Planning a Trip

Getting There

Combining services with BWIA, LIAT (tel. 868/625-9451) offers direct service to Tobago from either Barbados or Grenada. There are also regular flights from Trinidad to Tobago on Tobago Express (tel. 868/627-5160) and Caribbean Star (tel. 800/723-1111 in the U.S. and Canada; www.flycaribbeanstar.com). British Airways (tel. 800/247-9297 in the U.S. and Canada; www.britishairways.com) flies weekly from London to Tobago.

Tobago's small airport at Crown Point (tel. 868/639-8547) is near the island's southwestern tip.

It's possible to travel between Trinidad and Tobago by ferry service, although the trip takes 5 1/2 to 6 hours. Call the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (tel. 868/639-2417 in Scarborough, Tobago, or 868/625-3055 in Port-of-Spain) for departure times. The roundtrip fare is TT$75 (US$12/£6.10), or else TT$160 (US$26/£13) round-trip for a double occupancy cabin.

Getting Around

From the airport to your accommodations, you can take a taxi, which will cost US$10 to US$60 (£5.20-£31), depending on the location of your hotel (taxis are unmetered). You can also arrange (or have your hotel do it for you) a sightseeing tour by taxi. Rates must be negotiated on an individual basis.

If you want to do extensive touring, we recommend a car as attractions are very spread out. Options include Rattan's Car Rentals at Crown Point Airport (tel. 868/639-8271) and Singh's Auto Rentals, Grafton Beach Resort (tel. 868/639-0191). One final possibility is Thrifty, at the airport or at the Rex Turtle Beach Hotel, Courtland Bay, Black Rock (tel. 868/639-8507). Charges range from US$50 to US$70 (£26-£36) a day.

Inexpensive public buses travel from one end of the island to the other several times a day. Expect an unscheduled stop at any passenger's doorstep and never be in a hurry. Fares are TT$6 (95?/50p).

Fast Facts

Most banks are open Monday to Wednesday from 8am to 2pm and Thursday and Friday from 8am to 1pm and 3 to 5pm. RBTT Bank Limited (Main St. in Scarborough; tel. 868/639-2404) and Republic Bank Ltd. (Carrington St., Scarborough; tel. 868/639-2811) both have ATMs.

You can send mail from the island post offices: Tobago Post Office, Scarborough Wilser Road (tel. 868/660-7377), and the TT Post Office, Cruise Ship Complex, Milford Road, Scarborough (tel. 868/800-7678).

For tourist information, contact the Tourism Division of the Tobago House of Assembly at the airport office (tel. 868/639-0509), or at the main office on Mount Marie Road in Scarborough (tel. 868/639-2125; www.visittobago.gov.tt).

Scarborough Regional Hospital is on Fort George Street, Scarborough (tel. 868/639-2551). Medical care is sometimes limited, and physicians and health-care facilities expect immediate cash payment for services.