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Cars 4 Rental Information on  Trinidad and Tobago

General Area: Total: 5128 sq km (1980 sq miles). Trinidad: 4828 sq km (1864 sq miles). Tobago: 300 sq km (116 sq miles). Population: 1,294,000 (official estimate 2000). Population Density: 252.3 per sq km. Capital: Port of Spain. Population: 53,000 (1999). GEOGRAPHY: Trinidad and her tiny sister island of Tobago lie off the Venezuelan coast. Along the north of Trinidad runs the Northern Range of mountains, looming over the country's capital, Port of Spain. South of Port of Spain on the west coast the terrain is low, and the Caroni Swamps contain a magnificent bird sanctuary largely inhabited by the scarlet ibis. On the north and east coasts lie beautiful beaches. Central Trinidad is flat and largely given over to agriculture. Government: Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1962. Head of State: President Maxwell Richards since 2003. Head of Government: Prime Minister Patrick Manning since 2002. Language: The official language is English. French, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese are also spoken. Religion: 30 per cent Roman Catholic, 29 per cent other Christian denominations, 24 per cent Hindu, 11 per cent Anglican, and 6 per cent Muslim. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 110/220 volts AC, 60Hz. US pattern twin plus earth plugs are standard, though variations may be found. Communications: Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 1 868. Outgoing international code: 01. There are no area codes. In Tobago, international telephone calls can be made from the TSTT building on Wilson Road in Scarborough. Many public phone booths take phonecards which can be bought from local shops and the TSTT building. Mobile telephone Digital and analogue networks (not compatible with GSM handsets) are operated by TSTT Cellnet (website: www.tstt.co.tt). Dual mode handsets are necessary, and can be hired from TSTT Cellnet on a short- or long-term basis. Coverage is currently available in most of Trinidad & Tobago. Fax Widely available in hotels. In Tobago, faxes can also be sent from the TSTT building on Wilson Road in Scarborough. Internet ISPs include TSTT Internet Services (website: www.tstt.co.tt). There are numerous Internet cafes on the islands. Telegram Port of Spain has good facilities in Independence Square and Edward Street. Cables can also be sent from hotels and the airport. Post The main post office is on Wrightson Road, Port of Spain. Airmail to Western Europe takes up to 2 weeks; incoming mail can take much longer. The main post office in Tobago is in Market Square, Scarborough. Press English-language dailies include Newsday, The Trinidad Guardian and Trinidad & Tobago Express. As well as these dailies and numerous weekly publications, Tobago has its own weekly paper, Tobago News. Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online. Back to Top Money Currency: Trinidad & Tobago Dollar (TT$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of TT$100, 20, 10, 5 and 1. Coins are in denominations of TT$1, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 cents. Currency exchange: Foreign currency can only be exchanged at authorised banks and some hotels. There are ATMs taking cash cards and credit cards in both Trinidad and Tobago (Scarborough only). Credit & debit cards: American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted by most banks, shops and tourist facilities. Many traders charge 5 per cent for the use of credit cards. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: These are very widely accepted and will often prove the most convenient means of transaction. Banks charge a fee for exchanging travellers cheques. Check for the best rates. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. Currency restrictions: The import of local currency is unlimited, provided declared on arrival. The export of local currency is limited to TT$200. There is free import of foreign currency, subject to declaration. The export of foreign currency is limited to the equivalent of TT$2500 per year. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Trinidad & Tobago Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date Aug ’03 Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 £1.00= 9.78 10.43 11.19 10.98 $1.00= 6.12 6.15 6.15 6.15 Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1400, Fri 0900-1200 and 1500-1700. Back to Top Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio No N/A Malaria No N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age arriving from infected areas. Food & drink: Mains water in Tobago is safe to drink, though bottled water is available in supermarkets. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advisable. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables throughout both islands are generally safe to eat. The authorities advise caution, however, during carnival time when buying food from the 'hawker' stalls in Port of Spain. Other risks: Hepatitis A occurs. Mosquitoes can be inconvenient anywhere just before and after dusk. Visitors are advised to carry insect repellent and bite cream. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. Bats are a problem as far as the transmission of rabies is concerned. For more information, consult the Health appendix. Health care: Although there is no reciprocal health agreement with the UK, public sector health care is free. However, health insurance is recommended as Tobago's health care provision is basic, with limited supplies and medication. Back to Top Climate The tropical climate is tempered by northeast trade winds. The dry season is from November to May, but it is hottest between June and October. The climate in Tobago is pleasant most of the year and although May, June and July can be wet at times, the differentiation between the wet and dry seasons is much less acute. Required clothing: Tropical lightweights are required. Rainwear is advisable, especially for the wet season. Back to Top Passport   Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required British Yes 2 Yes Australian Yes Yes Yes Canadian Yes 1 Yes USA Yes 1 Yes OtherEU Yes 2 Yes Japanese Yes Yes Yes PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all persons aged 16 years and over. Passport must be valid for at least six months from date of return. Note: All visitors must be in possession of a valid return ticket to their country of residence or citizenship and sufficient funds to maintain themselves whilst in Trinidad & Tobago. VISAS: Required by all except: (a) 1. nationals of Canada and the USA for stays not exceeding three months; (b) 2. nationals of EU countries for stays not exceeding three months, except nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia who do need a visa; (c) nationals of Commonwealth countries (except Australia, Cameroon, India, Maldives, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Tuvalu and Uganda, who do require a visa) for stays not exceeding three months; (d) nationals of Brazil, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Turkey for stays of up to three months; (e) nationals of Aruba, Colombia, Curacao, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Israel, Korea (Rep), Martinique, The Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Saba, Surinam, Switzerland and Venezuela. Types of visa: Tourist: £8.50. Business (multiple-entry): £8.50 per entry. A non-refundable processing fee of approximately US$15 must be paid at the time of application. Validity: 90 days. Application requirements: (a) Completed application form. (b) One passport-size photograph. (c) Valid passport with at least one empty page. (d) Letter of invitation or evidence of hotel booking. (e) Letter from employer. (f) Fee (payable by cash or postal order only). (g) Travel itinerary. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section. Working days required: Tourist visas will normally be issued within 10 working days. Applications from the following nationals may take up to four weeks: Albania, China, Cuba, Korea (Dem Rep), Serbia & Montenegro and Vietnam. Temporary residence: Enquire at Embassy or High Commission. Back to Top

Car Hire Trinidad and Tobago

Cars 4 Rental can provide car hire vehicles in all the popular locations throughout the Trinidad and Tobago.

Whatever your requirements Cars 4 Rental will be able to provide a car to meet your needs. Our hire cars can be equipped with many optional extras including child seats so that your car rental is ideally suited to your needs.

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