Trembling in TT

After six days of traveling, I felt lucky to escape with my life and limbs intact.

After six days of traveling, I felt lucky to escape with my life and limbs intact. I am American (white male), and felt completely unsafe traveling anywhere while in Trinidad and Tobago, where I normally am confident that I can avoid dangerous situations, places, and people.

I traveled to try and see some of the worldโ€™s most amazing beaches, diving, and natural rain-forest beauty, birds and wildlife, but found that TT is violent, dangerous, and simply not a place any tourist should ever consider visiting in the near future, especially white tourists. It was the most unfriendly and subtlety racist country I have ever visited โ€” there were no smiles. I had multiple well-meaning residents warn me to take special care.

You think Trinis and Trinbagonians would want more tourists! I saw very few tourists (who dared venturing outside the resort gates) even when I was in Crown Point and other supposedly high-tourist areas of Tobago.

Port-of-Spain should be avoided at all costs. Itโ€™s a nightmare and cess-pool to visit. I know what Iโ€™m talking about as I spent a week traveling in Trinidad and Tobago. I quickly came to realize that traveling by maxi taxi was best avoided, as was going anywhere at night.

The police, especially in Tobago, seemed to be for show. โ€œSunday Schoolโ€ was a joke โ€” I left early as it seemed like an invitation to robbery and murder of anyone who looks like a tourist.

Flimsy doors, locks, and security etc. Pigeon Point, the premier beach, was basically deserted. I could go on and on. Itโ€™s not fun. Everyone, including locals seems afraid and wary, looking over their shoulders.

Itโ€™s overpriced (even though relatively affordable) for what you get. Itโ€™s too bad. Amazing coral reefs and other things, and then nothing seems to be done about protecting a vital industry โ€” tourism.

The tourism industry is crumbling as I speak. After returning to Miami and going to South Beach, friendly, safe, and beautiful, I nearly kissed the ground.

If you like adventure, travel with 24-hour armed security, and live off-shore on your own secured yacht, sure, go but otherwise…donโ€™t. Sorry, beautiful country, but unsafe at the moment.

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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