Anyone been to Tobago Cays RECENTLY

[RIglehart]

Researching for a bareboat charter in August. I have never been there. Found this on a web site. Really? So, if I have a boat with 10 people I'm in for $15x10 plus $60 = $210/day to just be there? Where is the "marine park" vs everything else?



http://www.tobagocays.org/wp-content...-Fees-TCMP.pdf

[Zanshin]

I haven't been there, but St. Vincent and the Grenadines uses the ECU, which is pegged at 2.68 to the US dollar. So those are around $78 per day; but still quite high.

[RIglehart]

Originally Posted by Zanshin

I haven't been there, but St. Vincent and the Grenadines uses the ECU, which is pegged at 2.68 to the US dollar. So those are around $78 per day; but still quite high.

Thank you. That makes much more sense. I should have known that.

[Joli]

We'll be there tomorrow. I assume it's EC, so about $20 US a day. I'll confirm.

[mdelage]

Was there 3 days ago. It's EC (was 90 EC per night for our boat... my wife and I)

[s/v Jedi]

So happy we were there before the fees and even before the moorings etc.

[bstreep]

We went 35 years ago. And then again 6 months ago. SO disappointed. Be sure and bring food to eat aboard. The boat boys will take you to the cleaners. $55 US for chicken (3legs), $75 US for lobster. The boat boys have unionized. And they have universally adopted what THEY call, a “white tax”. My advice is to stick to Beqia, Mustique, and the Grenada Grenadines. Oh yeah, watch our in Clifton, Union Island. The boat boys have a little scheme where they run you over a mooring line just below the water, and then ping you for huge bucks to have it removed. It’s on Noonsite.

[old pirate]

Was the highlight of our charters in the 90s. So sad it’s come to this ! We won’t be back.

[s/v Jedi]

I think the best place to be now is Carriacou. Always been nice, still the same today

[derfy]

Was there a year ago, and the year before that. Could all be different now. It was great, but I had only two people to pay for. Get outside the reef (dinghy thru a cut east of Baradal) and do a drift snorkel. Amazing. Saw a huge manta and sharks. Don't bother with snorkeling inside the reef. It was all bleached. Also good around the cliffs of the islands, but not like the outside of the reef.

Lobster dinner on the beach on Petit Rameau was fine, pricey, but okay for a one-time splurge, about $50 US per person. Lots of flies when the food comes out, but that is normal in these islands. Just knock down a few rum punches and you won't mind them so much.

Really liked Chatham Bay on Union Island. One of the best spots in the Grenadines. A couple of very cool beach restaurants. Try them all.

Clifton Harbour is a challenge, very tight, lots of current and breeze, one-way roundabout. Get a mooring or check your anchor very closely for drag before leaving for town. You can't use very much scope here without swinging into other boats. Very cool little town, and you have to go to clear out of SVG.

I can't love Tyrell Bay, Carriacou. You have to clear in there, so it's not an option unless you go on to Grenada. It is one of those end-of-the-line anchorages full of old boats (and boaters) that will never move again. Move on to Sandy Island, which is very nice, and Hillsborough. Then island hop to Grenada.

Fair Winds

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by derfy

Was there a year ago, and the year before that. Could all be different now. It was great, but I had only two people to pay for. Get outside the reef (dinghy thru a cut east of Baradal) and do a drift snorkel. Amazing. Saw a huge manta and sharks. Don't bother with snorkeling inside the reef. It was all bleached. Also good around the cliffs of the islands, but not like the outside of the reef.

Lobster dinner on the beach on Petit Rameau was fine, pricey, but okay for a one-time splurge, about $50 US per person. Lots of flies when the food comes out, but that is normal in these islands. Just knock down a few rum punches and you won't mind them so much.

Really liked Chatham Bay on Union Island. One of the best spots in the Grenadines. A couple of very cool beach restaurants. Try them all.

Clifton Harbour is a challenge, very tight, lots of current and breeze, one-way roundabout. Get a mooring or check your anchor very closely for drag before leaving for town. You can't use very much scope here without swinging into other boats. Very cool little town, and you have to go to clear out of SVG.

I can't love Tyrell Bay, Carriacou. You have to clear in there, so it's not an option unless you go on to Grenada. It is one of those end-of-the-line anchorages full of old boats (and boaters) that will never move again. Move on to Sandy Island, which is very nice, and Hillsborough. Then island hop to Grenada.

Fair Winds

We all used a trick years ago… I bet it still works: you can check into Grenada and St Vincent simultaneously and sail back and forth. IIRC St Vincent doesn’t stamp the passport?

[bstreep]

To follow up on my post about the St Vincent Grenadines. We liked Carriacou so much we flew up there for a week after our charter.

[Joli]

Clifton isn't a problem to check into. We picked up a mooring with help from a local for $20 EC. Tobago Cays is lovely and is the same price as Sandy Islands in Cariacou. $20 US a night. Don't go to the beach barbecue if you don't want to, there is no pressure from the locals.

People down here are lovely and they work hard to make living. Are there problem people, sure, but they're problem people in Chicago too. Keep your eyes open and drive your boat properly. Don't do something you're uncomfortable with.

[Joli]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

We all used a trick years ago… I bet it still works: you can check into Grenada and St Vincent simultaneously and sail back and forth. IIRC St Vincent doesn’t stamp the passport?

Hmm,. Not today

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Joli

Hmm,. Not today

Hmmm… and Grenada? It’s too long ago to remember how exactly it was done, but I believe only one stamped the passports and the other used a piece of paper to be kept in the passport…