Moneyquestion

Lena S · Post by **Lena S** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:14 am

Hello!
Me, my husband and our three sons ( 12 years and twins at 10 years ) are going to Tobago at october 23 and are staying for 15 days. We are REALLY looking forward to this trip. We havn`t decided yet how we shall do about the money that we will need. I understand that there are "moneymachines" in Crown Point( where we are staying ), so I thought of bringing my Visacard and take out money when we need. But can I trust them? Any experiences of them? And if we choose travellers cheques - is there any bankoffice in Crown Point where we can exchange them to TTdollars?
We are staying at Tropikist (just staying, not eating so often....) and if anyone has a recommendation of a nice place, whithin walking distance, where to have not so expensive but tasty breakfast, we would really appreciate that.

Thanks all for a very informative and nice place to find out almost everything we need about Tobago!!

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 10:26 am

Hello Lena

Welcome aboard!

This is one of the most commonly-asked questions in the forum. There is no single answer - it is often a matter of deciding between the "cheapest" methods and the "most convenient".

Have a look at our various articles available through the Odds & Sods/Money Matters menu at the top of every page. Our personal preferred method is to pay for everything possible by debit/credit card and to draw what little cash we need from the automated ATM cash machines.

There are three cash machines in the Crown Point area - two at the airport (which is just a 5 minute walk from the Tropikist) and one about 10 minutes walk away. This latter one is outside a branch of the RBTT bank - so if, for any reason, all the machines had stopped working or run out of money, you could use the bank itself. So - no problem!

I can't say I have ever eaten breakfast out while staying in Crown Point, so I am no expert. My first thoughts were House of Pancakes, but that would be a good 10-15 minute walk from the Tropikist. A closer option would be Vie de France at the back of the airport. Top of the tree in that area would be the Kariwak Village hotel, I suspect, but that won't be cheap. Have a look at our Restaurants/Crown Point listing in the Food & Drink menu for a few other options.

Ronald · Post by **Ronald** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 4:04 pm

Hi Lena

As you see, I´m Swedish but I write this reply in English. Send an email direkt to me if you want me to answer in swedish.

The three ATM´s in Crown Point are working well, and with a Visa Card you can also go to the bank office too. I´m using my normlly bank card with a Visa-connection at teh ATM´s.

From Tropikist I would say Vie de France is the best choise, but if you want to walk further on...

Some years ago I found that mostly banks in Sweden do no longer sell travel checks! Depending on how you travel, you can also take some cash (GBP,USD) as a reserve, only smaller ones.

Ronald

J Newton · Post by **J Newton** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:08 pm

there's also one at the Hilton.

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:11 pm

Hi J

Thanks! Yes, there are quite a few others, but we were just trying to tell Lena about those within walking distance of the hotel they will be staying at.

Linda P · Post by **Linda P** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:59 am

Hi Lena

We always use the cash points for money and have never had any problems.

Regarding breakfast, Vie de france breakfasts are delicious and reasonably priced. You can also buy breakfast at Store bay if you fancy going al fresco, these are even lower priced, although I have to admit I have only eaten there once, on the morning of my wedding and only managed two bites of toast, I blamed this on pre-wedding jitters, my mate blamed it on the amount of alcohol I consumed on a boat trip the previous day!

Have a great holiday

Linda

2 sleeps to go

Lena S · Post by **Lena S** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 7:49 am

Hi!
Thank`s for your advices! I think we want to trust the machines and bring our Visa cards, but also bring some USD in cash too. And we`ll definately try Vie de France ( and some other places too ).

Thank`s again!

Lena

Jakob R Jensen · Post by **Jakob R Jensen** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:06 am

On the same matter:

We're arriving in Tobago on saturday. I've been pondering over the same question about the money.

I'm arriving in a 747 (or the like) on saturday evening. Doesn't that put a big strain on the ATMs near the airport? I've never been to Tobago before so I'm just asking...

Really looking forward to the trip considering the weather here in Denmark at the moment.

Jakob Jensen

Post by **Steve Wooler** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:18 am

Hi Jakob

Interesting question! I guess the answer is that most people coming in on the international flights are on package holidays and are promptly sent off to their hotel by the tour representative, and not given any time to find the machines and/or draw money. I don't think it's a problem - I can only say it never has been for me and it's always one of my very first duties.

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 11:36 am

just let your driver start trying right at the airport (there are two right there) and then go down the road to RBTT bank (the have also two) one of them must have money, after that it depends what direction you are going to stay... you driver should know the locations!

have a great time

Jakob R Jensen · Post by **Jakob R Jensen** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 12:03 pm

Thank you both for the quick replies.
I've just found out that it's virtually impossible to get TT$ in Denmark but now I can calmly look forward to the ATMs. Thanks.

Regards
Jakob Jensen

Lina Mallon · Post by **Lina Mallon** » Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:11 pm

John, I got TT$ in Forex in Malmo, I am sure you can order some in Copenhagen. I just got for 300 kronors so I have some when I get to Tobago.