office within the next few minutes, so this will have to be quick.

As regards security, believe you me you time in Port Of Spain watching the cricket will be by far the most dangerous part of your trip. Tobago is a playground in comparison to Trinidad.

Glass bottom boat - I cannot recommend anyone. I personally wouldn't go near any of the operators around Store Bay/Pigeon Point/Buccoo because I believe they are all a bunch of rogues who couldn't care a damn about the fact they are ruining the reef. Nylon pool is an integral part of all trips to Buccoo Reef - but there's no coral in Nylon Pool - its just a shallow sandbar in the middle of the bay.

Hire a driver. Couldn't tell you the current rates, but could be well worth it - as long as you get a decent driver.

Robinson Crusoe's Cave. Don't waste your time. It's not a cave and you probably won't even find it if you take the trouble to go down there.

Turtle watching. Brilliant - your hotel will hopefully be able to put you in touch with the local turtle group (SOS) who sometimes run a turtle watch program. The turtles start coming ashore to lay their eggs from around this time of year. March is a little early for hatchlings, but you should see the turtles.

I would avoid the Argyle Waterfall, but if you can find a guide to take you to Highlands, its really great. Why not contact Fab Ceppi at www.TobagoNow.com and take an off-road tour with him?

Drugs. Avoid like the plague. Don't be fooled by the easy availability. The local police have a zero-tolerance policy and believe you me, you will NOT want to spend your holiday (and much longer) in a Trinidadian jail. It is said that the local dealers make more money from reporting visitors who buy drugs than they make from selling the drugs themselves. Be warned. A substantial percentage of crimes against visitors have started with a drugs deal. If you're in a hotel, it doesn't apply - but you would be surprised how many people in apartments/rental property are burgled a few days after arranging for someone to drop by with some 'puff'.

Hi

I just add some comments to Steves´s post.

Trinidad; as Steve say, that will be the most dangerous stay compared with Tobago. Even if 99% of all murders, robbery are gang- and drugrelated, visiting wrong areas at wrong time might give you serious troubles. And as Steve say, Trinidadian prison isn´t an "all-inclusive" place.

I don´t know if you already have room there, but I can say that Alicias House in St Ann is a nice and safe place. Just outside Savannah Park, a 30 minutes walk to the centre of town, normally a safe walk but as it will be a lot of peoples watching Crickets, don´t trust peoples you meet, ask for info at Alicias if you stay there. One must been in PoS several times to know what to do and where not ot go. And, NEVER EVER go down-town after sunset, you might not come home alive!

For Tobago, Steve gave you great advice, the reef tour from Store Bay/Pidgeon Pont aren´t worth the money any more.

A trip with a tourguide around the Island, a rain forrest tour or a specific personal tour, that will give you much, much more than a tourist reef tour. In the Crown Point area, Harris McDouglas is such a person, a well known life guard, he also have a guesthouse in Canaan. He has specific tours but he can also give you a tour depending of what you want to see. I believ Harris contact info is on teh Accomondation page. He also use to do turtle wathcing tours.

"Late night bars!, Tobago doesn´t have a fancy nig´ht life, in the Crown Point you have only one local disco, the olden Star, in Bucco the Sunday School and tehre´s a local bar/dancing place inCanaan to. The Shade is popular by many english young visitors, but they don´t play W.I.-music, more an European disco with some W.I. touch, That place hasn´t a good recommendation.

Good luck and have a ice vacation
Ronald

Hi Guy

For a guided tour of the island, taking in a few of the things you mention, try Yes Tourism -
http://www.yes-tourism.com/

They are based in the shopping / commerce mall at Crown Point and offer a comprehensive range of tours. Patrick and his team will ensure that a tour will be packed with information and interest.

Robinson Crusoe's cave is within walking distance, along the NP road which skirts the runway, but not really worth the effort unless you are desperate for something to do - highly unlikely.

The glass-bottomed boat trips out to nylon pool run from Store bay and Pigeon Point pier.
Some offer a detour to no-man's land for rum, soca and lunch.
Pretty standard tourist fare, with the resultant rubbish and noise, so ruining a 'protected' marine park.
Please do the Buccoo reef park a favour and don't go

Tobago isn't known for it's late night clubbing scene - late is after 10pm for most people.
A more probable past-time is sitting around on a bench under a tree and liming with friends and family.
It's a great opportunity to get to know the local folk, who are mostly genuinely friendly and great fun.
A rum or two, a Carib or Stag and a bit of banter are what makes the evenings in Tobago so special.

For more ideas on guides, sightseeing, tours and what to do, check out the 'Out & About' tab at the top of the page. There is a huge amount of info there for you to get a flavour of what's on offer.

Cheers
Steve

Hi Guy,

I visit Tobago about over 15 years and I can 100 % confirm what Steve W. & Steve P. wrote.
For informations and bookings ( rental car, tours ) I can also recommend Yes Tourism, there are the first adress in Tobago for tourism service (european standard).
They move their office end of 2008, they are now locatet:

Yes Tourism Ltd
c/o Bamboo Walk Hotel
LP 171 Old Milford Road
Hampden / Lowlands
Tel: (868) 631-0286
Fax: (868) 631-0287
Email: [email protected]
Office Opening hours:
Monday – Friday: 8.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m.
Coded on Weekends & Public Holidays

Regards

Peter
......22 days to go

Hi Guy,
I have to agree with Steve about the drugs. It's not worth taking the chance. I know alot of people do take a little smoke and never get caught or bothered. But 2 years ago a girl from England was in the wrong place at the wrong time, a raid was conducted and as I hear no drugs were found only a pipe. They took her passport and she was here a year before they even had a hearing. Needless to say she lost her job in England. After about a year and a half she got her passport back and I think she has been banned from coming back even though I think no charges were ever brought against her. Do you want to be the 1 in a thousand.

Hi all,

Many thanks for all your prompt replies. I much appreciate you taking the time to give me your advice & info about my planned trip, I have taken on board all you messages re; buccoo reef & the drugs- so im gonna avoid them to stay safe, & respect the island, & for your share knowledge regarding the rest of my planned activities in T&T. Especially the reccommended tour guides.

Regarding to P.O.S. Trinidad when im watching the Test match; my travel buddy's Sister lives 20 mins from Queens Park Cricket ground, we are staying with her, so she will be able to advise us where to avoid after dark & stay safe!!

Upon my return i will give you a small blog of how i got on,

Take care & keep Liming!