Tobago accommodation guide for 2017

In the thick of things: accommodation in Tobago’s southwest

There’s a lot to be said for basing yourself near Crown Point. The airport is right there. Two of the island’s most popular (and often crowded) beaches, Store Bay and Pigeon Point, are within walking distance. And most everything else is close by: restaurants, bars, shopping, nightlife, snorkelling, tour operators …

You’ll find almost every kind of accommodation here — award-winning, all-inclusive beach resorts, decadent villas, low-key B&Bs, eco havens, and self-catering apartments. Here are some popular ones in the southwest, by region and style.

Around Crown Point

Among the most popular are Tropikist Beach Hotel & Resort (all-inclusive); the Crown Point Beach Hotel; Belleviste Apartments (self-catering); the Coco Reef Resort & Spa (all-inclusive); Summerland Suites (self-catering); and the Kariwak Holistic Haven — an oasis of rejuvenation and some of the island’s best dining, right in the heart of Crown Point.

Caribbean coast

Nesting leatherbacks frequent these shores between March and September. Several developments (hotels, villas, and all-inclusives) line Stonehaven and Great Courland bays in Black Rock, including the elegant Villas at Stonehaven (perched on the hillside, with the on-site Pavilion Restaurant); the Plantation Beach Villas; the Seahorse Inn (with its internationally acclaimed restaurant); and three all-inclusives — Le Grand Courland Resort & Spa (adults only), Grafton Beach Resort, and Turtle Beach by Rex Resorts.

Atlantic coast

There are two popular all-inclusives in the area. Off the Milford Road in Lowlands, find the stunning grounds that host the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort and the Tobago Plantations development. The Magdalena’s restaurants are among the best on the island. Turtles also nest here. Further east is the acclaimed Blue Haven Hotel (Scarborough).

For nature lovers … and divers!

Speyside, in the northeast, is ideal for divers as well as for birders, who’ll have easy access to Little Tobago Island. Popular spots include Blue Waters Inn and Top Rankin Guesthouse.
Nature lovers also escape to properties tucked away in the rainforest, like the Cuffie River Nature Retreat (between Runnemede and the Main Ridge Forest Reserve), Footprints Eco Resort (Culloden, on the west coast), Top o’ Tobago Villa and Adventure Eco Villas (both in the hills above Arnos Vale), and the opulent seclusion offered by Villa Being (near Arnos Vale).

Price & availability

For much of the year, there is decent availability in Tobago. Like the rest of the Caribbean, peak season is November–April, including Carnival, Easter, and the Tobago Jazz Experience. Most long weekends and the school holiday period in July/August — inclusive of the Great Race and Great Fete weekends — are other times of high demand (particularly among locals taking a “staycation”). The average rate for guesthouses is US$60–70, and US$175–255 for hotels and resorts.

Real estate: buying your place in the sun

There are several options for investing in property here: buying a timeshare or into a development (usually between US$500,000 and US$1 million); buying land and building yourself (land averages between US$60,000 and US$200,000); or purchasing traditional single-family homes (typically valued between US$160,000 to upward of US$4 million, depending on size and location). The market in recent years has seen falling prices, so there are deals to be had, especially if a seller is eager to close quickly. Foreign buyers are required to obtain a licence, which allows for purchasing up to an acre in certain locations. Property taxes were reintroduced in 2016, and there is a 5–10% stamp duty on most real estate transactions, plus applicable legal fees. Agencies like the well-established Abraham Tobago Realty and Caribbean Estates, Lands & Villas can help you buy your piece of paradise.

Getting married

With a variety of stunning backdrops to choose from, Tobago has become a popular wedding destination. Several resorts (some with breath-taking grounds and views or access to beautiful beaches) and wedding service providers will guide you through the process, and offer custom packages to make your special day (and honeymoon!) absolutely perfect. For more: visittobago.gov.tt

Happy newlyweds. Photo Yaisa Tangwell via the Villas at Stonehaven Tobago

Advertorial: brand voices

Abraham Tobago Realty

Bacolet Street, Scarborough
T: 639-3325, F: 639-1904, E: abrahamrealty@gmail.com
W: www.abrahamrealty.com

You won’t find greater experience in the marketplace than with Brian Abraham, broker/owner of Abraham Tobago Realty, with over 35 years of real estate experience in North America and in Tobago. Abraham Tobago Realty offers a large selection of properties for sale and for rent as well as a comprehensive property management service.

The often-photographed jetty at Pigeon Point. Photographer: Bertrand de Peaza

Caribbean Estates, Lands & Villas

For beautiful properties in Tobago

Whether you are looking for a luxury villa or a simple holiday apartment, a home to buy or land to build your dream house on, we have a wide selection of properties for sale and rent to meet all budgets. Come see us for your own piece of paradise.

Cor. Milford & Golden Grove Roads, Canaan, Tobago
Tel: (868) 639-5263 / 639-LAND • Fax: (868) 639-2258
Website: www.realestatetobago.com
Email: info@realestatetobago.com

Crown Point Beach Hotel

With views overlooking the warm, aqua blue waters of Store Bay, and set in seven acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, Crown Point Beach Hotel is the perfect place to escape to. Air conditioned rooms equipped with kitchenettes, a pool-side restaurant and bar, steps from our grounds to Store Bay Beach, complimentary Wi-Fi for our guests… Come and escape to the warmth of paradise.

Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort

Escape everyday at Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort
www.MagdalenaGrand.com

Tobago is a naturally beautiful island with a spectacular rain forest, all types of watersports, beautiful beaches and friendly people. Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort is Tobago’s premier oceanfront resort with 178 deluxe oceanfront rooms and 22 suites, all featuring breathtaking ocean views from large private balconies and terraces. There are 3 oceanfront swimming pools, one just for adults, a PGA designed 18-hole golf course, tennis, spa services, a PADI 5-star dive center with its own training pool, nature trails, guest activities, a kids club, and a variety of dining options, including Pembois Restaurant & Terrace, Kali’na, Salaka Grill, Robinson Crusoe Pub, Tavaco Lounge, Bene Café, and Fairways Bar. Guests will discover nature at its best when they explore the Argyle Waterfalls and the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, on record as the oldest legally protected forest reserve in the hemisphere. It is a fascinating place to visit, full of color, beautiful birds and magnificent trees. The island is also home to the magical waters of the Nylon Pool, as well as a cocoa plantation, a bird sanctuary and much more. For more information and reservations call 1-866-353-6222 or email Reservations@MagdalenaGrand.com.

A room at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort

Plantation Beach Villas

A cluster of detached three bedroom villas sitting on a beautiful hillside by Stonehaven Bay, with a shared pool leading directly to Grafton Beach. Perfect for families and friends, with full reception and housekeeping services provided, plus meals cooked and other amenities on request. plantationbeachvillas.com

Poinciana and Petrea looking from Alamanda. Courtesy Plantation Beach Villas

The Villas at Stonehaven

In the pristine natural beauty of Tobago’s west coast, on a hillside overlooking the Caribbean Sea, are the Villas at Stonehaven — a benchmark villa resort, a tropical hideaway bordering a protected bird sanctuary. Unwind in one of the 14 spacious villas, carefully set out in lush tropical gardens designed to ensure privacy. From your balcony or private infinity pool, immerse yourself in the sounds of the distant ocean, birdsong, and the whispering palms… Or savour the views, scents and sounds of the tropics from the vantage point of the on-site Pavilion Restaurant. stonehavenvillas.com