Trinidad und Tobago

Drink

thumb|Restaurant in Scarborough

Sleep

There are a wide variety of lodging options. There are major hotels such as Radisson, Marriott (Courtyard and Brix), Hyatt, Holiday Inn, Comfort Inn and the Hilton. There are also smaller guest houses, particularly in Tobago and beach houses at the coasts (especially the East coast). Rates vary. On Trinidad, many cities and towns of limited interest to the typical tourist do not have any official accommodations. Staying with locals may be the only option. AirBnB and other online marketplaces have listings for short and long term accommodations including furnished apartments. However, Trinidad has developed a sporting and cultural infrastructure being multi cultural with different religious denominations and can even boast of having world-class facilities for swimming, cycling, football, cricket, netball and the arts. For persons or groups of persons willing to experience or connect with similar groups at competitive rates, guest houses such as The Little Inn and the Miracle Healing cater for these niches.

Stay safe

thumb|Parlatuvier Bay Be careful where you park. High-end hotels have reported a drastic increase in vehicular break-ins including where there was security present. Do not leave valuables in your car, especially luggage, cameras, electronics and jewelry. Lock your car and keep the keys with you. Lock the doors while driving as well and disable unlock on park if the vehicle has this feature. Be very careful when parking in downtown areas, especially street parking. Tow trucks “the wrecker” lurk and very quickly enforce illegal parking. Parking in paid parking lots is strongly recommended over street parking. If you must park on the street, take a photo of the vehicle including signs that describe parking restrictions and note the date and time. If towed you will have to retrieve the vehicle in person at the impound lot and pay the fine (TT$500). Towing has caused damage to some vehicles. Best to avoid it.

Trinidad and Tobago has been known for its increasingly high murder and kidnapping rate. The capital Port of Spain, is relatively safe but as with all major cities around the world there are areas which are not safe for tourists. East Port of Spain, areas east of Charlotte Street, become increasingly unsafe and should be avoided as well as Belmont, Morvant and Laventille. The city is known for its vibrant night life with many restaurants, bars, lounges and clubs. It is recommended that you travel with companions at night time and avoid wandering into any side streets. Hotel…

Stay healthy

The Tobago Tourist Board boasts that "the wildlife in Tobago won't kill you", which is mostly true. The islands do have mosquitoes and isolated cases of dengue fever have been reported. There are crocodiles in the swamps and catfish can spread diseases through their bite.

The tap water is generally safe to drink, though many visitors prefer bottled water because the public water often has a strong chlorine taste. Use your best judgement if in an area where homes collect rain water from the roof, but very few problems are reported.

The adult HIV/AIDS prevalence at 3.0% or 1 in 33 adults, which is 5 times higher than the USA. The best advice is to use caution and use protection if engaging in sexual activity. Condoms are available from pharmacies to help prevent the spread of AIDS and other STDs.

If you need prescription medication, it is best to bring enough with you for the duration of your trip. There is no guarantee that what you need will be available. American OTC drugs are often available in many pharmacies; however, don't expect everything to be available. They may also be under different names whether American or European market names.

For information on COVID-19, consult the Ministry of Health.

Respect

thumb|300px|Water tanks collecting rainwater from the roof

It's a good idea to greet a stranger before asking him or her a question. It's a better idea to avoid strangers when not in the company of others.

Many Trinbagonians like to discuss sports. Being a former British colony, these discussions usually centre mostly around cricket and football.

There is no nude or topless bathing anywhere in Trinidad and Tobago.

In Trinidad and Tobago, many of the world's great religions are well represented. Christianity is the majority religion of the country, and there are also significant Hindu and Muslim minorities. Tolerance for religious and ethnic differences is high.

Trinidadians can be extremely friendly and hospitable, especially with guests who share a common religion with them. Be sure to bring small gifts to show your appreciation, as some visitors who had no intention of visiting or staying with locals end up doing so anyway.

Some homes (including a few guest houses) in rural areas are not connected to any underground water mains. However, they may still have running water from a large, round, black outdoor water tank. If staying in such a place, be sure to conserve water, especially in the dry season (or year-round, if it doesn't collect rainwater from the roof). If the tanks run dry, water trucks for refills may be available. However, even underground piped water may be rationed during the dry season. In short, if you are not staying in a major hotel, ask about the …

Connect

Trinidad's international area code is 868 under the North American Numbering Plan. From the U.S. and Canada, it's no different than calling other states and provinces (1+868), but costs more. Its top level domain is .tt and its ITU callsign prefixes are 9Y and 9Z.