In October, Tourism Minister Randall Mitchell encouraged Trinbagonians to travel abroad to better appreciate the positive aspects of their own country.
With at least nine potential long weekends in 2025, this is the perfect opportunity to follow the Minister's advice and get your passport stamped.
Here are some destinations you can travel to for less than TT$3,500 to make the most of those long weekends. (Please note: prices are subject to change.)
Carnival long weekend
Starting in March, if Carnival isn't your thing, the period from February 28 to March 5 offers the perfect opportunity to escape the noise and traffic of the festivities and enjoy a peaceful getaway.
As this is a peak period for flights to and from Trinidad and Tobago, ticket prices tend to exceed $2,500, with North America offering the cheapest destinations, even though winter is still in effect.
According to Google Flights, the best deal is an American Airlines flight to New York for $2,484. The trip includes two stops in Miami and Charlotte, and a total travel time of 28 hours.
While in New York, you can reconnect with family members you haven't seen in a while or delve into the city's famous attractions, like visiting the Statue of Liberty, exploring Times Square, or attending a recording your favorite American talk shows.
For those who don't like the New York winter, American Airlines offers a direct flight to Miami for $2,713. While in Miami, you can explore world-class shopping or catch one of three Miami Heat games: February 28 against the Indiana Pacers, March 2 against the New York Knicks, or March 3 against the Washington Wizards.
If you want to keep your money moving around the Caribbean, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) offers service to a few destinations for you to rest and relax.
The cheapest flight is to Georgetown, Guyana, for $2,352. The Guyanese capital is a perfect blend of South American influences with a Caribbean touch. It offers a variety of delicacies including egg dumplings, indigenous dishes like pepper pot and its famous Chinese cuisine, considered some of the best and most authentic in the Caribbean.
If you've ever wondered what Carnival celebrations are like on other islands, you can experience them at three destinations served by CAL. Take a trip to Dominica for $3,229, escape to Grenada for a “Kayak Mas” on Carriacou Island or visit Guadeloupe for $2,916. For the trip to Guadeloupe, there is a 24-hour stopover in Saint Lucia on the way.
Baptist Spiritual Liberation Day/Eid-ul-Fitr
March 28 to April 1 is the perfect time to visit our Caribbean brothers and sisters since there are several destinations you can visit for less than $3,000.
The cheapest ticket is to Barbados with COPA Airlines for $2,058. Departing Port of Spain at 3:40 a.m., you will fly to Tocumen International Airport in Panama, with a layover of just over three hours before continuing to Barbados.
One of the main benefits of this trip is COPA's Stayover Program, which allows you to extend your stay in Panama from 24 hours to 7 days, whether to or from Barbados, without airfare fees additional.
You can also fly to Grenada for $2,063, Puerto Rico for $2,386, and Antigua for $2,816 with CAL.
Easter Bridge
For travel between April 17 and 22, the cheapest ticket is a direct flight to Puerto Rico with CAL for $2,425. This service includes short stops in Antigua and the British Virgin Islands.
For a few dollars more, you can fly Frontier Airlines to Puerto Rico for $2,496. The cost of this ticket will increase if you add carry-on or checked baggage.
CAL also offers tickets to Barbados and Grenada for around $2,500.
COPA Airlines offers an itinerary to Miami for $2,828, including a 13-hour layover in Panama City, arriving in the United States just before midnight. During your stopover, you can explore the city, go shopping or taste the country's famous cuisine. Shorter layovers are available, but are priced just under $3,500.
Arrival day Weekend
Corpus Christi/Labor Day Weekend
The Corpus Christi/Labor Day long weekend, June 18-23, offers excellent travel options throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, and North America. If you're traveling during this time, the two cheapest destinations are Puerto Rico for $1,892 with two layovers, and Grenada for $1,910, with an 18-hour layover in Barbados with CAL. For around $2,800 on CAL you can fly to St. Kitts, Dominica, or Antigua.
COPA offers a flight to Curacao with a stopover in Panama City for $3,414, and you can take advantage of their Stayover program for a special two-for-one rate.
With American Airlines, you can fly to Washington, DC for $3,060, with a two- to four-hour layover in Miami.
If you want to reconnect with family in Toronto, you can fly there for $3,493 with a combination of American Airlines (AA) and Air Canada. The outbound flight includes a nearly two-hour layover in Miami, while the return flight is direct.
Emancipation weekend
During Emancipation Weekend, between July 31 and August 4, the cheapest destinations to visit are Barbados and Grenada with CAL costing just under $2,500. For just under $3,000 you can travel to Antigua and Dominica.
Independence Day Weekend
During Independence Day weekend, between August 29 and September 2, for around $2,500 you can travel to Barbados, Guyana, Grenada, St. Vincent, Fort Lauderdale, Miami , Puerto Rico or Curaçao with CAL.
Diwali Weekend
The Diwali long weekend is the perfect time to explore major US cities, with airlines offering several affordable options. With American Airlines, you can fly to Atlanta, Washington DC, or Miami for just under $2,800. Cincinnati, Los Angeles and Las Vegas are available for around $3,500.
In the Caribbean, the cheapest destination in T&T is Puerto Rico with CAL for $1,837. You can also fly to St. Kitts and Nevis with a stopover in Antigua for $2,448, or stay in Antigua for $2,806.
