Help!!! Travel from US/Chicago

[JulieMango]

I'm planning my 5th visit to Tobago--does anyone have any tips or secrets on getting to TAB from Chicago in less than 18+ hours? (actual air time is about 5-6 hours) Or, at least getting to POS/Trinidad in time to catch the air shuttle?

In the past, Delta had direct flights from Chicago to Miami to TAB (no longer servicing TAB) as did American (if they still service TAB, they don't make it easy to find).

I've been looking at flying to JFK and jumping on a Caribbean Airlines flight, but it seems dicey schedule-wise. And I'd have to deal with baggage and check-in/security at Chicago and JFK. In other words: nightmare.

Any tips, or referrals to a travel agent, will be greatly appreciated!

[Joanne Green]

Hi Julie- Your options are limited. You can fly American from ORD to POS (Trinidad) but the flight doesn't arrive till around 11:30 at night! You can fly United/Continental through Houston, but that flight arrives at 8:30 -- too late for the flight over to Tobago. so your only option is the Caribbean Air flight out of JFK. We fly out of Cleveland on Continental & have resigned ourselves to staying overnight near the airport in Trinidad & taking an early flight over the next morning. We stay at Leo's Place, a small B&B near the airport. Leo picks you up & takes you back the next AM & his prices are reasonable, his place very clean & comfortable & the breakfast is good!! You can book him thru Yes Tourism, or look up his little website online.

Tobago is such a fantastic island, that it's worth the hassle to get to it!! Good luck!!

[Hugh S]

For years American has had a flight from Miami that arrives POS around 2pm allowing an easy trip on to Tobago the same day. Not sure if it still exists, it did this last summer.

We took the once a week (Sunday only) Carib Air flight from JFK direct to TAB this year and it was fine. We left SFO late the night before so had a long layover in New York.

Good luck, Hugh