The Tobago holiday guide. Written by tourists for tourists.

Trinidad and Tobago are completely different islands. Trinidad is large, industrial and sweaty, - imagine Walsall with palm trees - and Tobago is tiny, postcard pretty, quiet, warm and breezy. To put it in perspective, Trinidadians holiday in Tobago.

Tiny

Tobago is only 26 miles by 7 miles wide, and has a population of only about 54,000.

Avoiding hurricanes

Tobago is just south of the hurricane belt so is usually outside the path of hurricanes. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 did touch the island and caused some damage. Prior to that, the only hurricane to have really affected Tobago was Flora in 1963.

Trinidad and Tobago used to be part of South America and is home to wildlife usually only found on the geographical mainland. The central part of the island is covered with the oldest rain forest in the western hemisphere.

Peace of mind

Tobago wildlife

The wildlife in Tobago won’t kill you. There are no poisonous snakes, no man eating sharks, box jelly fish or pole jumping, bird eating spiders. There are mosquitoes, so you should make sure you take along some relevant protection. There have been isolated instances of Dengue Fever from mosquito bites in the past, so do consult your GP before travelling.

Climate

Warm and sunny with fresh trade winds.
Average temperature: 30C (86F)
The sea can be as warm as your bath, and is warmest in the rainy season. Jumping into the sea during a quick tropical rainburst on the beach is great fun. And the re-emerging sun will dry your towel in no time.

Peak Season - January - May.
This is the ‘dry season’. It’s cooler (just 80F!) and rains little. This is the most expensive time to visit.
Low Season - June- December. The so called ‘wet season’ - and not to be confused with ‘monsoons’. It’s more humid, the sea is warmer, and warm, tropical rain usually comes in short, sharp bursts and freshens the greenery. The island is at its most beautiful in this season as everything is full of colour. The seasons’ boundaries are becoming blurred - perhaps as a result of global warming.

Flying

Tobago is between an 8 - 10 hour flight from the UK (depending on who you fly with). Some flights make refuelling stops to other islands on the way there or home. Links to Tobago flight details are available on this website.

Language

English is the official language.

Money

The local currency is the Trinidad & Tobago dollar.
The import of local currency is unlimited, as long as you declare it, and the export of local currency is limited to TT$200.
What do you get for your money? Well, a bottle of the local beer, Carib, costs about 8 TT dollars (£1) at most beach or local bars. That same beer can cost 15 TT dollars or more in your hotel. Or you could buy from the supermarket for about 5 TT dollars a beer, and get money back aswell on the empties. A local take-away dish - ‘roti’ - can be had for no more than 8 TT dollars (£1) and comes with chicken, beef shrimp or goat and is delicious.

Clocks

Tobago is 4/5 hours behind the UK.
British Summer : GMT - 5 hours
British Winter: GMT - 4 hours

Electricity

You’ll need an adaptor for your hairdryer. Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are the 2 flat pin type, as in the USA.
Most accommodation has air conditioning - if not, there are usually fans.

Hotel proximity to the airport

A lot of hotels and guesthouses are in the Crown Point area and near to the airport. Normally, being near an airport would be a worry. But there are no night flights to Tobago, and only one or two jets a day land - usually when you’re out at the beach.

Unwind on a quiet beach

Dress Code

Casual. If you’re staying in one of the top hotels then you may want to pack a few posh frocks or shirt and tie but generally shorts and T shirts are the norm.

Getting around the island

Getting around the island is relatively easy. You can hire a jeep or a car. Petrol is very, very cheap, but there are few petrol stations so don’t get caught out - refuel regularly.
You’ll need a valid, full driving licence. Drive on the left; there is a 30 mph (50 kph) speed limit throughout Tobago.

There are buses - you have to purchase a ticket in advance from local stores.

The best way of getting around if you don’t need a jeep for the day, is to pick up an ‘unofficial taxi’, or a maxi taxi. Tobago has a regulated taxi service that charges about the same as you’d pay back at home, but there is a network of unofficial taxis that seem to operate under a ‘blind eye’ system and it’s a bit like thumbing a lift. A short ‘hop’ will cost you no more than 2 TT dollars - about 20p - and you’ll be entertained on the way aswell.
This is a fabulous way of meeting and talking to the local people, who have the best information about where to go and what to do.
Official taxis can be spotted with a registration letter ‘H’

Airport Departure Tax

For any traveller leaving these Islands, there is a mandatory TT$100 per person, airport departure tax to be paid; so keep that amount put aside. Children aged 5 years or less are exempt. Some airlines include the departure tax into the airfare.

Crime

Tourists to Tobago find it’s a relatively safe island to visit. There has been some high profile crimes happen to ex-pats living there this year that are shameful, and the fact that this is known as a peaceful island has given the stories more prominance than might have been the case otherwise. The Tobago authorities deal with crime against tourists very seriously indeed - thefts from tourists are deterred by heavy jail sentences. Tobagonians are a warm and respectful people - but whatever country you holiday in there’s always an element of crime.
Exercise the same caution you would in your own hometown. Keep your money and valuables safe. Don’t leave your bag and camera on an empty beach while you go for a swim. Be sensible. Generally, you can walk around Tobago, day or night, and not be looking over you shoulder.

Communications

It is possible to hire a mobile while you are out there - contact TSTT Cellnet (tel: 800 CELL; fax: 001 868 625 5807).

There are payphones around the island which use pre-paid cards available from most shops and supermarkets.
Faxes are available in most hotels.
Tobago is really switched on to modern communications - the Internet and e-mail is available in lots of inexpensive cybercafes around the island, and most hotels have access and will charge you a small fee for use.

Ferry Service

From Trinidad to Tobago. The ferry leaves Port of Spain, Trinidad, once a day (Monday – Friday 2pm, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 11am) and takes five and a half hours. It costs $60TT return for passengers and $600TT return for vehicles. You can only buy tickets at the ferry office (in Trinidad or Tobago) from 7.30am-4pm Monday to Fridays and your car must be boarded two hours ahead of departure time. There is a fast ferry (two hours) too. Schedules for Sundays and Public Holidays vary. Please use the following link for the latest ferry timetables and prices - www.patnt.com/ferry_schedule.shtml

Health

	Special Precautions	Certificate Required
Yellow Fever	No	see 1
Cholera	No	No
Typhoid	No	-
Malaria	No	-
Food and Drink	see 2	-

A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas.
To be on the safe side it's best to buy bottled drinking water or boil tap water before use. Bottled water is readily available. Hotels will tell you if their mains water is safe to drink. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables throughout both islands are generally safe to eat.

Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. Bats are a problem as far as the transmission of rabies is concerned.

There is now reportedly quite a high rate of HIV/Aids on the island. Visitors should avoid unprotected sex.

Dengue Fever has recently become a problem. Mosquito repellant should be used whenever possible, particularly after dusk, rainfall, and in the wet season, May - December.

Health care: Although there is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK, public sector health care is free. However, health insurance is recommended as Tobago's health care provision is limited.