Travel News

Carnival Travel 2012: Party Like a Local in Trinidad

Locations in this article:  New Orleans, LA

Island People Mas heroes costume. Image credit Lily J. Kosner using Sony Cybershot WX-9.

It may seem like Trini Carnival is all about the bands and while most locals do get together with their friends to join specific mas bands, you can take in the festivities on your own. Bands are far from a one-size-fits all experience. They can range from 3 to 3,000 members. There are hundreds of medium size bands and ten large band—this year Poison is the largest with about 6,000 members.

Signing up with a band means that your experience is taken care of. At Island People Mas rates starts at about 3,000 TT (roughly $467 USD) and participants receive a costume, a casual outfit and entry into all group activities, which means food and drinks are covered throughout the experience. Prices depend on a costume’s intricacy and bands usually have a variety of outfits all under one theme. Carnival themes have included heroes, enchanted forest themes, and Sahara chic.

Travel Tip: Looking to get lucky? Then get with the band. More females than males join the bands and with some bands you can count on a 70 to 30 female to male ratio.

Are you lining up to get beads? Tell us how you like to party?

For more Carnival ideas and information, check out:

By Lily J. Kosner for Peter Greenberg Worldwide