myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

My husband and I will be in Tobago for a day stop on a Celebrity cruise. I have read Patricia B's post re spending a day at Arnos Vale and Castarra. may replies recommended hiring a taxi for the day (or half day) to go to both. We are thinking of snorkeling and time on beach At Arnos Vale, then scenic drive to Casterra and lunch, then return to ship. Can anyone give me an idea of what I should expect to pay to hire the taxi for 4 hours or so. I understand that we should preagree upon a price, but I wanted to get a ballpark idea of cost to see if this is in our budget or not. Also saw info on Marguarite's Local Cuisine in Casterra. Is this still a good recommendation for some local food?

Finally, if we do this any suggestions of scenic route or recommended stops on return to Scarborough & cruise ship?

Kathy,get in touch with yes tourism and/orAli-babas tours
David
ps your time will be very short so I would suggest straight to Castara snorkel lunch then the coast road back to the port.
pps bring small US$ bills..TT$6=1US$ so a Carib will be US$2 a small coke US$1,so just10's 5's and 1's..pass the word
Have a good visit,next time come and stay

I agree with David.
Go up to Castara first. Snorkle off the north end of the beach. Easy swim and usually plenty to see.
Have lunch, Check to see if Sharon at the Boathouse is doing a lunch as it is closest to the beach. Beer$10TT. The rest of the bars in the village $8TT
Relax over the beer or a shandy, watch the pelicans diving then have someone drive you back south.
If you have the time and the money(!) have 'afternoon tea & cakes' at Arnos Vale on the way back.
In September 2008 we went back to Arnos Vale. $14TT for a Carib/Stag!
The parrots had flown off but the humming birds were still there in abundance. Sad to see it was not as good as when we first went there 6 years ago, very sad.$14 for a beer!!! For heavens sake.
The young lady who served us at the beach bar was embarrassed when I challenged the price.
"Well just the one then" said I

It depends on what you want from your day out. If you want to go snorkelling, I don't think Arnos Vale can be beaten, to be honest! I wouldn't want to spend a day at the hotel there, for sure, but at the same point, it's a beautiful beach in it's own right, and the snorkelling is exceptional! If I had one day on Tobago, I would definitely make A/V one of my ports of call!

Thank you all for the feedback. I will be sure to bring small bills. Now I understand why I have heard Arnos Vale is expensive. I will look for the boathouse. I do have a question re access to the beach and snorkeling in Castara. My husband has had knee replacement surgery so steep or rocky climbs are difficult for him. We need a beach with easy access. Will we have difficulty in Castara with beach access?

Finally, if I go to Casterra first, do I need to hire a taxi or will it be easy enough to find one for the return. If time allows, I think I would like to try to find a little time for snorkeling or tea at Arnos Vale. It looks like it would be on the way of the return? Is that correct?

Hi Kathy

I´ve been reading the messages and for taxi I would rent a car and driver for the whole day via Yes Tourism or Ali-Baba Tours as David say, at same time, you would also have a local guide, the driver.
I wouldn´t go to Castara by chance, most likely, you would have problem to find a car there when it´s time to go back.

Ronald

nower days taxi should be no problem in castara, but I agree that if you have a driver for a day you have a local "spring of information" with you.
in little bay your husband would only have to conquer about 6 steps (with a hand rail) from the boathouse down to the beach... I would call that easy access. the beach always have an end where you can walk into the water very smoothly, so no worries there...
as for money you can get cash from a machine in the port area with credit card and PIN as well... don't expect a too good exchange rate for your USD in the country side. taxis have their rates in USD most of the time anyways, so no trouble there.
hope that helps
stephanie