Summit of the Americas. Worried about travel

[L.A. Mcdonald]

Hi Everyone,

I'm not sure if anyone has any input or not but I'll throw this out there and see....
A friend of mine and myself will be arriving in Trinidad on the 16th of April in the evening. Our connecting flight to Tobago is only 70 minutes later. We are now realising that with increased security and perhaps more flights we may get backed up in customs and immigration. We have pre-purchased our tickets and have done so months ago not knowing that the summit was going to be held at the same time. We would hate to be stuck in Trinidad over night. Is it possible to stay in the airport for nine hours or ten hours til the first morning flight or would it be better to stay at an inn around the airport?
Any input would be greatly appreciated. Should we consider this a possibility?
Thanks,
Lori

[Clyde Alleyne]

Lori, you didn't give any details about what time your flight actually arrives at Piarco. Your post said "Our connecting flight to Tobago is only 70 minutes later".

If I understand your post correctly, and your flight to Tobago departs 70 minutes from your landing time, then this is insufficient connecting time at the best of times. Check-in for Tobago flights is typically 60 minutes from departure, and Caribbean Airlines closes the flight 30 minutes before departure to take in standby passengers. This means that you only have a window of 40 minutes to exit the aircraft, clear immigration, collect your luggage, clear customs and get to the Tobago check-in counter before the flight is closed. And that's assuming no arrival delays for your flight! I would have given myself at least an extra hour at a minimum to cater for delays - leaving the aircraft, immigration, baggage collection, and customs.

Regarding additional delays caused by the Summit of the Americas? I have no idea what additional delays might be caused by the Summit arrangements. If you are arriving early enough, my best suggestion would be to change your flight to Tobago by an additional 2 hours from your current time. The last flight to Tobago leaves at 9:55PM. If this is not possible, then you may need a Plan B that involves over-nighting and flying out the following morning.
Hope this helps.
Clyde

[L.A. Mcdonald]

Thank you for your quick reply.

It is only 70 minutes from our time of landing, we were hoping to make that last flight. Originally we were thinking that we could clear customs in Tobago and only later realized that it was not possible. High hopes. Any ideas for a safe close place to the airport?
Sometimes the attitude of "glass half full" is just not thinking realistically.
Lori

[Clyde Alleyne]

Lori, if you are looking for a traditional hotel, there's the Holiday Inn Express, which is located just 5 minutes away from the airport by car. Here's the information: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites, #1 EXPOSITION DR., TRINCITY
Hotel Reservations: 1 888 HOLIDAY (888 465 4329)
Hotel Front Desk: 868-669-6209

Holiday Inn is probably the most expensive option, otherwise, if you check the older posts in this forum, you will see other suggestions regarding accommodations. Good luck, and enjoy your visit to Tobago!
Clyde

[Ronald]

Hi

For one night there´s a not so many options nearby Piarco Airport.
You have the old Bel Air at the Airport, not good and not so cheap eighter if I remember right. But it´s the closed place, they have a pick-up service.
A better place will be Leo´s Place B&B, some 5-10 minutes away, they have pick-up service. Phone (868)640-0117
Ronald

[Rachel Crew]

Bel Air is awful - a last resort. There is a free shuttle service from Holiday Inn Express and it is not much further away from the airport. I would suggest contacting them to see what they know about the situation on that date, since it seems that the airport and surrounding area may be on 'lockdown' when some of the heads of government arrive.

[Lisa Keith]

I agree with Rachel. With the whole world sending journalists, bodyguards, assistants, assistants to assistants, assistants to bodyguards... (you get the picture!), I think hotel space may be at a premium! I know the T&T Ferry has also put certain restrictions on travel too for the same period.

Lisa.

[Andy K]

Lori,

it is agreed that is impossible for you to catch your connecting flight to Tobago on Apr. 16th.
For your "Plan B", overnighting in a hotel close to the airport, there are some additional
infos in today's Daily Express. Please refer to the following article:

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl ... =161460037

How i interpreted the article, it should be possible to get on a flight to Tobago on Apr 17th, but it will take longer to get to the airport because of additional security checks on the roads leading to the airport.

Another advisory i got this morning clearly states that the port of Port of Spain, which includes the
ferry terminal and all commercial docks, will be closed from Apr 17th to April 19th.

I hope you will get through, somehow.

Greetings from Trinidad,

Andy

[L.A. Mcdonald]

Well Thank you everyone for helping me with this dilemma.
I just got off the phone with a lovely woman at Caribbean Air who changed my ticket to 5:45am on the 17th but also made a note that if in time we will be stand-by travelers on the 16th. That is the best case scenario for plan B. Rum and Roti in the airport can't be all half bad.
Thanks again for all your help.
I'm so excited.
Lori

[Andy K]

Lori,

that sounds like a plan, but be aware that the hour you will arrive you will have to get your
rum from a duty free shop, which you will be able to access upon your arrival, and there is NO roti shop at Piarco at all, only KFC, Church's Chicken, Royal Castle fast food / fried chicken outlets and Pizza Boys (upstairs).
Don't even bother to check Church's unless your stomach is one of an elephant
The little bar outside the terminal building closes by 10 p.m., so make sure you get your supplies
early.