As a resident Trinidadian, I am so happy to see foreigners enjoy our food and culture. Unfortunately, Trinidad carnival have already or on its way to price out locals from participating. We could only hope it does not do the same to foreigners as the season now is highly dependent on foreign participation. The Epic cruise seemed like a good solution, but from what I saw from some youtube videos posted, it was a little expensive and the boat left eleven passengers who got carried away and did not return for the schedule time to leave which was 8 pm( The boat waited until 12 mid night) . Maybe the boat should leave Ash Wednesday instead. Great explanation for those who are intending to visit for Carnival
Thanks for watching. I agree with you; if anything your culture should be accessible for those who live and breathe it everyday or all persons who live in the country. I'm hoping the price doesn't increase as well but I'm hoping that stakeholders do their best to deliver a quality product in the coming years. With Covid, I know there were some issues and yes I agree the EPIC cruise looks like a great solution but hopefully these stakeholders can find ways to make the experience more accessible for everyone because it is expensive. I heard about the port runners...leaving on Ash Wednesday may be a better solution. Thanks for your comments and insight as a resident of T&T; truly appreciate it!
I asked so many people abt local events and no one had answers, please provide any help with this. I would like to contribute more directly to the local economy next time I am in TNT. It’s disheartening knowing locals are priced out of carnival events, this is a systematic issue. I’ve heard this is also the case in other countries. From what I seen, EPIC will be departing on Wednesday next year and heading to Tobago for the day before returning to Barbados and finally Puerto Rico. As the ship is originating in PR and will be consider a closed loop cruise I expect it to sell out quickly. Close loop cruises do not require passports for US citizens
@@LegendaryDeGreat agreed with this. We did a recap Twitter space and someone brought up this point about where to find local events. There’s the National Commission calendar but even riding around in the taxi - they were advertising local cultural events that I couldn’t find online. I’m thinking maybe it’s just something that can be solved with better marketing. Thanks for the info on EPIC.
@@LegendaryDeGreat Before the advent of all inclusive fetes, we had many fetes which focused mostly on live entertainment which were run by government ministries and private companies, these fetes were similar to Army fete and Fire fete which still exists. These fetes were much cheaper as drinks and food were sold inside the fete but cheaper fetes meant the attendance of a lot of Pookie and Ray Rays causing the middle class and rich not to attend. The violence inside and outside these fetes caused a slow death to these types of fetes. The Ministry of Tourism now market Carnival to the younger crowd which is why the fetes and naked mass as we locals call it are so predominantly advertised. Because of this calypso tents, ole mass, limbo and even kiddies carnival are scarcely attended. In the past, the Queens Park Savannah viewing stands use to be almost pack with spectators but now it's almost empty like the Socadrome.This is a sign of the lack of interest by locals in the celebration. It was good to see this year the reemergence of the Stick Fighting competition but again this event lacks proper marketing. Other boroughs like San Fernando, Arima and Tobago to name a few, also hold similar carnival celebration as the capital Port of Spain but this is not marketed as the events in the capital
You are right. Our tourism is not marketed properly. TripAdvisor have some things to do . Zip lining, Atv tours, the zoo, waterfalls, Segway tours at the bamboo cathedral. The beaches, Caroni bird sanctuary, mud volcano for sulfur baths. Water park. And lots more things to do. Then you have Tobago!
Definitely putting those on my list to do when I go back and trying to go outside of carnival season as well so I don't get tempted to pump all week LOL. Thanks for the tips and thanks for watching
@Bahamianista, great informative video. Wonderful review and advice coming from your experiences from a visitor's perspective. I am certain that it will be helpful to many planning to visit Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 for Carnival. Keep safe.
Do you have any recommendations? I am planning a cousins trip and want to get a package and be in a troop. It will probably be more than 20 ppl so far. (Possibly more). My first time and this is overwhelming.
The bands/troupes usually launch in the summertime (Jun-Aug or so) - the Tribe Bands launch during Sunset Weekend that they’ll announce on their page - then there’s Yuma, Spirit, Paparazzi and more bands. It really depends which costumes and vibes you like, but vibes are also relative and depends on the person/ppl you with . I suggest looking online for band reviews now on Tiktok/Instagram etc. I have a guide from 2023 on my website: bahamianista.com/a-trinidad-carnival-guide-how-much-to-go/
I went for the first time this year and I have booked accommodations for next year. This year was fun but I have had fun at other carnivals. I’m giving it another chance. I do wonder if it has become so commercial that it has lost something, but I don’t have prior experience to compare to. One thing I noticed was the lack of people on the road in terms of spectators. It got better in the afternoon on Tuesday and that improved the vibe. Also the taxi situation was horrible. We had arranged with someone and he abandoned us and ever taxi after that was the same. TT ride share was no help. Finally on Monday we found someone amazing and we have locked him in for next year. We also had a Airbnb host rip us off. Luckily I met tons of nice people unless I would not have a good impression of Trinis.
Thanks for sharing your experience and for watching! already on the ball for next year that's great. Yeah I felt there was a bit missing from my experience as well but a lot of ppl were saying that it was an adjustment from not having carnival for however many years. I'm so sorry you dealt with that regarding the airbnb and taxis; unfortunately there are a lot of scammers with carnival period. I saw a group from the UK went through a concierge service who pulled out on them weeks before carnival. I think the different stakeholders should publish who they are working with to establish credibility and I think there should be some sort of quality control committee because the scams seem to be happening more and more. Hopefully next year is way better for you. I'm still deciding if I should go in 2024.
You don't have to be a member to get into the bands. Some of the bands have a high demand so they sell out quickly when they launch their costumes but there are several bands that you can play with that you don't need to know anyone to get into - meaning knowing a committee member. If you're looking for more assistance - I also offer carnival itineraries here: bahamianista.com/carnival-itinerary/
I’m a 19-year-old Bahamian, and I want to go to Trinidad Carnival because I have always wanted to do it. Would you recommend me taking the risk of going alone and just being very aware of my surroundings because I really don't have anyone to go with, but then again, I really want to experience Trinidad Carnival.
For first timers and at your age- I’d recommend going with a friend or finding a concierge service so you have ppl who know of your whereabouts while there and that you can contact in case of an emergency
Yes. follow them on socials. You can also email the band directly and ask about pre registration/registration. The different sections are powered/sponsored by entertainment companies or groups so sometimes you can email those groups for a link to pre register. They also have affiliates on social media that you can contact directly for preregistration links - you definitely have to monitor their social media and website to see who their reps/affiliates are. However, the only time you would pay money for a costume is when you hit the link and are directed to their Ultimate Mas portal. Not before. Also, depending on the tier of costume you want, the deposit can start from like $150-$400 dollars.
Thank you so much! I actually have a ton of vlog footage that I haven't posted from Antigua Carnival 2022 so yeah I can do that. Thanks for the suggestion
This is such a great question. From my experience, I've only gone with drivers via word of mouth. I don't think there's a centralized area, website or app for this but hoping I'm wrong. You can also try @mycarnivalmatch on Instagram (not sure of their prices for transport) - my friends went with a company called Liams Taxi Service who provided then with an invoice prior to the trip. Email liamstaxiservicestt@hotmail.com. Hope that helps.
@@BahamianistaThat's my biggest issue with Trinidad carnival that none of these Vlogs seem to touch on......transportation for the duration of your stay. This was a HUGE issue when i was there. All these fetes, Maracas and carnival itself......how are you going to get around the place? How absurd is it you have to literally hire a personal driver weeks or months ahead to get around before you even arrive on the island. How they supposed to get tourists in droves with such nonsense like this? Steups.
Your video was so great! Thank you so much for the info. This will be my first year going. I been monitoring tribe ig. I see they launch the costumes but nothing there to purchase. Do you know if i need to be a member or played previously to get in ? Or do they launch to the public as a whole?
Thanks and no problem! So they register previous masqueraders first from the following year but what I'd tell you to do is send them an email tell them it's your first time or go on the website - there's a page with a list of committee members because you need a. link from either Tribe directly or one of their committee members to register. Not all bands do committee registration and some bands are more difficult to get into as well as sections. Tribe can often be very tricky to get into if you don't know someone but either send them a DM or email them directly as soon as possible.
Cris this years carnival in trinidad was the most boring and worst ever.people need to stop going parties to film and start back drinking heavy and having fun like the good old days.i live in trinidad and i am not a hater but carnival in trinidad is dying or dead already
I definitely think they had some kinks they had to work out some with costume issues (not Bliss but just generally), some with events and just handling the excess of persons who came to the country for carnival. LOL ppl drinking heavy whether its recorded or not but I hear you. I don't think its dead though but I believe some things can be changed for the better. Ive heard people say they didn't enjoy it and then I also heard persons who had a really good time so I think it just depends on the person.
Kevin Arthur, Trinidad Carnival is not dying or dead as you stated, that's a bit of an extreme judgement from you based on your opinion and shallow reasons such as ppl not drinking heavily and doing more filming. You are no carnival expert. Maybe you are boring. The reality is that Carnival constantly evolves, Trinidad Carnival is the trendsetter, and will always remain the mecca of carnivals.
You are surely a very boring and dead spirited person by what crap you tried to write not Trinidad carnival it's full of non stop energy ,creativity and unity If people choose to record or whatever shouldn't be a concern to you rather you having an carnival experience But then again there also these types criticism that holds no interest
@marcborneo5881 i dont know about trend setting 😆 but they have some influence on the culture based on social economic capital compared to the other islands and therefore can access more resources which dont always equal vibes ... but i dont agree with needing to drink heavy lol
As a resident Trinidadian, I am so happy to see foreigners enjoy our food and culture. Unfortunately, Trinidad carnival have already or on its way to price out locals from participating. We could only hope it does not do the same to foreigners as the season now is highly dependent on foreign participation. The Epic cruise seemed like a good solution, but from what I saw from some youtube videos posted, it was a little expensive and the boat left eleven passengers who got carried away and did not return for the schedule time to leave which was 8 pm( The boat waited until 12 mid night) . Maybe the boat should leave Ash Wednesday instead. Great explanation for those who are intending to visit for Carnival
Thanks for watching. I agree with you; if anything your culture should be accessible for those who live and breathe it everyday or all persons who live in the country. I'm hoping the price doesn't increase as well but I'm hoping that stakeholders do their best to deliver a quality product in the coming years. With Covid, I know there were some issues and yes I agree the EPIC cruise looks like a great solution but hopefully these stakeholders can find ways to make the experience more accessible for everyone because it is expensive. I heard about the port runners...leaving on Ash Wednesday may be a better solution. Thanks for your comments and insight as a resident of T&T; truly appreciate it!
I asked so many people abt local events and no one had answers, please provide any help with this. I would like to contribute more directly to the local economy next time I am in TNT. It’s disheartening knowing locals are priced out of carnival events, this is a systematic issue. I’ve heard this is also the case in other countries.
From what I seen, EPIC will be departing on Wednesday next year and heading to Tobago for the day before returning to Barbados and finally Puerto Rico. As the ship is originating in PR and will be consider a closed loop cruise I expect it to sell out quickly. Close loop cruises do not require passports for US citizens
@@LegendaryDeGreat agreed with this. We did a recap Twitter space and someone brought up this point about where to find local events. There’s the National Commission calendar but even riding around in the taxi - they were advertising local cultural events that I couldn’t find online. I’m thinking maybe it’s just something that can be solved with better marketing. Thanks for the info on EPIC.
@@Bahamianista I would love if the local events were promoted/marketed more.
@@LegendaryDeGreat Before the advent of all inclusive fetes, we had many fetes which focused mostly on live entertainment which were run by government ministries and private companies, these fetes were similar to Army fete and Fire fete which still exists. These fetes were much cheaper as drinks and food were sold inside the fete but cheaper fetes meant the attendance of a lot of Pookie and Ray Rays causing the middle class and rich not to attend. The violence inside and outside these fetes caused a slow death to these types of fetes. The Ministry of Tourism now market Carnival to the younger crowd which is why the fetes and naked mass as we locals call it are so predominantly advertised. Because of this calypso tents, ole mass, limbo and even kiddies carnival are scarcely attended. In the past, the Queens Park Savannah viewing stands use to be almost pack with spectators but now it's almost empty like the Socadrome.This is a sign of the lack of interest by locals in the celebration. It was good to see this year the reemergence of the Stick Fighting competition but again this event lacks proper marketing. Other boroughs like San Fernando, Arima and Tobago to name a few, also hold similar carnival celebration as the capital Port of Spain but this is not marketed as the events in the capital
Thank you so much for this. Planning for 2025 & this was very helpful.
You are so welcome! Glad it was helpful!
You are right. Our tourism is not marketed properly. TripAdvisor have some things to do . Zip lining, Atv tours, the zoo, waterfalls, Segway tours at the bamboo cathedral. The beaches, Caroni bird sanctuary, mud volcano for sulfur baths. Water park. And lots more things to do. Then you have Tobago!
Definitely putting those on my list to do when I go back and trying to go outside of carnival season as well so I don't get tempted to pump all week LOL. Thanks for the tips and thanks for watching
This video is packed with great information for experiencing Trinidad & Tobago Carnival. Well done nice and clean, An excellent resource.👍💜
Thank you so much! Really appreciate that!
Thanks for sharing, as always your videos are filled with a wealth of great information.
No problem! And taking account of your comments as well to shape my experiences moving forward. Appreciate your support 💕
Love your videos always a hit!! Thank you!!!
No problem! Thanks for watching 🫶🏾
Thank you so much this was definitely helpful
Glad it helped!
@Bahamianista, great informative video. Wonderful review and advice coming from your experiences from a visitor's perspective. I am certain that it will be helpful to many planning to visit Trinidad and Tobago 🇹🇹 for Carnival. Keep safe.
Glad it was helpful! and thanks for checking it out!
Do you have any recommendations? I am planning a cousins trip and want to get a package and be in a troop. It will probably be more than 20 ppl so far. (Possibly more). My first time and this is overwhelming.
The bands/troupes usually launch in the summertime (Jun-Aug or so) - the Tribe Bands launch during Sunset Weekend that they’ll announce on their page - then there’s Yuma, Spirit, Paparazzi and more bands. It really depends which costumes and vibes you like, but vibes are also relative and depends on the person/ppl you with . I suggest looking online for band reviews now on Tiktok/Instagram etc.
I have a guide from 2023 on my website: bahamianista.com/a-trinidad-carnival-guide-how-much-to-go/
I also create individualized carnival itineraries: bahamianista.com/carnival-itinerary/
I went for the first time this year and I have booked accommodations for next year. This year was fun but I have had fun at other carnivals. I’m giving it another chance. I do wonder if it has become so commercial that it has lost something, but I don’t have prior experience to compare to. One thing I noticed was the lack of people on the road in terms of spectators. It got better in the afternoon on Tuesday and that improved the vibe. Also the taxi situation was horrible. We had arranged with someone and he abandoned us and ever taxi after that was the same. TT ride share was no help. Finally on Monday we found someone amazing and we have locked him in for next year. We also had a Airbnb host rip us off. Luckily I met tons of nice people unless I would not have a good impression of Trinis.
Thanks for sharing your experience and for watching! already on the ball for next year that's great. Yeah I felt there was a bit missing from my experience as well but a lot of ppl were saying that it was an adjustment from not having carnival for however many years. I'm so sorry you dealt with that regarding the airbnb and taxis; unfortunately there are a lot of scammers with carnival period. I saw a group from the UK went through a concierge service who pulled out on them weeks before carnival. I think the different stakeholders should publish who they are working with to establish credibility and I think there should be some sort of quality control committee because the scams seem to be happening more and more. Hopefully next year is way better for you. I'm still deciding if I should go in 2024.
Band launchings for 2024 has started
Thank u for the info I keep hearing u have to be a member to get in to these bands can u explain am interested in playing mass as a foreigner
You don't have to be a member to get into the bands. Some of the bands have a high demand so they sell out quickly when they launch their costumes but there are several bands that you can play with that you don't need to know anyone to get into - meaning knowing a committee member. If you're looking for more assistance - I also offer carnival itineraries here: bahamianista.com/carnival-itinerary/
I’m a 19-year-old Bahamian, and I want to go to Trinidad Carnival because I have always wanted to do it. Would you recommend me taking the risk of going alone and just being very aware of my surroundings because I really don't have anyone to go with, but then again, I really want to experience Trinidad Carnival.
For first timers and at your age- I’d recommend going with a friend or finding a concierge service so you have ppl who know of your whereabouts while there and that you can contact in case of an emergency
♥️♥️♥️
do you have to play with a mas band in order to participate in carnival monday? like how does that work? looking to go for 2025
Yes you have to register with a carnival band to participate on Monday and Tuesday. Bands don't launch until the summertime
Hi. Do you have any advice for registering with Tribe and its affiliate bands?
Yes.
follow them on socials. You can also email the band directly and ask about pre registration/registration. The different sections are powered/sponsored by entertainment companies or groups so sometimes you can email those groups for a link to pre register. They also have affiliates on social media that you can contact directly for preregistration links - you definitely have to monitor their social media and website to see who their reps/affiliates are. However, the only time you would pay money for a costume is when you hit the link and are directed to their Ultimate Mas portal. Not before. Also, depending on the tier of costume you want, the deposit can start from like $150-$400 dollars.
@@Bahamianista Thank you!
how much was your costume when you played with yumavibe?
Yuma Vibe that was a while ago definitely under 1k and it was frontline
Your videos are amazing! Would you be able to do Antigua carnival next?
Thank you so much! I actually have a ton of vlog footage that I haven't posted from Antigua Carnival 2022 so yeah I can do that. Thanks for the suggestion
@@Bahamianista yay!!! Can’t wait to see 🎉
Is there a official driver app? Not a ride share
This is such a great question. From my experience, I've only gone with drivers via word of mouth. I don't think there's a centralized area, website or app for this but hoping I'm wrong. You can also try @mycarnivalmatch on Instagram (not sure of their prices for transport) - my friends went with a company called Liams Taxi Service who provided then with an invoice prior to the trip. Email liamstaxiservicestt@hotmail.com. Hope that helps.
@@BahamianistaThat's my biggest issue with Trinidad carnival that none of these Vlogs seem to touch on......transportation for the duration of your stay. This was a HUGE issue when i was there. All these fetes, Maracas and carnival itself......how are you going to get around the place?
How absurd is it you have to literally hire a personal driver weeks or months ahead to get around before you even arrive on the island. How they supposed to get tourists in droves with such nonsense like this? Steups.
Are the customs cost less for men since they’re less extravagant?
It depends on the band and what they offer. Some bands offer more extravagant costumes for men
Hello
I need help with information for Trinidad I trynna go to the carnival next year
Hi. You can email me or you can check out my carnival planning service here: bahamianista.com/carnival-itinerary/
Your video was so great! Thank you so much for the info. This will be my first year going. I been monitoring tribe ig. I see they launch the costumes but nothing there to purchase. Do you know if i need to be a member or played previously to get in ? Or do they launch to the public as a whole?
Thanks and no problem! So they register previous masqueraders first from the following year but what I'd tell you to do is send them an email tell them it's your first time or go on the website - there's a page with a list of committee members because you need a. link from either Tribe directly or one of their committee members to register. Not all bands do committee registration and some bands are more difficult to get into as well as sections. Tribe can often be very tricky to get into if you don't know someone but either send them a DM or email them directly as soon as possible.
Cris this years carnival in trinidad was the most boring and worst ever.people need to stop going parties to film and start back drinking heavy and having fun like the good old days.i live in trinidad and i am not a hater but carnival in trinidad is dying or dead already
I definitely think they had some kinks they had to work out some with costume issues (not Bliss but just generally), some with events and just handling the excess of persons who came to the country for carnival. LOL ppl drinking heavy whether its recorded or not but I hear you. I don't think its dead though but I believe some things can be changed for the better. Ive heard people say they didn't enjoy it and then I also heard persons who had a really good time so I think it just depends on the person.
Kevin Arthur, Trinidad Carnival is not dying or dead as you stated, that's a bit of an extreme judgement from you based on your opinion and shallow reasons such as ppl not drinking heavily and doing more filming. You are no carnival expert. Maybe you are boring. The reality is that Carnival constantly evolves, Trinidad Carnival is the trendsetter, and will always remain the mecca of carnivals.
You are surely a very boring and dead spirited person by what crap you tried to write not Trinidad carnival it's full of non stop energy ,creativity and unity
If people choose to record or whatever shouldn't be a concern to you rather you having an carnival experience
But then again there also these types criticism that holds no interest
@marcborneo5881 i dont know about trend setting 😆 but they have some influence on the culture based on social economic capital compared to the other islands and therefore can access more resources which dont always equal vibes ... but i dont agree with needing to drink heavy lol