Trinidad & Tobago
| General Information
General Info, Travel Info, & FAQs are provided to assist with your vacation.
ATMs Not all ATMs in the Caribbean operate like those in your home country. Some may only accept a four digit PIN number, so if yours is longer you may want to change it before your trip. Ensure you keep your travel money in your primary chequing account as some ATMs default to this account and will not allow you to choose another. Withdrawal fees are generally much higher outside your home country.
The main banks are First Citizens Bank (tel 868/624-3178), RBTT Bank (tel 868/625-7288), Republic Bank (tel 868/625-4411) and Scotiabank (tel 868/625-3566). They all have ATMs at their branches and various locations around the islands. Most accept cards on the Cirrus/Maestro and/or Electron/Plus networks and dispense Trinidad & Tobago dollars. The RBTT ATMs at Piarco International Airport and the Maraval and Park St branches dispense US dollars.
BANKING AND BUSINESS HOURS Banks Mon-Thurs 8am-2pm Fri 8am-1pm and 3pm-5pm
Banks located in shopping malls are generally open Mon-Fri 9/10/11am-5/6pm.
Post Office Mon-Fri 7/7:30am-4/5pm Sat 8/9am-12/1/2pm (some close on Sat)
Franchise outlets generally have longer hours that tend to coincide with the host business' hours.
CHURCHES/RELIGIONS Predominantly Roman Catholic and Hinduism. Protestant, including Anglican, Baptist, Pentecostal and Seventh-day Adventist, as well as Islam and traditional African faiths also represented.
CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS The local currency is the Trinidad & Tobago dollar (TT$), which is divided into 100 cents. Paper money runs in denominations of TT$1, TT$5, TT$10, TT$20 and TT$100 bills, and coins in 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ and 50¢ pieces. US dollars are widely accepted and most shops, hotels and restaurants accept traveller's cheques and major credit cards. Money exchange houses are called cambios or bureaus de change.
To ensure hassle-free purchases during your trip, you may want to contact your credit card company and let them know you will be travelling abroad.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS American Express: lost or stolen card, 336/393-1111 (call collect); lost or stolen cheques or cheque cards, 888/877-3060 Discover Card: 801/902-3100 MasterCard: 800/307-7309 Visa: 410/902-8022 (call collect) Western Union: 623-6000
DEPARTURE TAX Everyone under 60 years old must pay a departure tax of TT$100 when leaving the country. You can pay the departure tax upon check in or with your credit card at the First Citizen ATM located to the left of the security checkpoint at the departure gate.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS American and Canadian citizens and European Union residents require a passport valid at least three months longer than the intended stay, and do not require a visa for visits up to three months. All visitors must also have an onward or return ticket.
Citizens of other countries may require a visa. Consult your nearest Trinidad & Tobago consulate/diplomatic mission or call the Trinidad & Tobago Immigration Division at 868/623-3571 or 623-3572. The visa application form is available on the Government of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago's website at www.gov.tt/services.
Visitors arriving within five days from a yellow-fever-infected area require a vaccination certificate.
Note: As of January 23, 2007, all persons travelling by air to the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda will require a valid passport, Air NEXUS card or US Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Document to enter and/or re-enter the United States in accordance with the US Government's Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. For more information visit the US Government's Bureau of Consular Affairs website at www.travel.state.gov.
Some countries require single/lone parents or other adults travelling alone with children to provide documents showing evidence of parental/custodial and/or access rights, and/or documents authorizing consent from the parents, legal guardian, and/or the court for the children to travel. Parents of adopted children, particularly those of a different nationality, should carry the proper documents.
NEAREST FOREIGN REPRESENTATION British High Commission: 622-2748 (Port-of-Spain) High Commission of Canada: 622-6232 (Port-of-Spain), 800/387-3124 (toll free to Ottawa), 613/996-8885 (collect to Ottawa) US Embassy: 622-6371 (Port-of-Spain)
EXCHANGE RATES
As of January 3, 2007
US$
TT$
British pound sterling
1.96820
12.50004
Canadian dollar
0.85898
5.45539
European Union euro
1.32533
8.41717
Japanese yen
0.008419
0.05347
Swiss franc
0.82349
5.23000
US dollar
--
6.35100
HEALTH STANDARDS Public general hospitals provide free medical care, although it is below North American and European standards. There are numerous hospitals, district health facilities and medical clinics around the country, however, medical care and supplies are limited, including ambulance service, and serious cases require air evacuation to neighbouring islands or Miami, Florida. Medical care at some private facilities is better than at public hospitals, but patients may be required to prove their ability to pay prior to admittance.
Your home medical program may not provide payment for medical services outside your home country. Obtaining adequate medical/travel insurance, including air ambulance coverage, and consulting a physician or travel medicine specialist six to eight weeks prior to your trip to determine health risks and necessary vaccinations is recommended.
There are numerous pharmacies throughout the islands.
ILLEGAL ITEMS There are harsh penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs. It is also illegal for civilians, including children, to wear army or camouflage clothing.
For more information call Customs and Excise at 868/625-3993 or 625-3176.
LANGUAGE English
POSTAGE TT Post (tel 800-7678) is the country's postal service provider. There are numerous postal outlets scattered throughout both islands. Corporate postal outlets are generally open Mon-Fri 7/7:30am-4/5pm and Sat 8/9am-12/1/2pm (some close on Sat). Franchise outlets generally have longer hours that tend to coincide with the host business' hours.
Bright red mailboxes are conveniently located around cities and towns. Airmail to North America can take one to two weeks and to the UK, two to three weeks. Courier service is also available.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS Jan 1 New Year's Day Mar 30 Spiritual Baptist (Shouter) Liberation Day Mar/Apr (varies) Good Friday Mar/Apr (varies) Easter Monday May/June (varies) Corpus Christi May 30 Indian Arrival Day June 19 Labour Day Aug 1 Emancipation Day Aug 31 Independence Day Sept 24 Republic Day (varies) Divali Hindu festival (varies) Eid-Ul-Fitr Muslim festival Dec 25 Christmas Day Dec 26 Boxing Day
Note: Dates for the Muslim and Hindu festival days are determined and announced just prior to their observance each year. When a public holiday falls on a Sun the holiday is observed on the following Mon.
SHOPPING HOURS Shops are generally open Mon-Thurs 8am to 4pm, Fri 8am-6pm and Sat 8am-12 noon. Mall stores generally stay open until 9pm.
TAXES Hotels and guest houses add a 10% government tax to all bills. They may also add additional service and utility charges. There is a 15% VAT (value added tax) on all goods and services. Businesses registered to charge the VAT have a certificate of registration prominently displayed at their place of business.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS The phone system on Trinidad & Tobago is modern and cellular and Internet services are available.
The country code is 868. Local phone numbers have seven digits. For operator assistance dial 0, and for local directory assistance dial 6411.
TSTT/Telecommunications Services of Trinidad & Tobago (tel 824-8788) is the national telecommunications provider. TSTT Companion Calling Cards can be used with any Touch-Tone phone and can be purchased at all TSTT business offices and authorized dealers.
At select TSTT phone booths and hotels you can dial 1-800-271-1111 and follow the automated voice prompts to make a collect call or to use a credit card or any US calling card. Look for the "Home Direct 1-800-271-1111" sticker on phones at the Piarco International Airport (luggage/arrival/departure areas); Cruise Ship Complex, Port-of-Spain; Peake Marine Marina and the Trinidad & Tobago Yachting Association, Chaguaramas; Trinidad Hilton; Kapok Hotel, St Clair; Monique's Guest House, Maraval; and TSTT Customer Service Centres at Independence Sq in Port-of-Spain, St James St in San Fernando and the Caroline Building in Scarborough.
For more information see the section in FAQs: Can I use my calling card from here?
TSTT and Digicel (tel 628-7000) provide cellular roaming services. Check with your service provider to see if they have a roaming agreement with one of these companies.
TSTT's 619-EASY service allows Internet dial-up service from any Touch-Tone phone, including those in hotels. Ask for details at your hotel reception desk.
TSTT NetXpress Internet Kiosks are located at TTPOST Tragarete Rd, Port-of-Spain and at TSTT Mobile Service Outlets at Trincity Mall, 114 Frederick St in Port-of-Spain and West Mall in Westmoorings. They provide high-speed Internet access for 25¢ per minute or $15 per hour. Purchase NetXpress Kiosk cards at cashiers where the kiosks are located.
TEMPERATURES The average daytime temperature is about 82°F. The rainy season is June-Dec.
TIME ZONE The twin islands are on Eastern Standard Time, which is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). They do not observe daylight savings time.
Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel.
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