Steve Salfield

The White House has two double studio apartments available for rent on the ground floor of this lovely comfortable house in a pretty tropical garden in this fishing village.

Charlotteville is at the less developed end of Tobago and is about an hour and a half drive from the airport. The house has lovely views over the unspoiled village, rainforest and the beautiful Caribbean. Each studio has a queen size double bed with ceiling fan, floor fan, mosquito net, shower room, small kitchen and an outside terrace with table and chairs. One studio has a lovely sea view and both have beautiful rainforest views. There are beautiful forest and sea views from the terraces. The studios are looked after meticulously by a very friendly and helpful local housekeeper. Linen is changed twice a week.

The lovely village beach is 5 minutes walk and idyllic Pirates’ Bay beach which has no buildings roads or cars is an additional 15 minutes walk along a track and steps or a 5 minute ride in a local fishing boat.
The village is interesting and scenic. The local people are mostly fishing people and are laid back and friendly. and there are a few tourists. There are a few small restaurants and bars, two small supermarkets, a fish market and a few local fruit and food stalls. The sea is lovely for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving. There is a dive centre and a kayak centre.

Reservations:
Double studio apartment Sea View US $60 per night, Forest View US$50 per night
Contact info@holidayintobago.com or book online at http://www.holidayintobago.com/thewhitehouse.html

Further information:
Steve Salfield. UK phone 0044 (0)1629 650183  Tobago phone (001 868)345 6792

Email steve@stevesalfield.com

DIRECTIONS TO THE WHITE HOUSE CHARLOTTEVILLE
Enter Charlotteville on the main road from Speyside.
On entering the village turn right at the petrol station. Follow the road straight on bearing right when there is a choice. At the top the road curves round to the left and over a small bridge. The White House is the first house after the bridge on your right. It resembles a white castle.

THINGS TO BRING FOR YOUR HOLIDAY

Obviously bring whatever you want but here are some suggestions:
You can buy a few basics here but don’t expect an interesting shopping experience so bring what you want.

Clothes:
It’s the tropics.
Daytime:
Bikinis, swimming shorts, vests, short sleeved shirts, shorts, flimsy dresses, sunhat.
Women should be reasonably modest or face disapproval from the local women and enthusiasm from the local men.
Toplessness is not done.
Sandals
Evenings:
Lightweight dress, smarter shorts, or kneelength shorts, lightweight trousers, shortsleeved shirts, no ties, jackets etc required - you get the picture,
Sandals
Trainers or lightweight walking boots if you want to go into the rainforest.

Food etc:
Available locally but we bring our own coffee and tea as we don’t like what you get locally.

Other things:
Small rucksack or similar for the beach. Small torch. Bring cash from the airport or Scarborough. The village ATM sometimes works. As a guide it costs about TT$100 ie £10 to eat out in the evening.
Snorkel, beach towel or whatever you want to lie on.
Plus all the things you like for an arduous time such as novels, ipod, sunglasses etc

GOOD PLACES TO EAT
Charlotteville
There are several good places to eat in just a short walk from the White House.
Gail’s Restaurant – excellent food and very friendly place open every evening except Sunday – Gail is a friend of ours so mention you are staying at the White House
Sharon and Phebs Restaurant – Excellent food and very friendly – our friends and next door neighbours. They have probably the best prawns in Tobago. Open all day every day. You can go here just for a drink or a delicious meal.
Jane’s Quality Kitchen in the middle of the beach in Charlotteville – the best rotis in Tobago at lunchtime and dinner in the evening. Inexpensive, people are friendly and idyllic rustic situation. Closed from Friday evening until they reopen on Saturday evening. Jane, Kosa, Everton and Jerome live near us and are very friendly.
Lyda’s Bar. Favourite place for a drink. Lyda cooks delicious buss up shuts, an open roti, on Fridays from 11am and at other times with 24 hours notice – the pastry is ragged like a “bust up shirt”.

The Banana Boat is a good drink place and for snacks and meals.
G’s in Charlotteville opposite Sharon and Pheebs – drinks and inexpensive food
Michelle Jack will cook you a delicious meal in her house by prior arrangement. Ask in the village.
The Beach Bar is good for a beach side drink and for snacks

Speyside – ten minutes drive.

Jemma’s restaurant– best at lunchtime – special position and great lunch but a bit touristy. Closed on Friday sundown till Saturday sundown.
Speyside Inn for a more westernised good meal and price.

Castara –
Recently the best food has been in Marguerite’s, on the main road near the river.
Also Vera’s Roti place on the beach not always open.
Naturalist Guest House on the beach has a bar with food.
Cas Creole on the beach in Castara – idyllic setting in the thatched beach building – food so so and not always available.
Boat House Restaurant on little beach is in idyllic situation. Food variable.

Englishman’s Bay
Nice food at Eula’s small restaurant on the beach.

Bloody Bay
Sunshine Inn on the main road near Bloody Bay has good food and lovely views
Parlatuvier
The Riverside has good food.

Scarborough
Blue Crab just up the hill from the RBTT bank is good and has a nice colonial feel.
Inexpensive and good food in a seedy expat/local environment is Kingswell Inn in Scarborough– you get a good meal for 25TT. Sit outside or in the down at heel upstairs dining room.
Inexpensive and good food at Flavour Pot near TSTT building.

Near the airport. Crown Point. The Kariwak Village has absolutely excellent food and is a lovely hotel.

SHOPPING FOR FOOD
You can get all the basics in Charlotteville in the two small “supermarkets”.
Freshly baked bread – Ann Murphy in the house just down the track from White House bakes daily and bread can be ordered from her house or bought at her little white shop next to the carpark in the village near the supermarket.
Jane at her restaurant also has delicious home cooked bread
Fresh fruit and veggies can be bought in the village and from a pickup truck opposite the supermarket on Fridays from 3-5 pm
Pennysavers in Canaan near the airport is the best for a big shop if you have a car and are going up to that part of the island. Its cheaper than Charlotteville and has a wide range of imported food.

POST OFFICE
In the supermarket

SOME PLACES TO VISIT
Pirate’s bay – walk along track or get fishing boat to take you – usually 20 tt per person single, but agree price before getting in boat. Beautiful beach with nice snorkelling.
First Historical Café at Studley Park – fascinating for a drink on the way along the southside road.
Castara small village with 2 beaches and some eating places. The restaurant at the little beach is in an idyllic spot and the food is often very good.
Rainforest walks with guide in the National Park
Englishman’s bay – lovely beach and snorkelling. Eula’s restaurant open at lunchtimes
Buccoo Coral gardens – you can arrange a great day trip with Johnsons boats at Buccoo. Snorkelling, diamond pool and if you like a beach barbecue.

EMERGENCIES, DOCTORS and DENTISTS
The Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists in Scarborough has private doctors and clinics and emergency services – 639-1115, 639- 4014, 622-1191, 622-1192, 622-3302, 622-3048
There is a public hospital in Scarborough.
Ambulance phone 990
Police 999

NEIGHBOURS
The neighbours are all local Charlotteville people. You are in their village. You will find them very friendly and helpful if you smile and say hello.

LIMING
The local evening pastime is meeting people for a chat or liming. Usual place is on the wall at the seafront. Lyda’s bar near Gail’s restaurant is a popular liming spot and good for sunset watching.

SWIMMING AND SNORKELLING
The nearest good swimming is at the Charlotteville Beach Bar 7 minutes walk.
There is beautiful swimming and snorkelling at Pirate’s Bay a beautiful little beach which is a 15-20 minute walk along the other end of the village or a short boatride with one of the fishermen. The usual rate is 20 TT per person each way but confirm before getting into the boat. This can be arranged at the fish market.
You can get taken to one of the other beaches in Man’o’war bay by one of the fishermen.

You can have a lovely swim at Blue Waters Hotel beach in Speyside.
Nice place to sit for a drink and there is a little tourist shop there. Eating there is expensive and there are many more atmospheric places to eat which are half the price or less.

KAYAKING
Kayak centre in Charlotteville

PARTYING
Occasional barbecues with steel band music at the Beach Bar.
Various happenings from time to time in the village.

Charlotteville sits prettily in the middle of Man’o’war bay at the eastern end of the island of Tobago on the Caribbean ocean.
Population about 3000 (Tobago about 50,000, Trinibago about 1.3 million). Most Tobago residents are local afro-caribbeans.
Catches about 65% of Tobago’s fish – fishing is the main work
Small scale tourism with a number of small guest houses and no hotel
Most of the land you can see around is owned by Charlotteville Estates which is owned by Pat Turpin who lives in the village and is president of Environment Tobago. She also owns Man’o’war Bay cottages next to the beach.
The White house is a modern, very comfortable house in a lovely tropical garden. The house has views over the village and the beautiful Caribbean and the surrounding tropical rain forest. It has 2 studio apartments for rent and each is self contained with a double queen size bed, shower room, small well equipped kitchen and an outside terrace with table and chairs. The village centre and the village beach is about 5 to 10 minutes walk. One studio has a sea view over the Caribbean and the other has beautiful rain forest views.

DIRECTIONS TO THE WHITE HOUSE CHARLOTTEVILLE
Enter Charlotteville on the main road from Speyside.
On entering the village turn right at the petrol station. Follow the road straight on bearing right when there is a choice. At the top the road curves round to the left and over a small bridge. The White House is the first house after the bridge on your right. It resembles a white castle.

CASH
There is now an ATM in Charlotteville to get cash. However it doesn’t always work so it’s a good idea to bring cash. There are banks and ATM’s at the airport and in Scarborough. Get plenty at the airport on arrival or when in Scarborough.

WATER SYSTEM
The water is good but we recommend boiling it before drinking.
Water can be in short supply in Tobago in the dry season so go steady and don’t have long luxurious showers.
If you have a problem phone Sharon 660 5196/498 8320 or Cat the caretaker 777 1964. Both are very helpful.
COOKING GAS
The gas cylinder is in the cupboard underneath the cooker and is switched on by flicking the little tap on the top to in line with the tubing. If the gas runs out Sharon or Cat can connect a new cylinder.

WINDOWS AND DOORS
In the front downstairs apartment or upstairs, when out keep the front windows closed or slightly open as a sudden downpour of rain will wet the inside. At night keep only slightly open or bats could fly in. At night keep door shut too for bats.
Front door of building should be closed and locked at night and if out.

LIGHTS
Leave terrace lights on at night to discourage bats

PEOPLE WHO CAN HELP
Sharon Holder-Alleyne is the housekeeper. She should be here to meet you on arrival and will explain about the apartment. She comes twice a week to clean and change your bedlinen. She is very friendly.
Cat (Fitz) (Fitzgerald) is the gardener come maintenance person – very helpful
Sharon phone no. 660 5196. Cellphone 498 8320
Cat phone no. 777 1964
Pat Turpin is our agent in Charlotteville – she also runs Man o War Bay Cottages – phone 660 4327 or at home (emergency only) 660 4289
Walter and Sharon are our nextdoor neighbours and friends and the owners of Sharon and Pheeb’s restaurant in the village.
Jemo and family are next door but one – very friendly
Pussycat and family are nextdoor but two. Pussycat drives the maxi which can take you to Scarborough or places en route.
Dave Alleyne is next door the other way, across the bridge and also has a maxi taxi which can take you to Scarborough etc

HIRE CARS
The main hire car companies are available at Crown Point
Ask Cat our caretaker to arrange one in the village.

SWIMMING AND SNORKELLING
The nearest good swimming is at the Charlotteville Beach Bar 5 to 10 minutes walk. At the Beach Bar between the two flags is an easy place to swim. Snorkelling is better at Pirate’s Bay a beautiful little beach which is a hot walk along the other end of the village or a short boatride with one of the fishermen. You can get taken to one of the other beaches in Man’o’war bay by one of the fishermen.

You can have a lovely swim at Blue Waters Hotel beach in Speyside. Nice place to sit for a drink and there is a little tourist shop there. Wouldn’t bother eating there as it is expensive and there are many more atmospheric places to eat which are half the price or less.

DIVING
Several dive shops in Speyside

KAYAKING
Kayak centre in the village
ANIMALS
The house is in the tropics and the terraces are open to the outdoors
You will see parrots flying about, cocricots – large bird walking around in the trees, little yellow banana quits, humming birds and many others.
There is quite a bit of insect life, moths, flies, some mosquitoes – Autan active spray seems good.
Geckos are the little lizard like animals walking around the walls particularly in the evenings. They are harmless and eat the flies and mosquitoes.
The apartments have fly wire on the louvres so if you keep the door and windows shut you shouldn’t have a problem with insects. If you do there are mosquito nets or they can be controlled by putting a tablet in the little machine (bugmat) kept in the wardrobe and plugging it in. This lasts all night and is quite effective. Please unplug it next morning as it can get overheated.
Also you can burn a mosquito coil on the plate provided. This is under the sink. There is no malaria here but sometimes Dengue fever.
You will see plenty of bats in the evening.
There no poisonous snakes.
DOCTORS and DENTISTS
If in trouble ask Pat Turpin for details of best doctor around for that problem.
The Community Hospital of Seventh-day Adventists has private doctors and clinics and emergency services – 639-1115, 639- 4014, 622-1191, 622-1192, 622-3302, 622-3048
There is a public hospital in Scarborough - avoid if possible.

NEIGHBOURS
The neighbours are all local Charlotteville people. Very friendly and helpful if you smile and say hello.

LIMING
The local evening pastime is meeting people for a chat or liming. Usual place is on the wall at the seafront especially on Fridays about 6pm. Lyda’s bar near Gail’s restaurant is a popular liming spot and good for sunset watching.

HOW TO GET A CELLPHONE
You can buy Digicel phones very cheaply (ours was 40tt$)
INTERNET ACCESS
There are one or two internet access places in the village

PLACES TO VISIT
Pirate’s bay – walk along track or get fishing boat to take you – usually 20 tt per person single, but agree price before getting in boat. Beautiful beach with nice snorkelling.
First Historical Café at Studley Park – fascinating for a drink on the way along the southside road
Castara small village with 2 beaches and 3 eating places. The restaurant at the little beach is in an idyllic spot but the food is erratic.
Rainforest
Englishman’s bay
Bloody bay

FOOD IN THE APARTMENT
Keep food in the fridge or in sealed containers or the ants etc will get it quickly

SHOPPING FOR FOOD
You can get all the basics in Charlotteville.
There are two small “supermarkets”, a rum shop which sells Carib and Stag beer as well as rum and spirits. Several fruit stalls on the main street by the sea. A fish market next to the petrol station. Freshly baked bread is available at about 7pm most evenings in a small shop just more or less opposite the pier owned by Ann Murphy and also at Jane’s Quality Kitchen. The prices in Charlotteville shops are a bit higher than the big supermarket – Pennysavers in Canaan near the airport is probably best for a big shop if you have a car and are going up to that part of the island.
Fresh fruit and veggies can be bought from a pickup truck opposite the supermarket on Fridays from 3-5 pm

POST OFFICE
In the supermarket

RULES
No smoking in the apartments please – outside on the terrace is OK. Use ashtray and don’t throw cigarette ends over the wall and start a fire.
Don’t take apartments towels out of the building please.