Trinidad Carnival Jammin' Guide

So, I'm guessing you've finally given into the hype. I'm guessing you've seen the beautiful costumes, heard the infectious soca music and saw the euphoria and excitement people experience during a fete and on the road. And now you're wondering how on earth could you have not experienced the "The Greatest Show on Earth". Well, for all you Trinidad Carnival virgins, newbies and inexperienced masqueraders, this post is just for you. Trinidad Carnival is the ultimately carnival experience, but since you're new to this you may not know all the planning and penny pinching that goes into it. Lucky for you my Trinidad Carnival Jammin' Guide is just what you need to plan your trip as smoothly as possible. But, trust me if you haven't started this process AT LEAST 7-9 months before Carnival, you better get a move on!

Trinidad Carnival 2021

Carnival Monday - 15 February

Carnival Tuesday - 16 February

1. Confirm Your Budget

Trinidad Carnival is by no means a cheap thing. Actually, it's probably the most expensive Carnival experience, but trust me, it's worth every penny because the memories you make are priceless. But before you start planning for your trip you should definitely think about how much you would like to spend. Your budget can impact the band you play in, the costume you wear, the fetes you go to, where you stay and how long you'll be staying for. Here is what I would say the average budget for Carnival is quoted in USD.

Costume - $1000

Monday Wear - $50 to $300

Makeup - $150

Transportation - $200

Fetes - $50 (Cooler Fete) $180 (All-Inclusive Fete)

Flight - $450 to $1200 (Varies)

Accommodation - $400 to $1500 (Varies)

Total Budget: $3,000 USD plus

2. Accommodations

First of all, before you can even think about where you're going to stay you need to think about how you're getting there. Flying into Piarco International Airport (POS) is the only option for getting to Trinidad and trust me when I say these ticket prices ain't cheap. So do yourself a favor and book your tickets as early as possible, ideally before Band Launch season which is July/August.

Now onto where you're staying. Woodbrook, Port-of-Spain is the ideal and most convenient place to stay during your Carnival trip. But surrounding areas of Port-of-Spain such as St. James, Maravel, and Cascade are also good places to stay. Depending on your budget here are the best places to stay from Saving to Splurging.

1. With a Local Friend - If you're penny pinching staying with a local friend is the best way to save those coins. Accommodation can cost as much as $800 USD per night but you can avoid that added cost by bunking with a local family member or friend. And if this is your first time in Trinidad and you don't have any local friends trust me, by your next Trinidad Carnival you definitely will.

2. AirBnB - An AirBnB is one of the best places you can stay if you're fetting on a budget. They can be found all over Port-of-Spain and provide you with exactly what you need for your trip. They may not have the flare of a hotel but trust me, you won't be spending much time there anyway.

3. Guest House - While these may be more expensive than an AirBnB, they provide you with a little of the comfort of a hotel without the price. Here are some popular Guest Houses that you can look at for your trip: Monique's Guest House, President's Inn, Liam's Guesthouse, Villa Marie Inn, Gingerbread House and Savanna Maison.

4. Hotel - Now, if you got them coins and you would like to enjoy your Trinidad Carnival experience in style and comfort, staying in a hotel is just for you. Hotels like the Hyatt Regency, Hilton, Marriott, Radisson and the Carlton Savannah are some of the best hotels you can stay in that are right in Port-of-Spain. But, if you do intend to stay in a hotel, try to book your room as early as possible, because these hotels can get fully booked before you can even say Carnival.

3. Selecting Your Band and Your Costume

Playing mas is the absolute icing on the cake to your Trinidad carnival experience. If you're not in a costume and on the road Carnival Monday and Tuesday, why did you even go? And if you're thinking about making your own costume and going on the road, you can pretty much forget about that because the Trinidad Carnival bands pride themselves in their security and exclusivity. So, if you want to be jammin' dung de road, there are hundreds of Carnival bands that you can choose from.

When selecting your band there are a few things to consider. Do you want that 'bikini and beads' costume or are you looking for something more artistic, dramatic and traditional? Are you on a budget or are you balling out? Do you want something all-inclusive or are you okay with a low-key vibe? You should think about all of this before you make your choice. Most Carnival band presentations take place in July and August so make sure to keep your eye out for them. Here are a few popular Carnival bands in Trinidad:

Now, in terms of your costume, it's best to find a costume that would suit both your pocket and your preferences. When selecting a section, its good to make sure that it is one you love and will feel comfortable in. If your focus is mainly on cost well backline costumes are perfect for you. They provide you with body wear only but will still have you looking super hot while on the road. The can range from $600 to $900 USD. However, if you do want a bit more glitz and glam, some bands offer a midline option. These costumes usually come with body wear and a small backpack and add on pieces and can range from $800 to $1200 USD. Now, if you want to live you Carnival fantasy and money ain't a problem, frontline is for you. Frontline costumes come with adjusted body wear such as wire bras and thong panties, and come with large backpacks and will definitely make you the center of attention. Frontline costumes start at $1200 USD. Here are some examples of a backline, midline and frontline costume.

4. Sort out your Monday Wear

On Carnival Monday, instead of adorning full costume, masqueraders can still be found glammed up as they wear what we call Monday Wear. These outfits are dazzled and embellished bikinis and monokinis that can be custom made or bought from Monday Wear designers. These can range from $25 USD to $300 USD, however, if you prefer a toned down vibe or you're looking for something within a cheaper range, a simple bikini or monokini looks just as good on the road. Here are a few of Monday Wear designers and photos of patrons in their own Monday Wear:

• Marie Collette

• Chandra Maharaj

• Nisha Felice

• Rhion Rhomany

• Rebelusion

• MonDiva

• FonRose

• Keisha Als

• Jam Designs Concepts

• cANYAval

• DeCoteau Designs

5. Jouvert or nah?

While playing mas is all about the glitz and the glam, Jouvert is all about getting down and dirty. Its a large party where people parade along the streets while being sprayed with paint, oil, mud, powder, water and even chocolate. Jouvert takes place early Carnival Monday morning and unlike playing mas you don't need to play in a band for Jouvert. But when you do, your package includes a t-shirt or bathing suit, unlimited drinks, breakfast and whatever else your Jouvert band decides to include in your package. However, some people prefer to use this time to catch up on some much needed sleep before the excitement that is Carnival Monday begins. But, if you decide that you want the full Trinidad Carnival experience here are a few Jouvert bands that provide the complete package:

• Jouvert Jumbeez

• Red Antz Jouvert

• Dirty Medics

• Prism Icebox Jouvert

• Cocoa Devils Jouvert

• MAD Jouvert

• Mudders International Jouvert

• iCandy Jouvert

• Clay Evolution

6. Schedule your Makeup and Hair Appointment

If you aren't a makeup and hair guru, take my advice and schedule your appointments as soon as possible. Before you blink, the best times are taken and you may get stuck with a late appointment leaving you with less time on the road or an extremely early appointment where you're left in your makeup hours before the road. Also, don't be pressured to get your makeup professionally done for both days. If you're pocket can't afford it whichever day you prefer is perfectly fine. Also, if you think it's more feasible to just do your makeup and hair yourself, then that's great as well.

7. Buy Your Fete Tickets

Yes we love the road but fetting is a vital part of any Trinidad Carnival experience. These are the events that prepare you for the road. In Trinidad there are all kinda of fetes such as Cooler, Drinks Inclusive, Food Inclusive, All Inclusive, Jouvert Fetes, Boat Rides and Live Concerts. Depending on your budget, you'll be able to figure out the type of fetes and how many fetes that you're gonna go to. According to the type of fete, tickets tend to sell out days even hours after going on sale. Luckily, they're available online on site such as islandetickets.com and eventbrite.com so I suggest getting your hands on those tickets as soon as possible. Also, you should know that many of these fetes sell separate tickets for males and females and the male tickets usually sell out first. As a Carnival Newbie, one thing you should definitely pay attention too is the Carnival Calendar from TriniJungleJuice.com. I would recommend attending at least one Cooler Fete, All-Inclusive Fete, Jouvert Fete and Live Concert to maximize your carnival experience. Here is a list of the best fetes under these categories.

Cooler Fetes:

• Punchy Wednesdays

• Blue Range Cooler Fete

• Suits

• Rise N' Roast

All-Inclusive Fetes

• Soca Brainwash

• Caesar's Army AM Beach

• BeachHouse

• Sunrise Breakfast Party

Jouvert Fetes

• Caesar's Army AM Bush

• Soaka Street Festival

Live Concert Fetes

• Machel Monday

• Tuesday On The Rocks

8. Don't Forget The Essentials

While you may have focused on your larger expenses such as your flight, accommodation and costume, there are several little but essential items that you may forget in your planning process. Simple things like earrings to match your costume or a wristlet for your phone on the road are items you may not have thought about. Well all your accessory needs can be found in any pharmacy as well as stores like Wonderful World and Micles which are open everyday including Carnival Sunday for all your essentials. Here is my Trinidad Carnival Essentials List for all the little not so little things that you need for the best Carnival experience:

• Stockings - Can be found in any Micles branch and will definitely complete the look of your costume,

• Small Bag - A wristlet or a crossbody bag is needed to keep your items safe and secure while on the road. Thigh pouches are also the new 'In' thing in terms of bag at the moment.

• Costume Jewelry - It's best to leave your real jewelry at home and opt for costume jewelry instead to accessorize your costume. This way, if its lost or stolen it won't be that much of a loss.

• Pasties - To avoid those sometimes unavoidable nip slips

• Dr. Scholl's Insoles - TRUST ME, your feet will thank you for this later

• Hand Sanitizer - Sometimes we can get carried away when we're dancing down to the floor on the road

• Sunscreen - Carnival Monday Sun does not come to play!

• Bandaids - You never know what can happen on the road

• Oil Absorbing Wipes - As I said, that sun does not come to play so this will definitely help keep your makeup from sweating off.

• Sunglasses - AGAIN! That sun ain't no joke and these also help with hiding your drunkness.

• Safety Pins - For any last minute costume disasters on the road

9. Collect Your Costume

It's almost time! I'm pretty sure you can't contain the excitement of picking up your costume, opening that box and most of all going through your goodie bag. Also, please as soon as you get your costume TRY IT ON! Some bands even allow you to try on your costume during collection so you can get alterations if needs be. Remember you paid a lot of money for this, if something doesn't fit or isn't right don't be afraid to let your band know. Also, if you're a foreigner and can't collect your costume, most bands allow someone else to pick it up for you as long as they have written permission and a copy of your ID. If you don't have someone to pick up your costume there are also several costume collection businesses that can do this and store your costume for you until you get to Trinidad.

10. ENJOY YOUR CARNIVAL!!

Now that you have planned and organized everything, your trip is finally here. The only thing left to do is enjoy every moment of it and make the most of your Trinidad Carnival experience. Remember Carnival is a marathon not a sprint, so pace yourself! Trinidad Carnival is one of the best and rightfully deserves the title "Greatest Show On Earth". Now is your chance to experience it for yourself. Take lots of pictures and capture your moments because trust me this experience will last a lifetime! Now go and jamm dung de road!!

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