Compare Prices from All US Cities
| From | Airport | Est. Price | Flight Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
BESTSan Juan | SJU | $53 | ~2h | View → |
Miami | MIA | $137 | ~4h | View → |
Fort Lauderdale | FLL | $137 | ~4h | View → |
Orlando | MCO | $150 | ~5h | View → |
Tampa | TPA | $153 | ~5h | View → |
Charlotte | CLT | $177 | ~5h | View → |
Atlanta | ATL | $182 | ~5h | View → |
Washington D.C. | DCA | $183 | ~5h | View → |
Baltimore | BWI | $184 | ~5h | View → |
Philadelphia | PHL | $185 | ~5h | View → |
New York | JFK | $186 | ~5h | View → |
Newark | EWR | $187 | ~5h | View → |
New York | LGA | $187 | ~5h | View → |
Boston | BOS | $191 | ~6h | View → |
Nashville | BNA | $200 | ~6h | View → |
Detroit | DTW | $215 | ~6h | View → |
Houston | IAH | $216 | ~6h | View → |
St. Louis | STL | $222 | ~6h | View → |
Chicago | ORD | $227 | ~6h | View → |
Austin | AUS | $227 | ~6h | View → |
Dallas | DFW | $230 | ~6h | View → |
Minneapolis | MSP | $255 | ~7h | View → |
Denver | DEN | $280 | ~8h | View → |
Phoenix | PHX | $300 | ~8h | View → |
Salt Lake City | SLC | $312 | ~8h | View → |
Las Vegas | LAS | $318 | ~9h | View → |
San Diego | SAN | $324 | ~9h | View → |
Los Angeles | LAX | $330 | ~9h | View → |
San Francisco | SFO | $353 | ~9h | View → |
Portland | PDX | $363 | ~10h | View → |
Seattle | SEA | $365 | ~10h | View → |
About Trinidad
Trinidad is the Caribbean's biggest secret — an island that doesn't care about being a postcard destination, which is exactly why it's worth going. Port of Spain has more in common with a buzzing Latin American capital than a sleepy resort town. The food scene alone justifies the flight: this is where doubles (curried chickpeas in fried bara bread, eaten at 6am roadside) and shark-and-bake at Maracas Beach are legitimate reasons to book a ticket. Don't come expecting manicured beach resorts — come for one of the most culturally dense, gastronomically explosive, musically rich islands in the hemisphere.
Trinidad sits just 7 miles off Venezuela's coast and the geology shows it — the island is forested, hilly, and genuinely wild in ways that Barbados or St. Lucia are not. The Caroni Bird Sanctuary hosts one of the world's largest scarlet ibis rookeries, the Asa Wright Nature Centre is a world-class birding lodge, and the Pitch Lake in La Brea is the world's largest natural asphalt lake. The island produces serious oil wealth, which means infrastructure is better than most Caribbean islands and locals aren't dependent on tourism dollars — a refreshing dynamic that keeps prices reasonable and interactions authentic.
Carnival is the main event and arguably the best street party in the Western Hemisphere. The two days before Ash Wednesday (usually February) shut the entire country down in the best possible way. Soca music pumps from trucks, mas bands parade in elaborate costumes, and J'ouvert — the pre-dawn mud-and-paint street party — is genuinely transformative. Book flights and accommodation 6-12 months out for Carnival or accept paying double. The rest of the year, Trinidad has almost no tourist crowds, which translates to dramatically cheaper hotels and the rare experience of being a traveler rather than a tourist.
For Americans, the big mental adjustment is that Trinidad isn't a beach-first destination. The best beaches are on the north coast (Maracas, Las Cuevas, Blanchisseuse) or across the water on Tobago, which is a 20-minute flight or 2.5-hour fast ferry away. Most visitors do 4-5 days in Trinidad and hop over to Tobago for beach time — that's the right call. Fly into POS, eat your way through Port of Spain, drive the North Coast Road, watch the ibis fly at Caroni, then catch Caribbean Airlines to Tobago. American Airlines flies nonstop from MIA, making this one of the most accessible non-obvious Caribbean destinations for East Coast travelers.
Best Time to Fly to Trinidad
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Track Trinidad flights →Airport to City: How to Get There
Piarco International Airport (POS) is 26km east of Port of Spain. Option 1: Metered taxi from the official taxi stand outside arrivals costs TT$200-250 (~US$30) to Port of Spain city center — always agree on price before getting in, as many drivers skip the meter for foreigners. Journey is 35-45 minutes in normal traffic, 60+ minutes during rush hour (7-9am, 4-7pm). Option 2: App-based rideshare via InDriver or TaxiApp TT runs TT$150-180 (~US$22) if you can get a signal and connect quickly. Option 3: PTSC public bus runs from the airport into Port of Spain for TT$8 (~US$1.20) but runs infrequently and is not practical with luggage for most travelers. Car rental from the airport (Econo-Car, Thrifty, Kalloos) costs US$50-80/day — recommended if you plan to drive the North Coast Road or visit Caroni Swamp independently.
Neighborhoods & Where to Stay
The safest and most walkable neighborhood in Port of Spain, home to embassies, the Queen's Park Savannah, and the best concentration of guesthouses. Ends Guest House and Forty Winks are reliable mid-range picks at US$80-120/night. Ariapita Avenue — locally called 'the Avenue' — is steps away and has the best concentration of restaurants and bars in the city.
The eating and drinking heart of Port of Spain, just west of downtown. Ariapita Avenue runs through it and every serious food stop — Chaud Creole, Buzo Osteria, and dozens of roti shops — is here. Short-term apartments run US$70-100/night via Airbnb and put you walking distance from the city's best nightlife without the noise of downtown.
The commercial core around Independence Square and Frederick Street. Cheapest accommodation (TT$300-400/night guesthouses) but requires vigilance — petty theft is common and the area empties and feels sketchy after dark. Fine for daytime exploration of the National Museum, Central Market, and the old colonial architecture, but base yourself elsewhere.
Hillside residential suburbs northeast of the Savannah where you'll find the Hyatt Regency Trinidad (the only true luxury hotel on the island at US$200-300/night) and upscale B&Bs. Quieter, greener, and a short 5-minute drive to the Savannah. The Hyatt's rooftop pool overlooking the Gulf of Paria is genuinely spectacular and worth a day pass even if you're not staying there.
Not technically in Port of Spain but worth considering for a base. A few guesthouses and villas (US$100-180/night) put you right on the north coast beaches. The 45-minute winding drive over the Northern Range from Port of Spain is half the experience. Best for travelers who prioritize beach time and birding over city nightlife.
Daily Budget: What to Expect
US$25 guesthouse bed in Newtown or Woodbrook, US$15 for three meals (doubles breakfast TT$8, roti lunch TT$35, local bar food dinner), US$10 maxi-taxi transport around Port of Spain and to Maracas, US$15 entrance fees and one cold Carib beer
US$90 mid-range guesthouse in St. Clair, US$40 for food (breakfast at hotel, roti lunch, dinner at Chaud Creole or Buzo), US$20 on taxis/car rental share, US$10 activities and drinks
US$250 Hyatt Regency room, US$70 for meals at hotel restaurant plus upscale Woodbrook dining, US$40 private taxi or rental car, US$20 guided birding or Caroni tour
What to Eat in Trinidad
Doubles from Richard's or Sauce on Ariapita Avenue (TT$8-10 each) — curried chickpeas in turmeric-fried bara bread with shadow beni, pepper sauce, and cucumber. Eat them at 6am or 6pm like a local. This is Trinidad's national street food and nothing on the island will disappoint you more than skipping it.
Shark and bake from Richard's Bake & Shark at Maracas Beach — massive fried shark filet in a fried bread with mountains of chadon beni, tamarind sauce, garlic sauce, coleslaw, and pineapple. The line moves fast. Get the full works and eat on the beach. It's messy, cheap (TT$60-80), and worth the 45-minute drive.
Roti from Patraj Roti Shop in Debe or any dhalpuri spot in South Trinidad — Trinidad's Indian culinary heritage at its peak. Dhalpuri (split pea-filled flatbread) wrapped around curried goat, curried duck, or curried chicken with potatoes. A full roti runs TT$35-60 and is lunch for a grown adult. The drive to Debe takes you through the agricultural south that tourists never see.
Pelau at a local rum shop — one-pot rice cooked with caramelized sugar, pigeon peas, coconut milk, and chicken or beef. Every Trinidadian grandmother makes it differently and every version is correct. Order it at any rum shop serving food on a Saturday and you'll get it alongside a cold Carib for TT$40-50 total.
Pholourie with tamarind chutney from any roadside vendor — golf ball-sized fried split pea fritters served in a paper bag with tangy tamarind dipping sauce. Pure snack food, sold for TT$5-10 a bag. Find a vendor outside the Savannah on weekend evenings when families come out to walk and you're eating the way Trinidadians actually live.
Flying from the US to Trinidad
Airlines & Routes
- →American Airlines nonstop from MIA (Miami) — the best option for East Coast travelers
- →Caribbean Airlines nonstop from JFK (New York) and MIA (Miami)
- →Delta via ATL (Atlanta) — one stop, often cheapest midweek option
- →United via EWR (Newark) connecting through MIA or other Caribbean hubs
- →Spirit via various hubs — budget option with frequent sales under $200 roundtrip
Flight Duration
Safety Tips
Trinidad has a serious crime problem that is hyperlocal — meaning specific areas of Port of Spain (Laventille, Beetham, Sea Lots, parts of Morvant) are genuinely dangerous and you have zero reason to go there as a tourist. Stay in St. Clair, Woodbrook, Cascade, and Newtown for the city. Do not walk downtown Port of Spain after dark — take a taxi even for a 5-minute trip. Petty theft (phone snatching, bag grabbing) is the most common tourist issue; keep phones out of sight in busy areas like Frederick Street and the Central Market. Do not display expensive jewelry, cameras, or accessories on the street. Use InDriver or TaxiApp TT instead of flagging random taxis on the street, especially at night. The North Coast Road and natural attractions like Caroni and Asa Wright are extremely safe during daylight hours — no special precautions needed beyond standard common sense. Trinidadians are genuinely warm and helpful to visitors; the risk comes from specific urban hot zones, not from the general population. Solo female travelers should avoid walking alone after dark in any Port of Spain neighborhood.
Buy your flight to Tobago through Caribbean Airlines domestically (not as part of your international ticket) — it's typically TT$400-600 (~US$60-90) roundtrip and the 20-minute flight beats the 2.5-hour fast ferry, which gets choppy and causes serious seasickness. Book directly at caribbean-airlines.com while still in the US. Also: ATMs at POS dispense TTD at the official rate — change no money at airport exchange booths, which take 8-10% commission. And don't rent a car unless you're driving the North Coast Road specifically; Port of Spain traffic is maddening, parking is terrible, and taxis for city use are cheap and fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to fly to Trinidad?
The cheapest route to Trinidad from the US is typically from San Juan (SJU), with estimated round-trip prices around $53. Prices vary significantly by season and booking timing.
What is the best time to visit Trinidad?
The best time to visit Trinidad is January, February, March, April. January-April is dry season (75-85°F). May-November is rainy season (afternoon storms, humid). Best time is Carnival (February/March). Avoid September-November (hurricanes).
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Trinidad?
Visa-free for US passport holders for up to 90 days (tourism). Easy entry.
How long is the flight from the US to Trinidad?
Flight time from the US to Trinidad (POS) is approximately 2 hours from San Juan. Flight times vary by departure city — eastern US cities are typically shorter to their destination.
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