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Currently booking for friends & family only by special arrangement
Are children allowed?
Although we do not have an age-limit, you should note that Tobago is not particularly young-child friendly!
With friends we are flexible – it boils down to whether you think your children will respect the flat – this means not climbing/bouncing on furniture, not wearing outdoor shoes in the flat, not running around or shouting, not eating anywhere but at a table, and not taking any drinks anywhere apart from in the cup/straw glasses we have provided, and using coasters with them.
From a safety point of view, Tobago has balconies, and in theory there is nothing to stop a child climbing up and falling; this is the main reason we would suggest that only mature Key Stage 2 age children come whom you deeply trust not to take any risks, and who will respect the rules to help keep the place looking lovely.
Also, we have not catered for young children in terms of cots, high chairs, mattress-protection against bed-wetting etc, and whilst there is a lift in Tobago, the carpets in there are actually quite difficult to manoeuvre a pram on.
All in all, Tobago is best for couples, and older age children in a family unit.
What is the parking situation?
Tobago is one of 29 flats in one of the 6 ‘Caribbean’ blocks which grace the promenade of Bexhill on Sea. There is some limited and strict parking at the rear of the block, accessed via Brockley Road.
If you wanted to unload, there is ample space to briefly stop by the lobby, unload into the lobby, then park your car, without causing an obstruction. NEVER leave your vehicle unattended, even if unloading – inconsiderate parking is not tolerated and can reflect badly on us and our relationship with other residents and the management company (we are sometimes blamed for poor parking, and it is never us or our guests, but please help us keep an unblemished record!)
Please ONLY park in marked bays, even if you see others disobeying….for the reasons above!
There are substantial restrictions on local parking – this includes meter and resident parking restrictions. However, parking on West Parade itself (the sea road directly in front of the Tobago building) is actually very reasonable – we often simply park there and use the app to keep the payment updated. To set it up in advance, it is ‘West Parade (seaward side), On Street’ location number 17749 and all day parking is £2.20, 8am-6pm
What’s included in our stay?
Included is all bedlinen, which will be on the beds for you.
Each person in the booking will have one bath sheet and one hand towel. There are also hand towels in both bathroom and cloakroom for handwashing.
Teatowels and all dishwashing sundries are included.
Teabags and coffee will be available.
Since we use this holiday flat ourselves, we keep a store of staple foods and frozen foods so that they are there for us to use whenever we rock up. We are very happy for guests to avail themselves of these, and ask simply that you replace what you have used before you leave. So if you arrive later than you hoped and don’t want to go out, you can usually knock up some pasta or rice from store cupboard ingredients or frozen foods. We ask that you do not leave any food behind, other than unopened items you have replaced.
Is there a washing machine?
I’m afraid Tobago doesn’t have a washing machine. Space was tight in the kitchen so we sacrificed one white good for a giant crazy orange fridge and a seating area. When we are there for a week or longer we use the Launderette in Sackville Road, in the main area of town.
What media is there on the televisions?
The television in the Lounge is a 55″ SmartTV which has BT YouView on it, and Tobago has the BT Sports package. This means you can record and pause etc, as well as view the last 7 days TV on demand. You can also sign in to your Netflix/Amazon accounts as you wish.
The Games Room has a smaller TV, and this is FreeView only. You can of course bring your Firestick or other media device and hook up to either TV – there is always-on WIFI.
Are any toiletries included as part of our stay?
Shampoo, conditioner, and body wash is complementary, as is handsoap in both the bathroom, the cloakroom, and the kitchen.
We can be quite a noisy family; will this be a problem?
I’m afraid so. Our block-mates are in the majority older folks, and so we do expect all guests to behave with the utmost courtesy – Tobago is not a loud party-house, and we would never wish to upset our neighbours. To be honest, if you are looking for somewhere to relax and not worry about shouting kids, loud music or blasting televisions, then Tobago is not for you!
We are looking for a hen/stag place to stay - does Tobago fit the bill?
Nope.
As Tobago is in a block of flats, there is the possibility that loud music, late nights, and too much noise late into the night could substantially upset our neighbours, most of whom are elderly, and we would never want to jeopardise their comfort by allowing noisy guests to stay. Find a detached cottage somewhere – much better!
Is there any complementary food included? ie Tea, Bread etc?
We have found that with so many differences in eating preferences these days, our milk and bread offerings were sometimes going to waste – so we do not put any fresh food for you. There are staple store cupboard ingredients, so you’ll at least be able to make a cuppa – but do bring milk and perhaps a loaf, butter and breakfast things if you’re arriving too late to go shopping.
Bexhill does of course have plenty of restaurants, cafes and takeaway services. See our Where to Eat page for more.
Do we need to recycle while we’re there?
Yes please, you must be a good recycler whilst in Tobago, so if that’s not your thing, Tobago’s not the place for you! Tobago’s kitchen bin has a front section for non-recyclable refuse and food waste (Bexhill does not yet have food waste recycling facilities), and a back section for recyclables which you must then take down to the recycling bins outside the building.
More detailed recycling instructions can be found in the manual when you arrive at Tobago.
Are the duvets hypo-allergenic?
We made the choice not to use feather in any of our bedding, in case of potential allergies. All our duvets and mattress protectors are from Soak & Sleep from the Luxury Soft As Down Microfibre duvet range.
If it’s a flat, what is the entry situation?
Tobago is a very secure building, so you will need to ensure you have your keys on you! Entry is via a door to a lobby, and then a fob-activiated buzzer system to get through to the communal hallways. Once in the hallway you have access to the stairs and lifts. In the lobby are also the doorbells for the individual flats. The external lobby door is locked at 6pm for added security so guests are by appointment or key access only, as there is after 6pm no means of ‘ringing the doorbell’. Tobago is situated on the 6th floor.
The housekeeper will walk you through entry procedures when you arrive, so don’t panic!
We are wheelchair users; is there a lift?
Yes, Tobago has a lift, and once in the flat everything is on one level. The carpets are quite thick, and may be a little more difficult to manoeuvre on than other types of flooring. Due to the building rules and regulations, all areas in the flat apart from kitchen and bathroom must be carpeted to help minimise noise pollution. The hallways are wide, and the rooms in the majority spacious, but worktops in the kitchen are at standard height and the kitchen is somewhat narrow.
What make is the coffee machine?
The coffee machine is a Dolce Gusto compatible. You are welcome to a complementary coffee each day but if you have a preferred coffee, do feel free to bring your fave dolce gusto pods!
Is there a hairdryer?
Yes – you will find the hairdryer in a right-hand drawer of the master bedroom dressing table. Please ensure you unplug and allow to cool before replacing.
Is there an iron and ironing board?
Yes, you will find the iron and ironing board inside the wardrobe of the Master bedroom. The iron is safely up high on the shelf.
Guests are requested only to do ironing in the kitchen, and to ensure the iron is turned off after use, and cool before being replaced in the wardrobe.
If it’s carpeted, do we need to remove shoes on entry?
We command our kids to remove their shoes when they enter, because children’s capacity for putting their shoes on sofas is outstanding. We assume adults will not put their shoe-clad feet on the sofa, so we leave it to you whether to remove shoes.
The carpets are really nice and squishy, so to be honest, most people do barefoot it!
What are the next steps after we book?
Booking is initially through a private conversation with us – currently we are only letting to friends and family due to our personal time constraints, Covid-19 changes to legal holiday let frameworks, and due to the 2020 changes in parking, which caused us some issues with ease of accessibility and our ability to guarantee parking.
Once informally booked in, we will send you terms and conditions, letting contract, and of course information for your arrival, and your stay. You will be asked to fill in the formal booking information regarding guest numbers etc.
Tobago itself will also have a copy of our Welcome Pack, so any further queries you have should be answered in there. Failing all of that, you will also be able to ring us – we will include our mobile numbers in your Welcome Pack.