myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

We thought that because for the past eight months we have had nothing but dark, snowy, frigid weather, we would condition our skin for the near equatorial sunbeams of Tobago.

Starting yesterday we are visiting the tanning salon twice a week to condition our skin and should be ready to handle the hot sunny beaches and boat rides by the time we get there in early June.

Just wanted to pass this tip along before some of you fair skinned folks get burnt!

True is that you can get some tan there, but it is NOT the same protection compared with real sun tan. But you can "wake up" the body so it is prepared to produce tan.

An other important thing is sunprotection. I stay in the Crown Point area and for some reason the shops no longer has sunprotection for sale as before, mostly you only find sunblocking +30 and higher.

Tobago is to compare with Central Africa, 11th degree north. The sun is hard, strong and much stronger compared with Spain or Greece.

If you use a specific sunprotection at home, take some with you, as it is very hard to find something here. Not even a Pharmacy did have something arount 10-16. Be sunburnt here isn´t so nice!

I know what you mean. Last time I was in Tobago I was 11 years old in March 1973. I was left to play on the beach swimming in the waves for a few hours and got the worst sunburn of my life. Huge blisters on my shoulderblades the size of baseballs. I still have a picture of that. Today we are all a little wiser in regards to sun protection.

Thanks for the tip that it may be difficult to buy sunscreen down there, we will bring some travel sized bottles, I believe the airlines allow up to 100ml bottles, maybe larger in the cargo bags but Im not sure and dont want to cause a delay in boarding.

I've stopped the salon tanning now, I just wanted to get a bit of color so I didnt blind everyone when I take my shirt off at the beach. I'm not actively seeking a tan, so I dont mind wearing higher levels of protection like 45 or so. Even 60!

Hi Richardus
The week before I went back home, I saw sun protecion again into some shops, like the pharmacy in Low Lands Mall, but they are not common everywhere. Sunprotection with a high level seems to be more common, 30 and more.

I´d take some 12 bottles of sun protection, from 6 to 20, with me when I went down last year in November for a six months stay. I had them in my suitecase, and I didn´t have any problems by airport screening in Sweden, England or Tobago. So I believe you can do the same, it is MUCh worst to get sunburn, and as you had that problem before, you know that you have to take care.
Now a days I always use PizBuin, they aren´t the cheapest one, but they protect me very well. But whats best can be different from person to person, all depending on the persons skin and how custom the person is with the sun.

Some peoples who are in Tobago for the first time, does not always understand that the sun there is much stronger compared with US, CA, UK and even the south of Europe. It´s 11degree north, so even if it´s a little bit cloudy, the sun can still be stronger compared with these areas. And also, the UV-index are mostly around 8-10, sometimes even over 11!

My mother was with me when it happened and says it was quite cloudy that day and this is why they didnt pull me in sooner. Everyone thought the sun wasn't that strong with all those clouds! Guess we know better now!

The amount of melo in your skin affects your resistance to burning as far as I know. Because most of the population is dark skinned, not as much need for sunscreen. I don't think I've ever seen people with darker skin get sunburn? Is it possible for a black man to get sunburn? I've often wondered.

You would think the shops would stock it for tourists. Ah well, I'll make sure to bring an ample supply!

Rich,

black people can certainly get sunburnt. Not as fast as a white persons though.
And bikini strap marks are not uncommon with black ladies. They don't like it just as
much as white ladies

The 100ml limit only applies to liquids & creams etc that you have in carry on bags. There are no limits on bottle sizes for "liquids" that are packed in hold luggage. You may find it cheaper to buy your sun protection where you live rather than when you arrive - and you will also be sure of getting exactly what you want in terms of brand and protection factor. (Certainly in the UK at present there are a lot of BOGOF deals in the chemists and supermarkets which are worth buying.....)

AS pale skinned people, for 2 weeks we usually take 4-6 bottles in a mix of Factors from 30 to 15. if we need any more at the end of the holiday we get the odd bottle locally - but usually we end up donating to other visitors that have run out! We find that Nivea or Ambre Solaire work for us - they really do seem to be waterproof (and smell nice!) - but it's all down to personal choice!

Hope this helps!

Made it back from Tobago one full week of sunshine and we didn't get burned. I think the pre-tanning did help some as well as taking great care with our time in the sun, wearing hat and shades, light shirts and lots of sunscreen. Got a great tan now!