Magdalena Grand Beach Resort

Check-in; We arrived at the Magdalena Grand (mags) on the 30th October 2013 after a long flight from London Gatwick to a very warm welcome by the reception staff along with a welcome drink in the large refreshing reception with stunning views over the main pool and the sweeping Atlantic waves brushing the shores of the hotels two private beaches, curb appeal at its very best!

Room; After a fast check-in we were taken by short complimentary golf cart transfer to our suite (rooms 223/224/225) we were very happy when the door opened to what can only be described as a 5 Star suite. 2 bedrooms, 1 King and 1 twin both with private balconies. The twin had 2 x Queen Beds separated by a lounge with 3 seat sofa, coffee table, dining table & large private balcony with sunken Jacuzzi overlooking the beaches. We had 3 bathrooms, plenty of towels, complimentary amenities, slippers and dressing gowns that were changed daily. Each room had individual controlled air conditioning, a coffee maker with fresh coffee and a selection of Twining’s teas and bottled water, along with large LCD TV’s with English, International channels. Also in each room there is a mini fridge that can stocked on request and an IP Telephone ideal for the business traveller? The rooms and bathrooms are furnished with great attention to detail and are of the highest quality one would expect from first class hotel anywhere on the planet. View From our suite we overlooked the 24 hour infinity pool, palm trees and the north beach. At 5.50am the sunrise was amazing and the sounds of the waves was so addictive I spent many hours relaxing on the balcony, so private it was not overlooked by any other guest rooms, a truly unique hotel design! WIFI Free wireless internet is available throughout the hotel, the signal quality is excellent throughout and even on the beaches, powerful enough to check mail, Skype and upload pictures etc. Really surprising considering the size of the hotel, a great attribute to the hotel management to recognise the needs of the modern traveller!

Pools; There are three pools at the Magdalena Grand, the main is huge, child friendly and overlooks the beach, it features a swim up to bar. An abundance of high quality sun loungers (no need to get up at 5am and claim yours with a towel), there are risen terraces with wonderful rattan loungers, single, double and also at the side of the Salaka Grill there are also some on the beach for lazy romantic afternoons. There are two further infinity pools, an adults only on the south wing and a 24 hour pool at the north wing…..all within a 2 min walk along the well tendered paths of each other.

Beaches & Turtle Nests; There are two beaches at the Magdalena Grand, north and south? North beach has golden sand with sweeping waves, nice walk along the beach in the morning and the waves are great fun, the water is shallow up to 30 metres out, but the waves can be quite high, fun for adults but would advise that children are supervised at all times. South beach was amazing not as large as north beach but has turtle nests under the palms and if you are lucky enough you will see hatching baby turtles waddling down the beach toward the sea when the moon comes up at around 6pm. Unfortunately we didn’t but it was just at the end of the season, maybe next time?

Food; An amazing choice, something for everyone, from a light bite in Robinson Crusoe Pub (awesome nachos), lunch by the pool in the Salaka Grill to the excellent extensive buffet breakfast and dinner in Pembois. Something special, fine dining in Kali’na is just amazing, it simply does get any better! The staff are so attentive, prompt service and extremely welcoming to your individual needs. We were on All Inclusive and unlike many other Caribbean Island Hotel AI packages, Magdalena Grand is far superior!

Drinks & Entertainment; Robinson Crusoe is designed like an Englishmen’s pub, live sports, live entertainment Fridays and Saturdays. It overlooks the main pool and has three terraces overlooking the sea. Tavaco is the beautiful piano lounge with live entertainment 3 times weekly and has large comfy leather sofas with good furnishings, un-crowded with a furnished terrace overlooking the sea and the main pool. Li’l Nylon Pool bar (also swim up to pool bar) is ace during the day for a lazy cocktail or cool Carib or Stag Beer.

Activities; There are daily pool activities at the Magdalena Grand, the schedule is on a chalk board by the free towel pick point next to the pool bar. Free good quality mountain bikes to explore the huge resort, you just sign them out at reception and off you go. Golf, the course was closed whilst we were there but will be open by the 15th November along with the amazing clubhouse that I took a sneaky look at with a pro shop etc. Some of the fairways are completed and the hotel has a PGA Golf course builder (Neil) that is working very hard to make it the Caribbean’s finest course, from what I saw he and his team are doing an awesome job and I am looking forward to a round of golf on my next visit!

The Magdalena Grand Beach and Golf Resort is Tobago’s finest Holiday Experience. Far superior to other big name hotels such as Coco Reef and Turtle Beach by Rex. They are not of the same standard at all we visited them both.

The island has miles of white sandy coves untouched by hotel developments, well worth a jeep hire at 300TT per day (around £26). Guided island tours are available, Pigeon Point Beach is spectacular and only 7 mins from the hotel. The airport is 7 mins away and is 80TT (£6). Other great places of interest are - Argyle waterfalls, Bloody Bay, Englishmen’s Bay, Castara Bay, Charlotteville, Fort St George and not forgetting Sunday School…..wow an experience you cannot miss but I am not going to tell you about it, its best if you experience is for yourself, every Sunday late afternoon through to late night, AWESOME!

I would advise that if travelling do not take US Dollars, take local currency I think the exchange rate is £1.00 to 12.50TT and the island including the hotel operate in TT not USD.