Using/getting TT$ on Tobago (Speyside)

[ChaosReid]

I've just booked a trip at the Blue Waters Inn in March; my buddy and I are 'arguing' the advisability/necessity of converting some US $ before getting there. He is convinced that credit cards and US $ must be common currency. For some reason I got the impression that this was one island that preferred/insisted on their own currency (and they have a perfect right to that, in MY book - Americans have been spoiled in the Caribbean).

We are also arriving at dawn on a Sunday, complicating things. We will need cash for meals every day, but I'm concerned at being able to easily exchange currency in Speyside. And don't want to waste time in a bank if I can be diving! Can anyone advise? Thanks

 

[scuba-trini]

Great choice in making Tobago your scuba destination. I did my first dive ever at Blue Waters Inn with Aqua Marine Dive Center. Great viz and plenty of marine life. It's one of the few remaining Caribbean islands that has not been over-fished.

I am actually a citizen of that country (Trinidad and Tobago). Exchanging currency in Speyside can be challenging since it's a small remote village. You can probably try to withdraw cash from an ATM at the airport with your debit/credit card. Look for machines which issue local currency. Check with your bank/card company first. If you try to change US cash for local currency at the local shops you will not get a favourable exchange rate. The official rate is 1US = 6.4TT. You can also pay for everything at the hotel and dive shop with your credit card. That's how I did it with no problems.

Enjoy your stay in Tobago and I'm sure you'll have a great time diving there.

 

[ChaosReid]

About what I expected - VERY helpful, thanks! I will pass on to my dive buddy. I found out that Wells Fargo will exchange for what appears to be a flat $15 s&h fee, and I will probably go with that to start. Flying in overnight, I may NOT be at my finest when I get to T&T, and exchanging in the airport might get right by me!

"Exchanging currency in Speyside can be challenging since it's a small remote village."