is trinidad or tobago better with a 2 years old child

Isaia S. · Post by **Isaia S.** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:30 pm

hello you all !
first time on this forum..looks a good one !
Im trying to concrete a dream...visit west indies. I 'd like to go in T&T december 2006.
Don't wanna go into big hotels, but prefer to live with local people.
could you give me advices please ? is trinidad or tobago better with a 2 years old child ? have no driving license yet..is it a problem if we wanna move around ? is it easy to travel from tobago to trinidad ?

thanks a lot & regards

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 6:59 pm

Hello Isaia

Welcome aboard!

This website is entirely about Tobago, so discussion about Trinidad is beyond our scope. Trinidad is not a tourist destination and you should be aware of the deteriorating security situation there before travelling around the island on your own.

Tobago is a very different island. It is by far the safer of the two. You would have no problem travelling around Tobago with a young child.

There is a very cheap ferry service between Trinidad & Tobago. The air-bridge service is much quicker, but more expensive.

Good luck with your holiday research.

Ronald · Post by **Ronald** » Fri Jun 30, 2006 4:42 pm

Hi Isaia

Steve is correct in what he say, Trinidad isn´t a tourist destination and will most likely never become one. Crime is high there, and even if 99% of it is related to gang-war, drugs and other "criminal business", one can not go around by car or take a walk in the same way you can in Tobago.

Visitors aren´t targeted, but it´s easy to be on wrong place in wrong time for a visitor which haven´t been there before. It do happen that visitors been robbed, but not daily or even per week.
I remember 2-3 years two persons did ger robbed outside their hotel, on the street. But they had gold chains, camera, modern cell phones with them. A car stopped and they got robbed. Sad thing, but they didn´t use common sense.
It also happend that a group travelling to the Pitch Lake did get robbed as soon they arrived. The gang was waiting for them!

So, spend a safe, nice vacation in Tobago and everything will be just fine.

However, if you want to make a trip across, than I would suggest this place as you don´t want big hotels. Laguna Mar Beach and Nature Lodge, situated on the northen part of Trinidad, in Blanchisseuse. It´s really country side, no Malls for shopping, the road end some 3-400m further on.

Laguna Mar is own by Fred & Barbara Zollna, I know them since 1989. Fred is born i Germany, Barbara is a Trini. Have a look at their website
http://www.lagunamar.com/ and you will find information, pictures and contact information.

They can arrange a pick-up at Piarco Airport, so there´s no need to hire a car. Fred & Barbara can also give you local info about whatever, arrange tours with local drivers they know very well.

If you choose to go across for some days, I suggest that the car take the road outside Port of Spain, crossing over the mountains via Maralval, via Maracas Beach and Los Huevas Beach, you will have a small tour on the way to Laguna Mar. Back to the airport over the mountains via Arima and you have seen the central range of northen Trinidad.

Good Luck
Ronald

Isaia S. · Post by **Isaia S.** » Sat Jul 01, 2006 7:50 pm

alright, thanks a lot for these advices. I made my choice, and I'll go to tobago. It will be easier with my son and as my wife doesn't speak a word of english, it will be easier for her too
hope to be able to pay the plane....it's so expensive

Ronald · Post by **Ronald** » Tue Jul 04, 2006 4:37 pm

Hi Isaia

As you say you don´t want to go to big hotels, check the prices between the smaller ones compared with apartments and other houses. But the high season start in december/january wich can increase teh price.

Outside one small place in Crown Point I´d see "stay 7 nights, get 2 night free".

There are a number of smaller hotels wich offer a rate of 65-75 USD per night för a family. Some of the writes on this site muiht even know private persons wich offer rooms for rent.

Myslef are staying by a local family in Bon Accord, I know them since 1992. Their house is two-stored, but they converted the ground floor to a 2-bedroom apartment and a 1-room apartment, both for rent. The room are all local standard, they aren´t build for visitors standard, even if they have installed AC for these which need that.
I don´t need roomrate 30-40USD per night, local standard is OK for me, and the money of course last longer, wich make it possible for me to stay 4-6 weeks!

Good luck with your holiday resarch
Ronald

Isaia S. · Post by **Isaia S.** » Wed Jul 05, 2006 7:50 am

thanks for advices ! I saw some places at the price you mention, and this is exactly what I'm searching ! The problem is that the flight is expensive. We are 3 and for the moment my wife is unemployed..so I think it won't be possible for this year. So december will be in Switzerland, in the cold winter..

I keep every addresses I have found till now for next time.

thanks again and have a nice day