TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO TRAVEL REPORT.

  

Punctual as never before from Maurice Bishop Airport in Calliste (Grenada), located about 10 km south of Saint George's, the capital of Grenada, at 09.00 my plane no. BW441 of the Caribbean Airlines Company in the direction of Piarco Airport (Trinidad), (ticket price including taxes: USD 90.54)

 

Free drinks and snacks are not served on the plane.

 

I therefore arrive at 9.45 am, at Piarco Airport (Trinidad), located about 25 km east of Porto of Spain, the capital of Trinidad. There are 5 hours of time zone, compared to Italy.

 

A visa is not required to enter Trinidad and Tobago for tourism purposes and for a period not exceeding 90 days. It is sufficient to be in possession of a passport, with at least 6 months of residual validity at the time of entry into the country. Sometimes you are asked for a return or onward flight ticket and a hotel reservation as I did. They also asked me a billion questions about the reason for my presence in Trinidad and Tobago.

 

It is necessary to fill out a form to be delivered to customs, part of which must be returned when leaving the country.

 

It is possible to change money at the airport: there are various Money Changes, and it is also possible to withdraw cash by debit or credit card.

 

The currency of Trinidad and Tobago is the Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (TT $), but US Dollars (USD) are generally accepted in hotels, some restaurants, and some tourist attractions.

 

In Trinidad and Tobago, the official language is English.

 

In Trinidad and Tobago, driving is on the left and is driven by Minivan (Maxi taxi) which have written on the windshield containing the route number and the final destination, Shared taxi (Route taxi) or Big Bus (except Saturday and Sunday ), from 5.30 to 19.00. Keep in mind that on Saturday afternoon and Sunday the above service is very scarce.

 In Trinidad I slept in the cheapest accommodation on the island, the Pearl's Guest House, located in the center of Port of Spain, in 3 & 4 Victoria Square, at a cost of 150 TT $ per night for a double room with shared bathroom. Hostelworld.com). It is less than one mile from the City Gate Terminal, located in the south-east of the City on South Quay Street.

 

Porto of Spain is a big city and it is necessary to know that you can walk downtown without problems at least in daylight hours, instead all the neighborhoods east of Henry Street, where crime prevails and murders are on the agenda.

 

To reach from Piarco Airport (Trinidad), the City Gate Terminal, located in the south-east area of ​​Porto of Spain in South Quay Street, from Monday to Friday it is possible to take a Big Bus, but unfortunately, as it happened to me, you arrive on Saturday or Sunday it is necessary to take a Route taxi (it leaves only after it is full: 4 people), at a cost of 4 TT $, which in a few minutes to the nearby City of Arouca, where you have to take a maxi taxi that takes you for 3 TT $ to the nearby city where buses pass to the capital (7 TT $ - 40 ').

 

Trinidad's most important tourist attraction is the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, which is home to thousands of orange-colored Scarlet Ibis birds. In the late afternoon they return to their nests, coloring the plants orange. To see this spectacle of nature it is necessary to take a boat trip in the middle of the swamp. The cheapest operator that organizes this is Nanan, at a price of 60 TT $, for a two-hour boat trip departing every day at 16.30. It is better to book by phone (6451305), but usually arriving on site at 4.00 pm you can find a place on the boat.

 

The entrance to the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, where the aforementioned excursion starts, is located 14 km south of Porto f Spain, next to the highway to San Fernardo. To reach it, the operator Nanan offers transport included in the excursion to and from Porto of Spain at the price of 72 USD, coming to pick you up at your hotel. If you want to save money, keep in mind that from Monday to Friday Maxitaxis leave for Chaguanas from the City Terminal and can drop you off on the highway, near the park entrance (6 TT $ - 20 '). The return is more complex because you should hail a maxi taxi on the motorway. Saturdays and Sundays is another story because the maxi taxis are not in service and therefore you have to take a taxi route to Chaguanas from Broad Street, near Independence Square in Porto f Spain. It starts when all 4 seats are occupied but there is usually not too much to wait. The fare is 11 TT $. However, keep in mind there are no taxi routes that return to Porto f Spain after 18.00 on Saturdays and Sundays and therefore as the tour ends after 18.30 it is necessary to ask someone for a ride.

 

Another place not to be missed is Chaguaramas, located 10 km west of Porto of Spain. To reach it, keep in mind that from Monday to Friday numerous Maxitaxis and Big Buses leave from the City Terminal (2 TT $ - 20 '). For the Big bus, you need to buy a ticket at the desk in the terminal before getting on the bus. Saturdays and Sundays are another story because maxi taxis are not in service and Big Buses leave only about every 2 hours. Then you can take a taxi route to Chaguaramas from Broad Street, near South Quay Street in Port of Spain. It starts when all 4 seats are occupied but there is usually not too much to wait. The cost of the ride is 10 TT $. I don't know why but on the way back I found a taxi route that took me back to Port of Spain for the price of 5 TT $. This means that even on Sunday they are on duty but I don't know where they start from in the capital.

 

Chaguaramas can also be reached by water taxi from Port of Spain but not on Saturdays and Sundays.

 

The most famous and popular beach in Trinidad is Maracas Bay, located 15 km north-east of Porto of Spain. To reach it, keep in mind that, especially on Saturdays and Sundays, many Maxitaxis depart from 8.00 in the morning, on the corner of Henry Street and Queen Street in Porto of Spain, towards Maracas Bay and Las Cuevas Bay. (12 TT $ - 40 '). Keep in mind that these only return in the afternoon. If you have to return in the morning, ask for a ride to the city of Maraval, where there are numerous taxi routes that take you back to Porto of Spain (5 TT $ - 15 ').

 

To reach Tobago from Trinidad, in addition to the Caribbean Airlines Airline at the price of 150 TT $, keep in mind that the cheapest solution is to take the giant ferry of the Inter Island Ferry company, at the price of 50 TT $ (one way ). Motor vehicles are also transported. There are usually 2 or 3 departures a day: Sunday at 9.30 and 15.00. It can also be booked via the internet. There are over 800 seats. The trip takes 2 to 3 hours depending on the sea conditions. In Porto of Spain the ferry leaves from Tobago ferry terminal, located near the intersection of South Quay Street and Beetham Highway Street, and arrives at the Ferry Terminal in Scarborough, the capital of Tobago, located in the city center.

 

In Tobago I slept in the cheapest accommodation on the island, Ann's Villa Guest House, located in Bacolet Street at no. 81, 2km east of Scarborough Ferry Terminal, at a cost of TT $ 247 per night for a studio with double bed, bathroom and kitchen (booking via Booking.com). Wifi available. Breakfast not included. There is no public transport to reach it: either you take a taxi or go on foot.

 

To travel on the less touristy, but fascinating east coast, you can use the taxi route or the Maxi Taxi, but the frequency is scarce from Monday to Friday. The service is almost absent on Saturday and Sunday. Here are some pricing examples:

 

Taxi route from Scarborough town center to beautiful Speyside Village: 13 TT $ - 1 hour.

 

Maxi Taxi from Speyside Village to the beautiful Charlotteville Village, located on the northern tip of Tobago: 5 TT $ - 20 '.

 

Maxi Taxi from Charlotteville Village to Roxborough, corresponding to the road leading to Argyle Falls: 8 TT $ - 30 '.

 

 Maxi Taxi from Roxborough, corresponding to the road leading to Argyle Falls in the center of Scarborough: 5 TT $ - 40 '.

 

Note that there is no public service connecting Roxborough on the east coast with Parlatuvier on the west.

 

One of Tobago's top attractions are the Argyle Falls (54m), the highest on the island, located in Roxborough, on the east coast. Opening hours: every day from 9.00 to 17.00. Entrance fee: 60 TT $ or 10 USD. In theory, the guide also includes the price, but it is not mandatory. From the point where the taxi route or maxi taxis drop you off on the main road in Roxborough, you need to walk less than half a kilometer to reach the desk where you can buy your ticket. To reach the waterfalls, on the other hand, it is necessary to walk for a further 15 minutes in the middle of the jungle, on a path mainly on the plain with a few steps at the end.

 

The most touristic area of ​​Tobago is the south - east one, where there are the most beautiful beaches and facilities.

 

To visit this area it is necessary to reach Crown Point, where in addition to the airport there are most of the hotels, restaurants and shops dedicated to foreign tourists. To get there from the capital Scarborough you need to take a taxi route that leaves from the main road near the Ferry Terminal. There are 2 lanes to service the taxi route. That x Crown Point is the first (7 TT $ - 20 ').

 

To go to the most beautiful beaches of the south - west coast of Tobago, such as Store Bay, Pigeon Point (for a fee), Buccoo Bay, Mt Irvine Bay, Stone Haven Bay and Great Courland Bay, as it is a semi flat territory and the distances they are not prohibitive, the ideal is to rent a bike at Easy Goers Bicycle Rental, located on the main road just 200 meters away. from the International Airport. Opening hours: Monday to Saturday from 9.00 to 16.30. Rental cost per day: 80 TT $ or 15 USD. No deposit to leave.

 

At ANR Robinson International Airport, there is no border, that is, after the security check you are already at the gate and therefore you do not receive the stamps in your passport for leaving the country. However, when I was already in front of the gate waiting to board for London, the police asked me to follow them and they made a very careful check on my luggage and made me completely undress in a closet. They checked my backpack in detail and filled me with questions: where did I sleep, what was I doing in Tobago, ect. They evidently mistook me for a drug dealer, but the only thing they found was food, reports, maps and clothes.

 

ENGLAND

 

Punctual as never before from the ANR Robinson International Airport of Tobago at 19.35 my plane n. BA2256 of the British Airways Company in the direction of the South Terminal of Gatwick International Airport (United Kingdom), (price of the multi-route ticket including taxes from Linate to St. Kitt and from Tobago to Malpensa with stopovers at London Heathrow and London Gatwick: Euro 820.04).

 

Punctual arrival at 9.55 am, at the South Terminal of Gatwick International Airport (United Kingdom). There is a time zone time compared to Italy.

 

In order to set foot in the United Kingdom, it is sufficient to have a valid identity card or passport. Once you arrive at the aforementioned airport border, just put your ID on the scanner, wait for a photograph to be taken and if everything is ok, the automatic doors that allow you to enter the United Kingdom will open.

 

If from the South Terminal of Gatwick International Airport, located in Crawley, 60km. about south of Central London you want to reach Terminal 5 of London Heathrow International Airport, located 30 km west of London, you can take the direct bus of the National Express Company, with frequent runs. Tickets can also be booked online and costs £ 15. The journey takes just over an hour.

 

 The cheapest solution for the connection between the 2 aforementioned airports is to take Bus no. From the South Terminal of Gatwick International Airport. A3 (gate 3) of the National Express Company, which takes you to Victoria Bus Station in central London (England) in about 2 hours.

The ticket can be booked online, also on the Easy bus company website, a few weeks in advance, costs £ 1.95. Up to £ 15 if purchased a few days in advance or on site.

 

From there you can reach by walking for about 200 meters. Victoria Underground Station, adjacent to the railway station of the same name.

 

From Victoria Station take the underground (Green District line) to South Kensington metro Station (London) where you have to take the blue line "Piccadilly" to Terminal 5 of London Heathrow International Airport (United Kingdom). Check that Terminal 5 is written on the sign of the arriving train and not Terminal 3. The metro ticket costs £ 6. The journey takes approximately 1 hour.

 

To leave the UK you don't have to cross the border at the airport.

 

Punctual as never before from Terminal 5 of London Heathrow International Airport (United Kingdom) at 16.35 my plane no. BA0580 of the British Airways Company in the direction of Terminal 1 of Malpensa International Airport (Va), (price of the multi-route ticket including taxes from Linate to St. Kitt and from Tobago to Malpensa with stopovers at London Heathrow and London Gatwick: Euro 820 , 04).

 

Thus ends my journey.

 

My complete travel report with map, photographs and videos is available at this link:

http://vivendosalendo.blogspot.com/2017/11/traversata-dei-caraibi-da-nord-sud.html