Trinidad and Tobago : Safety by CityPort of Spain, on the northwest coast of Trinidad island, is the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago.
Port of Spain is a great place to spend a couple of days and is the hub for Trinidad’s famous carnival.
Travelers come here to see beautiful beaches – great places to spend vacations.
The Trinidad Carnival is one of the best in the world and the main attractions for the tourists.
In this time in the city they become crowded, hotels are full, and prices are twice high.
This carnival is a mixture of parades and music and calypso competitions.
Participants wear elaborate costumes and parade dancing through the streets to the sounds of a steel band or a soca band.
Warnings & Dangers in Port of Spain
OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
Port of Spain is known for criminal showdowns, shootings, and high crime rates. Despite this, tourists can be safe if they follow increased security measures and do not walk late on the city streets. During the festival, you need to be especially attentive to your surroundings.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: MEDIUM
It is recommended to use your transport or taxi. A taxi is mandatory if you return late at night to the hotel. Make sure the taximeter is turned on. Public transportation is not safe in the city.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH
Tourists are often victims of pickpocketers. Especially often, theft of personal items happens during carnivals. Do not leave your things unattended while relaxing on the beach. Do not leave the car or taxi windows open so that your belongings are not stolen. Do not carry a lot of cash and valuables.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: MEDIUM
Port of Spain is located in a seismically active region, so earthquakes here are not uncommon and quite durable. Caribbean hurricanes rarely affect the city. However, gale winds are likely. Explore weather news before your trip here.
MUGGING RISK: HIGH
Armed robberies are the main problem in the city. You should avoid some areas so as not to get into trouble. Areas such as Laventille are not particularly safe. Avoid any contact with drug dealers and are not in the streets of the city late at night.
TERRORISM RISK: HIGH
The risk of terrorism in Port of Spain is high. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, parks, major sporting, and cultural events, and other public areas. Be especially careful during mass gatherings.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
ATM scam is common for Port of Spain: a thin magnetic sheet is placed in the card slot of the ATM. When you insert your card, you won’t be able to withdraw money, nor will you be able to eject your card. If this happens - block your card as soon as possible so that fraudsters cannot use it.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: HIGH
Women are not advised to travel to Port of Spain alone. You can attract excessive male attention. Cases of sexual harassment have been reported. Try to be in the company and not show on the streets after dark. If a man speaks to you or whistles, it is better to give a polite answer and go further than completely ignore him.
So... How Safe Is Port of Spain Really?
Port of Spain is a very criminal city.
The crime rate here is very high.
Most crimes are related to the theft of things, car theft, vandalism.
Also, the city has a very high level of corruption.
The city has a shockingly high murder rate.
But if you are sensible and avoid criminal areas, you shouldn’t have a problem.
Locals incredibly friendly – you can see for yourself.
In the city, you need to show common sense and not walk around the streets late at night.
It is important not to brag about your wealth and expensive devices.
Port of Spain is almost at the equator, so the sun is very merciless here – take care of sunscreen with a high content of SPF.
Low-income areas such as Laventille are not particularly safe: drug dealers crossfire. Tourists are not recommended for visiting this place.
If you come back late – take a taxi.
If you are moving in your car – be sure to close it and do not leave things inside.
You need to park a car in a guarded parking lot.
Make sure your accommodation is secure and use a hotel safe to store valuables, money, and passports.
Take particular care when driving, especially at night, and take local advice to avoid straying into areas affected by gang violence.
How Does Port of Spain Compare?
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Port of Spain | 55 |
| La Paz (Bolivia) | 52 |
| Sao Paulo (Brazil) | 45 |
| Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) | 43 |
| Sofia (Bulgaria) | 73 |
| Siem Reap (Cambodia) | 63 |
| Phnom Penh (Cambodia) | 61 |
Useful Information
Visas
Visitors to Trinidad and Tobago must obtain a visa unless they come from one of the visa-exempt countries. All citizens of states that are contracting parties to the Schengen Agreement to stay without a visa for a maximum period of 90 days in any 180 days. A valid passport is a must.
Currency
The dollar is the currency of Trinidad and Tobago. It is usually abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or TT$, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies. It has a currency code, TTD. The dollar is subdivided into 100 cents.
Weather
The best times to visit Port of Spain for ideal weather are February to mid-April. Average temperatures in Port of Spain vary barely at all and the weather feels hot all year with a chance of rain throughout most of the year.
Airports
Piarco International Airport is an international airport serving the island of Trinidad. The airport is located 30 km east of downtown Port of Spain. It is the seventh busiest airport in the Caribbean in terms of passengers served. The airport is also the primary hub and operating base for the country's national airline.
Travel Insurance
The travel insurance policy is a must when visiting a foreign country. Make sure you got it before starting your journey, the customs officer may ask for it.
Port of Spain Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 |
| Low °C | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 |
| High °F | 88 | 88 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 88 |
| Low °F | 70 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 75 | 75 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 72 |
Trinidad and Tobago - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Port of Spain | 55 |
Port of spain
Its capital is called port of spain?
how i got my loan
City of Port of Spain
Don’t come here
It was very strange to learn that the capital of Trinidad and Tobago is called Port of Spain. It just sounds weird to say the least. Went there because of work related things and it was mostly a bad experience. This city is dangerous, with many potential risks all over the place, mostly during the night but also some during the day. In my short stay (6 days) I had 2 dealings with pickpockets who didn’t manage to steal anything fortunately. They operate in crowded areas but sometimes they can be spotted in groups of 4+ and they try to box you in some location and one of them tries to steal from you. I had this happen and it wasn’t pretty. I don’t know how I managed to stay calm and composed in the moment and how they didn’t manage to steal my phone or wallet.
I didn’t travel at night so chances of mugging were lower. I heard from other people in my hotel that they had heard of people getting mugged or had been mugged themselves and most said they will never return to this city again. It’s disappointing to see that the police doesn’t seem to do much or doesn’t have enough power to counteract all these criminals. Something else that happened to me was the magnetic sheet scam that is also mentioned in this page. Yes, that actually still happens now. My card got stuck in the ATM. Fortunately I knew about this kind of scam and instantly blocked my card using my phone and they couldn’t do anything with it. I actually left the card in there and went on my way and when I looked back there was someone trying to take it out, probably one of the scammers. I would have liked there to be police or guards near such ATMs so that they could arrest these people but this is just wishful thinking.
My Experience in Trinidad
Sad that it has become a different place than when I worked there for two years in the early 1960’s and enjoyed the entire Island. Was there when they received independence and Erick Williams became Prime Minister. The Trinidad Hilton was on the side of a Mountain and often referred to as the upside down Hotel. Thoroughly enjoyed Carnival. To drive around, especially the viewing pull offs in the mountains where Calypso singers would sing referring to our Children. Stayed at cabins at several isolated beaches and never experienced a problem. I’d bought a VW bug and had to replace several fenders before my wife learned to drive on the Left lane and go left at roundabouts. I was in the oil field business and Golf was near free at Oil Co. Owned Golf Courses. I lived in San Fernando – never had a problem. Was considering a Vacation there but believe I’ll pass.