|
|
Caribbean Travel RoundupNewsletter - Paul Graveline, Editor |
| CTR Homepage | Island Index | Search |
The Crew: - Skipper, Baz & Mate, Gill (chef/hostess) Guests: Six of us January 13 - 23, 2001 I'm not going to make this a long story, because I don't want you to lose interest. This was one of the greatest adventures I've experienced. This was a 10-day trip starting from Dallas, TX, flying to San Juan and then on to Grenada. Good flights, but I suggest you take a bag on board in case your luggage is delayed to Grenada. In Grenada we stayed for two days at the Tropicana Inn on Lagoon Road. Extremely peaceful, comfortable, air conditioned and overlooking the GYS Marina and Grenada Yacht Club. Sit outside for meals, cocktails and watch the locals. On Monday, we took the Osprey Ferry from Grenada to Carriacou. A quick, comfortable and cheap trip that only takes an hour and 15 minutes. We spent the night at The Sands on Main St. in Hillsborough. Quite comfortable, except for the rooster outside who had his nights and days confused. We had our meals at Callaloo's, a wonderful restaurant on the beach about a block away from The Sands. Great food, wonderful environment and good prices. On Tuesday, it was time to get on our Catamaran and sail for seven days in the Grenadines, going from Carriacou and visiting/anchoring at Union Island, Canouan, Tabago Cays, Bequia, Mayreau, Petite St. Vincent, Sandy Island and back to Carriacou. All of these islands were unique and absolutely breathtaking in their own way. White sand, blue waters like you've never seen. Warm breezes, great snorkeling and swimming. We had the pleasure of snorkeling in one area where we spotted an octopus, and it was an awesome experience watching this creature move about. We saw other marine life, too much to mention, along with the beautiful variations of live coral. The best part of the trip, however, was the "Nepenthe" and its gracious crew. This was our home for seven days, operated by Baz and Gill. The boat is a 40-foot Norseman catamaran, with the comforts and amenities of a first class hotel. There was unbelievable deck space, 2 huge trampolines forward, shaded cockpit seating, 3 roomy double guest cabins, and two bathrooms with showers. The guest cabins had great ventilation with portholes and huge hatches over the beds where you could stargaze at night. The boat does not lean while sailing and cuts through waves and rough seas as if it were on an ice-skating rink! At night the boat does not roll at anchor, and makes for very comfortable dining and great sleeping. The anchorage was always very convenient via the dinghy into the beach, and with a wonderful breeze in the evenings on board. The saloon and dining area are spacious and convenient to the deck area for fixing those numerous rum punches! The meals were wonderful. We always had fresh tropical fruit with the meals. Fresh fish seemed to be our pick most of the time, and it would be cooked on the grill, served with fresh vegetables, homemade bread, always a great dessert and I gained five pounds! Before our trip, we were sent a "Nepenthe Charter Preference Sheet" where we could pick our activities, meal preferences, food choices, beverage choices and add any likes, dislikes, special needs, etc. This was a wonderful opportunity to let Gill and Baz know what we would prefer to have on board for the seven days. It proved to be a valuable tool. We had a couple of lunches/dinners ashore so we could enjoy the local cuisine, but the best meals were cooked and served by Gill. There were no set itineraries. We could do as we pleased, whether it was to lay on the trampoline and read, go snorkeling, go ashore and get acquainted with the islands or sunbathe. It was extremely flexible and laid back. Baz & Gill were extremely good hosts and more importantly, a lot of fun for seven days! There were eight of us on the Nepenthe. Six Texans and Gill and Baz, and it was as if we had been together for years. Smooth sailing, great food, comfortable, extremely reasonable and unforgettable sights and experiences. I've kept in touch with Gill and Baz since my return to Dallas, and they are continuing to please groups from all over the world with their hospitality and great sailing skills. We're going back next year! Next year we'll probably start off in St. Vincent's and sail southward, visiting the same islands and enjoying the same pleasures. A trip on the "Nepenthe" with Baz and Gill is something I would recommend to anyone who truly enjoys relaxing, experiencing great hospitality and fabulous meals! These wonderful people and their superb services can be contacted by email at nepenthe@caribsurf.com or nepenthe_cat@usa.net. They are also building a glorious website, which can soon be found at www.sailnepenthe.com.
Trip: Match 23-31, 2001 When we arrived at the resort and got out of the van and were greeted with big smiles. They asked us to go sit down in the big open-air lobby and that they would bring us more papers to fill out. We were each given a cool damp towel and a glass of champagne. One thing I hadn't read on the boards was that they hold your tourist card at the desk during your stay. It didn't take very long to finish the paperwork and then we were off to our room. They said our bags would be brought up shortly. We had booked an ocean view deluxe room. Our room 556 was at the far end of the building on the 5th floor. They do have elevators, which made it nice. As soon as we opened the door to the room I knew I was in paradise. We had a view of the Caribbean looking out over Tower Island, the dock and beyond. The room was just like all the pictures I had seen on the net with the 2 swan towels on the bed. The bags arrived a few moments later. Since it was about 6pm we decided to take a quick walk around the resort before it got dark. We decided to toast being in Jamaica when we got to the bar. The bartenders were fabulous. We had our drink and then before our glasses were empty Wayne came over to see what he could do for us. The service is the best I've ever seen. We met several people at the bar and ended up having dinner with them. They had already been at the resort for a day so they helped fill us in on what there was to do and where things were. The next day we arranged for our romantic dinner at Le Gourmet for the following evening. We spent most of the day relaxing on the beach and wandering the grounds. On the grounds we saw the basket swings for 2, the 2 Jacuzzis for 2, the basket swing in the jungle, the nearby aviary as well as the gift shop. We had dinner that night at the International Buffet held at the Calabash Restaurant (a.k.a. the patio restaurant). I get up very early ever day so I watched the sunrise from our balcony. They have a coffeepot in the room with packets of coffee and tea. I was able to enjoy my coffee as the sun came up into view. Around 8 we headed to the patio for the breakfast buffet. The choices are many. The fruit is beautiful and they will make you any kind of omelet you want. Plus they have all the usual breakfast choice as well as some local dishes. At 1 PM we went on our snorkel trip. The reef is about 2 minutes from the resort. If you look at my photo of the resort from the air the reef is to the left of Tower Island. We had a wonderful time. We even got to see a lobster that was hiding as well as a small squid. Plus of course lots of tropical fish. Dinner at Le Gourmet was very tasty. I'm not really into French food but we both enjoyed the meal and the atmosphere. The piano player was very good as well. Then we went over to the bar and listened to the band that was playing that night. Afterwards we decided to take a romantic stroll on the beach. The next day was horseback riding in the morning. They have both western and English saddles at the stables. We didn't get to choose which type we got. I was given an English saddle and Joe got a western one. I guess I must have been the most experienced rider in the group as they had me take the lead. The ride took us past people's homes and through the woods. We traveled up into the mountains to a spot with a great view of the ocean. Along the way they pointed out different plants and talked about the area. We had a fun time. After lunch it was time for parasailing. Neither of us had done this before. It was not the best day to parasail. It was very cloudy and the sky looked threatening. They took us out to the edge of the bay. Joe went up first; he really enjoyed his ride. By the time he came back down it was starting to rain. Since I had already paid for my ride I decide to go up anyway. I was a bit worried about my camera, but I took it with me anyway. What a thrill! It was raining quite hard and I had to cover the camera most of the time. You can see in one of the photo that the camera did get a bit wet. My ride wasn't very long, as shortly after I went up it started to thunder. Although I was enjoying my time up in the air, I didn't really want to be a lighting rod. That evening we had a lovely dinner at the Bayside restaurant with people I had met on the Internet before our trip. The next day was our Dunn's River Falls trip. We had really been looking forward to it. Somehow the guides don't get wet. One guide in each group will carry your cameras for you. They take pictures along the way in set spots and do a nice job. Be sure and tip them well at the end of the climb. If you watch the person in front of you and where they put their feet and hands it really isn't that hard. We climbed the right-hand side of the falls it's the more difficult route. There is one spot where you literally go up blind. You feel for the hand holds on the wall and the sort of steps in the falls. The water is pouring over your head. It was a thrilling experience. Climbing the falls takes about an hour. After the climb Couples puts on a beach party. Then you head back up the steps and through the vendors to get back to your bus. Be sure and remember your bus number and the driver's name. There are so many busses in the parking lot it can be confusing. After we got back we had lunch at the Patio buffet. After lunch I swallowed hard (not because of the food ha, ha), and said to Joe "let's go to the island". In case you don't know the island is "au natural" only. We went down to the dock for the boat to take us over. We got to the island and walked past the tower and found a basket swing for 2 where we undressed. We then went up the tower so I could take my pictures of the resort. We only stayed a brief time on the island since we had to get back to the mainland for our snorkel trip at 3. I had to drop off my digital camera and getting our snorkel gear. Couples does provide all the equipment, however we both have prescription snorkel masks since we both wear glasses. Dinner that night was the pool buffet. Joe said he ate more things he didn't recognize his trip than ever before and he loved most of it. At a place like this if you don't like something, don't eat it. Go try something else. We were doing the "double take" so the next morning we were headed for Negril. We put our bags outside our door at 8:20 for our trip over to Negril. I really didn't want to leave. We had such a great time at this resort. We went down to the patio for our breakfast buffet. Then on to the lobby to catch the shuttle to the airport at 9:15. Before I go any further let me say we did love the Negril resort. It has a lot to offer. I'm am trying to give my honest opinion about what it was like. If we hadn't been to the resort at Ocho Rios, I'm sure I wouldn't have noticed the little things as much. The majority of the staff did a fine job, better than typical resort staff in most cases, just not to the same level as the other resort. Also the resort being right between 2 other resorts gives less privacy. The new Rui resort even allows children so you do see them sometimes walking on the beach. Went to the front desk and were asked to take a seat to fill out the paper work. It was a wait before they brought us the forms to fill out. . I have to say I was a bit disappointed we didn't get the cool towel or the champagne. It wasn't until the bellhop came over to take us to our room that it was offered. He seemed surprised that it hadn't been offered. I had brought a copy of a map of the resort layout with me. When I asked the lady would came over with our room key she really didn't know where the room was nor was she willing to find out. After having just come from the other resort where everyone was so friendly this was not what I would have expected. Here again the bellhop was more than helpful. He immediately pointed out where the room was and offered to stop at the bar so we could have some champagne if we wanted. Why the bell staff was nicer and more accommodating than the front desk staff is beyond me. They should improve how the front desk staff handles guests. We went up to our room and it was very different from the one at Ocho Rios. I think the room number was 6305 but I can't remember for sure. The location of our room was on the third floor (no elevators here). We were in the first building just to the side of the Terrace Restaurant (a.k.a. Casaba Restaurant) and also faces the pool. This is definitely a more up to date resort in appearance. The room had bright colors and even a light over the bed that looked like a camera shining down on the tapestry. The one exception to being up to date was the television that didn't have a way for me to hook my camera to it. When I asked about it at the front desk later that day, I was basically given the brush off. ) As a side note I had emailed both resorts about this same thing. Ocho Rios responded, I never heard back from Negril). After checking out the room and balcony we wanted lunch. We headed over to the beach grill. They had even more choices than the beach grill at Ocho Rios. Plus to Joe's delight they had self serve soft ice cream. After satisfying our hunger we wandered the resort. At water sports we signed up for the catamaran cruise for the next day as well as for a snorkel trip on Friday. They don't have snorkeling on Thursdays at Negril. We continued walking the grounds and saw the lovely gardens they have. Then we headed back to the room to relax. At 5PM we went to orientation. They gave a full walking tour of the grounds and talked about the activities and off site trips that are available. If you haven't been to this resort before do the orientation. Afterwards Joe headed back to the room and I went to the swim-up bar in the pool. I ran into a friend I had met in Ocho Rios we sat, drank and chatted. It had started to rain so we stayed under the cover of the bar's thatch while sitting in the pool watching the sun go down. At 8 we went to meet a couple we had arranged to meet over the internet before the trip at the Casaba bar. They had gone to dinner there at 7 and still didn't have their meals. We checked with the person seating people and he said it would be no problem to join them for dinner. It was nice to be able to put a face to the people I had chatted with on line. Dinner took a very long time to come. The other couple was eating their desserts before we had even gotten our meals. By then the band had started. We were sitting right in front of them. The next day we went on the Catamaran cruise also know as the booze cruise. They go down the coast past all the resorts on 7 Mile Beach and continue on by the cliffs until they get to the Pickled Parrot. The boat has no place to dock there. You need to get off the boat by jumping in or going down the stairs. You then swim to the cliffs climb up a ladder and then take the stairs the rest of the way up. I understand that sometimes this can be a long swim. The day we went it wasn't very far. At the Pickled Parrot they have a water slide, a rope swing as well as cliff diving. If you want anything to drink while on shore you will have to pay for it. When your time is up there they blow a whistle to let you know to come back to the boat. They swim back is much hard since now you are fighting the current. If you don't trust your swimming skills they do offer life vests to help keep you afloat. If you prefer you can stay on the boat. On the way back they did hold a limbo contest. We had lunch at the buffet and then relaxed by the pool. Later we watched the sunset from our balcony before heading to dinner. We chose to eat at the beach restaurant. It was so beautiful eating under the stars. The food was great as well. After dinner we grabbed drinks and walked the beach. We then headed back to the room to relax. By then the band had started playing. You could hear it loud and clear in the room. What made it worse was there also was a band that night over at the Grande Lido next door. We could hear them quite clearly also. The next morning I was up early again. I could here people doing set- up at breakfast buffet, glasses clinking, carts being rolled around. It was no where near as quiet as in Ocho Rios. Again I headed down to the pool to read for awhile before Joe got up. This morning I had also decided to take my camera with me. I was very glad I did. The resorts peacock was courting the peahen. He kept walking around displaying his feathers. This was our last full day in Jamaica. We went on the 9:30 snorkel trip. It was windy that morning so the water was choppy. I found it too much work to fight the waves so I just hung out near the boat. Once back at the resort we hung out by the pool. We chatted with several other couples. Later as the sun started going down I knew this was going to be the best of the sunsets. Joe went back to our room to grab my camera. It was beautiful! That night we went back to the beach restaurant. We had enjoyed it so much the night before. Friday is lobster night (when it's not the wrong season). Joe enjoyed the lobster and I enjoyed a steak. They had musicians playing during dinner. It was very romantic. At the end of the meal we ordered 2 coffees and a shot of rum cream. We both really enjoyed adding the rum cream to our coffees. In the morning we went to the breakfast buffet. They have so many choices. Both of us opted for the made to order omelets. Of course we also sampled many other things. I really loved some of the different mixed tropical juices. They also offer made to order smoothies. We put our bags outside the door at 11:30. We headed to the lobby about 12:15 and checked out. There was a bus waiting. When asked where our bags were hey said they had already put them on the bus. Joe checked and found none of our bags. The front desk staff insisted they were there. (See my earlier comments about service.) I insisted they go and check to see if the bags had actually been picked up. It took another 5-10 minutes to get someone to do that. I felt sorry for the people already on the bus. Being seasoned travelers we weren't about to leave without our luggage. Finally they sent someone to our room. When they came back they had our bags in a cart. They told us to get on the bus and they would load them on. I said no, not until the bags are on it. Finally they took our bags off the cart and put them onto the bus and we were on our way.
Let me start by saying that the "Enchanted Garden" in Ochos Rio, Jamaica was all that I had thought it would be and a whole lot more. Prior to our vacation (me and my boyfriend's first vacation together), I would read any review I could get my hands on regarding the "Enchanted Garden". The majority of them were quite favorable, so I really wasn't expecting anything bad. But just let's say that what I got far exceeded my wildest dreams. The resort located high atop a mountain in Jamaica was beautiful!!!! The architect of this place incorporated the natural beauty of Jamaica....the lush plant life and the exotic waterfalls into the design of the resort. So, everywhere you looked there literally was something wonderful to see......it was like being in a "Garden of Eden". The perfect place for couples to unwind, relax and to cultivate their relationship. We were so, so, so, pleased. Everything from the scenery, to the food (which was nothing less than gourmet), the staff, the other vacationers was awesome. Throughout the trip, all we could do was comment on how lovely the grounds were and what a good time we were having..... I know my boyfriend's favorite spot on the resort was this little hidden area near a small waterfall (engulfed by pretty flowers and plant life, vines and ferns, etc.) where two hammocks hung between at least 4-5 story trees. We would just lie there at night and talk under a star-filled night. That was awesome and it just made you appreciated life and God's wonderful creation. Our room was nice....except for the fact that the bathroom had no electrical outlets....so for you girls who have to use the curlers everyday like me, then you'll need to be prepared to do that in another area of the room. The food was excellent. The "Enchanted Garden" has 4 main restaurants and a pasta bar. In each location, everything was well prepared and tasty. The atmosphere also helped to enhanced your dining experience because at each restaurant a certain theme was represented and the decor was superb: (1) One restaurant had a middle eastern them and it gave the illusion as though you were sitting in some Shek's harem, (2) One restaurant served Thai food and there you sat on the floor at wooden tables (we especially enjoyed that) and (3) the main restaurant had an actual waterfall that ran smack in the middle of it. I basically thought I was in heaven. The Seaquariam also served lunch and it was as elegant as any of the finer restaurants in the States. They say a lot of weddings occur at "The Enchanted Garden" and I can see why......Jamaica on beautiful grounds with beautiful facilities who would want for more. Well, I still recuperating from the trip....perhaps I'll write more about this fantasy-like resort later. If you are considering a visit, take my advice, you won't be disappointed.
My family and I stayed the week after Easter at the Iberostar Tucan . We were completely impressed and would recommend this resort to anyone. The few negatives we encountered were far outweighed by the positives. The Pools: Positives: Amazing! The pool was beautiful and very large with several fountains throughout. Each morning it was in pristine condition as cleaning and upkeep was performed every night. The water was a perfect temperature and was very comfortable. There are also 3 other pools. One for children, which was very shallow, an adult pool, and a recreational pool equipped with fixed basketball hoops and removable volleyball net. Negatives: Most of the large pool is 4-1/2' to 5' deep making it difficult for children who are inexperienced swimmers to enjoy. No swim up bar, but the bars are only a few feet away. You had to be up by 6AM to get lounges. By 8AM all lounges were gone for the entire day. The Beach: Positives: The erosion issue was not an issue for me. The terraced beach actually offered good views of the people in the water. Plenty of lounges but would still fill up early in the AM. Numerous palapas kept you in the shade if needed. Also, umbrellas were issued for those that did not get a palapa. Negatives: Not many. The bars are a little walk from some areas of the beach. The Grounds: A very unique jungle setting is wonderful. We saw numerous creatures throughout our stay. We saw the spider monkey family at least 3 times (twice at the main pool and once at the Tucan side buffet climbing on the roof!). If your room is near the lobby you have a good walk to the beach and pool and quick trips back and forth to the room will be difficult. Shoot for rooms in buildings 11, 12, 13. The Food: Positives: There was a big variety at the buffets, especially at dinner. Breakfast was mostly the same every day. The quality of the buffet food was good. I would rate it a 7 on a 1-10 scale. The Italian restaurant was good but not great. Negatives: I thought the Mexican restaurant was horrible. There was 4 of us and not one of us finished our plates. I would definitely bypass this place (we chose the Mexican because many at this board talked down the steak house. Trust me...try the steak house). The Drinks: It was all good. They make them as strong as you want. The central bar does not open till 5PM but they have good quality drinks. We brought 24 ounce insulated mugs and they were great for our days at the beach. Overall: Loved the place. Very unique setting. Very, very clean. Extra: The 1 hour snorkeling trip offered by Dressel Divers in front of the hotel was great. Also - YOU MUST GO TO "HIDDEN WORLDS" AND SNORKEL THE CENOTES. UNBELIEVABLE EXPERIENCE.
My wife and I traveled to Jack Tarr Village on St. Kitts on March 26, 2001. We arranged our trip through TNT Vacations, took a charter out of Boston that flew to the D.R. to drop off passengers, pick up returning travelers from the previous week, and then on to St. Kitts. We had a marvelous, relaxing week. Sunny every day, temps in the 80s with a nice breeze much of the time. A couple of showers but mostly at night. Nice scenery and pretty palm trees. Jack Tarr is an all-inclusive resort, about a 10-minute ride from the airport. It is also only 10 minutes or so to the central town, Basseterre, but since all of our meals were included and the food was excellent, we didn't venture out often to eat. Cleanliness is outstanding on this island, and all foods (cooked or uncooked) were safe to eat as well as water, which we even drank straight from the tap. The food at Jack Tarr was plentiful, varied and very tasty. A couple of steps down from the "gourmet" dining which we do enjoy, but we ate well and a lot! Roast meat at every lunch and dinner, several entree choices, always fish, pasta, stews, a variety of cooked vegetables and a very good salad bar. Very good ice cream in the evening and a nice selection of desserts. Drinks were free all day long (nice Pina Coladas!) and there were two other food courts open during the day where you could get hot dogs, nachos, fries, etc. The resort also has an Italian restaurant that is open most nights, which you have to make reservations for during the day. As Italian food goes, this was good, though basically average, but the ambiance of being served by candelight in the outdoor setting was very nice indeed. Wines available by the bottle at extra cost at the Italian Restaurant. Musical entertainment provided onsite was provided each evening. Two swimming pools, one "quiet" for sunbathing and swimming, and the other "active" for various water sports organized by the staff. We spent our time by the quiet pool, but people seemed to be enjoying the activities as well. Two beaches nearby, within walking distance, bicycle or shuttle ride, one on the Atlantic and one on the Caribbean. The Atlantic Beach, though closer, was quite windy most of the time and had much more wave action. A nice reef just offshore might have been nice snorkeling. The Caribbean beach is sheltered, nice sand, with free access for Jack Tarr residents to nonmotorized water sports equipment: snorkeling and kayaking particularly. Good beach to swim and sun. We also took a 20-minute cab ride to Turtle Beach, which has a nice restaurant and a beautiful view of Nevis, the sister island of St. Kitts. Good snorkeling here, and we were able to pick up the free gear at the Caribbean beach to use at Turtle Beach. We took an island tour with our guide "Merritt", an elegant gentleman who was very informative and helpful. We would recommend the tour (and Merritt!) to get your bearings and decide what other things you might want to do. Included is a visit to Brimstone Hill, the fortress citadel with cannons and a nice view, and a trip to the Batik factory at Romney Manor, where you can see how the clothing is dyed and purchase some if you want. Other tours available (all at extra cost, around $50 US) included catamaran snorkeling trips, a RainForest Hike, a hike to the top of the volcano (dormant!), and a trip/tour to Nevis. We went to Nevis on our own one afternoon, taking the boat ferry out of the harbor for $8 each roundtrip. Spent a nice afternoon in the town, eating and watching the locals go through their paces. Nevis is a beautiful island, much less touristed than St. Kitts, though you certainly don't find St. Kitts overrun at all. Jack Tarr also has the only casino on St. Kitts, where those with a penchant for giving away their money can indulge. It was never very busy while we were there. The blackjack tables were $5 minimum, too rich for my blood not being much of a gambler (though they were fairly busy most evenings), but I played the quarter machines and had a lot of fun. In fact, I watched a gambler play Keno for a while one evening, when he up and left with .25 credit still on the machine. After waiting for a while to see if he would come back, I pressed the button and won $150! on his numbers and his quarter. Definitely a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I played a while longer, cashed out $145 and took my winnings happily off into the night.... We had a fantastic time here, got a chance to recharge the batteries, get away from the nasty winter weather and get a start on a nice tan. Swimming was nice, food was very good, the islanders friendly. Good staff at the resort. This is not a destination for those looking for a wild nightlife, but we'd definitely go back again and highly recommend it.
I wrote about a trip to Tobago in Jan. of 2000. I am now updating my travels to Tobago with another look at the island after a second visit with my husband in Nov. 2000. In Jan. 2000, on a trip with 2 friends, we stayed in the southern part of the island in a very nice villa with neighbors all around. Most of our time was spent in the area, where it was crowded and expensive. Many nights we cooked in the villa which saved some money. It was a nice trip and we loved the island. I can say now that I love it even more. In Nov. 2000, I traveled to Tobago with my husband and two girlfriends of ours. This time we stayed near Englishman's Bay in Parrot Estate Villa, in the northwest end of the island. Unlike the first villa in Jan. 2000, this villa was surrounded by gorgeous gardens on the property and jungle everywhere else! The only other house in site was on a mountaintop across a small valley. The whole area was just what we wanted: peace, quiet, few people, and the beauty of the island around us. The gardener came every day and kept us supplied with fresh bananas and limes from the trees on the property. Other times of the year there are avocados and mangoes. Each day we watched the parrots fly back and forth, up and down the valley. At night the bats came out and fed on the old bananas that we put in the bird feeder. We could sit in the gazebo and watch the birds and bats, and also look out on the amazing gardens. It was like we were in a resort! The villa was great, There were 14 sets of double doors, with a view to the ocean from half of them. In the 2 bedrooms were comfy beds with mosquito netting! It was so nice going to sleep at night, knowing the bugs wouldn't be after you. The northern end of the island is beautiful, full of mountains, jungle, birds, and few people. It was here that we found the even more wonderful people of the island! Each day we would drive the 10 minutes south to the fishing village of Castara, where we could either have dinner for $20-$24 for all four of us including a drink, or buy a fish for $4, big enough to feed 8 people! It was mighty tasty cooked on the grill back at the villa! Ten minutes north was the beautiful Englishman's Bay, where the waves washed up on a gorgeous beach surrounded by palm trees. To get to the beach you have to drive down a short dirt road and through a grove of giant bamboo. There is a nice little food stand and a couple vendors selling bamboo birdfeeders and planters. We have heard rumors that a resort will be built on the site! What a shame if that is true. We did drive around the island and saw all the other sites, but our favorite times were spent at Englishman's Bay and Parrot Estate Villa. They are why Tobago has become my favorite Caribbean island!
The official The Caribbean Travel Roundup World Wide Web site is http://caribtravelnews.com. The CTR is also available on America Online. Contact: Paul Graveline, 9 Stirling St., Andover, MA 01810- 1408 USA :Home (Voice or Fax) 978-470-1971. E-mail via editor@caribtravelnews.com or CTREDITOR@aol.com