From the airport to the city centre Trinidad & Tobago
Arriving in Trinidad
Piarco International Airport is a stone's throw from the Eastern Main Road, the highway that serves the island's Eastern Corridor from Port of Spain. The journey up to the city takes an average of 20 minutes, but you'll need to allow at least twice that at peak times: in the morning from 8am to 10am and in the afternoon from 4pm to 6pm.
If you've booked a room in one of Port of Spain's guest houses or bed & breakfasts, the easiest way to get there is to arrange a transfer with your landlord beforehand. It is common practice in the Trinidad and Tobago hotel industry to pick up guests at the airport for a price that is generally in line with that charged by official cabs.
Official cab drivers can be found at the airport's main exit. You can recognize them by their yellow badge. You'll need to calculate (during the day, as it's more expensive from 10pm to 6am): Woodbrook - Saint Ann or any hotel in the center: US$30, Saint-Joseph US$20, Arima US$20, San Fernando US$50, Chaguaramas US$45, Maracas Bay US$60, Blanchisseuse US$85, Manzanilla US$55, Sans Souci US$75, Toco US$80, Grande Rivière US$100. Confirm the price with the driver before you get on, as they don't usually have a meter. If you'd like to make a reservation, although it's not normally necessary: Piarco Airport Taxi Cooperative Society, +1 868-669-1689.
By bus. There's an hourly bus service from City Gate to the heart of downtown Port of Spain. The journey costs TT$ 4 and takes between 45 minutes and 1h30. Timetable on https://ptsc.co.tt/
Arrival in Tobago
Tobago airport is located at Crown Point, in the extreme south of the island.
Although cabs and buses can be found here, public transport in Tobago seems to obey laws known only to the local population. As a rule, there are no clearly located cab stops, and bus timetables are whimsical. The best way to get around this small island is to rent a car.
Cabs. The cab rank is located opposite the arrivals area. The price of the main fares is officially fixed and displayed in the airport lobby, but you should add a 10% tip. Prices increase by 50% after 9pm. During the day, count from Crown Point (the airport): in town US$6, Mt Irvine US$15, Bucoo US$15, Black Rock US$20, as far as Scarborough US$20, Bacolet US$25, Plymouth US$20, Castara US$70, Roxborough US$50, Speyside US$75.
Car hire. It's easy to rent a car when you arrive in Tobago, and in mid- and low-season you can negotiate prices by playing the competition off against each other. This is the best way to get around the island, as public transport is complex. Car rental companies can bring the car to you on arrival. If you arrive in Scarborough by boat, they'll also bring it to you.
Car hire costs a minimum of US$45 per day. Insurance at around US$20 per day is compulsory, unless you have a credit card that includes it, but you really have to insist that the rental company agrees not to charge you for insurance (you have to call the information center directly with him). And don't forget, we drive on the left!
Arrival by boat Trinidad & Tobago
You can arrive by boat from Tobago, thanks to the ferries that link the two islands several times a day. The Port of Spain quay is right in the center of town, next to the two large Hyatt towers and opposite the central bank - impossible to miss. Once in port, cabs are available. In Tobago, the boat arrives in the center of the capital Scarborough.
The boat is the cheapest and not always the longest way to get to Tobago from Port of Spain, and vice versa. 3 ships make the 3-hour trip, and there are usually 3 departures a day. (8 a.m., 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.) To check timetables and buy your ticket: www.ttitferry.com
You can also reach San Fernando from Port of Spain by boat, which avoids the recurrent traffic jams on this route... Several trips daily. Timetable on www.nidco.co.tt/watertaxiservice
Public transport Trinidad & Tobago
Maxi-taxis. These air-conditioned mini-vans for 12 to 25 people are run by private cooperatives. They have no precise timetable, but well-defined routes that run from early morning (around 6am) to 9pm. You can recognize them by their color, which defines their route. The departure hub in Port of Spain is City Gate and the one in San Fernando is King's Wharf. Fares range from TT$5 to TT$20.
Black line San Fernando - Princes Town - connection to Mayaro. Brown line San Fernando - La Romaine-Siparia-Point Fortin. Green line Port of Spain-Curepe-Chaguanas-San Fernando. Red line Port of Spain-Arima- Sangre Grande. From here, connection for Blanchisseuse and Matelot. Yellow line Port of Spain-Diego Martin-Chaguaramas. The blue line is reserved for Tobago.
Route-taxis. The most popular means of transport in Port of Spain. They are often unmarked cars, not exactly new, and nothing could really distinguish them from other vehicles, apart from their drivers' propensity for braking and honking when they spot a stationary individual waiting on the pavement. They generally follow similar routes to maxi-taxis. Station heads vary according to the final destination. After a certain time of day (usually around 6pm), they gather in Independence Square to wait for the customer.
However, you need to be familiar with the different types of itinerary to be able to travel efficiently by route-taxi. Don't hesitate to ask which street to wait on, depending on your destination.
Buses. Numerous bus routes criss-cross the island, but it's easiest to ask directly at City Gate (the departure point for buses, maxi-taxis and route-taxis) which is the quickest way to get to your destination. Buses are air-conditioned and fairly comfortable, but do not go to remote villages where the road is difficult. For all bus routes, visit www.ptsc.co.tt
With a driver Trinidad & Tobago
Cabs. Unless you rent a car, it's easy to get around Trinidad & Tobago by cab. Cabs are plentiful and reliable. Few are equipped with a meter, although these are becoming increasingly popular. A few examples of fares Piarco/Port of Spain 30 US$, Port of Spain/Grande Rivière 100 US$. Port of Spain/Arima US$ 25. In Tobago, you can expect to pay around US$20 from Scarborough to Crown Point and US$75 from the airport to Speyside.
Rideshare TT (www.ttrideshare.com) is anetwork of chauffeur-driven vehicles that can be ordered via a cell phone application. Cheaper than cabs, this is the solution adopted by many locals, particularly in Port of Spain.
By car Trinidad & Tobago
Renting a car is a very good option for keeping your freedom of movement on the islands, but public transport provides convenient connections too. We recommend this option if you're on a budget, if you're more than two people and if you're staying for a week. Prices range from US$45 to US$75 per day, as there are no small cars like here, only rather large American sedans. Weekly prices are cheaper. If you can't find a car in high season, there are other companies - ask for the full list at the airport tourist office. If you don't have car insurance cover via your credit card, many agencies will charge you between US$12 and US$20 per extra day. Remember to check the compulsory insurance and excess conditions for any reservation.
Parking in the center of Port of Spain is often alternated on a daily basis, so remember to move your car to a different curb every morning.
If you're thinking of going to Grande-Rivière, it's safer to book an all-terrain vehicle, given the state of the road leading there.
Tobago's roads are very narrow and winding, so we recommend renting a small off-road vehicle if you can find one (Shepherd's rent a car has a fleet of Jimnys).
Accessibility Trinidad & Tobago
Apart from Trinidad's modern shopping malls, which are equipped for the mobility-impaired as well as for children's strollers, it's not easy to get around the country in a wheelchair or stroller. Where sidewalks exist, they are often cluttered, and public transport is not adapted. There's still a lot to be done in this area!
Tourist traps Trinidad & Tobago
The country's banknotes have changed several times in recent years, and it's sometimes difficult to tell the difference between the old banknotes, which are no longer valid, and the new ones. So be careful when exchanging money with a private individual (which is forbidden), and when being given change.
