Bacolet Beach Club

Staff were really friendly and hard working, the setting of the hotel and it's private beach are very nice. However, the hotel is very tired and anyone expecting 4* quality (as advertised) will have every right to feel disappointed and mislead. We had a "junior penthouse", so a premium room. It was worse than shabby, it was grubby and in a state of some distress. I have no idea when any money was last spent on it, likely many years ago. The bathroom fittings were shocking (see photos) and the electrical fittings unnerving. The wardrobe doors were frankly dirty. We complained about the room and told we'd get moved after 4-days, nothing came of this. Meanwhile the water went off on more than one occasion and for the last two day's, the bedroom and bathroom were not cleaned, although, bizarrely, clean towels were left but soiled ones were not taken away. The restaurant whilst in a nice setting and with lovely staff, was distressed. The veranda rail had paint peeling so badly it stuck to your skin if you made the mistake of leaning on it. Food was fine albeit at breakfast, it was hit and miss if you could find all of the basics available each day. Management disputes this but that was the case. If you want cheap and cheerful then you'll be fine here but, if like us, you paid for a premium product on the back of a Virgin Holiday's brochure, then you will likely be disappointed and certainly, if you are unlucky enough to have booked a "junior penthouse".

I had the pleasure of spending a week at this hotel. Nice peaceful setting, approx 20 min walk from town if you wish (no pavement/ sidewalk), right on the beach down a flight of stairs. Being set on a hill be prepared to do some walking. I didn't use any of the pools but they all looked inviting and relaxing. The food was OK and the drinks strong, what more could you ask for? Island tours are readily available and can be flexibly booked at the hotel. I'd like to say thank you to Jenny who was an absolute star, welcoming, hospitable, efficient and professional. I will be back, its a beautiful place.

The beach is stunning, so private, so well shaded, excellent for swimming (quite a strong under-tow) . Our bedroom was large, well equipped, superb balcony and sea view. Location suited us in that we walked each day into Scarborough (though heavens knows why since very little to do there) and felt that the area was more "real" than further South. Staff on the whole were very kind although generally the "service culture" on Tobago is not strong. Perhaps that is a positive, at least there is none of that phoney "have a nice day now" tripe --- but we did feel as tourists that we were almost intrusive, which in a sense we are. Remember, this is a country which was dominated by a series of European imperialists, then handed to Trinidad, and largely ignored once the value of its sugar went down. They were treated badly and owe nothing to Europeans who were exploitative. That said, there was a sense that the whole place just seemed to be slightly disengaged from itself, unsure of its identity and disaffected. Back to the hotel --- service here was certainly far better than in general on the island but was sometimes ramshackle. It is understaffed which may be because trying to even cover costs must be difficult, in almost all areas and you just felt that perhaps half a dozen more staff, including an all-round supremo, would make all the difference. But that would increase costs by 300k USD and is probably not sustainable. Staying for a long time (we were there two weeks) you get used to things, but it can be an irritant. The menu is not extensive and does not vary (except for an evening when "Sausage and Mash" was offered. The restaurant needs a refurbishment and is desperately short of space. Meals were a bit hit and miss and staff unbelievably busy. But it works. Generally the decor is shabby away from the new buildings --- poor maintenance and some shoddy DIY (e.g. the painting of the bridges connecting the buildings) We found this relaxing and endearing, but then we loathe the bland, slick chain hotels. Others would find it off-putting. All in all we had an excellent break in a superb location and an outstanding beach. The quirks were just that and did not detract from our enjoyment but could pose an issue for others.