Trinidad & Tobago Sizzles This Summer With Cultural Festivals, Hotel Renovations And Special Offers
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Known for its explosive Carnival celebration and diverse gastronomical scene, Trinidad & Tobago is considered a popular destination for travelers seeking a memorable experience beyond the beach.
Whether travelers are looking to get away and relax, immerse themselves in the local culture or have an adventurous vacation, summer has proven to be one of the best times to visit the twin-island nation. Additionally, with direct flights from gateway cities like Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, New York, Orlando and Houston, getting to Trinidad is easy and affordable.
Trinidad & Tobago is gearing up for another record-setting season with tourism developments to attract new and repeat visitors
Hotel News and Updates
Aqua at Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
Tobago’s premier dive resort has expanded its offerings to include a state-of-the-art conference facility and meeting room for executive and corporate retreats accommodating 30-40 people. The brand new modern space features a smart, sophisticated design, a 90 inch Smart Screen, full sound system and ambient lighting with views of the ocean and bay during the daytime. For more information, visit http://www.bluewatersinn.com/.
Bacolet Beach Club, Tobago
After adding 15 new suites and an infinity pool overlooking the hotel’s private bay in 2015, Bacolet Beach Club continues its expansion with the addition of another 10 two-bedroom suites. The new, marble-tiled suites will be complete with panoramic windows overlooking the hotel’s crescent shaped Sandy Bay. Construction will be finished by the end of 2016; upon completion, the resort will offer with 60 rooms. For more information or to book, visit http://www.bacoletbeachclub.com/.
Cultural Celebrations and Festivals
Trinidad Fruit Festival
June 17 – 19
The fourth annual National Fruit Festival in Trinidad will take place at Nu Image Simplex Complex North Road, New Grant. This event is aimed at providing knowledge on local produce and focuses on the importance of maintaining local supply to meet international demands. In addition to featuring a cornucopia of local fruits, the festival will host a Best Chow competition and aerobic challenge. Admission is free and prizes will also be given throughout the festival. For more information, call (868) 771-2473.
Tobago Heritage Festival
July 16 – August 1
Beginning July 16 with fetes coming to a climax in a J’ouvert-style street parade on Emancipation Day August 1, Tobago Heritage Festival is one of the most important festivals of the year for the island. Both Trinidad and Tobago have extensive cultural backgrounds, from European to African to Amerindian, creating a unique and diverse culture. Tobago Heritage Festival celebrates traditions that are mostly African, with eclectic events and dances hosted in various villages throughout the island. Tobagonians from various communities embrace this celebration of culture to educate and entertain both visitors and local youth. The main event each year is the traditional “Ole Time Wedding,” held in the village of Moriah. This mock marriage ceremony highlights the influences of European culture on the local population featuring a colorful procession of the satin-garbed bride and top-hatted groom while guests dance in the streets.
Tobago Blue Food Festival
October 16, 2016
Tobago’s distinctive blue food cuisine is celebrated at the Blue Food Festival, featuring dasheen, the Caribbean root vegetable that actually turns blue when cooked. One of the most unique food expositions in the Caribbean, the Blue Food Festival 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. Guests are treated to cooking demonstrations and competitions, samples of local chefs’ creations and entertainment by popular local performers.
Airlift
Caribbean Airlines H.U.M. Campaign
Trinidad’s national carrier Caribbean Airlines has launched its “Happiest Ultimate Moments” (H.U.M.) campaign, designed to create ‘positive vibes’ and deliver added value to regional and international passengers traveling between June 1 and September 30, 2016. Through this promotion, passengers will be given the opportunity to enjoy special discounts at retail and entertainment merchants throughout Caribbean Airlines regional and international destinations. A special H.U.M. pass will be distributed to passengers when they check in at the Caribbean Airlines counter at all airport locations. Customers will also have the chance to win tickets and other incentives through Caribbean Airlines’ social media promotions and will have the opportunity to earn 50 percent more miles using Caribbean Miles and 7th Heaven Rewards programs for tickets purchased in September. A full list of partners is available at the Caribbean Airlines website: http://caribbean-airlines.com/Humdeals/.
New Tours and Entertainment
Foil Boarding at Radical Sports, Tobago
Owned and operated by Tobago waterman Duane Kenny, Radical Sports stays ahead in the kite boarding technology evolution with the introduction of foil boarding lessons. A foil board is a kiteboard with a hydrofoil that extends from the bottom of the board. The foil causes the board to rise above the surface, which eliminates drag. Participants should have already learned how to kitesurf before trying foil boarding. Lessons are one-on-one with instructors and cost US$95 per hour. For more information, visit www.radicalsportstobago.com.
Indigenous Tobago – A local slice of Tobago
This new tour offers visitors a day in the life of a local in Tobago as part of their holiday experience. The day starts with a hearty local breakfast of coconut bake, salt-fish buljol, smoked fish, fried eggplant, grilled beans, pumpkin, chocolate tea, coffee, local juices, coconut water, local fruits and a short tour of the kitchen garden. Next, participants will head to Pigeon Point to depart for a glass-bottom boat trip to the Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool, followed by the popular curry crab and dumpling for lunch and relaxing on the beach. The tour costs US$88 per person and includes ground transfers, breakfast, lunch, drinks, entrance to Pigeon Point, boat trip, guide and snorkeling. For more information or to book, email [email protected].
Conservation and Preservation
Tobago Water Colours Adaptation Project
The Cropper Foundation, based in Trinidad & Tobago, has implemented a pilot program to combat climate change in Tobago’s popular, tourist-attracting Buccoo Reef. The program, named Tobago Water Colours Adaptation Project, will utilize underwater coral sculptures as an approach to combat climate change. Renowned Trinidadian Carnival artist Peter Minshall, who helped design the opening awards ceremonies for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics and the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, is creating two Carnival-themed underwater sculptures for the program, which is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). “This may help turn the tide at Buccoo. Reflecting the colors of the reef and the movement of the sea, the installation will also be a celebration of our island and our annual Carnival, which is an ancient tradition,” explained Minshall. Eventually, a larger project is expected to be funded, in which Minshall will install a complete band of Carnival sculptures in Buccoo Reef.
Hotel Packages and Specials
Blue Waters Inn, Tobago
A popular hotel for divers to stay in Tobago, Blue Waters Inn is offering special summer rates for guests booking stays between June 30 and September 1, 2016. The offer is two nights for US$343, three nights for US$500 or five nights for US$750. All rates apply to Standard Rooms, which have either one king bed, or two double beds and are beachfront. All rates include taxes and full breakfast at the waterfront Drift Deck restaurant. Children under five stay for free and children aged 5-11 are only US$16 per child per night (max. two children per room). For more information, visit http://www.bluewatersinn.com/.
Coblentz Inn Boutique Hotel, Trinidad
This 17-room hotel is offering guests staying from June through September 2016 a special rate of US$105 per night with a complimentary welcome mini bar. All taxes, continental breakfast and Wi-Fi are included in the cost. Each room is also fitted with a fully-equipped, artistically designed kitchenette. Coblentz Inn is conveniently located in Port of Spain offering guests a relaxing, secluded retreat while offering access to nightlife and activities. For more information, visit http://www.coblentzinn.com/.
Rovanel’s Resort & Conference Centre, Tobago
Set on five acres of a coconut fringed park and just a few minutes from Crown Point International Airport and Tobago’s most popular beaches, Rovanel’s Resort recently rebranded as Rovanel’s Resort & Conference Centre with the addition of state-of-the-art meetings and events space. The resort is offering guests who stay from June 1 through August 31 special rates on four night stays. With rates starting at US$130 per night, guests who book for four nights, only pay for three. This rate includes breakfast, Wi-Fi and taxes and is valid for single or double occupancy. The resort is also offering a ‘Fun & Relax’ package, which is US$750 for four nights, inclusive of airport transfers, breakfast, two-day car rental, taxes and Wi-Fi. The offer is valid for the executive rooms with Jacuzzi with single or double occupancy. For more information, visit http://www.rovanelsresorttobago.com/.
ADVERTISEMENT
