Travelers can discover new airlift, adventures and festivals in the True Caribbean

Port of Spain, Trinidad – October 1, 2013 – The dual-island of Trinidad and Tobago, best known for its island friendliness and unique blend of modern hospitality and traditional charm, is bustling with news this fall and winter as new flight routes make the islands more accessible, hotels offer budget-friendly packages, festivals begin and much more.  

New Airlift

JetBlue

New York's hometown airline and low-cost carrier JetBlue recently announced the start of daily non-stop service from New York's John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) to Piarco International Airport (POS) in Port of Spain on February 24, 2014 and from Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood (FLL) to Port of Spain on May 1, 2014.  JetBlue's flights from New York and Fort Lauderdale to Port of Spain will be operated by its Airbus A320 fleet with seating for 150 passengers.  Service from New York begins just in time for Trinidad and Tobago's Carnival, the largest cultural street festival in the world.  Visitors can travel to the dual-island nation, join a Carnival band and play like a local while taking in the heart-pounding rhythms of soca music and reveling in an exquisite display of jaw dropping colorful costumes on the streets of Port of Spain.  Fort Lauderdale airlift arrives in time for summer, allowing Floridians the opportunity to take a quick, sweet summer escape to the twin islands. 

Restaurants and Entertainment

The Strip

Stretching from Shirvan Road on the Claude Noel Highway to the traffic lights at Buccoo, The Strip is fast becoming Tobago's latest entertainment attraction. The area boasts a number of bars, restaurants, clubs and the Shirvan Mall, which have all contributed to the development of a sprawling entertainment district. 

Krackers Restaurant

Krackers offers a relaxed, open and private, yet intimate atmosphere where customers are served by warm, friendly and engaging staff. Must haves on the menu include chicken and shrimp marinara, baby back ribs and steak.  A special lounge area, with a pool table and 52 inch flat screen television is ideal for groups and can accommodate about 40 persons. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Watermill Restaurant

Watermill Restaurant opened its doors in May and is a hot spot on Fridays and Saturdays with locals and visitors alike.  One of the most popular menu items is the grilled whole lobster.  Watermill is another dining option that can accommodate large groups of up to 50-60 person, and is open Monday to Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. for lunch and from 6-11 p.m. for dinner.

Hotel Packages, News and Updates

Toucan Inn & R & Sea Divers

Toucan Inn & R & Sea Divers is offering a variety of five night dive packages for two:

-          Five (5) nights bed and breakfast with three (3) days diving priced at $756 US

-          Five (5) nights half board (breakfast and dinner, no alcohol) with three (3) days diving priced at $1056 US

-          Five (5) nights all inclusive (breakfast, lunch, dinner and alcohol) with three (3) days diving priced at $1326 US

Dive prices include tanks, weights and taxes.  Pre-booking is required for both accommodations and diving.  One night deposit required for hotel.  Offer available until December 15, 2013.  For more information or to book, contact bonkers@tstt.net.tt or R & Sea Divers at rsdivers@tstt.net.tt.

Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Port of Spain, Trinidad

Hyatt Regency Trinidad's Autumn Package offers guest 20-30 percent off the Hyatt Daily Rate when booked by October 31, 2013 for stays through December 31, 2013.  In addition, Spa Esencia is also introducing its new and exclusive facial treatment, Hydrafacial.  This rejuvenating treatment is a soothing, moisturizing, non-invasive skin care treatment for anyone who is looking to improve and maintain the health of their skin. Guests can choose from the following treatment options, ranging from $150-$250 US per session.  The offers are valid until December 31, 2013 and cannot be combined with additional offers.  For more information, visit www.trinidad.hyatt.com.

Hyatt is also introducing new features geared toward female travelers, including guest request communication cards, a service providing frequently forgotten items and healthy, balanced menus. Each of the new enhancements offered at Hyatt Regency Trinidad are based on insights from female travelers collected as a part of the most extensive guest listening exercise in Hyatt's history. The launch of these new amenities and services marks the first milestone in Hyatt's evolution of hospitality, which includes changing the conversation with hotel guests, unleashing a spirit of innovation and perfecting new concepts through rigorous research and in-hotel testing.

Adventure Eco Villas, Tobago

Adventure Eco Villas is nestled amongst the Tropical Flora and Fauna of a private nature reserve and organic fruit farm, minutes away from palm-fringed beaches with world-class snorkeling.  Guests will appreciate the elegant comfort, serenity and nature of this unique jewel of Tobago.  On World Environment Day this past June, the staff built a large pond with a cascading waterfall and stocked it with red tilapia fish to attract wildlife and uphold the hotel's mission to protect the local flora and fauna.  For more information or to book, visit www.adventure-ecovillas.com.

Cultural Celebrations and Festivals

Blue Food Festival

One of the most unique food expositions in the Caribbean, the Blue Food Festival, held this year on Sunday, October 13, is an annual festival where local chefs and creative, indigenous cooks come together to share their knowledge, cooking secrets and tasty blue creations with commonly-used local ingredient dasheen, the Caribbean root vegetable that actually turns blue when cooked.  Featured as one of SmarterTravel's top 10 Unique Fall Festivals, the Blue Food Festival has grown from a modest street-side event to a fete attracting thousands of visitors and a much-anticipated fixture on Tobago's event calendar, enticing to both sophisticated gourmands and average food enthusiasts.  Locals and visitors alike attend to watch local chefs prepare innovative dishes with the root, including curry, pizza, sweetbread, biscuits, ginger snaps, kebabs, crochet, fritters, dumplings and ice cream.  A true testament to how Tobagonians have creatively maximized the culinary possibilities of a humble ground provision, the Blue Food Festival is not to be missed.  

Diwali

The “Festival of Lights” and national holiday celebrates the triumph of good conquering evil with beautiful displays of clay lamps, candles and fireworks with festivities that run throughout the night as coconut oil keeps the fire burning and locals enjoy typical sweets such as Jhangri, an Indian funnel cake, and cucumber cakes flavored with cardamom. In Trinidad, the festival begins nine days before the actual event with Divali Nagar--village of lights and hub of all celebrations on the island--in Chaguanas. During those nine nights there are performances by East Indian cultural practitioners, a folk theatre featuring skits and dramas, an exhibition of Hinduism, displays by various Hindu religious sects and social organizations, nightly worship of Mother Lakshmi (goddess of wealth), lighting of myriad deyas, performances by various schools related to Indian culture, and a food court of mouth-watering Indian and non-Indian vegetarian delicacies. The festival culminates with magnificent fireworks complemented by the thunder of bamboo cannons and the sparkle of “star-lights” in villages across the country.

About Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With its careful approach to tourism, the dual-island nation offers a distinct blend of culture, eclectic cuisine and an assortment of eco-adventure activities. Trinidad, the 'cultural capital of the Caribbean,' is home to the world famous Carnival and the birthplace of the steel pan drum, the only new acoustic instrument to be invented in the 20th century.  Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco-attractions that include the Main Ridge Rainforest, the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere and the six-time award winner for World's Leading Ecotourism Destination by the World Travel Awards. For more information on Trinidad & Tobago visit www.goTrinidadandTobago.com  or www.visittobago.gov.tt. 

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