We're among those who must overnight in POS and catch a Tobago Express flight the next morning. As it turns out, we have enough Hilton points to get a free night at the Trinidad Hilton. My question is: As long as we are there, should we spend several hours exploring the Savannah and environs and head for Tobago in the afternoon?
Or is there not enough easily of interest to see and we should aim at an early morning flight? I was in POS in the 1970s, but my memory of what to see could be sharper, and my husband has never been there. I understand there is a botanical garden and zoo nearby. Worth seeing? I wonder also if such a short time would help us understand the two-island country.
Thanks.
morning on the savannah?
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Pauline
Hello Cornelia
I spent a week in Trinidad (my husband was working there) four years ago. We found it v. interesting - a very different feel from Tobago (which we visited last year).
I spent 2 days looking about POS on my own (stayed on the other side of theSavannah - can't remember the name of the hotel). I visited both the zoo and the botanical gardens (walking distance frm the Hilton). They were OK, but not in any way outstanding. I think it took me less than an hour to walk round each of them. Personally I would opt for an early flight to Tobago.
The alternative, if you can, would be to hire a car for a day and get out of POS, with an evening flight to Tobago if the flight times make this possible. I would definitely recommend that.
You could take a trip to the Asa Wright nature reserve for lunch (about an hour from POS) for the most magical bird-watching and feeding experience. (No disrespect to Tobago, but the birds at Asa Wright are awesome - amonst the top 10 birding sights in the world apparently). You need to book in advance for lunch and a short trip in the rainforest. If you had time, you could then head to the Caroni Swamp for a boat trip through the mangroves and watch the scarlet ibis fly in from Venezuela. They do this at sunset. The Swamp is not too far from the airport (from memory).
We did both these trips in one day with a driver and were back in our hotel in POS by about 7.00 pm. So it depends on the flights.
Otherwise, I would give POS itself a miss and get a few more hours of Tobago!
Have a lovely time
Pauline
I spent a week in Trinidad (my husband was working there) four years ago. We found it v. interesting - a very different feel from Tobago (which we visited last year).
I spent 2 days looking about POS on my own (stayed on the other side of theSavannah - can't remember the name of the hotel). I visited both the zoo and the botanical gardens (walking distance frm the Hilton). They were OK, but not in any way outstanding. I think it took me less than an hour to walk round each of them. Personally I would opt for an early flight to Tobago.
The alternative, if you can, would be to hire a car for a day and get out of POS, with an evening flight to Tobago if the flight times make this possible. I would definitely recommend that.
You could take a trip to the Asa Wright nature reserve for lunch (about an hour from POS) for the most magical bird-watching and feeding experience. (No disrespect to Tobago, but the birds at Asa Wright are awesome - amonst the top 10 birding sights in the world apparently). You need to book in advance for lunch and a short trip in the rainforest. If you had time, you could then head to the Caroni Swamp for a boat trip through the mangroves and watch the scarlet ibis fly in from Venezuela. They do this at sunset. The Swamp is not too far from the airport (from memory).
We did both these trips in one day with a driver and were back in our hotel in POS by about 7.00 pm. So it depends on the flights.
Otherwise, I would give POS itself a miss and get a few more hours of Tobago!
Have a lovely time
Pauline
-
Pauline
Hello Cornelia
I spent a week in Trinidad (my husband was working there) four years ago. We found it v. interesting - a very different feel from Tobago (which we visited last year).
I spent 2 days looking about POS on my own (stayed on the other side of theSavannah - can't remember the name of the hotel). I visited both the zoo and the botanical gardens (walking distance frm the Hilton). They were OK, but not in any way outstanding. I think it took me less than an hour to walk round each of them. Personally I would opt for an early flight to Tobago.
The alternative, if you can, would be to hire a car for a day and get out of POS, with an evening flight to Tobago if the flight times make this possible. I would definitely recommend that.
You could take a trip to the Asa Wright nature reserve for lunch (about an hour from POS) for the most magical bird-watching and feeding experience. (No disrespect to Tobago, but the birds at Asa Wright are awesome - amonst the top 10 birding sights in the world apparently). You need to book in advance for lunch and a short trip in the rainforest. If you had time, you could then head to the Caroni Swamp for a boat trip through the mangroves and watch the scarlet ibis fly in from Venezuela. They do this at sunset. The Swamp is not too far from the airport (from memory).
We did both these trips in one day with a driver and were back in our hotel in POS by about 7.00 pm. So it depends on the flights.
Otherwise, I would give POS itself a miss and get a few more hours of Tobago!
Have a lovely time
Pauline
I spent a week in Trinidad (my husband was working there) four years ago. We found it v. interesting - a very different feel from Tobago (which we visited last year).
I spent 2 days looking about POS on my own (stayed on the other side of theSavannah - can't remember the name of the hotel). I visited both the zoo and the botanical gardens (walking distance frm the Hilton). They were OK, but not in any way outstanding. I think it took me less than an hour to walk round each of them. Personally I would opt for an early flight to Tobago.
The alternative, if you can, would be to hire a car for a day and get out of POS, with an evening flight to Tobago if the flight times make this possible. I would definitely recommend that.
You could take a trip to the Asa Wright nature reserve for lunch (about an hour from POS) for the most magical bird-watching and feeding experience. (No disrespect to Tobago, but the birds at Asa Wright are awesome - amonst the top 10 birding sights in the world apparently). You need to book in advance for lunch and a short trip in the rainforest. If you had time, you could then head to the Caroni Swamp for a boat trip through the mangroves and watch the scarlet ibis fly in from Venezuela. They do this at sunset. The Swamp is not too far from the airport (from memory).
We did both these trips in one day with a driver and were back in our hotel in POS by about 7.00 pm. So it depends on the flights.
Otherwise, I would give POS itself a miss and get a few more hours of Tobago!
Have a lovely time
Pauline
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SJKeeler
Cornelia,
Ditto what Pauline writes. We were in Trinidad 2 years ago for Carnival, which was amazing! But without Carnival I can't imagine wanting to do much around the Savannah. We stayed at the Kapok, but visited the Hilton, by the way, and it was wonderful. Great staff and food. The rum punch is a killer! If you can hire a car and venture out, Trinidad has some great places to visit. We went to Maracas Beach and toured some of the north side of the island. I've also heard the Asa Wright Center is marvelous and hope to visit there when we return for Carnival sometime in the future. If venturing out is not your plan, I'd head to Tobago early.
Sharon
Ditto what Pauline writes. We were in Trinidad 2 years ago for Carnival, which was amazing! But without Carnival I can't imagine wanting to do much around the Savannah. We stayed at the Kapok, but visited the Hilton, by the way, and it was wonderful. Great staff and food. The rum punch is a killer! If you can hire a car and venture out, Trinidad has some great places to visit. We went to Maracas Beach and toured some of the north side of the island. I've also heard the Asa Wright Center is marvelous and hope to visit there when we return for Carnival sometime in the future. If venturing out is not your plan, I'd head to Tobago early.
Sharon
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John Hill
Hi Cornelia,
As Pauline stated The Asa Wright is wonderful the birds are wonderful the food wonderful and I wonder if you will go DO DO DO its great, an easy drive even for us that drive on the correct side of the road.
We are heading your way this year to Texas in April more birding.
Web site http://www.asawright.org/
As Pauline stated The Asa Wright is wonderful the birds are wonderful the food wonderful and I wonder if you will go DO DO DO its great, an easy drive even for us that drive on the correct side of the road.
We are heading your way this year to Texas in April more birding.
Web site http://www.asawright.org/
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Cornelia Montgomery
Thank you for the information and advice. This time, we've opted to head straight for Tobago in the early morning. Next time, we hope to see the ibises (ibisi?) come home to roost and to visit Asa Wright.
We leave from Boston around noontime on Friday; will arrive at Piarco around 9 p.m. An overnight in POS, then on to Tobago. It's so close, and I'm not packed. But then I always do it the night before anyway ... Let's see ... sunscreen, sandals, shorts, swimsuits, etc.
We leave from Boston around noontime on Friday; will arrive at Piarco around 9 p.m. An overnight in POS, then on to Tobago. It's so close, and I'm not packed. But then I always do it the night before anyway ... Let's see ... sunscreen, sandals, shorts, swimsuits, etc.
