Rent or Taxi

Today someone asked me if they should rent a car or use a taxi service like that offered by thecarnivalconnection.

Well the answer depends on many factors.

Scenario 1.

You are a carnival virgin.
You and your crew have no Trini friends living in trinidad.
You are from, and learned to drive in, North America.

Scenario 2.

You have Trini friends living in trinidad that know their way around.

Scenario 3.

Not your first time to Trinidad carnival. 

Now if you are in Scenario #1 I strongly suggest the taxi service.  Though Trinidad has nice straight modern highways that will lead you easily to the vicinity of most fetes, you will have to come off the highway and find your way through maze-like communities in some cases.  I have found that just like Jamaicans, random Trinis tend to give bad directions when asked to help you find a location.  You will get lots of “just up round the corner” and “half mile up the road” (the stories I have to tell).  A map may help but trust me, this option is only for the brave. Also, remember that cars drive on the left in trinidad.  There is a bit of a learning curve to driving on the other side of the road if you learned to drive in North America

With Scenarios #2 and 3 I would say go brave and rent a car.  From your friend is willing to either come with you or draw good directions on a peice of paper you should be able to make it to where ever you are going.  Most of the fetes are in reasonably easy to find locations once you know where you are going.

Having a car gives you freedom to come and go as you please.  Want to grab a bite at lunch, goto the mall to do some shopping…the car is there.

One word of advice…if you need to goto any fete in a place called Chaguaramas….leave about 5 hours early:)

Hope this helps.