The Villas at Stonehaven

In Depth

The Villas at Stonehaven stand ranged on a steep ridge overlooking Tobago’s northern shore. At first sight, as you drive up the hill they are an odd combination of unexpected architectural features for the Caribbean. Dormer balconies, classical ‘bottle’ balustrades, narrow, arched windows with louvres and mansard roofs – it might almost be a mock French Château in the Caribbean. You soon become fond of them though, because they are extremely comfortable. Particularly the veranda, which is huge and delightful, giving the best of indoor/outdoor tropical living.

As it turns out, Stonehaven Villas do in fact have French influence, just from the old colonial French Caribbean, from eighteenth century Martinique. They were designed by Arne Hasselqvist, the Swedish builder and architect who spent many years developing the island of Mustique with celebrity villas. In fact they are in imitation of the house that he built for himself there.

The French theme continues inside the villas, to a slightly lesser degree, dressed in beautiful tropical hardwoods - stained to stand out strongly against the light coloured walls. Tall French doors, hefty beamed ceilings (with touches of a French farmhouse), the stairs and four poster beds are all made from greenheart, teak and mahogany. There are other traditional Caribbean features too, in the tray ceilings and reproduction antiques. The style has simply been pared down though, to give a sleeker version of traditional tropical furniture

For all the influence of the old colonial Caribbean, Stonehaven definitely fulfils modern-day requirements of contemporary tropical living. There is a sense of familiarity, refinement certainly but also comfort. The villas are all privately owned, but they are decorated in a limited number of plans, mostly with the sleek unfussiness of a smart hotel rather than in overtly personal style. The walls are decorated with large traditional style glass hurricane lamps and lovely prints and paintings, both old-time (antique botanical prints) and brightly painted modern scenes of island life.

There are fourteen villas in all, set in extremely well tended tropical gardens on a rising ridge that is flanked by tropical bush. They all have the same ground plan, laid out over two storeys. As you enter the front door you pass through a small hall into the large main drawing room, where there are sofas, a day-bed and bureau. From there you continue through the tall French doors onto the excellent veranda, which is the other main living space. Fifteen feet deep and fifty feet across, it is protected from sun and rain by a low-pitched wooden roof and by hanging blinds. To one side is the dining table, in the middle a sitting area and to the other there are armchairs and some traditional planters’ chairs with extendable arms. A couple of steps down lead you to a deck with a small infinity pool, more than a plunge pool, narrow but long enough for a few laps.

On one side of the drawing room you will find a bedroom with an en suite bathroom and dressing room and then on the other is the kitchen. Off it is a nanny’s or children’s single bedroom. Upstairs there are two more bedrooms, also with en suite bathrooms, each with a small balcony set into the mansard roof. Down below, each villa is surrounded by lawn, but its privacy is maintained by a hedge of tropical greenery.

As a villa resort Stonehaven also has some central features available to its guests. Next to the Reception is the Clubhouse. This contains a bar where guests sometimes gather before dinner and just beyond it, on a veranda looking out into the inky black of the night, the restaurant, the Pavilion. Just beneath the veranda is the central pool and tucked away underneath the bar is a conference facility with meeting space for thirty.

All of this said, the guests spend quite a bit of their time in their villa, much of it on the veranda, which also has an exceptional view. Some guests barely venture out for the whole week of their stay.

Beach & Swimming

Set on a rising ridge high above Stonehaven Bay, the resort is a quick drive down to the beach, where there is a lovely stretch of sand. There are a couple of large hotels on the beach, so if you want a little privacy then you can head for the western end. The swimming here is relatively good, however at certain times of the year there can be sea swells and with some strong currents further out in the bay. Towels are provided by the villa and snorkelling gear can be hired at the watersports shop on the bay. There is a beach bar down at the hotel end, Buccaneers' Bar.

All of the villas have their own plunge pool, with an infinity edge, and there is also a central pool at the main house next to the restaurant.

Sports & Recreation

Watersports are available on Stonehaven Beach and tennis can be arranged at Le Gran Courlan hotel. There are two golf courses in the area Tobago Plantations (PGA standard 18-hole course) on the south coast, about fifteen minutes drive, and the Mt Irvine course, which is less than five minutes away.

Tours of the island (boat trips, scuba diving, rainforest trips) can be arranged through the front desk.

In-villa massage and beauty treatment is also available.

Staff

The villas are each staffed with a personal housekeeper who provides daily service from 9am until 2pm including general housekeeping, laundry and grocery shopping. There is no charge for preparing breakfast however lunch or dinner is priced at US$5 per head (max 6 persons). Cooks transfer home (applicable after 7pm) is not included in this figure. You will need to pay for food, either from shopping with the Housekeeper or providing Reception with a shopping list, the cost of which will be added to your bill on check-out. The fee for baby-sitting is US$5 per hour. Maximum two children per sitter. For safety reasons, babysitters are not allowed to combine their duties with any other work. It is not unusual to assign a baby-sitter, cook and housekeeper to the same villa, however good advance notice is required.

The General Manager of Stonehaven Villas is Duane Kenny, a Trinidadian who has lived in Tobago since the year 2000. Another member of staff you will certainly come across Denise Broomes. Since starting in the housekeeping department in 2003, she has worked her way up to become Operations Manager. She is also the Wedding Co-ordinator.

Accommodation

The pared down version of the old colonial theme is continued into the rooms and they are decorated with reproduction antique furniture. The villas, including the bedrooms of course, can be closed off to enable air-conditioning, but the doors and windows are also louvred (with mesh to keep out the mosquitoes) in traditional style, which allows a through-flow of fresh air for natural ventilation. This you can whip up with the ceiling fan. They are well appointed with tropical hardwoods throughout in the fittings and marble vanities in the bathrooms.

Dining

The Pavilion Restaurant is set on a covered terrace at the clubhouse and is open daily (except on Mondays) for lunch (midday 3pm) and dinner (from 7pm). The menu is fairly simple at lunch, but dinners are more sophisticated and are based primarily in international fare and with extensive use of local ingredients. There is a happy hour at the bar from 5.30pm-6.30pm.

Seating in the restaurant is typically up to 30 persons, however, in dry weather, the restaurant may be extended onto the terrace and comfortably seat 80. The lounge, restaurant and terrace combined therefore works well for weddings, receptions and special group functions.

Room service can be ordered to your villa at lunch and dinner from the dining room.

Weddings

The management and staff at Stonehaven are well practised at organising weddings and receptions, whether it is just for the two of you or 120 people. There is no fixed wedding package because Stonehaven believes that each couple has its own ideas and wishes. They will work with you to ensure that every detail is covered. Once you have discussed your requirements or ideas, Stonehaven will put together a proposal and quote. This can be done within 24 hours of a request.

Children

Stonehaven tell guests themselves that the resort is not child friendly. It is particularly not well suited to small children because of the layout, low balconies, staircase, unfenced pools and steep terrain. This seems to be no deterrent in many cases and most families bring a nanny.

Useful Hints

Complimentary initial food supplies (breakfast items, soft drinks and fruit) are organised in your villa for your arrival. Food is not included in the villa rates and so if you require your attendant to shop for you during your stay, this must be arranged with her directly.

Please note that service charges have not been applied either to the restaurant or the villa rates so obviously tips will be appreciated.

Stonehaven Villas are set on steep land, but you can drive a car right to your door.

Practical Facts

Annual Closure dates: None

Dress Code: Informal during the day (shorts allowed in the restaurant at lunch); elegantly casual for happy hour and dinner.

Facilities: Reception; Concierge Service, The Pavilion Clubhouse comprising bar/lounge, restaurant, open terrace and half moon pool; Alamanda Meeting Room - conference room with seating for 30 persons, theatre-style or 15 persons, Boardroom-style. Equipment for rent locally; 24-hr security

Complimentary: Airport transfers, breakfast pack, personal villa attendant, a basket of fresh fruits, tropical flower arrangement. Baby cots, cribs and high chairs are also complimentary but must be booked in advance.

Other Services: In-villa spa treatments including massage, manicure and pedicure. WiFi throughout the resort. Concierge.

Weddings: A basic wedding package will include assistance with special 3-Day License (3-day Residency Requirements), ceremony for wedding couple, witnesses if needed, bridal bouquet, grooms buttonhole, 2-tier sponge or chocolate wedding cake, bottle of champagne, 36 Photographs, decorated arbour, meet and greet at the airport, flowers and welcome basket of fruit in the villa, welcome drink and complimentary continental breakfast. Quotes can be prepared for tailor-made weddings. Options might include: Buttonholes, corsages, bouquets for bridesmaids, wrist corsage, halo headdress, wedding video, photographer, steel band, flower arrangements, bar, canaps and hors doeuvres, luncheon or dinner.

Children: a nanny is recommended

Accommodation: Fourteen 3-bedroom villas

Villa Types: Each villa has 3 en suite bedrooms (2 with king size beds and 1 twin) with hair dryers in each bathroom, spacious living room, veranda and pool deck with barbecue grill, infinity pool, a full kitchen with stove, microwave, dishwasher, Washer/Dryer, cable TV and CD player, safe and WiFi service

Credit Cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express

Tobago Kitesurf Special

Learn to Kitesurf in Tobago on the famous Pigeon Point beach. The following 7 night package includes 10, hour long kitesurfing lessons at Radical Sports Limited situated at Pigeon Point Beach along with transfers to the beach from The Villas at Stonehaven for 5 days. Your stay at Stonehaven Villas also includes return airport transfers, a complimentary breakfast starter pack, a basket of fresh fruit, a tropical floral arrangement, complimentary WiFi access and your private housekeeper from 9am to 2pm and all taxes.

Package cost during 2012 including villa accommodation for 7 nights: US$4, 271 for 2 persons based on double occupancy, or US$3,671 for single occupancy for stays from 01 February to 30 April, US$3,501 double, per person or US$2,901 single for stays from 01 May to 15 July 15th and 01 September to 23 December, and US$4,271 double, per person and US$3,671 single from 16 July to 31 August. Offer valid until 23 December 2012, excludes flights and is subject to change without notice.

Locality

Stonehaven Bay is on the north shore of Tobago, quite close to the western end of the island, between the local settlement of Black Rock and Mt Irvine Bay. Set in its own compound, it is relatively quiet but it is within a short drive of all the activity of the island and several good restaurants. Close by in Stonehaven Bay you will find the Seahorse Inn, which is set on a delightful terrace looking through the palms to the sea. Other restaurants worth visiting in the area include la Tartaruga in Buccoo and Melange on Shirvan Road.

The nearest local shop for groceries is Maries Place, a mini-mart, and there is a fast food outlet and ATM next door. Just past Mt Irvine Bay Hotel, about five minutes drive, is Gourmet Foods, also known as Morsheads. Otherwise the main supermarket for shopping is Pennysavers, which is about 15 minutes by car on the way to the airport. Fresh fish can be bought directly from the fishermen who sell from stalls by the roadside just beyond the Beach Facilities at Mt Irvine. The best time to go is late afternoon. The Grafton Bird Sanctuary is the next turning off the main road heading west.

Stonehaven Bay is also famous as one of the three principal turtle-watching beaches on Tobago, for the giant leatherback turtle. These huge creatures only frequent quiet beaches where there is little or no artificial light, coming ashore to lay their eggs at night in the season between March and August. They can measure more than 12ft from top to bottom, and have a flipper span of up to 10ft. A female turtle will lay around 100 eggs at a time, as many as five times a season. The hatchlings emerge between 60 and 85 days after being laid.

Meet & Greet

Stonehaven offers complimentary airport transfers, about fifteen minutes ride. Alternatively, if you would prefer to be taken care of from the minute you arrive at the airport until the time that you leave, with a range of services that can include a personalised Concierge Service, please click here for Yes! Tourism.

If you are booking through a travel organiser, it is likely that their representative will be at the airport to meet you. This service and your return airport transfers should be included in the cost of your holiday. Please check at the time of booking.

Getting Around

Although most things are relatively close at hand, a hired car is strongly recommended for all private villa holidays, unless you prefer staff to call taxis for you as required. A car will be useful if you want to dine out at night or do lots of sightseeing and particularly when it comes to shopping for groceries. Book car hire via your travel organiser or direct with Thrifty Car Rentals and ask for your vehicle to be delivered to the property approximately 2-3 hours after your scheduled time of arrival on Tobago or the following morning. Vehicles can be returned at the airport or be collected from the property at a pre-arranged time on your departure day. Be aware that at the height of the season there can be a shortage of cars so make sure to book it early.

Stonehaven Villas Video

Please see below for a video of Villas at Stonehaven, a Tobago villa resort on the northern coast of Tobago, overlooking Stonehaven Bay. Ideal for weddings, honeymoons, golf and scuba.