Tobago on a Budget – What a Jewel!
So what will Tobago offer you? Well, you won’t get the plethora of five-star resorts that Barbados boasts, nor will you get the nightlife that Jamaica serves up. If you want those holidays, go there. The pace of life in Tobago comes in two speeds: slow and slower. No worries, take it easy, chill… Tobago is the place to go to lie back and relax.
Tobago house Rentals is the primary way one can enjoy a cheap holiday in Tobago. Although the island has many world class hotels, renting vacation homes and apartments provide a cheap alternative. Vacation rentals can range from 1 room apartments, to 3 and 4 bedroom houses and villas.Tobago is a tourist resort primarily because of its unspoilt natural beauty.
A young TobagonianVisitors talk of stepping off the plane and feeling the stress being sucked out of their body. Broad smiles greet you at the taxi rank, the crystal clear Caribbean glints at you as you travel on to your accommodation. And a cold Carib beer or refreshing rum punch will greet you at your destination. One of the best things about Tobago is that it welcomes you.
Your stay might be at one of the handful of all-inclusive resorts on the island, but we at myTobago hope to encourage you out of those four walls and to explore the island – the rainforest, the villages and the many small restaurants dotted around the island. If you want to stay at one of the smaller establishments, we hope to help you find the right one.
Tobago is just 8 miles wide and 26 long, but it takes a few hours to get from one end to the other. Another charm of Tobago is the lack of infrastructure. The best way to dodge the potholes, whizz around and have a whole lot of fun is by hiring a jeep. The most developed areas of Tobago are in the Lowlands – in the southwest. Here you’ll find A.N.R.Robinson International Airport, a few smart hotels along the Caribbean coast, Buccoo Reef, the fine white sandy beaches of Pigeon Point and Store Bay, and Scarborough – the colourful capital and port.
Tobago’s south coast, pounded by the Atlantic Ocean, is dotted with charming fishing villages, of which Speyside is probably the most popular. The north Caribbean coast has many beautiful coral sand beaches like Castara, Englishman’s Bay, Parlatuvier and Bloody Bay, often deserted except for a few fishermen. The most northerly of the villages along this coast, Charlotteville, lies where the Atlantic and Caribbean meet, and, like Speyside, has impressive coral reefs – many within swimming distance of the beach – ideal for diving and snorkelling.
Pigeon PointThe eastern side of the island rises steeply into the hills which make up the central Main Ridge. Then main rainforest is located here, a rainforest that falls sharply away to the palm-fringed, sandy beaches below. Dripping with moisture and shrouded in mist, the rainforest is a paradise for naturalists and birdwatchers.
Finally, there’s Little Tobago – about 1.5 miles (2.5km) out to sea and just 1.3 miles (2km) long at its widest point. Little Tobago is an uninhabited seabird sanctuary off Speyside. Local fishermen happily take visitors to see the island with its resident birdlife, including terns, boobies and the red-billed tropic bird.
So, wherever you choose to stay and whatever you choose to do while you’re there, you’ll see that Tobago offers something for just about everyone. If you’re a diver, an ornithologist, a nature lover, a sun worshipper, a lover of fresh food, a laid-back lifestyle, a people-watcher, a beach babe, surf dude, sailor, romantic couple, oldie, young person or on a tight budget, then you’ll love Tobago, just like us.
The Tobagonian People
Without any question of doubt, Tobago’s most endearing resource is its endemic population – the Tobagonians. Often initially somewhat offhand, it normally takes little to unleash their humour, hospitality and huge pride in the island. Once you have ‘connected’ with Tobagonians, the island is bound to capture a portion of your heart.
We recommend that first-time visitors, in particular, read our articles on the Tobagonian people.
It has not been hit by industrialization and the pollution, blight and ecological damage that heavy industries can do to the environment. Although its larger sister, Trinidad, is hugely industrialized, Tobago has remained a veritable Garden of Eden for its virgin nature which is seemingly untouched by modern civilization.
But don’t be fooled. Tobago enjoys all the modern conveniences of modern technology and the standard of living is very high. Yet the natural and unadulterated beauty of the landscape is inescapable and the calm joy of the people unmistakable.
Popular Tobago house Rentals price ranges are illustrated below.
1 Bedroom
US$60 /night
US$350 / week
US$1500 /month
2 Bedrooms
US$100 /night
US$ 600 /week
US$ 2000 /month
3 Bedrooms
US$150 /night
US$ 900 /week
US$ 3500 /month
2 and 3 bedroom apartments or houses come with kitchen and living rooms or sitting rooms.
Hunt around, compare prices and do your homework and you are sure to visit Tobago on a budget and experience this magnificent island.
