Coco Reef Resort and Spa

The beach at Coco Reef is undeniably beautiful, and the location is spectacular. Beyond that, I found the hotel awful. My room was badly outdated, the bathroom light flickered before giving out, the mattress was hard enough to give me back pain, and the tiny TV had lines across the screen. The food was less than okay. I walked five minutes outside and found much better food for less. Service was mostly poor and unpredictable. I had to go to the front desk to request beach towels, then was expected to carry them back up, and it was hard to find anyone there. The towels were low quality too. The massage didn’t seem to be done by an experienced therapist. They didn’t ask about my ailments, and finished by rubbing oil all over my face. I can’t believe how much I spent to stay here.

The breakfast was pretty good and included in our rate, but that didn’t make this hotel worth staying at. The rooms seemed completely neglected: stains all over the tub, peeling wallpaper, and a terrible smell. It looks like it may once have been a beautiful hotel, but it needs a lot more TLC and regular maintenance. When I reported the stains, the front desk just told me to fill out a comment form. The other main problem was customer service. Even though people in Trinidad and Tobago are known for being friendly and caring, the staff here came across like they didn’t want to be there. They also tried to nickel and dime us for everything. I’d never waste my money on such a poor quality room again, and would strongly recommend another hotel or even an Airbnb.

The breakfast and dining hall staff were fantastic, and the beach was absolutely beautiful. That was about all I enjoyed. I was excited to introduce my BFF to Tobago, but from the airport onward, the service left a terrible taste in my mouth. Our pickup, Onika, had an attitude and no sign with our names or CocoReef on it, so I had to call the resort to find out who to look for. When we found her, she said my first name, pointed to a white van, and told us to go that way. No welcome to Tobago, not even a good afternoon. At the resort, the front desk guy finally welcomed us to the island and hotel. The room was old, outdated, and below what I expected for the price. The TV had only three working channels, and we couldn’t pair our phones with it for other entertainment. The beach towels had holes and bleach stains. When we asked for washcloths, we were told they didn’t have any or offer them. I was taken aback, especially since it’s 2025. The grounds need better lighting after sunset. You’re just steps from off-ground entertainment and food, but the darkness didn’t feel safe. The guards’ booth was the saving grace, and the guards were friendly. We called at 7:30pm for an extra pillow, but were told housekeeping had gone for the night and they’d leave a note for the next day. Around noon the next day I called again, and they said they’d bring one later. At about 7pm I called once more and was told housekeeping had left, but I could walk to the front desk to get one. I refused. If that was an option, why wasn’t it offered the night before? The guy then said I’d have to wait an hour for his supervisor to return from dinner. The pillows arrived 15 minutes later, with an attitude, I guess because I wouldn’t come get them. At checkout, we found out they wanted to charge us for an airport ride that should already have been included. The driver was the same woman as before, and after I paid and thanked her for the ride, she didn’t respond. These people representing Coco Reef left such a bad impression. I’d never recommend this resort or spend another dime of my hard-earned money there. If the facilities are so old and ancient, at least make the customer service warm and welcoming.

We’ve just come back from 10 nights at Coco Reef with our family of four. The staff around the hotel were excellent, friendly, and accommodating. The location was perfect, and the view from the private beach was stunning both day and night. Breakfast had lots of choice and was excellent, so we never got bored; the few dinners we had were good too. The hotel really needs investment, though. It looks tired and dated inside and out. You can see why royalty and world-renowned celebrities stayed here in its day, but that feels like a distant memory now. Reinvestment is badly needed.