In planning mode - how much budget should I keep in mind for Trinidad and Tobago - any experiences?
Spent two weeks bouncing around Arima and Crown Point - mostly hostels, cookshops, and maxi taxis. I averaged around $55/day, and that was with two beach tours and a boat ride. Drinks and food are cheaper than you'd expect (Carib beer for $1.50, bake and shark for $5-6). Transport’s cheap, but some tour stuff adds up. You can go even cheaper if you cook and avoid alcohol. Tobago’s budget-friendlier than Trinidad for sure.
Stayed in Woodbrook, Port of Spain, for a month while working remotely. I averaged about $90/day, including a modest apartment rental, daily doubles and bake-and-shark lunches, plus Grab-like ride-hailing via TT RideShare. Tobago was slightly cheaper, especially around Scarborough. Island flights were ~$25 one-way. For a full month, $2,700-$3,000 is a realistic working budget if you’re balancing work, travel, and a few social nights out.
I visited this February during Carnival and spent a bit more than I expected. Hotels doubled during that time - even budget spots in Port of Spain went up to $80-$100 a night. But outside peak season, you can manage on $80/day, including food, taxis, SIM, and excursions. I spent around $2,400 for three weeks, including two internal flights between islands. Carnival is amazing, but budget accordingly - prices spike hard that week.
I did three weeks split between Port of Spain and Tobago on a shoestring. If you eat at roti shops, take route taxis, and stay in budget hostels or Airbnbs, you can keep things around $60-$70 USD per day. My hostel in Crown Point was $25/night, meals were $4-$7, and maxi taxis cost under $1 per ride. Island hopping and boat tours added extra, so for comfort with a few splurges, budget $2,000 for a month.