Adventure Guide to Trinidad and Tobago

I've been to TNT once for two weeks and am returning again in a few months. I bought the book to refresh my memory and, more importantly, get me excited about my return trip. It's a great read, and as the back cover suggests, it really is written for the traveler who wants to experience more than just sunbathing. However, once you've been to Trindad and Tobago, you discover that they are not your generic Caribbean islands. Visiting Trindad and Tobago is more of a cultural vacation than an island getaway. Once you step foot off the plane at Piarco airport, you'll never want to leave, or you'll want to go back once every year. The two islands are full of charisma, and O'Donnell and Pefkaros do a good job of capturing this spirit in the book. You really cannot be intimidated by the cultures of TNT. From the street vendor corn soup, to crab and dumplings, "down de islands", Maracas, Pigeon Point, Speyside, fried flying fish, Caribs, lorries, maxis, wining, Trinidad's great bar/club scene, the Northern Range, etc. - this book virtually covers all Trinidad and Tobago vacation opportunities and experiences.

Although definitely a part of the Caribbean, these two islands are unique, refusing to conform with the stock Caribbean image created by glossy brochures and travel agencies. They are both generous and Caribbean-spirited, but quite capable of going their own way.This Adventure Guide takes you across the nation from mountains and hills to grasslands, savannahs and palm-lined beaches, offering the intrepid traveler a ticket to explore. Birdwatchers are drawn by the chance to see the beautiful scarlet ibis. Night-time excursions allow visitors to watch the miraculous egg-laying practices of the leatherback turtle. And caiman - smaller versions of the South's alligators - are a common sight. And then there's Carnival, which offers wild dances, fantastical costumes and frenzied revellers.Whatever your reason to visit T & T, you have the right guide in hand. Accommodations, restaurants, travel tips, sights, museums, excursions - it's all here. A special section is dedicated to the nation's booming yachting industry, with details on marinas, facilities and services.

I wish I'd had this book the first time I visited Trinidad and Tobago. The book fully describes the culture of these island people and this knowledge would make a trip to these wonderful islands even more enjoyable. I also believe it's a good choice for readers who can't make the trip but still want to taste the culture.

An excellent take-long tote, as is the more adventurous Trinidad & Tobago, 2nd Edition by Kathleen O'Donnell and Stassi Pefkaros, which updates information on adventure travel with special focus on the wildlife and culture of the islands.

During July 1998 I had the pleasure of spending ten days inTobago. The book is essential to a successful trip and well done.However, I would like to offer my comments and make additions relative to Tobago. The airport is better than described and modern; it accommodates DC-10's from Europe several times a week. The authors obviously were not golfers because the golf course is a gem and should have been raved about. Even though it was in not as good a shape as one would have hoped, notwithstanding the rainy season, the layout is spectacular. A must play for any level golfer! We stayed at the Coco Beach Resort. It had only been open a short time when the authors were on the island and they did not do it justice. Coco Reef was a wonderful resort. It had the best service of any resort we have ever visited and the best food and best dinner-time live background music of any hotel we have ever been in. We had ten five-star dinners. The resort overall was definitely 4-star plus. The people on the island are friendly. Bucco reef was over rated and the snorkeling in general is not as good as either Belize or the Turks and Caicos Islands, but acceptable. Would recommend reading the local traveler's guide that you get everywhere. There are "phony" tour guides at some of the attractions, but they seem harmless. The rain forest was wonderful. Pay the $3.00 U.S. for the boot rental in the rainy season. Bring your binoculars and a 200 mm lens for your camera if you can. Besides going on foot into the rain forest, you can photograph birds from your car on the road that cuts across the island. The book understated Jamma's Tree Top Restaurant. It is still $10.00 for one of the best lunches you can have anywhere. It included tax, tip, and more food than you can eat. The faint hearted should think twice about driving on some of the winding roads that hug the cliffs. All in all, even though it is a little difficult to get there from the U.S., an island well worth visiting.