Piarco International Airport sits 16 miles east of Port of Spain on Trinidad. The facility handles most international traffic. Route taxis operating from the airport to Port of Spain charge fixed rates near 100 Trinidad and Tobago dollars per vehicle holding four passengers. These taxis park in designated zones outside arrivals. Private taxis cost more and negotiate individual fares. The airport bus runs to City Gate transport terminal in Port of Spain during daylight hours at lower cost but stops frequently. Car rental desks operate inside the terminal from companies including Econo-Car, Kalloo's, and Auto Rental. Crown Point Airport serves Tobago on the southwestern coast near Scarborough. Caribbean Airlines connects the two islands with flights taking approximately twenty minutes. The ferry service between Port of Spain and Scarborough operated by the Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago runs multiple daily sailings taking between two and three hours depending on vessel and weather. Ferry tickets require advance purchase during peak periods. The fast ferry costs more than the conventional ferry.
Currency exchange counters operate in both airports during business hours. Banks in arrival halls offer rates close to official rates. The immigration queue at Piarco can extend past one hour during evening arrivals when multiple international flights land simultaneously. Trinidad and Tobago passport holders and CARICOM nationals use separate faster lines. Officers ask about accommodation details and return tickets. The airport remains small enough that walking between immigration and baggage claim takes under five minutes. Checked bags typically appear within thirty minutes of landing.
The Trinidad and Tobago dollar divides into one hundred cents. The Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago issues notes in denominations of one, five, ten, twenty, fifty, and one hundred dollars. Coins circulate in values of one, five, ten, twenty-five, and fifty cents. The polymer notes introduced in 2014 replaced older paper currency. Most merchants accept both. The exchange rate floats under managed conditions. The Central Bank intervenes to limit volatility. Recent rates have held near 6.7 to 6.8 Trinidad and Tobago dollars per one United States dollar. Banks post daily rates. Exchange houses called forex dealers operate in cities with rates varying by location and typically offering better conversion than hotels. Republic Bank, First Citizens Bank, and Scotiabank maintain branches throughout Trinidad with presence in Tobago. Banks open weekday mornings through mid-afternoon. Some branches open Saturday mornings. All close Sundays and public holidays.
ATMs dispense Trinidad and Tobago dollars. The machines cluster in urban areas particularly around shopping centers and gas stations. Daily withdrawal limits commonly range from 2,000 to 5,000 Trinidad and Tobago dollars depending on the bank and account type. International cards from Visa and MasterCard networks function at most machines. Some ATMs run empty on weekends or before holidays. Transaction fees vary by issuing bank.Linx network ATMs connect most local banks.
Credit cards see acceptance in hotels, larger restaurants, supermarkets, and established stores. Visa and MasterCard work more reliably than American Express or Discover. Small vendors, market stalls, route taxis, and rural businesses operate cash only. Restaurant bills sometimes add service charges. The Value Added Tax applies at 12.5 percent on most goods and services with the rate embedded in displayed prices at some businesses and added at checkout at others. Receipts should clarify the treatment. Tipping practices follow no rigid standard. Restaurant service charges do not always reach servers. Adding 10 percent for adequate service remains common. Taxi drivers do not expect tips. Hotel staff respond to small cash gratuities.
United States dollars see informal acceptance at some tourist-facing businesses particularly in Tobago but rates favor the merchant. Paying in Trinidad and Tobago dollars costs less. Bringing small denomination US bills helps with initial expenses before reaching a bank or ATM. Canadian dollars and British pounds require exchange at banks or forex dealers. Euros find limited acceptance. Nobody accepts travelers checks anymore. The infrastructure to process them has disappeared from most locations.
Electrical supply delivers 115 volts at 60 hertz. Wall outlets accept American-style flat two-prong plugs and three-prong grounded plugs. Appliances designed for North American voltage work without transformers. European and British devices require both voltage conversion and plug adapters. Power cuts occur occasionally in both islands especially during heavy rain when tree branches contact lines. Hotels and hospitals run backup generators. Residential areas may lose power for hours.
Tap water in urban Trinidad comes from treated sources operated by the Water and Sewerage Authority. Port of Spain and San Fernando supply generally meets safety standards though distribution interruptions happen. Many residents boil water or buy bottled supplies regardless. Rural areas rely on wells or trucked water during dry season. Tobago faces more severe water rationing. Hotels maintain storage tanks. Visitors commonly drink bottled water. Local brands include Blue Waters and Aqua Pure. Supermarkets sell both still and carbonated water in various sizes.