Return to The Caribbean
Return Home
Return to the
World Directory
Your travel source with a personal
touch!
|
General
Information On Trinidad and Tobago Although both Trinidad and Tobago share the same colonial and cultural heritage, there are noticeable differences between the two islands. Perhaps that is one of the reasons that make this country a great destination for travelers interested in diversity and sight-seeing. Trinidad is perhaps a bit more tourist-oriented as it is home to the bustling Port-of-Spain, a city famed as a major port city in the Caribbean. It is also a hub for the oil, natural gas, and steel industries, and is now at the root of a fast growing tourism industry. This capital city has a fast-paced urban Caribbean atmosphere, with many hotels and other tourist-type things to see and do. |
|
Tobago, on the other hand, has hardly been touched by tourist fervor and, although only a hop-skip-and-jump away; it remains a peaceable unchanged calm island. Tobago is a quiet island, unspoiled by industry and tourism. This makes it an excellent place for natural sightseeing. For more information, visit the official Trinidad and Tobago website, or check out the CIA World Factbook for Trinidad and Tobago.
|
The People of
Trinidad and Tobago
The People of Trinidad and Tobago |
|
Passports, Visas and Entry
Information
All visitors, including those from the Caribbean, are required to show a
valid passport and ongoing or return tickets upon arrival in Trinidad and
Tobago. Visas are not necessary for visits shorter than six weeks. You will be
given a carbon copy of the immigration card that you fill out on arrival, and
will be asked to return it upon your departure, so hold on to it! Visitors from
the United States should check the Intelligence
Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004*.
| *The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This includes United States citizens! In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. For additional information, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. |
|
|
|
Passport Visa Express specializes in obtaining Passports for United States Citizens who wish to travel internationally within the next 30 days. We work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency assisting you in expediting your passport application in as fast as the same day! Our passport consultants have many years of direct experience working with the Passport Agency. |
|
Health and Safety
Tobago is generally safer than Trinidad.
This is primarily because the Port-of-Spain has the same type of petty
crime problem of major metropolitan areas such as New York or London. It is best
to avoid
Port-of-Spain at night. Also avoid evening
travel around Wilson Street and the Market of Scarborough, as these are two particularly
questionable areas. Always be wary of potential pick-pockets, especially during
Carnival, and never leave valuables unattended. Stick to bottled water while you
are visiting the islands as the local water can be pretty upsetting on some
stomachs.
Climate And Weather
The nearly 75 inches of rain each year make Trinidad and Tobago quite hot and
humid.
Temperatures range from 68 to 87 in
January, and 73 to 88 in July. However, the trade winds constantly cool the
island a bit, making the tropical heat a little less intense. Temperatures
rarely climb higher than 90 degrees during the daytime. The rainiest time of
year lasts from May through November, but rain storms usually last less than two
hours. Carry insect repellent during the rainy season as you will need it to
fight off the mosquitoes that love this moist, Caribbean weather.
Geography
Trinidad is about the size of the U.S. state of Delaware.
It is located about seven miles from
the coast of Venezuela, and the smaller island of Tobago is about 20 miles to the
northeast of Trinidad. Both islands are located at the end of the Caribbean
archipelago and border the Gulf of Paria. The islands are located outside of
the regular hurricane belt and this decreases the chances of a storm here.
Currency
The official currency of Trinidad and Tobago is the
Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TT$). Occasionally, vendors in Port-of-Spain
will accept U.S. and Canadian currency, but it is safer and wiser to convert
your currency. In all cases, British pounds should be converted.
Currency
Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports,
railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency
exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and
rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a
nightmare. Order in advance from
All
Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and
money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and
transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious!
Electricity
Electric systems in Trinidad and Tobago are not
uniform; the most commonly used are the 110-volt or 230-volt systems, but
ask your hotel in advance in order to prepare. I would suggest you take a
converter and adaptor with you when you go.
Getting To and Around Trinidad
and Tobago
Travelers normally arrive in Trinidad at Piarco International Airport or in
Tobago at Crown Point International Airport. Direct flights are available from
North America, but flights to Tobago may connect through Trinidad or other
islands to pick up passengers. Piarco and Crown Point service many airlines,
including Aeropostal, Air Canada, Air Transat, American Airlines, American
Eagle, Antillean Airlines, BWIA, Guyana Airways, Helen Air, LIAT, Rutaca, Sky
Service, Surinam Airways, Tower Air, and World Airways Ferry trips between these
Caribbean islands take about six hours.
For Flights, Hotels, Cars, Cruises, Vacations, Tours and Travel Deals, Click on Global Travel International. If the link does not work properly, type www.gettingaway.globaltravel.com in the address line of your browser.
Taxis are available at airports and docks but, as the fares are unmetered it is best to check with the driver as to the price and the type of currency before getting into the vehicle. Prices normally range from about $8(USD) to $36(USD) depending on the destination.
Accommodations In Trinidad and Tobago
For accommodations in Trinidad and Tobago, click on
Hotels and other accommodations in Trinidad and Tobago.
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have something you believe I should add to this section of Getting Away, please send it to me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Things To See And Do In Trinidad and Tobago
| At InfoHub, we believe vacation travel should be much more than just flying you to a tropical beach. Since 1996, we at InfoHub have worked hard to bring you the largest specialty travel portal on the Internet. Today, you can find over 20,000 specialty trips on InfoHub.com, covering activities from Artist Workshops to Yoga Retreats. Whatever your special interest is, you will find it right here! Plus trips you never even knew existed! We continue to expand the exciting array of travel options available by adding hundreds of out-of-the-ordinary trips every week! Our goal is to make Infohub.com "The Ultimate Source of Inspiring Travel Ideas" for your next dream trip. | ||
|
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have something you believe I should
add to this section of Getting Away, please send it to me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Dining in Trinidad and Tobago
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have something you believe I should
add to this section of Getting Away, please send it to me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Favorite Places And Things To Do In
Trinidad and Tobago
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have something you believe I should
add to this section of Getting Away, please send it to me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
|
|
Caribbean Travel & Life - Escape to the Caribbean with Caribbean Travel & Life. Visit romantic hideaways and luxurious resorts and discover secluded beaches and teeming coral reefs. This magazine helps you find your own perfect place in the sun. For additional information, or to purchase a subscription, click on Caribbean Travel & Life. You can also click on Best Deal Magazines, Magazine Unlimited Magazine Subscription Superstore, or Low Priced Magazine Subscriptions for other great prices on magazines! |
|
|
|
Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel
is a travel magazine for REAL people. This magazine is not just for those of
you on a budget - it's for everyone. Each issue comes packed with articles
on affordable and enjoyable vacations to just about everywhere.
For additional information, or to purchase a
subscription, click on
Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel.
You can also click on Best Deal Magazines, Magazine Unlimited Magazine Subscription Superstore, or Low Priced Magazine Subscriptions for other great prices on magazines! |
|
2007 Travel Alert - Passports Needed for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean. Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport. As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Click here for the State Department Summary. And, if you need a passport in a hurry, because you forgot to apply months ago when you should have and your trip is almost upon you, click on Passports In A Hurry, or on Passport Visa Express!
