Money
The Trinidad and Tobago dollar is the local currency (TT$) and is denominated in 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents, while the notes start at TT$1 and are in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5. Kindly note that although most shops, bars, and supermarkets can exchange large bills, it would be wise to carry some cash in small denominations with you for street vendors and taxis.
As for credit cards and travellers’ cheques, they are both widely accepted. However, if you want to exchange travellers’ cheques in a bank, you might be imposed a limit on the amount you can cash (usually around US$250). That being said, the country has a lot of ATMs, some of which even dispense US dollars.
Opening Hours
The banks are usually open from 8 am to 3 pm (Monday through Thursday) and from 8 am -1 pm and then 3 pm - 5 pm (on Friday), except for the ones in the larger malls that are open until 6 pm with no break. As for the shops, they are open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:30. On Saturdays, they remain open until 17:00, while malls won’t close before 20:00 or 21:00.
Local Telephone Operators
The area code is 868, and the most popular local operators are Digicel and bmobile, which provide pre-paid SIM cards with credit. Most of the time, you will find their kiosks near the Immigration desks and ports of entry. To get a local SIM card, you will need a photo ID. Regarding top-up credits, you can easily find a place to do that, be it a supermarket, pharmacy, or another venue.
Important Notes About Travelling to Trinidad & Tobago:
- Always ask permission before you take a picture of a person, be it a visitor, fisherman, trader, or another individual. Most locals don’t appreciate being snapped in the midst of their everyday hustle and bustle.
- The infrastructure for individuals with disabilities is quite poor, with very few streets having chair-accessible ramps or slopes. Nevertheless, a growing number of villas, guesthouses, and hotels are making efforts to turn themselves into mobility-friendly venues.
- If planning a wedding in Trinidad and Tobago, then you should know that you can get married 3 days after your arrival, and you will need several documents, such as your passport, airline ticket, proof of name change (if applicable), the decree absolute (if applicable), and others.
- Do NOT touch a manchineel tree because its milky sap can cause extremely painful skin blisters, while its fruit is incredibly poisonous.
- Beware of mosquitoes, chiggers, African bees, and sandflies during the wet season (from June through December) as their bite can deliver a long-lasting, itchy bite and may even carry dengue fever, a viral and potentially serious infection. Please always follow your guide’s directions and advice when trekking or exploring the islands in any way.
Water
Generally, it is safe to drink tap water. However, you may not like its taste. The majority of residents and families prefer to boil and/or filter the water before drinking it.
Health Notes/Considerations
To enter the country, you no longer need to fulfil mandatory immunizations, including for COVID-19, at least at the moment of this writing. Nevertheless, you do need to make sure that you are up to date with tetanus and polio vaccines. For those entering the country from Venezuela by ferry or from Africa, Asia, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and South/Central America by plane, though, it is mandatory to have a certificate for yellow fever vaccination.
Other than that, there are no serious health risks related to visiting Trinidad and Tobago, except, perhaps, overexposure to the sun, which is the case with every summer destination you visit. Combined with the different tastes you are about to experience here, and the large amounts of rum that usually accompanies visitors’ ventures, overexposure to the sun can feel quite uncomfortable.
Also bear in mind the following:
- Humidity and heat make grazes and cuts heal slower than normal. So, kindly apply antiseptic or iodine often and try to keep the scratch or wound dry.
- Blocked sweat ducts cause heat rashes. Wearing cotton clothes will help avoid them. In case you have one (a heat rash), though, treat it with regular soap-free, cool showers before you dust medicated talcum powder onto the skin. A moisturiser or sunscreen will only make things worse.
Travelling With Children
This is rarely an issue or concern for the parents as the majority of the local population is used to accommodating children, while nearly all hotels provide family-oriented services, such as babysitting. When visiting the shores, though, kindly keep an eye on the little ones when swimming because the beaches in Trinidad could be somewhat tricky for this activity due to the strong undertow. The same applies to some Tobago shores as well. The calmest options are Canoe Bay, Pigeon Point, Tobago’s Store Bay, and Macqueripe in Trinidad. A good idea is to check with the locals and see whether a beach you want to visit is risky or not for children. If it is, you may want to stick to paddling.
Notes About Travelling to Trinidad and Tobago With Children:
- Backtalking adults and public tantrums can raise a few eyebrows, especially if the parents do not quash their offspring immediately.
- Local children tend to call adults “auntie” or “uncle” as a mark of respect. You can encourage your children to do likewise if you wish, which will make the local adults quite happy!
Tourist Information
Besides a few booths at the airport, there are no other useful tourist offices in Trinidad and Tobago, so official tourist information across the country is rather poor. However, you can certainly refer to the official website of the Tobago Division of Tourism (Visit Tobago | Beaches, Romance & Weddings, Eco Adventure, Culture) for some handy information, including a calendar of events, tour operator listings, and accommodation recommendations. For specifics related to ecotourism, art and craft, shopping, Carnival, business, nightlife, and eating listings for both Trinidad and Tobago, you could check the glossy annual publication called “The Ins and Outs of Trinidad and Tobago” (The Ins & Outs of Trinidad & Tobago (insandoutstt.com)).
Money
The Trinidad and Tobago dollar is the local currency (TT$) and is denominated in 1, 5, 10, and 25 cents, while the notes start at TT$1 and are in denominations of 100, 50, 20, 10, and 5. Kindly note that although most shops, bars, and supermarkets can exchange large bills, it would be wise to carry some cash in small denominations with you for street vendors and taxis.
As for credit cards and travellers’ cheques, they are both widely accepted. However, if you want to exchange travellers’ cheques in a bank, you might be imposed a limit on the amount you can cash (usually around US$250). That being said, the country has a lot of ATMs, some of which even dispense US dollars.
Opening Hours
The banks are usually open from 8 am to 3 pm (Monday through Thursday) and from 8 am -1 pm and then 3 pm - 5 pm (on Friday), except for the ones in the larger malls that are open until 6 pm with no break. As for the shops, they are open Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 17:30. On Saturdays, they remain open until 17:00, while malls won’t close before 20:00 or 21:00.
Local Telephone Operators
The area code is 868, and the most popular local operators are Digicel and bmobile, which provide pre-paid SIM cards with credit. Most of the time, you will find their kiosks near the Immigration desks and ports of entry. To get a local SIM card, you will need a photo ID. Regarding top-up credits, you can easily find a place to do that, be it a supermarket, pharmacy, or another venue.
Important Notes About Travelling to Trinidad & Tobago:
- Always ask permission before you take a picture of a person, be it a visitor, fisherman, trader, or another individual. Most locals don’t appreciate being snapped in the midst of their everyday hustle and bustle.
- The infrastructure for individuals with disabilities is quite poor, with very few streets having chair-accessible ramps or slopes. Nevertheless, a growing number of villas, guesthouses, and hotels are making efforts to turn themselves into mobility-friendly venues.
- If planning a wedding in Trinidad and Tobago, then you should know that you can get married 3 days after your arrival, and you will need several documents, such as your passport, airline ticket, proof of name change (if applicable), the decree absolute (if applicable), and others.
- Do NOT touch a manchineel tree because its milky sap can cause extremely painful skin blisters, while its fruit is incredibly poisonous.
- Beware of mosquitoes, chiggers, African bees, and sandflies during the wet season (from June through December) as their bite can deliver a long-lasting, itchy bite and may even carry dengue fever, a viral and potentially serious infection. Please always follow your guide’s directions and advice when trekking or exploring the islands in any way.
Water
Generally, it is safe to drink tap water. However, you may not like its taste. The majority of residents and families prefer to boil and/or filter the water before drinking it.
Health Notes/Considerations
To enter the country, you no longer need to fulfil mandatory immunizations, including for COVID-19, at least at the moment of this writing. Nevertheless, you do need to make sure that you are up to date with tetanus and polio vaccines. For those entering the country from Venezuela by ferry or from Africa, Asia, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and South/Central America by plane, though, it is mandatory to have a certificate for yellow fever vaccination.
Other than that, there are no serious health risks related to visiting Trinidad and Tobago, except, perhaps, overexposure to the sun, which is the case with every summer destination you visit. Combined with the different tastes you are about to experience here, and the large amounts of rum that usually accompanies visitors’ ventures, overexposure to the sun can feel quite uncomfortable.
Also bear in mind the following:
- Humidity and heat make grazes and cuts heal slower than normal. So, kindly apply antiseptic or iodine often and try to keep the scratch or wound dry.
- Blocked sweat ducts cause heat rashes. Wearing cotton clothes will help avoid them. In case you have one (a heat rash), though, treat it with regular soap-free, cool showers before you dust medicated talcum powder onto the skin. A moisturiser or sunscreen will only make things worse.
Travelling With Children
This is rarely an issue or concern for the parents as the majority of the local population is used to accommodating children, while nearly all hotels provide family-oriented services, such as babysitting. When visiting the shores, though, kindly keep an eye on the little ones when swimming because the beaches in Trinidad could be somewhat tricky for this activity due to the strong undertow. The same applies to some Tobago shores as well. The calmest options are Canoe Bay, Pigeon Point, Tobago’s Store Bay, and Macqueripe in Trinidad. A good idea is to check with the locals and see whether a beach you want to visit is risky or not for children. If it is, you may want to stick to paddling.
Notes About Travelling to Trinidad and Tobago With Children:
- Backtalking adults and public tantrums can raise a few eyebrows, especially if the parents do not quash their offspring immediately.
- Local children tend to call adults “auntie” or “uncle” as a mark of respect. You can encourage your children to do likewise if you wish, which will make the local adults quite happy!
Tourist Information
Besides a few booths at the airport, there are no other useful tourist offices in Trinidad and Tobago, so official tourist information across the country is rather poor. However, you can certainly refer to the official website of the Tobago Division of Tourism (Visit Tobago | Beaches, Romance & Weddings, Eco Adventure, Culture) for some handy information, including a calendar of events, tour operator listings, and accommodation recommendations. For specifics related to ecotourism, art and craft, shopping, Carnival, business, nightlife, and eating listings for both Trinidad and Tobago, you could check the glossy annual publication called “The Ins and Outs of Trinidad and Tobago” (The Ins & Outs of Trinidad & Tobago (insandoutstt.com)).