Tobago Weddings At Ohana Villa

If you are considering getting married in Tobago, the Marriage Act (1966) has now made it easy for couples to get married in Trinidad & Tobago.

And Ohana Villa is a very special place to exchange your vows, in a wedding ceremony that can be either formal or informal – so far we have had four weddings under the gazebo. The legal wedding necessities are so easily organised, leaving enough time for the other important task of topping up that tan in time for the wedding photographs!

So if you want a small (maximum 50 guests) wedding, in the perfect place contact us for further information. Of course if your wish is for a beach wedding then we have the perfect place! Ohana sleeps 8 people – usually the bride, groom and immediate family, whilst the other guests can stay at The Blue Haven hotel next door. Staying at the next door Blue Haven Hotel, will mean that guests can easily stagger over at the end of the celebration!

Rena the House Manager is one of the best local cooks on the island, so she can help you plan a wonderful meal, with flowers, and a wonderful wedding cake. In Tobago the wedding cake is usually a rich, dark, moist, fruity cake with lots of rum in the mixture – delicious! We can help with photographer, videographer, and of course music to keep you dancing into sunset and beyond.
Here are the legal guidelines – however, please check with the Trinidad & Tobago Embassy in your country, or call the Registrar in Tobago for updates to this information : -

• Both parties mus be non-residents of Trinidad & Tobago
• Three days’ residence in the country must be established (calculated from the day after the date of arrival)
• The marriage license will be issued on the next business day following the residency period
• Please be aware that some countries require that your intention to marry is registered in your home country, whilst others require an apostille to the marriage certificate
• The Special Wedding Licence is TT$300, from the Warden’s Office, and the Marriage Certificates (two) are TT$37.50 from the Registrar General’s Office – and it can take up to a week from application to get them.
• You will also be required to make an affidavit or statutory declaration to declare that you are single and free to marry

On the fourth day you will need to visit the Registrar’s Office in Scarborough Tobago so as to produce the following original documents: -

• Proof of residence documents – passport, airline tickets
• Identification of applicants – passport
• If divorced, original or notarised copy of decree absolute
• If widowed, original death certificate of spouse, as well a notarised English translation if not in English
• Deed poll or other proof of name change where name differs on documents
• If under the age of 18, you must produce a Statutory Declaration, signed & stamped by a solicitor, proving parental consent

The Registrar General’s Office: Jerningham Street, Scarborough Tel: (868) 639 3210

The Warden’s Office: TIDCO Mall, Scarborough (868) 639 2410

Shore Things Cafe & Craft – A Must When In Tobago

There is a lovely traditional type Caribbean cafe & craft shop that we love, called Shore Things in Lambeau, that hugs the ocean down on the Milford Road,which used to be the  Old Winward Road.  It is a  one of the nicest little places in Tobago to go to for a light lunch and one of their delicious fresh tropical fruit juices.  As well as shrimp pizza, and other light lunches, Giselle the charming owner, usually has a dish of the day – the last visit I made to buy some presents, there was ginger chicken, with aubergine (local name melongene)  gratin, and vegetable rice – not only did it look delicious it also smelt divine!

Unfortunately I was in a rush (yes I know – how can you rush in tobago?) I was there to buy one of the delightful hand-made painted wooden birds that decorate the outside of the building.  The decision was a hard one – would my grandson like one of the 2 types of parrots – the toucan – a pelican – or the scarlet ibis which is the national bird of Trinidad? Of course I had to pull the little toggles to see how each bird flapped its wings – and Giselle could see what hot work this was so suggested we had a cold drink.  I had a delicious mix of fresh guava and lime and my son’s girlfriend Sandrine, had a fresh tamarind juice.  Delicious and cooling enough to help me make up my mind with Giselle’s help on the local Tobago green yellow and with a touch of bright blue parrot.

The place is tiny and absolutely delightful with its cleverly designed dining tables showing off the crafts, all looking out over the ocean with the waves lapping almost at your feet! Giselle also has great home-made cakes (key lime pie was on the menu) and tarts too so a visit for tea is also a good idea.

A new little room has just been added on with interesting local adult and children’s books, as well as what I personally find are the best birthday cards on the island.  Check out also the amazing assortment of local CD’s so that you can listen to some David Rudder or Soca or Steel Band back at the house.

Give Giselle a ring on 639 1072 to book a table for lunch or tea – Shore Things is opened Monday – Saturday from 10 – 6pm and is easily reached from Ohana.

The Indian Hindu Festival of Divali

The many Indians that makeup the tapestry of nationalities within Trinidad & Tobago celebrate the Hindu festival Divali, in late October/early November – this year it is on the 8th of November. It is known as the Festival of Lights due to the tradition of lighting a profusion of ‘deyas’, (a deya is a little terracotta pot filled with oil and a little floating wick), in honour of Lakshmi, the goddess of light, beauty, riches and love.

It is said that the true meaning of Divali can be expressed, as being to bring light where darkness prevails, truth where untruth prevails, to bring life where death prevails, to brighten our surroundings, and to illumine our minds.

At Divali it is not surprising to see elaborate preparations being made to welcome the goddess into the homes of devotees. Though it is titled as being a festival, it is one with a difference since at the heart of the festival is a very significant religious observance as Lakshmi Mata is honoured and worshipped in the form of pujas, singing bhajans and with the chanting of mantras.

As children growing up in Trinidad, it didn’t matter whether you were Hindu or not, we always looked forward to the Hindu festival of Divali! We would usually have an early supper; and then as soon as it was dark, we would all pile into the car with friends and parents, and we would go for a long drive to see all the beautiful deyas that would be put out by house after house on the night of Divali . . . . . as a child I remember it being truly magical!

Go for a little drive, just after dark to look for ‘deyas’ – you too will feel the magic!

For much more information click here Divali in Trinidad & Tobago 

Ohana-Villa Rates 2008 – 2009

Ohana Villa Rates 2007 – 2008 – Guests per Night Rate

Rental Periods

7 Jan’08 – 16 April’08 (7-8 guests US$1,250) (5-6 Guests US$1,000) (1-4 Guests US$850)

17 Apr’08 – 1 May’08 (7-8 Guests US$1,375) ( 5-6 Guests US$1,375) (1-4 Guests US$1,375)

2 May’08 to 19 Nov’08 (7-8 Guests US$1,100) (5-6 Guests US$935) (1-4 Guests US$825)

20 Nov’08 – 11 Dec’08 (7-8 Guests US$1,375) (5-6 guests US$1,100) (1-4 Guests US$935)

12 Dec’08 – 9 Jan’09 (7-8 Guests US$1,650) (5-6 guests US$1,650) (1-4 Guests US$1,650)

10 Jan’09 – 17 April’09 (7-8 Guests US$1,375) (5-6 guests US$1,100) (1-4 Guests US$935)

18 April – 2 May’09 (7-8 Guests US$1,375) (5-6 guests US$1,375) (1-4 Guests US$1,375)

A meet & greet service is available at an additional cost of US $20, to include a taxi to the property. Car Hire can also be arranged and is recommended to get the very best out of your stay in Tobago.

Rena, the House Manager and the staff will greet you with a Welcome House Cocktail of fresh watermelon juice with rum on your arrival. As well, a Welcome Pack of food & drink supplies is provided on arrival, to keep you going through breakfast the next day, and until you can do some supermarket shopping.

The cooking of Breakfast is included in the nightly rate, whilst all other meals can be prepared by our excellent cooks at reasonable rates. Most guests on arrival after a long flight, relish a swim, a shower and a light hot meal on arrival, and this is easily arranged with Rena prior to arrival.

Relaxation massages by Rena the head-housekeeper are available on request utilising the state-of-the art massage table at Ohana and a mixture of organic coconut oil mixed with your favourite essential oils.

Please note that the prices quoted here may vary and will be confirmed at the time of booking.

Changeover day – Flexible and usually determined by international flights to Tobago Minimum booking is for a period of 1 week
Damage deposit – £1000 – www.ohana-villa.com

WIFI Installed at Ohana-Villa Tobago

After a long long wait, Tobago finally has WIFI and the lovely and highly efficient Duane has installed the system at Ohana. So guests will be pleased to know, no more deadly slow snail-like dial up – instead there is now speedy broadband all over the villa. Most favourite places so far are on the comfy four-poster beds, on the gazebo and down at the beach!

So do bring your laptops when you come if you need them – any problems logging on, ask Rena to contact Duane . . . . . . . .

Welcome to all Ohana-Villa Tobago Guests!

Welcome to all past, returning and future guests to the Ohana-Villa Blog. This is the place to come for all the news and happenings at Ohana. And as the original press release mentioned, Ohana was built as a family retreat – a very special place where we could go to relax and renew ourselves with nature! Hence the name ‘ohana’ which means family rest house in Hawaii. And as we have extended our welcome to guests, I am pleased to say, judging from our guests comments, Ohana seems to work its magic every time!

As all past guests will know, the friendly staff at Ohana, Rena, Joy and Mac go to great lengths to spoil Ohana guests! And then they wonder “why de guests doh want to leave de house an go out!!” To begin with Rena who heads up the staff is not just one of the best local chefs on the island, she is also a wonderful masseuse! Having just returned I can vouch for one of her fabulous massages under the gazebo! She just gets better and better – I had asked for a firm massage and I have to say the firmness of the massage was truly eased with the tropical breezes wafting over my body, and the sound of the waves lapping at the little beach below the garden! Heaven on earth! Try one! Rena uses a mixture of organic coconut oil, mixed with scented essential oils. Rena has a little stash of these, however do bring your own favourites also – just remember that some essential oils like bergamot or lime may photo-sensitise the skin to the sun and cause burning, so take care!