Is it better to pay taxis in Trinidad and Tobago with cash, or do drivers accept cards or payment apps?
Trinidad and Tobago’s taxi system is mostly informal. Route taxis (marked with an “H” plate) and maxi-taxis are strictly cash-based, no apps or machines. In urban areas, TT RideShare lets you book a cab, but again - pay cash on arrival. I didn’t see a single taxi with a card reader. Best practice: withdraw some TT dollars when you land, and always keep change handy for short trips.
Tried to use my Revolut for a short taxi ride in Scarborough - no luck. The driver said “only cash, boss”. Same with the water taxi from Trinidad to Tobago - paid in person with TT dollars. Everything from taxis to jitneys needs physical money. It’s easy to get caught off guard, so I started keeping small bills tucked in my daypack.
Used TT RideShare a lot in Port of Spain - great for solo travel and safer than random street cabs at night. But even then, most drivers asked for cash, and a few accepted bank transfer to a local account. No one took cards. Even airport taxis are cash-based. I suggest withdrawing local TT dollars at the airport - at least $300 TTD (~$45 USD) to get started. Don’t expect tap-to-pay.
Every single taxi I took - from Port of Spain to San Fernando - was cash-only. Even the airport guys wanted local TT dollars. I asked one about cards and he laughed. Bring small change because drivers rarely carry any. No Uber here, and even TT RideShare (the local app) doesn’t have in-app card payments. It’s old-school - cash is still king, especially for route taxis and maxi-taxis.