Hi there

We stayed at the Coco Reef for our second time on a B&B basis in April. The food there is very good and it's definately worthwhile dressing up and eating there in the evening at least once or twice. However, there are plenty of other places very close by and if we were to visit the hotel again we would go B&B.

I can recommend the Kariwak Village Restaurant, Bonkers, Dillons Seafood (very good), Cafe Coco (under the same ownership as the Coco Reef but a 10 min walk from the hotel with a more laid-back evening feel and a very long and extensive menu) and the Pelican Reef for its proximity - practically across the road - and evening entertainment.

Sorry I cant help with the Blue Haven, never having visited, but I've stayed at the Grand Courland Resort and Coco is much nicer. Have a great holiday.

Thats good news, are the other restaurants that you mention close enough to walk or do we need to take a cab?

Also in terms of costs what are they roughly for a meal. Do they prefer T&T $ or US $ as the £ is quite strong at the moment.

Who did u book the hotel with?

Use TT currency. Not that they wouldn't accept the USD. Where ever you travel, using the local currency shows a sign respect.

Hi

I go to Tobago every year, we rent memories villa in Bon Accord, expensive if only a couple though. I do know both hotels though. Coco Reef is great if you don't mind busy hotels, food I find ok and it is in walking distance to lots of restuarants and and 2 beaches.

Blue Haven is quieter and I think the service better. Food in the beach bar which is lovely, sometimes you can be on the beach on your own, don't rate the restaurant though. You are near Scarbourgh, could walk in 5/10 mins, though no internationl rests there.

I find eating anything other than local food far more expensive than London. On average for dinner with drinks and wine expect to pay at least £30-£50 plus. Spoke to my mother last night who is over there and went to one of the best rests (Shirvan Watermill) and was charged about £21 for a main course of curried shrimp which came with peas mixed into mashed potatoes. The shrimp were coated in curry powder and grilled....urgh!! Although she returned it, they made her pay.

Hope this is of help.

Have a fantastic time

Ullo Aitch

We were on AI when we stayed at Coco Beach. Food was good, one or two hiccups but generally tasty, and breakfasts were the usual feast of all things healthy and not! If you like local food, the hotel is right next door to Store Bay, which has a courtyard of stalls selling most excellent curries, roti, crab and dumpling etc. You can eat very well for less than a fiver. There's also a beach bar where you can watch the sun go down over a reasonably-priced beer.

On the other side of the hotel is Dillons, which specialises in seafood. Dillon runs a charter boat, so the fish is usually very fresh. There are, also, plenty of shops, snack bars, bars and restaurants 15 minutes' walk either side of the hotel entrance.

Best meal we had in Tobago was at the Seahorse Inn in Stone Haven Bay, 15min taxi ride up the coast from Coco Beach. Fish, lobster, local veg, all fresh and delicious. Booking advised.

Be aware that if you choose the Blue Haven, the Atlantic coastline is pretty rough and rocky, and very different in character to the Caribbean side. There aren't many pretty postcard beaches there. The hotel isn't far from Scarborough, which is pretty busy but again, with many places to each cheap local food, expensive western stuff, and all things in between, including fast food. There's a great Italian ice cream parlour where the road rises towards Bacolet just past the ferry terminal, and by the terminal are stalls selling roti, jerk sandwiches, coconut water and sugarcane water.

That's enough; all this is making me hungry. I feel an attack of curry goat looming ...

blue haven has it's own secluded beach so the sea is fine to swim in there. coco reef is located in crown point where most of the activity is. if you want to be central, choose coco reef, if you want to be more secluded, choose blue haven.