Budget/Backpacker Travel Guide: Port of Spain

Experience authentic local culture on a shoestring budget with hostels, street food, and public transport

Daily Budget: $35-88 per day

Complete breakdown of costs for budget/backpacker travel in Port of Spain

$15-35 per night

Shared dorms in hostels, basic guesthouses, budget hotels with shared bathrooms

$12-25 per day

Street food stalls, local markets, roti shops, doubles vendors, basic local restaurants

$3-8 per day

Public buses (PTSC), maxi taxis, shared route taxis, walking

$5-20 per day

Free beaches, hiking trails, self-guided city walks, occasional museum entries

Currency: TTD Trinidad and Tobago Dollar (though USD widely accepted in tourist areas)

Curated experiences perfect for your budget/backpacker travel style

Eat at local markets and street food stalls instead of tourist restaurants (typically 60-80% cheaper)

Use public buses and maxi taxis instead of regular taxis for transportation (usually 70-85% savings)

Book accommodation well in advance during peak season for 20-40% discounts

Take advantage of free activities like hiking, beaches, and self-guided walking tours

Buy groceries and prepare some meals yourself when staying in places with kitchen access

Travel during shoulder season (April-June, September-November) for 25-40% lower accommodation rates

Use shared route taxis for longer distances instead of private transfers (typically 50-70% cheaper)

Relying solely on taxis for transportation instead of learning the public transport system (can triple transport costs)

Eating exclusively in tourist areas and hotel restaurants (typically 100-200% markup over local establishments)

Booking last-minute accommodation during Carnival season without comparing prices (can pay 300-500% premium)

Not factoring in the cost of activities and tours when budgeting (can easily add $50-100+ per day)

Exchanging money at airports or hotels instead of local banks (typically 5-10% worse rates)