For those newbies who will be making the trip to Carnival for the first time in 2007, Maracas beach is also the scene of the Ash Wednesday cool down. I have not been to an Ash Wednesday cool down in years! The traffic to get in and out of Maracas is a great deterrent as well as the fact that it really isn't about "cooling down" but just another day to prolong the feteing, drinking and wining.
To me the perfect respite after Carnival is Tobago, and if you have the same idea the time for looking for guest houses, hotels and flights is now! Trust me, you will not be the only ones with the idea of enjoying Tobago's serenity after the bacchanlia of Carnival. Inspite of the popularity of this blog and my fervor for Carnival many Trinidadians do not share my passion and either go camping, down the islands, to another country or head over to the sister isle to escape the "madness".
Pigeon Point Tobago:
Consequently accommodation in Tobago gets booked long in advance of Carnival. A very good website for Tobago reviews, photos and other information is My Tobago. I also like using Tripadvisor for reviews and photos from real people. To accommodate large groups I think a villa might be a much better deal than a hotel, Island Real Estate is a good site to browse Villas for rent and a very popular Villa is Villa De Lena which rents for $200.00 US a night year round (though I checked the calendar and it is booked solid from January to April!). A really nice place to stay for a group is Sandy Point Beach Club (not the hotel) , it's a timeshare establishment but you can also rent units for a week or less . The facilities are well maintained with three hot tubs, a small pool, beach side bar, small restaurant and it is within walking distance to Store Bay. You can also book locally at their office on Ethel Street St. James or by calling 1-868-628-9832.
My other two favourite hotels in the Crown Point area are Kariwak and Toucan Inn, Kariwak is really nice and relaxing (and they used the space quite well, you can see my pics on tripadvisor) and Toucan Inn is a nice, simple place to stay and both establishment serve excellent food.
Barbados is one of my favourite islands and since you asked I will share several affordable places to stay, you know Feburary is still peak period so prices are higher. If you want simple, affordable accomodation with kitchen facilities to prepare your own meals, on or close to the beach here are my top pics:
1.Southern Surf Apartments
My friend stayed here for Cropover and found it to be quite nice (check tripadvisor for reviews!). It is opposite Rockley/Accra Beach and you can walk to Bubbas, Cheffettes and several other eating places in the area. Also, you are on the ,main bus route to catch the dollar cab to Bridgetown and the Gap.
2.Coral Mist and 3. Blue Orchids
Sister hotels on Worthing Beach which I personally find is a GREAT beach. They were refurbished a couple years ago and offer apartments AND studios. The location is ideal as well, close to the Gap, a supermarket, Lucky Horseshoe and the Carib Beach Bar. Again, transport is not a problem as they are also on the main road.
4.Yellow Bird
Basic hotel at the entrance to the Gap. If you plan on bar hopping or late nights at Ship Inn this hotel is great beacause you are far away from the noise so you can sleep at night, but close enough to stumble back to your room after a few drinks.
5.Accra Beach Hotel
More "upscale" than the others this Hotel is on Rockley/Accra Beach and has a sweet pool (no kitchen facilities though). I think they are doing some construction in preparation for the Cricket World Cup next year but if you want something beyond the basics the accomodation hereis great. The food is kinda expensive but you are within walking distance to several places for a eat.
17 comments:
Maracas look nice and busy - wish I was there :)
Sigh. Thanks Sauce. Now, if was pictures of Las Cuevas or Store Bay yuh gyul woulda start crying... Lemme go and put on meh jacket yes cause dis ac getting a lil outta hand...
Hi saucy, I'm between hitting Tobago or Barbados with friends for post carnival r&r -- Any recommendations for places to stay in Barbados??
I also like to go to Tobago for relaxing after Carnival for the newcomers please make sure you know where the hotel is from the beach, i had drama my first year they said it was walking distance from the beach and the pics on the internet dont believe it so much in person its not the same. I got out of the cab and i thought i was in east bubblefu#$. I got my money back as soon as the office was open and went stanby back to Trinidad and was disappointed. Its hard when you dont know the area and when you are going with people that also dont know the area. If anyone has any more ideas in addtion to Saucys on nice places to stay on or near the beach, please advise. I stayed at the Crown Point hotel (name might not be accurate) which was not bad, the food was good and its on crown point beach but there were water issues and the pool was out of order one of the 3 days we stayed there. PS some of the prices are crazy but if you can book with a resident from trinidad and they come along with you the rates are cheaper.
Saucy,
I share your passion as I usually end my carnival season with a cool down in Tobago... I usually go from the Thrusday thu Saturday and fly back to NY on Sunday!
I usually stay at the Crown Point Beach Hotel! its lovely and also walking distance from Store Bay
Anybody else ever realise that the Jab Molaissie song Machel had a few years ago with a girl name Tasha - she does be singing Jam Bolaissie?! Something in the song used to bother me before but I NOW realise is that! AYE AYE!
Crown Point beach hotel has so much potential I just think they should do an upgrade to the property, It's in an ideal location with nice grounds but the pool is outdated :S
Saucy oh gawd why yuh have to go post pics of Maracas. Now ah home sick. this year I did the after cool down at Sandy Point it was good.
lol @hottie hottie
In Tobago I would recommend Mikes Apartments or Johnstons - but they all book up already for Carnival season so I am trying this new place – Tobago Island Suites Hotel or something (it on my page). I have stayed at Arthur’s and Rainbow in the pass and although some would call them "dumpy" they really not too bad - I would stay again if need be, after all I am only in the room to shower and sleep (for a couple of hours).
I really enjoyed my stay at Johnstons though the most.
And that was your foreign report ;)
They DID upgrade the pool and restaurant area at Crown Point Beach Hotel. It looks much nicer, and more modern now, but there's still 'something' missing, and I can't quite put my finger on it.
But it's a very nice hotel, a 5 minute walk from the airport (no kidding), and if you stay in one of the cabanas or beachfront rooms, you can practically roll out of bed onto the beach.
As we talking about beach , i now remember...saucy wah going on with the gym committment u made?
ah shame, I eh reach the gym yet *shhhhhhhhhhh
"ah shame, I eh reach the gym yet"
Thank goodness I'm not the only one!
well I am from Tobago and for my carnival trip I will be going straight there...From Tobago i will be taking a flight to go to Trinidad where i will spend about 5 days enjoying the whole jump up experience with Tribe and in other fetes. As soon as Ash Wednesday roll in I will be on the next flight heading back to Tobago where I will enjoying the rest of my vacation before coming back to this cold country.
TSK TSK TSK to the both of you. *shakes finger* lol
I don't stay at any hotels in Tobago. My family's house is a 5 minute walk from Pigeon Point. *thumbs up*
Hi Saucy,
Enid's Villas in Tobago is nice too. It's like little furnished apartments and real close to the new mall. Plus it's affordable, the only thing is you have to call in advance to book because they always full.
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