Transportation in Port of Spain

Port of Spain moves on shared taxis and minibuses that thread the Savannah, downtown, and the malls for the price of a doubles lunch. The main hub is City Gate on South Quay, every route fans out from here, so memorize the look of the red-band taxis and the "PH" plates on the minibuses. Fares are cheap, but you'll need cash in small bills. Drivers rarely break anything larger than a twenty. Traffic knots up after 3 p.m. when schools let out, so plan east-west hops before then or you'll crawl. From Piarco Airport, the official taxi stand is just outside arrivals, moderate cost, fixed zone system, no surprises. Ignore the freelance drivers who meet you inside baggage claim; they're the only ones who'll quote "tourist rates." There's no scheduled airport bus, so if you're on a tight budget, wait at the car park exit and flag a shared taxi heading toward Curepe junction, still cheap, but you'll ride with luggage on your lap.