Trinidad
From Halal Explorer
[[file:WV banner Trinidad Port of Spain.jpg|1280px]] This Muslim Friendly Travel Guide is part of eHalal.io Travel Group
Trinidad is the larger of the two islands that make up the Caribbean island nation of Trinidad and Tobago.
Contents
Regions of Trinidad
- North Trinidad - Mostly busy and urban, but with some rural and laid back places as well as the north coast beaches and rainforest. Highest peak in the northern mountain range.
- East Trinidad - somewhat suburban, and the University of the West Indies is located there.
- Central Trinidad - Lots of agriculture and heavy industry, central range with rainforest.
- South Trinidad - Center of petroleum production and the labour movement.
- South East Trinidad - Rural and mostly undeveloped, most Business Center around offshore oil drilling
}}
Cities
- Port of Spain - the capital
- Arima
- Pointe-a-Pierre
- Point Fortin
- Couva
- San Fernando
- Chaguanas
More Destinations
- Maracas National Park
Trinidad Halal Travel Guide
Travel as a Muslim to Trinidad
Buy a Flight ticket to and from Trinidad
The closest airport is Piarco International, near the towns of Trincity, Arouca and Street Helena. Taxis are available to most destinations. You may also arrive on the sister isle of Tobago at Crown Point International where you can take a 15 minutes flight to Piarco or opt to take a ferry from Scarbrough to Port of Spain.
By ferry
The C/Prowler ferry runs on Wednesdays from Pier 1 in Chaguaramas to Guiria in Venezuela. The following information was correct as of February 2009, but more up-to-date information can be obtained from the ferry office on 634 4472.
Type | Cost in US$ | Cost in TT$ | Children under 12 |
---|---|---|---|
Return | $184 | $1104 | $552 |
Same-day return | $138 | $828 | $414 |
One way | $92 | $552 | $276
Chaguaramas to Guiria Check in: 07.00 Arrival time in Guiria is 12.30
Check in: 15.00 Arrival time in Chaguaramas is 21.00
TT$75 or US$13 from Trinidad Baggage Allowance Passengers are allowed 2 pieces of luggage per person not exceeding 18kg/40lbs per piece. Carry-on luggage must not exceed 6kg/15lbs. By cruise shipShips visit occasionally, docking very close to downtown Port of Spain. Facilities include a modest, indoor vendor mall in a converted warehouse and outdoor kiosks all offering primarily locally-made goods, and a vehicle area supporting tour buses and taxis. Although commercial neighborhoods and stores are within fair walking distances, local residents recommend against it because of the rough port area, and need to cross wide streets with heavy, high-speed traffic. Get AroundMost of the population (and hence shopping, food and entertainment) is located along the "East-West Corridor" which is the set of cities and towns along the main routes of transport. It starts in the West with the capital Port of Spain and ends at Arima. Transport is easy attained along these routes. TaxisTaxis are hired at 'taxi stands' which are located in every major town, and other popular destinations. Legitimate taxi license plates always start with an 'H' (for 'Hire'). Taxis, for the most part, drive along a fixed route. The exception is for taxis which take passengers into neighborhoods, in which case you must inform the driver of the destination street. Expect the driver to wait until the taxi is full (usually four passengers) before leaving, so you might have a long wait at quiet hours. Always ask the driver to make sure where the route goes, and if you are in the right taxi stand. There are usually multiple taxi stands to different destinations in close proximity. The route fees are fixed (typically $3 to $5 TT, but going up to $20 TT for long routes), but ask the fare before leaving. If you don't wish to wait, or need to go off-route, negotiate with the driver and you can get the taxi all to yourself. The main advantage of taxis is that there are typically fewer stops (getting there faster) and you can ask the driver to place bulky packages in the trunk. A warning: air conditioning is not mandatory or typical. Private taxi servicesThese differ from 'normal' taxis (which are typically individually owned and operated), in that they are owned by a taxi company and driven by hired drivers. You can call them from anywhere and they will come pick you up. These are usually nicer than 'normal' taxis: better maintained, newer and always air-conditioned. The drawback is that it is at a much higher cost (expect to pay at least $100 TT). MaxisMaxis are the private mini-buses that drive along major routes, and pick up and drop passengers anywhere between. They carry 10-30 passengers. They are always painted white with horizontal stripes on the sides (red, green, yellow,brown and black). The color of the stripe used to identify the route, but this is not strictly enforced. Typically, Maxis that travel the East-West corridor between Arima and Port of Spain have a red stripe, Port of Spain to Chaguanas: green. Maxis typically can be flagged along any 'Main' road (any road with 'Main' in its title: Eastern Main Road, Western Main Road, etc.) as well as the Priority Bus Route (which runs from Arima to Port of Spain). Main road routes are usually congested and slow, but slightly cheaper. The fee depends on distance traveled, but expect to pay $3 TT minimum (commonly called a Short Drop). To flag a maxi, extend your arm upwards and indicate using your fingers how many passengers want to board. Ask the driver to make sure he is going where you wish to be. Passengers must press a buzzer located above their seat to indicate that they wish to disembark (if stopping before the end of route). If you don't know the area, ask the driver. Some maxis (particularly the larger ones) employ a conductor. The conductor collects money and indicates where you should sit. He is easily identified by the wad of cash in his hand and his occasional hustling-cry to potential passengers. Air conditioning is not typical. Drop taxi app provides an indispensible way to get around with transparent pricing and the ability to pay by cash. Public busesBuses are a affordable method of transport, but the waits between departures can be long. Tickets can be purchased at terminals, and are usually less than $10 TT. They are normally air-conditioned. Car hireThere are numerous possibilities for hiring cars in Trinidad, and this can provide a affordable way of getting around, as petrol is so cheap. Aside from the rather erratic driving of many of the local residents and the main problem with getting about like this is that the road signs tend to be rather sporadic and inconsistent, and there don't appear to be any good maps available. As a result, you need to be prepared to spend rather a lot of time getting lost.
What to See
Maracas_Bay - |Overview of Maracas Bay
What to DoHalal Restaurants in TrinidadTrinidad cuisine is influenced by many cultures, but primarily Indian and African (referred to as Creole cuisine). Other influences include Chinese (fast food Chinese places are only outnumbered by bars), and to some extent English and French. Relatively recently there has been a strong influx of American fast food: Subway, KFC and Pizzas Hut are common sights. Most Trinidadians love meats of all kinds, but due to a significant Hindu population and there are many good Vegetarian offerings. Indigenous fast foodDoublesDoubles are a typical street food. India has some similar street fare, which is its probable origin. Tasty and affordable, many consider doubles a good quick meal or Snacks. They consist of curried channa (a.k.a chickpeas or garbanzo beans) sandwiched between two fried 'bara' (a puffy soft fried quickbread) wrapped in wax paper. Extra toppings include mango and other chutneys, as well as pepper sauce. In local lingo, doubles are ordered by referring to how much pepper is desired. One may order a "without", which refers to no pepper, a "slight", a small dab of pepper, while a "blaze" calls for a spoonful of pepper. Doubles vendors usually also sell fried potato pies, called "aloo pies" which can take the same toppings. Prices are around $3 _4 TT. How to eat: Doubles are eaten by first unwrapping and then separating one bara to reveal the channa and Sauce sitting on the bottom bara. Then, tear a piece from the top 'free' bara (if you ordered pepper or chutney, now is the time to distribute it evenly) and then use it to scoop up some channa before consumption. The process continues with the 'bottom' bara until all the channa is consumed. Practice will enable you to get some channa with every bite with none left over. This process can be messy, so it is always wise to spot a source of water for washing hands before you start eating. A warning: one grain of channa will almost invariably roll off the wax paper and drop on your shoe. DrinkTrinidad has a mind boggling number of cafes. In some places and there might be 20 bars in a stretch of less than a mile. This makes bar-hopping easy. Bars constantly blast soca, reggae, dancehall and calypso music to attract clients. Don't expect cocktails in most bars, as most bartenders have little or no mixing skills. Local drinks
Stay SafeCaution is required in much of Port of Spain. At night avoid walking...take a taxi. Armed guards are often posted at banks and shopping centres. The following areas are known as crime hot-spots and should be avoided both during the day and night:
News & References
Explore more Halal friendly Destinations from Trinidad
Copyright 2015 - 2024. All Rights reserved by eHalal Group Co., Ltd. |