Plantation Beach Villas, Tobago

An undiscovered treasure by Americans (and Canadians alike) is Tobago. Our favorite spot is the Plantation Beach Villas on Stonehaven Bay, also known locally as Grafton Beach. Each villa is perfectly designed by a Swedish architect named Arne Hasselqvist and is well-known for maximum use of space. You will want to copy the floor plan for your own second home anywhere in the world. The resort manager is Sean Clarke and is your best resource for where to go, what to see, and how to make the best use of your time.

We fly for $25 from Trinidad on Caribbean Air. The service at the Plantation Beach Villas is outstanding as each villa comes with its own full-time maid/cook/villa director. Stacey Roberts was the name of ours and she would shop for groceries and cook fabulous meals for us for less than the price of going to a restaurant.

If you do go to a restaurant, nearby Sea Horse Inn (639-0686) probably ranks as one of the top restaurants on the island. Reputedly the top restaurant is Latitude 11 (631-8774), located on Pigeon Point Road next to the Surf Side Hotel. We also loved the restaurant at the Kariwak Village (639-8442) because of their healthful dishes, which is a fifteen minute drive (next to airport). Great food, but the dining staff seems rather stiff and unfriendly. This past trip, we discovered an Italian restaurant called La Tartaruga (639-0940)which has the best Italian food we have ever eaten (and we spent a week in Italy). The owner has just purchased the CIAO restaurant and opened up a new restaurant next to it, the CIAO Pizza restaurant. I put the phone numbers next to the names of each restaurant, because you will need to make a reservation. Don't be alarmed if the restaurant seems empty around 7 p.m. which is the time we like to dine. The Caribbean tourists and locals love to eat later in the evening.

While in Tobago, don't forget to go to the Nylon Pool. If you book at the front desk at the Plantation Beach Villas, it will cost less ($15 - U.S. per person) for this 3 hour excursion. (A taxi ride is about 90 TT). We love the Nylon Pool because it makes us feel about 10 years younger after scrubbing the crushed coral over our faces, legs and arms. We went with Sun Tours and found them to be excellent.

Delta now flies into Tobago which will greatly impact the tourist trade. Presently only the Germans and British seems to know what a great vacation spot it is.

You will need to learn a few words to "fit in." Liming means to hang out with friends. Mas means carnival (a big Trinidad and Tobago party the first week of February each year.) Fete is a French word used for party.