Bayview Villa
Mini-review by Steve & Jill Wooler, March 2008
The number of invitations and requests that we receive to review properties far outstrips our ability to undertake them. In an ideal world, we would visit every accommodation property on Tobago. As a non-commercial site, we simply lack the time and resources to accomplish this.
So, the best we can do is to spend two months each year producing detailed reports on as wide a range of accommodation as possible. While conducting the main reviews, we also undertake detailed inspections of properties that we intend to stay at, and fully review, the following year.
This mini-review of Bayview Villa follows one such inspection. It will be replaced by a full report after our 2009 visit to Tobago. In the meantime, we believe that the property deserves inclusion in our list of “Reviewed & Recommended” properties.
Mini-Review
Bayview Villa is a colonial-style three-storey house situated on a hillside overlooking Stonehaven Bay. It is located at Pleasant Prospect, near Grafton.
Larger groups will undoubtedly be interested in renting the entire house, as it provides highly comfortable accommodation for up to ten adults. The villa is actually divided into three separate self-contained apartments – one on each floor. Each apartment has its own entrance and independent access.
Being built on a hillside, the layout is somewhat unusual in that both the upper and lower floors are at street level. No, I haven’t been enjoying too many rum punches! The main entrance to the villa and parking area is at the top of the house. The lowest floor is adjacent to the north coast road and guests will undoubtedly use the gate at this level for the short walk to and from the beach or local facilities. The multi-level layout of the property means that it is not best suited to those with mobility problems or wheelchair users.
The Location
Pleasant Prospect is a pleasant (!!!) little hamlet between Mount Irvine and Black Rock. Anyone familiar with the Caribbean north coast road is sure to be familiar with it. The hamlet is home to The Fish Pot Restaurant, Harlequin, Pizza Boys, Marie’s Place and the only ATM cash machine 
on the Caribbean coast. In other words, a highly useful, even essential, group of establishments that will be invaluable to every visitor staying along this stretch of coast. Bayview Villa is situated less than a minute’s walk from these essential facilities.
The Crown Point beaches of Store Bay and Pigeon Point are attractive and popular, but have become over-commercialised and can often be crowded – excessively so if a cruise ship has docked in Scarborough. The beaches along the Caribbean coast are much quieter and more natural. Other than a few beach traders, these beaches are largely free from any sort of commercialisation (by world standards). Bayview Villa is just a short 3 minute walk from popular Grafton beach.
The Shirvan Road, which runs along the lower part of the Caribbean north coast road from its intersection with the Crown Point-Scarborough highway, has become Tobago’s dominant restaurant strip. More than half dozen of the island’s most popular restaurants are housed along, or adjacent to, this mile-or-so of coast road – all within a 5 minute drive of Pleasant Prospect.
When one combines these factors, Bayview Villa has as good a location as any on the island. It is within 15-20 minutes drive of every notable business or feature in the main Crown Point-Plymouth-Scarborough triangle and is ideally situated for visits to Tobago’s beautiful northern coastline and rainforest.
To get the best from any holiday on Tobago it is normally essential to have your own transport. The island is small, but few properties are within walking distance of more than one or two shops, restaurants, beaches or other facilities. It would be a shame to stay at Bayview without your own transport, but having said that, it is one of the few places where it would be genuinely possible. The close proximity to the beach, a small but useful mini-mart, a cash machine, several dining spots of varying grade and a couple of bars make its location fairly unique.
The Accommodation
The top floor of Bayview offers a spacious and charming three-bedroom apartment appropriately named The Captain’s Quarters. All three bedrooms are air-conditioned and fully en suite. The open-plan living and dining room open onto a lovely wrap-around veranda which provides lovely panoramic sea views over Stonehaven Bay.
The middle level of the house consists of a one-bedroom apartment called The Middle Deck. During the winter months (November to May), this apartment is permanently occupied by resident manageress Paula This apartment is therefore only available for rental during the summer months.
The lower level of the house is known as Crew’s Inn. This spacious studio apartment has a very unique charm and will undoubtedly make a wonderful holiday base for couples.
All three apartments boast fully air-conditioned en suite double bedrooms. Cots and crib/playpens are also available on request. The apartments are decorated and furnished to the highest standards.
The villa is set in very lush and mature landscaped grounds. These are a riot of colour and, needless to say, attract a huge collection of tropical birds. Guests share an attractive circular swimming pool located on the ground floor of the property.
Conclusion
Bayview Villa clearly boasts an ideal location. It is one of very few rental properties where we can honestly say that having your own transport is not essential. It is within walking distance of one Tobago nicest beaches and the best cluster of shops and restaurants along the Caribbean coast. The villa and apartments themselves are attractive, comfortable and ideally furnished. Put everything together and it is clear that few other properties can offer a better overall package.
We look forward to being able to report in detail.
Return to the search listing page
The buttons above present articles sequentially, in the order shown in the menu bar
at the top of the page. You are currently on the Property Review page in the Accommodation menu.
