Tobago lifestyle

Tobago certainly doesn't have a glitzy shopping scene, although you'll find gift shops, supermarkets and classy cosmetics and duty-free stores in the malls around the capital Scarborough and at Crown Point Airport. For local souvenirs, you don't have to look far - wherever you are, you'll find craft stalls selling everything from bright batiks and tie-dyed sarongs to hand-made drums and local CDs. Gift shops and boutiques also feature in the bigger towns and are crammed with gifts and keepsakes like decorative carvings, ceramics, rum and even rain sticks!

Eating out is a pleasure in Tobago. As well as top-class hotel restaurants serving international cuisine, you'll find Italian and Western-style eateries around Scarborough and Crown Point. But make sure you sample the local cuisine. As you'd expect, fresh fish is a staple and the national dish centres on local blue crabs, curried and served with dumplings. Other delights include chicken pelau smothered in coconut and spices and roti, a chapati-style tortilla snack stuffed with chickpeas and meat. Expects lots of mouth-watering fruit too, like juicy guava and mango and don't miss the delectable rum cocktails!

Nighttimes in Tobago vary greatly depending on where you go. If you're into relaxed evenings, a romantic dinner overlooking the beach is an ever-present option - either at your hotel or a restaurant. Many hotels stage cultural shows, calypso concerts and discos and almost everywhere, you'll find lively and laid-back beach bars where you can sip rum punches whilst watching the brilliant sunsets. For guaranteed fun, head to the legendary 'Sunday School', a regular weekend 'all-invited' party at Buccoo Beach, where steel bands, barbecues and reggae tunes take over the sands.