Where is it?
Just north of the Equator, Tobago and Trinidad are the two
most southern Caribbean islands, lying just off the coast of
Venezuela, South America.
Click on a map for a larger
image
Tobago is a separate island from Trinidad
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 50,000.
Avoiding hurricanes
Tobago is just south of the hurricane belt so is
usually outside the path of hurricanes. (see
weather page)
Unique
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
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,
and there are roughly 12 TT dollars to the pound at the time of
writing.
The import of local currency is unlimited, as long as you
declare it, and the export of local currency is limited to
TT$200. Click here for more
about Tobago money.
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. For more on food see the ‘food and menus’
section.
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.
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 for around £40 a
day. Petrol is very, very cheap, less than 30p per
gallon, 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 dollars - 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 (about £9) 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.
Duty Free into Tobago
Over 17s can import into Tobago the following:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco
1.5 litres of wine or spirits
A reasonable quantity of perfume
Gifts up to the value of £35
Crime
Tourists to Tobago find it’s a relatively safe
island to visit. 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
Dual Band GSM mobile phones work in Tobago.
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.
Health
|
Special Precautions |
Certificate Required |
| Yellow Fever |
No |
see 1 |
| Cholera |
No |
No |
| Typhoid |
No |
- |
| Malaria |
No |
- |
| Food and Drink |
see 2 |
- |
| |
|
1: |
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas.
|
|
2: |
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.
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