Location of Tourist Information Office
Tourism & Industrial Development Company of Trinidad & Tobago, (tel: 675 7034) has an office at Piarco Airport and another office downtown, corner of Queen & Edward Streets, open 8am-4pm Mon-Fri TIDCO, Sangster Hill Road, open 8am-4pm (tel: 639 4333). The office is upstairs in the bright yellow building about 200m west of the cruise-ship complex.
Tobago Tourist Office, Crown Point International Airport, open 8am-10pm. Staff here can also help you book a room, if you are struggling for accommodation.
Location of British Embassy
UK Embassy, 19 St, Clair Avenue, Port of Spain (tel: 622 2748). Opening hours Mon-Thurs: 7.30am-12pm and 1pm-4pm & Friday: 7.30am-12.30pm.
Cash/currency exchange offices
The local currency is the Trinidad & Tobago Dollar. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents. Notes are available in TT$1 - red; TT$5 - green; TT$ 10 - grey; TT$ 20 - purple; TT$ 100 - blue. US Dollars are widely accepted. You can find current exchange rates at your local bank or travel agency, or in local banks on the islands. Banks will exchange a number of foreign currencies but you’ll generally get a better rate for US Dollars. € Euros and the Pound Sterling are not widely accepted as US Dollars. Travellers Cheques and international credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shopping malls.
ATM machines are located at the airports, banks, malls and in most cities and towns. Banks are open Mon-Thu 8am-2pm and Fri 9am-12 noon and 3pm-5pm. Banks located in shopping plazas and malls are the exception to this rule, with business hours from 10am-6pm. The principal banks are Citibank, First Citizens Bank, Intercommercial Bank, Republic Bank, RBTT and Scotiabank.
All major banks have branches on Park Street, east of Frederick Street and on Independence Square. Most have 24hr ATMs. In Crown Point, Republic Bank, next to Clothes Wash Café, have ATMs available 24hrs a day. You’ll also find banks and ATMS in Scarborough. Be advised that there are no ATMs or banking facilities in Castara, Charlotteville or Speyside. There are branches of Republic Bank and Scotiabank just east of the docks in Scarborough and an ATM right outside the ferry terminal.
Shops are open from 8am-5pm Mon-Sat except for stores in shopping malls, which are open from 10am-7pm. Most malls and shops are closed Sundays.
V.A.T is a 15% tax added to goods and services. As in England, the prices displayed in stores usually include this tax, unless otherwise stated.
Crime
Port of Spain has a reputation for high crime and although some of it is hype, some is valid. Robberies and kidnappings are increasingly common. There isn’t much crime at all on the island, but that said, with the increase of tourism, theft is on the rise. Usual rules apply to your personal belongings and you are advised to use hotel safes whenever possible.
Some travellers find the aggressive selling tactics of the souvenir hawkers annoying. Just be firm and polite and you’ll usually be left alone.
Women may also feel threatened by the overt attention of local men, but - again - be firm but polite and you should be left alone.
Electricity
The standard power supply in Tobago is 110v 60Hz with American 3-pin plugs and sockets. This type of socket will automatically also take the standard two-pin-flat (unearthed/ungrounded) plugs.
To confuse the issue further, 220v/50Hz power is also available on Tobago with a few hotels providing both 110v and 220v.
Emergency Numbers
Ambulance & police 999; Fire 990; Roadside assistance 800-4826
Entry Requirements
Visas are not required for EU citizens
Health
Tap water is safe to drink on both islands
Hospitals
General Hospital, 56-57 Charlotte Street
St. Clair Medical Centre, 18 Elizabeth Street - a private hospital preferred by expats
Scarborough General Hospital, Calder Hall Road. Tel: 639 2551. Open 24hrs
Internet Access
Internet cafes are popular and rates start at US 0.80 cents per hour. There may be extra charges for the use of webcams, printers and other accessories. Internet access is free at all public libraries.
International Calling Centre, City Gate, South Quay
Tech, 86 Frederick Street & corner of Queen Street. There are also plenty other internet cafes downtown along Independence Square.
Clothes Wash Café, Lot 7, Store Bay Road - Check your emails while doing your laundry!
J-Puter Tech, 20 Burnett Street. Internet access and facilities for international calls
Language
The official language of T&T is English, but Spanish and to a lesser extent French Patios, Hindi & Chinese is spoken by some segments of the population.
Local Customs
Illegal drugs are not tolerated on T&T. Visitors found to be in possession of illegal drugs such as cocaine or marijuana (even a small amount) face serious penalties and jail sentences.
Phoning Home
The international dialling code for T&T is 1-868 followed by seven digits. On the islands, use the seven digits alone. T&T have two mobile phone service providers - Digicel and the Telecommunications Services of T & T (TSTT). Mobile service covers both islands and both companies provide roaming facilities. Sim cards can be purchased from licenced B Mobile (TSTT) & Digicel dealers.
International Calling Centre, City Gate, South Quay. 6am-11pm - has private booths for making international calls (TT$1 per minute to Europe & UK)
J-Puter Tech, 20 Burnett Street. Internet access and facilities for international calls Post Office
Main Post Office, Wrightson Road, open 8am-4pm Mon-Fri
Main Post Office, Post Office Street. Open 7.30am-6pm Mon-Fri
Time Difference
T&T is currently 5 hrs behind the UK.
Weather
T&T has a warm, sunny climate all year round. The average daytime temperature is about 27 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit). The islands have two main seasons - the Dry Season from Jan to May, and the Rainy Season - June to Dec. In the Rainy season, mornings are usually sunny followed by rainy afternoons and fair nights. During this time, the general rainfall pattern is interrupted by days of brilliant sunshine.
