Tropikist Beach Hotel & Resort

Tropikist Beach Hotel and Resort opened its doors in 1977 and it’s bright yellow and orange buildings have boxy, geometric lines that contrast with its otherwise laid-back vibe. Its five-acre grounds are lush and full of blossoming flowers, palm trees, and manicured gardens. There’s also a tranquil grassy field behind the east wing that's set with lots of plastic chairs where guests often sip cocktails while taking in the perfect sunset views. Most of the resort is situated along a cliff, but a set of stairs leads to a sandy beachfront that is sadly unswimmable. The pools, one of which has a romantic waterfall nook, are popular spots for guests to kick back and the main pool is particularly moody when it's lit up at night. Unfortunately, problems here are numerous, and complaints include dated and worn interiors plus a host of maintenance and upkeep issues. Most of the hotel’s guests are couples and mature adults from the United Kingdom, but we did see a few families with children during our visit.  

Tropikist’s oceanfront location next to the airport has its pluses and minus. It's only a three-minute drive to Tobago’s ANR Robinson International Airport, but plane traffic is audible all day long. Within a four-minute walk of the hotel are a mini-mart, a grocery store, and a casino. For a taste of the island’s colonial history, the partially-restored Fort Milford has great ocean views and antique cannons, and is a four-minute walk from the property. There’s a bakery, liquor store, and many bars and restaurants a three-minute drive from Tropikist. Nearby beaches include the often-crowded Star Bay Beach (a five-minute drive) and Pigeon Point Beach (a 10-minute drive) -- the latter is one of the island's most beautiful. Scarborough, Tobago’s capital and bustling governmental hub, is 20 minutes away by car. For a jungle sojourn, amazing hiking can be had at Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the world’s oldest legally protected rain forest that’s about a 75-minute drive from the resort. 

Tropikist has five room types that range from ocean-view rooms with king beds, to those with pool or garden views and double beds. Rooms are big and beachy, but generic, with paintings of birds hanging tan walls and details like bamboo headboards. Some feature bright accent walls and textiles, but no amount of color can distract from the maintenance issues that are common here. Some have tube TVs and show more wear and tear than others, and complaints include nonworking lights and a lack of in-room features. It’s a good idea to inspect your room during check in to ensure its up to par. In any case, air-conditioning and televisions are standard, as are balconies and Wi-Fi, though the latter doesn't work well in all rooms.

The Deluxe Ocean View rooms -- the hotel’s nicest -- have desks, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and flat-screen TVs with cable channels. The ocean-view balconies are especially great, with chairs placed for taking in the azure sea views. Bathrooms are clean and simple, with tile walls and floors, shower/tub combos, and lots of counter space for storing toiletries. All rooms come with soap and shampoo, and some rooms have hairdryers (otherwise hairdryers can be borrowed from the front desk).

There’s no doubt that Tropikist’s best features are its two pools and 24-hour whirlpool. The main pool is surrounded by plastic and rattan lounge chairs and there’s a shallow area for kids to swim. There’s also a slightly-hidden romantic nook with a waterfall and a whirlpool set in a lush garden with ocean views. The second, smaller pool is located next to the breakfast restaurant and is a bit tired. The paint’s chipping away and it's in the shade much of the day. Tropikist's beach is totally under-appreciated and underutilized. The water can be rough and there’s a coral reef offshore so swimming isn’t permitted and there are no lounge chairs for appreciating the beautiful views. Near the beach is the resort’s full-service dive shop. 

Bayside Restaurant, the resort’s free breakfast-buffet spot, serves Trinidadian and international cuisine and has a live-station for fresh omelets. The restaurant has perfect ocean views, but protect your food as birds will swipe a bite if you’re not careful. The lunch and dinner restaurant serves Trinidadian and international cuisines, but is a tad pricy and gets mixed reviews (especially from those staying on meal plans, who find the portions and options lacking). They also have live music and karaoke on the weekends, and a 24-hour free coffee and tea station. Five-gallon coolers with free purified water are scattered around the resort as well.

The front desk can arrange tours, car rentals, babysitters, spa services, and print boarding passes. There’s also a book exchange in the lobby plus space for conferences and meetings. Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort but can be spotty, and parking is free and secure.