Tobago Staycation Guide for Trinidad Residents

Quick answer: From Trinidad, you can reach Tobago by the Caribbean Airlines air bridge from Piarco to ANR Robinson airport (about 25 minutes in the air) or by the inter-island ferry from Port of Spain to Scarborough, which can carry your car. Every Tobago.Villas villa shows prices in both TT$ and US$, and T&T residents can pay in TT$. For long weekends and public holidays, book your villa and your travel early, because both fill up.

Most of our direct guests are Trinis, and the questions are always the same: ferry or plane, which price is in which currency, and when to book. Here's a plain-English guide.

Ferry vs flight: which is better for your trip?

Both options work. The right one depends on how many of you there are, whether you want your own car in Tobago, and how much time you have.

Flying the air bridge

The flight is short, and there are departures through the day, which makes it the easiest choice for a Friday-evening getaway. Fares and seat availability change a lot around holidays, so check the Caribbean Airlines site as soon as you have dates. If you'd rather not organise a rental car right away, we can arrange an airport pickup/transfer from ANR Robinson International Airport.

Taking the ferry

The ferry's big advantage is bringing your own vehicle, which is a big help for a family carrying coolers, beach gear and a baby's pack-and-play. A few things TTIT points out that are worth knowing before you book:

• Online tickets are for one specific sailing and can't be changed (date, time, vessel, class or passenger/vehicle type). Refunds carry a penalty.
• A vehicle ticket must be booked together with a passenger ticket, and it can only be sold to an adult with a driver's permit.
• Get there early. TTIT advises arriving well ahead of departure (their guidance is at least two hours), and check-in closes before sailing.
• Bring valid T&T government-issued ID.

Fares, schedules and vessels change, so always confirm on the official TTIT website rather than relying on an old screenshot someone forwarded you.

TT$ vs US$: how to read our prices

This is the number-one source of confusion, so here it is clearly:

• Every villa page shows two figures: a US$ rate and the TT$ equivalent. For example, a villa page might read "From US$295 per night (TT$2,006)". Those are the same price in two currencies, not two different prices.
• On our T&T residents page, TT$ is shown first, with US$ in brackets.
• You can pay in TT$. TTD payment is available after booking.
• "From" means a starting rate. The final price depends on your dates and group size, so always check the live rate on the villa page.
• Some fees are quoted in US$ only. At The Fairway Villa, guests 19 to 26 are US$50 per person per night, in US dollars.

A deposit secures your dates when you book, and the balance is due before arrival. The exact amounts are shown before you pay.

Which villa suits your staycation?

All villas have a private pool, WiFi, air conditioning, a full kitchen, washer and dryer, and free parking, which matters if you're bringing your car across on the ferry. Check-in is from 3:00 PM and check-out is by 11:00 AM. If you're arriving on an early flight or an early sailing, plan a beach stop or lunch before check-in.

Long weekends and public holidays

Trinidad and Tobago has plenty of public holidays, and many of them create long weekends that send Trinis to Tobago at the same time. Holidays that commonly drive demand include the Easter weekend (Good Friday and Easter Monday), Corpus Christi, Emancipation Day (1 August), Independence Day (31 August), Republic Day (24 September), and Christmas and Boxing Day. Exact dates move each year, and some holidays (like Eid and Diwali) follow religious calendars, so check the official calendar when planning.

What that means in practice:

1. Book the villa first, then travel. Villas are one-of-a-kind; flights and sailings are more flexible, but they sell out too.
2. Book flights and ferry tickets as soon as the villa is confirmed. Holiday weekends are the busiest times on both.
3. Agree your headcount early. Our larger villas include 18 guests in the base rate; extra guests and day visitors need to be agreed in advance.
4. Consider a midweek add-on. Staying an extra night before or after a holiday can make the travel easier.

For festival-specific planning, see our Tobago Carnival, Easter and Christmas villa guide.

Why book direct as a T&T resident

Booking on tobago.villas means no platform booking fees, TT$ payment options, and direct contact with our local team. You also get access to extras we arrange for guests, like a private chef Italian dinner at your villa, a sunset catamaran cruise with rum tasting, or a snorkelling adventure and beach BBQ at Buccoo Reef. See all experiences (pricing on inquiry).

FAQ

Ready for your staycation? See every villa in TT$ on the T&T residents page and book direct.