TOBAGO - RESORT + TRAVEL GUIDE

 

Happy Friday guys! I spent my birthday and the final week of 2021 in Tobago. I wanted to put together a little travel guide for any of you planning to hop over from Trinidad. I’m usually quite busy when visiting the sister isle, so I’m always shocked when fellow locals say that they don’t know what to do when in Tobago. I’ve learned about these places/activities either through my research or from one of my friends. I hope you find this guide somewhat helpful!

HOW TO GET THERE

My friend and I actually took the ferry from Trinidad to Tobago. This was the first time in many years that I took that mode of transport instead of the quick 25 minute plane ride. This just made a lot more sense as we planned to stay for 7 days and having a vehicle (instead of renting) would’ve been convenient.

 

WHERE TO STAY

When I visit Tobago, I either stay in an apartment or Airbnb. This time I tried a resort called Le Grand Courlan Spa Resort (3 Star) which is located in Stonehaven, Black Rock. We opted for the Ocean View which was an additional cost to secure. Actually, the plan was to stay at Grafton Beach Resort which is next door to Le Grand but we got upgraded. I realized that they weren’t taking any guests at Grafton once I got there – the service industry has definitely been impacted as a result of the global pandemic. Nonetheless, we were definitely super happy for the upgrade. 

The resort was everything you would expect from a 3 Star hotel. Covid-19 protocols were upheld; there actually weren't too many guests at the resort. They do a good job maintaining the grounds (minus the fact that the roof needs a good power wash as some of my pics were affected lol), the pool is clean, the rooms are nice and there is an overall relaxing ambiance. Hearing the ocean from your room is definitely a plus and if you’re in for added relaxation there’s always the spa where you can book massages and other services. 

Our stay was breakfast inclusive but the restaurant at the resort was actually not operational (pandemic issues once again) so breakfast was at Waves Restaurant + Bar (more on that later) which was about a seven minute walk from our room.

WHAT TO SEE/DO

Our aim was to have a healthy balance of relaxation and adventure i.e. the best of both worlds.

• Castara Beach
  

This was actually the first time I put my toes in the sand of this beach and honestly it is not my favourite however this was our first stop on our 'island tour'  on day 3.

• Castara Waterfall 

The Waterfall is about a 15 minute hike from the main road. It's really peaceful and the hike isn't too difficult but if you dont take your time there are definitely some areas where you can slip; so be careful! Once you get there the pool is ice cold but super serene.

• Englishman's Bay

I absolutely love Englishman's Bay. You just have to be there to understand. The view is amazing and the water is beautiful and deep blue.

• Glasgow's Bar

When you enter Glasgow's you'll be seated on the balcony where you will get a bird's eye view of Parlatuvier Bay which is so surreal.

• Parlatuvier Bay
  

Another really beautiful beach. Tobago honestly has the best beaches.

• Fort Cambleton

The last stop on our tour; I found this gem and was blown away by the bird's eye view (see above photo) of Man O' War Bay.

• Pigeon Point

You can never go wrong spending the day at Pigeon Point. You can paddle board, as I have done in the past or simply relax in the waters as I did on this trip. Regardless of your choice, you'll have a great time!

• Kariwak Village 

We had a Mindfulness session in the main Ajoupa at Kariwak Village which comprised of Tai Chi, Qigong and a little bit of Yoga. The purpose of this artform is to strengthen your immune system, take care of your muscles and ligaments, focus your mind and to release any stress or anxiety. We  worked our core, arms and legs -  pretty much a full body workout. Our instructor Evy was amazing and I plan to include these sessions in my future trips to Tobago. Also, Kariwak Village is so peaceful and you can stay at their hotel!

WHERE TO EAT/DRINK

There are SO many amazing food spots in Tobago. I had quite the list but due to time constraints it was just impossible to get to every restaurant. The places we ate at definitely did not disappoint though.

• Waves Restaurant + Bar (Stonehaven, Black Rock)

We had dinner here on the first night only - which was also the night of my birthday. It’s a great spot because it’s located right on the beach so it was really scenic. I had the Fish Papillote with a Rum Punch and a Pineapple and Coconut Margarita. The food was pretty delicious.

As our stay was breakfast inclusive, we would make that walk to Waves every morning and I really, really love their breakfast! I fell in love with their French Toast; I need to have that in my life right now.

• Jemma’s Tree House (Speyside)

I finally got to see the hype around Jemma’s Treehouse. By the time we arrived I was starving of course (post island tour meal), but the Breadfruit Pie and Plantains were my favourite! It’s truly an amazing spot for Caribbean food. It was nice having my meal as I looked on at ‘Little Tobago’ (another place I need to visit soon).

• Pasta Gallery (Bon Accord)

You can never go wrong at Pasta Gallery. It’s the cutest place that is also an art gallery. Luckily, we were the only guests dining in at that time. The vibe is always great there.

• Z’s Grill Shack (Pleasant Prospect, Black Rock)

Another place where the ambiance was amazing however, we opted for take-out. The Red Snapper was so delicious and well-seasoned.

• Pepe’s Pizza (Bon Accord)

I had the Pepperoni Pizza which also came with pepper flakes for added flavour.

Restaurants/Bars to visit on my next trip:

1. Suckhole Restaurant + Bar
2. Il Portico
3. La Tartaruga
4. Renmars
   

What are some of your favourite restaurants, activities or sites in Tobago? I'd love to know. 

I really hope you found this guide helpful. Tobago is always a good time and I cant wait to get back so I can do more fun activities. 

Chat soon,

x Akilah

29 - WHAT I WANT TO DO IN MY LAST TWENTIES YEAR

Today is my 29^th birthday! The last birthday of my 20s!

I’m sure a lot of us have been on this mission to get our lives together before 30 as if the big 3-0 is the unofficial deadline to accomplish all things life. It’s so insane that we even thought 30 was old when we were kids when in fact it’s anything but.

My twenties were definitely challenging! This was a formative decade spent studying, forging career paths, navigating relationships, unlearning and pretty much just finding one’s self; which while rewarding was also and still very much a challenge.

Looking back on the last decade, I’ve grown so much. Reflecting on life is such an eye-opener. There were accomplishments and there were many failures; with both there were lessons learned. Really, I’ve learned a lot (not just academically). From graduating university, launching a start-up, buying my first car; there were many gratifying moments.

There’s still so much that I’d like to achieve before 30. So much! Lucky for me I have another year to accomplish more and I plan to enjoy this final twenties year as much as I possibly can. So, here’s my list of things I’d like to accomplish before my 30^th birthday!

·         Travel to a new place

I have quite the list of places I’d like to visit. My traveling has been pretty non-existent for quite some time. My scheduled trip to Tulum, Mexico in April 2020 was understandably cancelled due to the global pandemic and Trinidad closing its borders in March 2020. So this year I definitely plan to get at least one trip in.

·         Improve my cooking skills

Ok, I absolutely love food! Cooking however has just not been my forte. I am convinced that in about ten years I’ll miraculously have a cookbook though. With that said, maybe I can commit to two meals.

·         Increase my savings

Let’s be real, financial stability is the goal. That’s the reason so many of us pursued certain career paths (amongst other reasons of course), started businesses or even invested. And getting older, the thought of building future homes or starting families can feel intimidating. Feel free to share any financial tips you may find helpful. Sticking to a monthly budget and having good credit are my top two! (Having a darn good job helps also ha!)

·         Getting out of my comfort zone

Starting my blog is actually the beginning! I wanted to create a blog about four years ago and to be honest, being an introvert, putting myself out there more than I needed was a deterrent.

·         Quit my current job

Though grateful for employment, it’s time to move on. There’s no other way to say it. I’ve gained so much knowledge during my tenure however I have outgrown it, in every way imaginable. I’m ready for new challenges. I honestly tried my best to leave pre-pandemic but we all know what happened next – and if you’re Trini, you know exactly how hard the job market is over here.

·         Maintain an exercise routine

I love to exercise, however, maintaining a routine while juggling life’s daily tasks has been a bit challenging.

·         Resume my Spanish lessons

One of the things in my life that was negatively impacted as a result of the pandemic was my Spanish lessons. I literally just stopped focusing the moment the pandemic began. So, that’s definitely at the top of my list.

·         Read more

I enjoy reading. Unfortunately, I don’t have the luxury of reading as much as I’d like to but I definitely plan to give it a bit more effort.

·         Expand my business

I have so many plans for Island Moisture. My brain is overloaded. From new formulas to rebranding – 2022 is bound to be interesting to say the least. Starting this new venture has definitely been challenging. Mistakes were made. Many lessons were learned. I have so far to go but I’m proud that I’ve made it to this point.

·         Maintain a self-care routine

I experienced burnout this year. I definitely pushed myself when it came to my business (plus working full-time) and I also plan to push myself even harder for this new year. Of course this isn’t the best thing for me mentally or physically so creating and maintaining a self-care routine, even if it’s something that I do right before bed, is a necessity. Taking time for myself is a must.

Thanks so much for following along and cheers to another year of life! I’m excited to have this space to share a bit about myself with you. I’m off to an amazing, fun filled week and by extension – year!

 x Akilah