Brandon

Sep 01, 2022

Travel here!!!

A little bit about the history of the islands

Located just off the northern coast of South America, at the tailbone of the Caribbean arch, the twin-island of Trinidad and Tobago (casually known as T&T) has both the vibrant Caribbean city life while still enjoying the region's signature sand, sea, and sun. Both islands are known for offering a wide variety of natural landscapes and wildlife. It’s a tad different from what you might find on other islands in the Caribbean as it was physically connected to South America in ancient times. 

In Trinidad, you'll discover savannahs, waterfalls, isolated beaches to see giant leatherback turtles, and tropical rain forests - where you might spot howler monkeys or ocelots. Tobago is known for its beaches and coral reefs filled with a variety of fishes and manta rays, and the Tobago Forest Reserve, one of the oldest protected forests in the world. There are also over 472 known species of birds - enough to keep avid bird-enthusiasts busy while on the island.

Trinidad and Tobago is known for creating some of the musical genres often associated with the Caribbean, like Soca (or ‘Soul of Calypso,’ the most popular), calypso - a fusion of spoken word with music and steel pan (also known as steel drums) - an instrument made from oil drums. It's also home to the largest carnival celebration within the region. Trinbagonians are happy-go-lucky people with a party-centric culture where there's never a bad time to go "liming" (hanging out with friends and family usually with food and alcohol)

While it's possible to experience Trinidad and Tobago on a budget, it requires a bit of planning - the average daily budget for a two-week trip is TT$1000, or US$160. However, if you're okay with staying at budget-friendly accommodations and using public transportation, it can be brought down to TT$500, or US$80, per day. 

Although most places accept US dollars, having the local currency TT dollars, especially in small notes like $5s, $10s, and $20s, will come in handy when using public transport and buying from street vendors. You'll find foreign exchange bureaus at both Piarco and Robinson airports, but they don't always offer the best rates, and since bureaus are scarce around the islands, the best way to exchange large amounts is through the banks. For smaller quantities, using an ATM is your best bet as most major credit cards are recognized in Trinidad and Tobago. I recommend informing your provider about your visit beforehand to prevent the card from being blocked for strange activities, which tends to happen when using credit cards in a new location far away from home.