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Tobago map
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Car Hire
Hiring a car is highly recommended for Tobago, for a couple of days at least if you are in a hotel and definitely if you are staying in a villa. There is so much to explore, from the classic Caribbean villages, Speyside and Charlotteville in the east and the former plantations and rainforest in the centre of the island. And then, down the western end of the island there are the beaches and of course the restaurants. Consider hiring a jeep, especially if you are slightly off the beaten track. Tobago has wonderful countryside and some of the best is to be found down rickety old tracks.
We have found that consistently the best car hire company on the island is Thrifty Car Rentals. You must have held a licence for a minimum of two years to hire a car in Tobago and be at least 25 years of age. You will not need to purchase a local drivers licence whilst in Tobago, unless you stay for more than 90 days. All that you require is your full and valid national licence (no photocopies).
All rates shown below are quoted in US$ per day/week and include local taxes and third party coverage:
Mazda 323, Nissan Almera, Mitsubishi Lancer - Auto, A/C 4drs, 5 pass - $60/360
Toyota Liteace - Auto, A/C 4drs, 8 pass - $135/810
Mitsubishi Space Wagon - Auto, A/C 5drs, 7 pass - $125/750
Suzuki Carry - Manual, A/C 5drs, 7 pass - $70/420
Nissan Wingroad Estate - Auto, A/C 5drs,5 pass – $80/480
Suzuki Jimny - Auto, A/C 3drs, 4 pass - $60/360
Suzuki Jimny - Manual 3drs, 4 pass – $60/360
Suzuki Grand Vitara – Manual, A/C 3drs, 4 pass – $75/450
Suzuki Grand Vitara - Auto, A/C 5drs, 5 pass - $85/510
Diahatsu Terios - Auto, A/C 5drs. 5 pass - $65/390
Daihatsu Terios - Manual, A/C 5drs, 5 pass - $65/390
See our review of Thrifty Car Rentals including details of the company's services, details of vehicles, rate table, terms and conditions. |
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Carnival
Carnival in Tobago is not as big as in Trinidad (one of the biggest in the world), but if you are on island at the beginning of Lent when it takes place, then it is lively and well worth attending, even during the run-up to the main event. Two things well worth looking out for before the main festivities are the panyards, which are practising in January and February, and the calypso tents. See an article about steel pan in Trinidad.
The main festivities in Tobago begin on the weekend before Mardi Gras. There are Kings and Queens of the Bands shows (the Kings and Queens are the huge mannequins that are the centrepieces of each of the carnival ‘bands’ in the parade). Then, early on Monday, at about four or five am, the dancing starts. The crowds spill out of the parties onto the streets of Scarborough for j’ouvert. Then for the next two days the revellers ‘chip’ through the streets of Scarborough in their carnival bands, led by musical bands on trucks. It all culminates on Tuesday at midnight.
If you notice an influx of exhausted-looking people arriving in Tobago on the Wednesday after Carnival, they have probably come over from Trinidad to relax after four days of non-stop dancing at carnival in Port of Spain.
There are also carnival like festivities (a J’ouvert morning at least) in Plymouth during the Tobago Heritage Festival in July and Tobago Fest in September. |
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Casinos
There are currently two casinos on Tobago, with the newest being the Sunset Palm Club at Buccoo Junction. It has slot machine and table games, t 631 0044. The Royalton Casino is located within the Crown Point Beach Hotel at Crown Point. It has blackjack, roulette, Caribbean stud poker, 3 card poker and slot machines, t 631 8500.
The Tobagonians love a flutter and you will see signs for the lotteries all over the island, including Play Whe, Pick Two, Cash Pot and Lotto |
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Charity Support
It is easy, when you visit an island as attractive as Tobago, to think that there would never be many problems, but many of the islanders are still extremely poor and for all their easy-going nature, the pressure cooker effect of living on an island can make life unexpectedly hard, particularly on groups unable to fend for themselves. The Jesus Cares Family Cottage is devoted to providing care to children in Tobago who have been displaced or abandoned or who have suffered any sort of abuse.
Located in the area of Carnbee at the western end of the island, the home looks after children from birth to the age of eighteen. The aim of the Home is to ‘provide for the physical, spiritual and psychological needs of our children and to facilitate the optimisation of the inherent potential children have through love, understanding and a commitment to education.’
Almost all of the funds available to the Jesus Cares Family Cottage come from personal donations and various fundraising activities such as: concerts, cook outs, lunches, brunches, barbeques, tea parties, fashion shows and radio programs.
URGENT APPEAL
Until recently Leris Kerr-Trim was running another home at Arima on the sister island of Trinidad, but it has had to be closed and the children moved to Tobago as the result of a demand for an unsustainable rent increase.
The property in Carnbee, Tobago is under threat from high rent too, so Mrs Kerr-Trim has petitioned the government to give her some land. Currently, Mrs Kerr-Trim spends US$3700 of her $12000 grant from the government on rent! Clearly there is not much left to tackle the children’s everyday needs such as food, clothing and education, let alone funding for a new building.
So, if you can spare a little donation or even a little time and effort to help and encourage Mrs Kerr-Trim and her children then please, email Mrs Kerr-Trim with details of whatever help you can give.
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY |
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Check In/Check Out
As a general rule check-out times are at around 12 noon and check-in is seldom prior to 3pm, during which time accommodations are made ready for new arrivals. The majority of international arrivals into Tobago are in the mid to late afternoon. If you are arriving earlier than that, from another Caribbean island perhaps, then let your hotel know because they may be able to provide day rooms/shower facilities subject to availability, or may be flexible on check-in. |
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Children
Tobago is an ideal location for a quiet family holiday, and children are generally welcome, although you will find that there are not that many playgrounds designed specifically for them. Villa resorts and private villas probably offer the best environment for a relaxed holiday with children, but with so few directly on the beach, you will need to hire a car. Babysitting is usually arranged with the housekeepers at villas, and you would expect to pay TT$20 per hour, plus transport home. | Oceana
Very well appointed and extremely spacious 4 bedroom/4 bathroom oceanfront villa with private pool and Jacuzzi within the 750 acre Tobago Plantations Beach and Golf Resort. | Raintree
Comfortable 5 bedroom/5 bathroom home with far reaching views of Buccoo Reef. Ideal for three generation family groups, 2 bedrooms have kitchenettes; there are upper and lower verandas and a delightful pool area with sun terrace, “liming deck” and dining gazebo. | Plantation Beach Villas
A delightful group of plantation style villas set in 2.5 acre hillside grove above Stonehaven Beach on Tobago’s north shore. Perfect for families, weddings and reunions, extremely friendly staff. | Mot Mot Villa
A delightful three-bedroom villa in modern plantation-house style, secluded on a hillside above Tobago's north coast. Lovely garden setting with extensive lawns, excellent bird-watching and wonderful west-facing sea and sunset views. Suits mature couples or families seeking complete privacy. Tidal beach below property. | Il Paradiso
A bright and cheerful 4 bedroom family villa with expansive and airy open-plan living areas extending to a covered veranda and open pool terrace. Landscaped lawns giving onto the golf course and ocean. | Mandevilla
Lofty ceilings, generous living space and sophisticated style of furnishings give this 5 bedroom villa a contemporary, Caribbean ambiance. Set in a well landscaped garden on the edge of Mt Irvine golf course. | Coral Sea Villas
A choice of 7 privately owned and individually furnished three bedroom villas with a Spanish-Caribbean flavour. Very well equipped with enclosed gardens, good outdoor living space and surrounding sun terrace. Will suit honeymooners, small wedding parties and families. | Gatcliffe's Villa
Very well furnished, colonial style villa with four en suite bedrooms, located on a quiet, breezy spot within a residential golf resort on the Atlantic shore. Would suit couples or more mature families, and is ideal for golfers. | Seashell Villas
Popular collection of two storey, privately owned and individually furnished gingerbread style holiday homes. All are set in pretty enclosed gardens and have very good outdoor living space. Perfect and good value for families, couples, honeymooners and small wedding parties. |
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Complementary Health
Jacqueline Quesnel, t 639 7296/685 9971, jquesnel@tstt.net.tt
A certified Deepak Chopra Health Educator, registered Hatha Yoga Instructor and a registered Nurse with a BSc in Nursing from Barry University in Miami, Florida. Offers a series of Deepak Chopra courses: Integrative Yoga Therapy, the Magic of Healing and Primordial Sound Meditation. Classes, group and private sessions available.
Usha Inniss, t 639 7807/684 3545
Certified physiotherapist for 25 years, trained in Germany. Teacher of Hatha Yoga based on ayurvedic techniques and teacher of Psychosomatic Health Education. Treatments include reflexology, breathing therapy, lymph drainage and three dimensional scoliois therapy.
Vital Elements Tobago Ltd, 11 School Street, Charlotteville, t 660 5509
Herbal medicines
Mrs Lynette Sealy-Atwell, 1 Mohammed Street, Santa Marguarita, St Augustine, Trinidad, t (868) 662 0072, adfasa3@msn.net
A Reiki Master (trained and initiated into mastership by the Reiki Master, Winthrop Wiltshire), based in Trinidad, who has a roving clinic and visits her clients. She routinely gets dramatic results with her long term treatments, 'often with clients whom conventional physicians have given up on', says Winthrop. Good contact if you are looking for someone for Reiki retreats or classes. |
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Conservation
Conservation has started late in Tobago but it has begun to gain momentum over the past few years and now there are some programmes that are working well to protect the island’s fragile but extraordinary environmental heritage and wildlife.
Environment Tobago, t 660 7462, envirtob@tstt.net.tt, was started in 1996 and focuses on the protection and restoration of Tobago’s natural and living environment through education and sustainable use. This includes the establishment of protected areas and legislation, the protection of flora and fauna and promotion of sustainable tourism. Their interest covers many issues on the island, including turtles and eco-systems such as the rainforest and the reefs, but also less well known environments such as mangroves and wetlands.
The Tobago rainforest is a key focus of conservation efforts on the island. The 14,000 acres of mainly lower montane forest that make up the Tobago Forest Reserve are unique in the world and also have an interesting and extraordinary history, see below. There are over 300 varieties of trees and over a dozen wild orchids. Recently the forest and its conservation has received international interest from the World Bank and the UN’s Climate Change Committee.
The Tobago Forest Reserve is the oldest area of protected forest in the world. 14,000 acres of Crown lands were protected in 1776 by order of King George III. It was one of the earliest official moves of conservation, but there was nothing altruistic about it. It was a precaution against the possible reduction in rainfall caused by forest’s destruction, ultimately designed to protect the plantations that were the island’s livelihood. A scientist had recently made the connection between transpiration in the rainforest and rainfall in the area. Uses have changed over the years and now the problems that face the forest are mainly logging and hunting.
Another of Environment Tobago’s conservation efforts is a programme to protect the island’s turtles (between them Trinidad and Tobago have the world’s fourth largest colony of nesting leatherbacks). SOS Tobago, Save our Sea Turtles, www.SOS-Tobago.org works to conserve sea turtles and their marine and coastal habitats. Both the animals themselves need to be protected (they are incredibly vulnerable when they crawl onto the beaches at night to lay their eggs) and their nests need to be protected. For more information, see Nature.
The Buccoo Reef Trust, www.buccooreef.org, has been going since 1999 and aims to protect the reef and the area around it through the education both of Tobagonians and visitors in the need to protect it. Officially Buccoo Reef has been a Marine Park since the 1970s, but it has suffered considerable destruction over the years, from pollution from run-off, from fishing and yachts but particularly from the visitors that come in glass bottom boats. Some of them actually walk on the corals which can destroy hundreds of years growth in a few minutes. There are wardens and they have established the Tobago Marine Research Centre to provide research facilities and education for marine conservation.
Finally there is an issue in Tobago with ‘wild’ or ‘bush meat’, which is prized by some islanders, who like to hunt and eat wildlife. Do use your discretion if you are offered exotic fare (cocrico, turtle, cayman/caiman, agouti, iguana, opossum, armadillo and sea birds). They may feature during the Harvest Festivals. |
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Corporate/Incentives
Tobago is relatively remote, but can cater well for small, less formal meetings, and in addition to meeting space there are plenty of excellent possibilities for outdoor pursuits. With regard to incentive group travel, Tobago can appeal to those looking for a more active content to their daily activities. Group activities to consider are scuba diving, snorkelling trips, golf, game fishing, windsurfing, sailing, hiking, bird watching, cycling, horse riding and kayaking.
Of our featured properties the following have meeting facilities:
Blue Waters Inn has an air-conditioned recreation room which doubles as a mini conference facility for up to 40 persons.
Coco Reef Resort & Spa has three air-conditioned meeting rooms. Their theatre style the Board Room holds 25 people, the Palace Suite (which can be split) holds 200 and the Presidential Suite holds 60.
Kariwak Village has an air-conditioned meeting room for 30 people theatre style, two open-air thatched rooms for up to 70 people and a thatched open-air Ajoupa with teak floor (restricted footwear) for 75 people.
The Villas at Stonehaven have an air-conditioned meeting room for up to 30 people, located in their Clubhouse.
For assistance with organinsing a conference in Tobago, we recommend Yes! Tourism, which offers a very individual and personalised service for groups. |
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Cruises
Currently it is not possible to join any cruise ships in Tobago. |
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Currency/Credit Cards
The Trinidad & Tobago dollar (TT$) floats on the international exchange and is currently rated at approximately US$1.00 = TT$6.00. The US dollar is generally accepted in any business used to dealing with tourists throughout the island, but if you are going off the beaten track then it is advisable to always have some local currency to hand.
CREDIT CARDS
Most of the major credit cards (and some debit cards) are accepted anywhere that deals with tourists on a regular basis. However, do not expect local bars or small local restaurants and businesses to accept them. When dining out it might be a good idea to double check payment methods in advance. It is worth noting that certain credit cards may attract an additional charge or may simply not be accepted. |
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Day Sails/Boat Trips
A day out on a sailing boat can be the highlight of a trip to Tobago. There are many options from Pigeon Point, to snorkel and visit the famed Nylon Pool, but there are also some more adventurous sailing trips that cruise along the coast of the island in all its forested beauty. Snorkelling in secluded coves, and dolphin spotting are highlights of a trip along the coast, which can be done by powerboat or under sail:
Coco Motion, t 639 2449
Popular snorkelling cruises aboard a 31ft powerboat, for dolphin spotting and the now famous carrot cake – no trip is complete without a slice. There is limited shade, so sunblock a must. Also there are no on board ‘facilities’.
Natural Mystic, t 639 7245/620 7425, mystic@tstt.net.tt.
Skippered by owner Captain Scott Clarke, the 40ft Trimaran takes a maximum of 12 guests out for the day and serves up a grilled lunch prepared onboard. Also available for private charters for sunset cruises, round the island sails or customized trips
Splash Sports, t 639 0222/682 2919
Fairly new operation which offers full day or sunset cruises on Maestro del Mar, a fully powered 50ft catamaran. Available for private charters, including weddings. |
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Departure Tax & Taxes
There is no departure tax between Trinidad and Tobago, however for all other departures TT$100 is payable at the airport. There is a window for departure tax payments on the outside of the terminal building. You will need to show your boarding pass and payment is in local currency only. Children under 5 years old are exempt.
All hotel accommodation is subject to a 10% room tax (and a 10% service charge aswell). Some rates include the charges but usually they will be added to your bill, which can make quite a difference to the eventual price. If you are booking direct, make sure you calculate this in when pricing up your holiday.
A 15% government VAT charge is levied on most goods and services. This is generally included in restaurant prices. |
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Driving & Parking
You may find that there is a more relaxed approach to driving conventions in Tobago than you are used to, so take care when you take to the road. Driving is on the left, generally, though drivers do stray to avoid potholes, so watch out on corners.
While much of the traffic in Tobago proceeds at a gental pace, be aware that people drive extremely fast on the Airport Highway between Crown Point and Scarborough. There is also tendency for drivers to stop with little warning, for a chat maybe or to drop/pick up passengers. If you are thinking of overtaking, it is accepted practice to sound your horn as a warning. At night, drivers sometimes forget to dip their headlights. Flash them a couple of times and that should do the trick. The speed limit in Tobago is officially 30mph/50kph. Wearing seat belts is compulsory and the fine for not doing so is TT$500.
There are three petrol stations in Scarborough, one on Milford Road towards the airport, one in Plymouth, one in Charlotteville and one in Roxborough. Opening times vary and none are open late at night. It should be noted that there are sometimes queues for petrol/gas, especially on weekends, when people fill-up for the week ahead. Bank holidays can also be a problem. Make sure that you have a full tank if you are headed up to the east end of the island.
PARKING
All parking in Tobago, including the airport and harbour is free of charge. |
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Electricity
Domestic supply is 110/220 volts, 60 cycles. The standard is a flat, 2-pin socket in US style, so remember to take an adapter if need be. |
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