Travel Essentials

Trinidad & Tobago: What To Know Before You Go

Q: What is the emergency number in Trinidad & Tobago?

Police: 999, Ambulance: 811, Fire: 990

Plugs: Types A and B (US-style), 115 V. Emergency: Police 999, Ambulance 811, Fire 990. Tipping: Tip 10-15% in restaurants if no service charge is added, and a few dollars for porters, guides and drivers. Tap water: Generally safe in urban areas, but bottled water is often preferred..

Open The Trinidad & Tobago Trip Kit

Plugs And Power

Types A and B (US-style), 115 V

Emergency Numbers

Police	999
Ambulance	811
Fire	990

Tipping

Tip 10-15% in restaurants if no service charge is added, and a few dollars for porters, guides and drivers.

Water And Health

Tap water: Generally safe in urban areas, but bottled water is often preferred.
Vaccines: Routine vaccines, hepatitis A, typhoid; rabies and hepatitis B for some travelers.
Malaria: None

Apps To Download Before You Go

TT RideShare: A local ride-hailing app for Trinidad, since Uber does not operate; hotels can also arrange trusted taxis.
Drop: Another Trinidad-based ride-hailing app popular in Port of Spain and the west.
WhatsApp: Guesthouses, tour operators and taxi drivers all work via WhatsApp.
Caribbean Airlines / TTIT Ferry: Flights and the ferry between Trinidad and Tobago are the two ways to cross between the islands.
PBS (Public Transport Service): The public bus service; most locals use shared 'maxi taxis' and route taxis hailed on the street instead.
Foodrunner / MyFoodDrop: Local food-delivery apps covering Port of Spain and surrounding towns.
WiPay / PayWise: Local digital wallets and QR payments; cards are accepted in cities and Tobago resorts but cash is needed at street vendors.
Digicel / bmobile: Apps of the two mobile operators for prepaid SIMs and data plans.

Customs And Etiquette

Greetings. A friendly handshake and casual conversation is standard; Trinidad and Tobago's multicultural mix (African, Indian, mixed heritage) means greetings and customs vary by community.

Carnival etiquette. During Carnival, revelry and costume culture are central; visitors joining a 'mas band' should respect the significant cost and planning that go into costumes and events.

Casual dress, but respect for religious sites. Everyday dress is relaxed and beach-casual, but modest dress is expected at temples, mosques and churches.

Safety And Scams

Trinidad and Tobago has notably higher violent crime than most Caribbean islands; a nationwide State of Emergency was declared in March 2026 due to a spike in violent crime, so travelers should stay alert to current conditions, especially in Port of Spain.

Online dating/romance scams. Scammers use dating apps to lure victims into meetings that lead to robbery or assault; meet new contacts only in public, well-populated places.

Fake job offers and inheritance scams. Unsolicited job or money offers are common online scams; treat any such offer targeting you personally with suspicion.

Women travelers. Women may face unwanted attention, sexual harassment or verbal abuse; solo women should avoid walking alone at night and use trusted transport.

LGBTQ+ Travelers

Criminalized

Same-sex sexual activity is technically illegal but the law is rarely enforced, and there is growing local support for LGBT+ rights; travelers should still avoid public displays of affection and be aware apps like Grindr have been used to target and rob people.

What Things Cost

Coffee (café)	TTD 19 (espresso)	$2.80
Local bus or metro ride	TTD 5.50	$0.80
Mid-range restaurant meal	TTD 100	$15
Hostel bed / budget room (night)	TTD 549	$81
Mid-range hotel (night)	TTD 1,000	$162
Daily budget, mid-range traveler	TTD 1,678	$247

2026-09

Best Time To Visit

January to May (dry season) is best, with January-March the most popular thanks to Carnival; the rainy season (June-November) includes a brief dry spell in September ('petit carême').

Phrases

Basic English phrases · Basic Bhojpuri phrases