* Make your airplane reservation at least one year in advance if you plan to go to carnival in Trinidad. It's not like catching the shuttle to New York; every seat around carnival time is usually sold out eight months in advance. Try Continental Airlines or American; flights pass through Miami, New York or San Juan. Call the airlines directly for the best rates instead of using a travel agent (expect to pay $400 to $800 round trip).
* Good deals can sometimes be found on internet travel sites like Expedia or Travelocity, but check the box saying your travel dates are "flexible", then choose the dates you want to get the best prices. Pay for your ticket as far ahead of time as you can, the price will rise the longer you wait. Prices are lower, and seats are easy to get at non-carnival times.
* It hurts my heart to say this, but you
should probably avoid the Trinidad national airline, British West
Indian Airways. I once loved to fly "BWEE", with it's
Trini food, atmosphere and airline hostesses, but recently there
have been too many canceled flights, confiscated airliners, stranded
passengers, government bailouts and too much lost luggage to ignore.
Trinis call BWIA "Been Waitin' In de Airport","Better
Wish It Arrive" and "Baggage Wandering Internationally
Again". A few years ago BWEE personnel held up a flight for
half an hour in Miami while they tried to move me out of the emergency
aisle seat because the size of my ass was a "security risk"
(long story, don't ask!). BWIA will go out of business at the end of 2006, to be replaced by the new Caribbean Airlines.
* Make your hotel reservation one year in
advance for carnival, the Holiday Inn (right downtown), Trinidad
Hilton (fantastic view!), the Crown Plaza and Chaconia Inn are
close to town or in Port of Spain and very popular. Marriott is
about to open on the Gulf of Paria at Invaders Bay next to Movietown.
You will not be able to get a carnival reservation on short notice
like you can the rest of the year. Make rental car reservations
three months in advance for the same reason. Both may require
that you send a deposit.
* If you have waited until the last minute,
check with your West Indian friends or in West Indian businesses
about leads on charter flights. These flights are booked by groups
or promoters who charge about $500 round trip. Departure and return
dates will be set in stone and cannot be changed; if you miss
your return flight you're out of luck (you have to buy a new ticket
home). The promoters often want cash and won't take credit cards,
so check them out before paying any money.
* You should apply for a passport at least
two months before you leave. A U.S. passport is required to enter
or leave Trinidad; it costs $40 and is good for ten years. Obtain
a shot record form at the passport office and have a clinic give
you all the shots required for the countries you will be traveling
to. Have the doctor record all shots on the shot record form and
keep it in the passport.
* Seeing Carnival involves quite a bit of
exercise. Walking is one of the most common ways of getting around,
and during carnival it can be the only way. Playing mas in a costume
band or following bands around means several miles of walking
in the tropical sun each day. Fetes (parties) follow, which means
dancing all night. Snorkeling and swimming can strain muscles
not used to these activities. Toning up by walking, swimming or
working out before you leave is an excellent idea. Swimming lessons
for non swimmers should be considered. You'll have plenty of time
to rest up from the vacation when you get back to work.
* If you plan to drive in Trinidad you should reserve a rental car as far in advance as possible. You need a valid licence and a credit card. A car is of little use during carnival, so you may want to pick it up on Ash Wednesday. Try www.econocar.com, www.kalloos.com or www.budgetcarstrinidad.com for a reservation. Remember that driving in Trinidad is an adventure; you'll drive on the left while facing some of the fastest drivers, biggest potholes and narrowest roads you've ever seen.
* Swimmers should get a couple of nice swim
suits, and if you plan to go snorkeling think about buying your
own equipment. When you go to a resort, take a snorkeling boat
trip or go to Buccoo Reef, the resort or tour guide will have
masks, snorkels and fins that you can borrow. That means that
the mask on your face and the snorkel in your mouth have been
on hundreds of faces or in thousands of mouths before yours. Go
to a dive shop and have them fit a mask and snorkel properly (mask
$30+, snorkel $25+, fins $30+).
* If you are not used to airplane travel
(or even if you are) you should pack a good antihistamine like
Contac in your carry on bag. International flights fly very high;
if you have even a slight cold or ear infection you may experience
painful compression and decompression of the inner ear on takeoffs
and landings. Since you may take off and land three or four times
before you reach your destination, a decongestant will help relieve
the symptoms, as will yawning (anytime) or holding your nose and
blowing gently (landings only). In extreme cases of ear infection,
a flight attendant may microwave a wet tissue in a cup; this eases
the pain when held to the ear.
* Prices of food, travel and entertainment
inside Trinidad are very reasonable compared to the U.S., so once
there you won't need a huge amount of money. I'd recommend bringing
a minimum of $100/week for a non-Carnival trip, and $200/week
during Carnival time. Fetes run about $50 each, tents $12 each,
Carnival costumes $350/person, car rental $350/week and cell phone
rentals $25/week. You don't have to travel with a lot of money,
just use your ATM card in Trinidad as needed. Remember that there
is a departure tax in Piarco Airport, so save $100 TT ($17.00
U.S.) per person to cover it when you leave.
* Have your travel agent get your seat assignment a few weeks before the flight. If you fly BWIA you'll want a window seat on the LEFT side of the plane in front of the wing (approximately between rows 6-20). Don't sleep as the plane nears Trinidad; you'll be treated to a magnificent view of a lit up night time Port of Spain.
* Don't wear or bring camouflage colored or military clothing or hats. Unlike in the Invasion Capitol of the World (U.S.), camouflage clothing is illegal here and will be confiscated in the airport. There are rumors that someone flew in wearing camouflage pants and walked out of the airport in drawers!
* Spend a little time getting acquainted
with the culture of your destination. Talk to people, listen to
Caribbean music or go to a few Caribbean restaurants to become
familiar with things you might see, hear and eat on the trip.
There are Caribbean carnival celebrations in most major North
American and European cities. The most famous are Labor Day in
Brooklyn, Caribana in Toronto and Notting Hill in London, but
Boston, Phily, Baltimore, D.C., L.A., Miami and many others have
their own mini-carnivals. Check with West Indian friends or businesses
for dates.
* If you plan to play mas (dance in a costume band on carnival Monday and Tuesday) you should contact friends in or from Trinidad about reserving space in the band of your choice. Even with four or five thousand band members, bands sell out well before carnival. It may be difficult or impossible to get a costume at the last minute if you wait until you arrive in Trinidad to try to get one. Expect to pay $300 US for an average costume and the right to play in a band. Most carnival bands have websites that allow you to sign up online.
© 2004 Afrique Publications
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