Cab or Tour to St. Ann's in Trinidad

[TwoCalBears]

I will be in Trinidad in February, and would like to visit "The Boutique" in St. Ann's, a suburb of Port of Spain ("The Boutique" is the showcase for Althea Bastien's beautiful batik work). My question is how to get to St. Ann's after disembarking the ship. Would it be safe just to take a local cab, or should I arrange with a reputable tour operator to have a driver take me there and back? I've read posts that say that Port of Spain itself is a dangerous city, but I also read a post, dated a couple of years ago, by someone living in St. Ann's, who said that this suburb is safe for someone taking reasonable precautions.

[goneclear]

The Port has registered Taxis. Just take one of them. Tell them where you want to go. You should have them wait for you. You can also negotiate a rate for a couple hours. St Ann's is about 10-15 mins from the port. You will drive around the savannah to get there.

[TwoCalBears]

Thank you, Goneclear; this is very helpful advice, which I shall follow to the letter!

[goneclear]

Thank you, Goneclear; this is very helpful advice, which I shall follow to the letter!

 

Note: $1.00 U.S = $6.30 TT They usually round it off to $1 U.S = $ 6 TT in the tourism industry. What ever you are paying for make sure and ask what currency are they quoting?

[Aplmac]

I will be in Trinidad in February, and would like to visit "The Boutique" in St. Ann's, a suburb of Port of Spain

("The Boutique" is the showcase for Althea Bastien's beautiful batik work).

My question is how to get to St. Ann's after disembarking the ship. Would it be safe just to take a local cab,

or should I arrange with a reputable tour operator to have a driver take me there and back?

I've read posts that say that Port of Spain itself is a dangerous city, but I also read a post, dated a couple of years ago,

by someone living in St. Ann's, who said that this suburb is safe for someone taking reasonable precautions.

:eek:MG what a small world it is!

 

About ten years ago

my wife and I rented Althea's small upstairs annexe apartment for about a week

when we stayed in Port of Spain!

 

My wife bought a skirt-and-top batik outfit from her, back then

so durable it still does duty today -and it's still fashionable-looking.

 

Althea is probably at the same location today

because I'm fairly sure she owned the property on Sydenham Avenue, St.Ann's.

 

The Sydenham Ave. approach in to her house is a bit zig-zag and takes some finding

but if she's got a boutique there now

a taxi driver worth his salt can find her place

It's not that difficult.

 

Definitely have the driver wait for you while you shop

(shouldn't take more than half-hour).

I say this because you probably won't catch a taxi easily from where her place is!

 

 

________________________________________

And after you're done buying all her batik,

maybe your driver will take you around the world's largest roundabout

(the drive around the Savannah that goneclear spoke about..)

and up the Lady Chancellor Road to take pics..

 

and then up to Hilton Hotel

which has a nice balcony overlooking Port of Spain..

..and that largest roundabout in the world.

You'll see! ;)

 

..........................................................

 

 

Fort George is another higher-up viewpoint within close range

where you can look down over the city

and your ship in port.

 

 

All that stuff you can do within the environs of Port of Spain's suburbs,

without going too far from your ship.

Would make a nice half-day tour, to get you off the ship doing something!

.

.

[perry001]

we will be in port next month for a day aboard the grand princess. what hourly rate should we expect to pay for a cab? any other advice or suggestions can you offer?