Trinidad and Tobago🇹🇹 | festivalsCarnivalJ’Ouvert mud, feathered bands, Savannah stages, Moko Jumbies | things to do and best time to go

Port of Spain itself is the most practical base for Carnival, since the parade route, the Savannah stage and most fetes sit within a few kilometers of each other. St. Ann’s and Woodbrook are the two areas I would look at first. Woodbrook is the social choice, with Ariapita Avenue’s bars and restaurants lined up along one walkable strip, plenty of guesthouses and rooms in private homes, and a steady crowd of other travelers heading to the same fetes. It is lively late at night, so it suits those who want to be in the middle of things, and taxis home are easy to find after dark. St. Ann’s and the … read more 👉

Port of Spain itself is the most practical base for Carnival, since the parade route, the Savannah stage and most fetes sit within a few kilometers of each other. St. Ann’s and Woodbrook are the two areas I would look at first. Woodbrook is the social choice, with Ariapita Avenue’s bars and restaurants lined up along one walkable strip, plenty of guesthouses and rooms in private homes, and a steady crowd of other travelers heading to the same fetes. It is lively late at night, so it suits those who want to be in the middle of things, and taxis home are easy to find after dark. St. Ann’s and the streets near the Savannah are quieter and a short walk from the parade stage, which makes mornings simpler on the big days. Belmont and Newtown offer cheaper rooms, but they are less comfortable for walking at night, so use a taxi. Rooms in Woodbrook and near the Savannah fill first, so look at shared houses and rooms rented through private hosts if hostels are full. Whatever you choose, ask for a location with a secure gate, avoid walking alone late at night, and use registered taxis. Staying farther out in Chaguaramas or St. James can save money, but transport becomes a hassle during road closures.