SHOP 'TILL YOU DROP!
Whether you are shopping for gifts to take home or just curious about what the island has to offer, Trinidad has many shopping options.
You can shop just about anywhere on the island, from main streets boasting small variety shops and family-run businesses to multi-level shopping malls.
Roadside and street vending is also very common.
Almost anything, from seasonal fruit and vegetables to mad bulls (large kites), is available from a tray on the pavement or the back of a pick-up truck.
Learn more at www.trinidadmalls.com and www.trinidadshopping.com.
Malls
Malls in Trinidad fall into two categories, arcades and suburban shopping centres.
In Port-of-Spain you will find arcade malls on Charlotte, Henry and Frederick streets.
In San Fernando, south Trinidad's main shopping district, arcade malls are located on High Street.
The main shopping area for central Trinidad is the town of Chaguanas and arcades line the Chaguanas Main Road.
The major shopping centres in North Trinidad are MovieTowne Entertainment Complex, Invader's Bay, Port of Spain; The Falls at West Mall, Westmoorings; Long Circular Mall, St James; Ellerslie Plaza, Maraval; Trincity Mall, Trincity and The City of Grand Bazaar and Valpark Shopping Centre in Valsayn.
In South Trinidad, Cross Crossing Shopping Plaza at Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando and Gulf City Shopping Complex in La Romain are also popular.
Our shopping malls range in size from 100 shops to more than 300, and offer a range of services including general shopping for clothing, household items, gifts, luxury goods; supermarkets; entertainment (cinemas and bars); dining (food courts and restaurants); beauty salons and spas. Generally, mall prices are more expensive than what you would find in the main towns.
Authentic Local Craft and Souvenirs
Trinidadians are highly creative people, and our local craft industry is one of the Caribbean's most vibrant. Memorabilia like miniature steelpans, hand-carved ornaments, do-it-yourself cocktail packs using popular local rums, leather goods and powdered local seasonings for that distinctive Trini flavour, are stocked by most souvenir shops.
In Port of Spain, craftsmen selling hand-made leather sandals, belts and wood carvings are found on Independence Square at the corner of Henry and Frederick streets. Local craftsmen also approach visitors on beaches with displays of beaded bracelets, necklaces and hand-carved pendants.
At shops that specialise in locally-made products you can choose from handmade soaps and lotions or high-end products such as jewellery. Prices may be higher, but you get both quality and variety. When buying craft be vigilant. Some unscrupulous dealers may try to pass off mass-produced speciality items as locally-crafted products.
Street and Produce Markets
Port-of-Spain's Charlotte Street is a haven for street vending and the place to find bargains on everything, from the local delicacy of salted fish to small appliances. Street vendors also ply their trade on High Street San Fernando and Main Road Chaguanas.
On weekends many locals rise early and make their way to produce markets for the freshest meats (you can buy live chickens), fruits and vegetables. Port-of-Spain's Central Market at Sea Lots is the largest on the island but the towns of San Fernando, Chaguanas, Princes Town, Arima and Sangre Grande also boast a great variety of goods, from traditional medicinal herbs to clothing and household gadgets. The best time to visit the market is between the hours of 6am and 11am.
Textiles
Fabric stores can be found throughout the island, but Queen and Frederick streets in downtown Port-of-Spain is considered the best place to buy textiles. Some shops have a vast inventory of fabric for all occasions, while others specialise in high-end material for weddings, special events and drapery. Fabric is sold by the yard and prices start at TT$2.99.
Fashion
In Trinidad you will find a number of designers and fashion houses, some of them respected internationally like Claudia Pegus, Heather Jones, Meiling, Millhouse, Radical Designs and The Cloth. These designers have retail outlets or ateliers where you can purchase their work.
Duty-Free Shopping
Duty-free shopping is available at Piarco International Airport, both on arrival and departure. Adults can import 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1.5 litres of wine or spirits; a reasonable quantity of perfume; and gifts up to the value of US$200.
Once on the island, duty-free shopping is also available at West Mall in Westmoorings, Long Circular Mall in St James, Excellent City Stores in Port of Spain, Maraj and Sons (jewellers), Frederick Street, Port of Spain and Stechers (luxury items), Long Circular Mall, St James.
Shopping Tips
Most stores accept major credit cards or US currency at an approximate exchange rate of TT$6 to US$1. Shoppers can hire a taxi for the day to provide transport and you can expect to pay approximately US$50 to US$100 (based on the provider) for this service. Taxi service providers are listed in the yellow pages of the local telephone directory or shoppers can contact the St Christopher Taxicab Co-operative Society Limited at (868) 625-1694. Except for 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) imposed on the sticker price of some goods and services, no additional exit duties are placed on goods.
MALLS
| Malls/ Shopping Arcades | Location |
| Port of Spain | |
| Aboutique Mall | 8-10 Frederick Street |
| Capital Plaza | Frederick Street |
| Excellent City Centre | 3-5 Frederick Street |
| Golden Doors Plaza | Frederick Street |
| Hadeed Centre Mall | 44 Henry Street |
| Plaza Espermaria | 36 Henry Street |
| Tent City Mall | 41 Independence Square |
| Time Plaza | 28 Henry Street |
| Town Centre Mall | 19-21 Frederick Street |
| Uptown Mall | 61-63 Edward Street |
| Voyager Mall | Frederick Street |
| Yetsol Mall | 55 Queen Street |
| West Trinidad | |
| Alyce Glen Shopping Centre | Morne Coco Road, Petit Valley |
| Ellerslie Plaza | Ellerslie Court, Maraval |
| Highland Plaza | Western Main Road, Glencoe |
| Long Circular Mall | 51-53 Long Circular Road, St James |
| Movie Towne Mall | Audrey Jeffers Highway, Invaders Bay, |
| Starlite Shopping Plaza | Four Roads, Diego Martin |
| The Falls at Westmall | Western Main Road, Westmoorings |
| Central Trinidad | |
| Atlantic Plaza | Atlantic Avenue, Point Lisas |
| Centre City Mall | Main Road, Chaguanas |
| Mid Centre Mall | Southern Main Road, Chaguanas |
| Price Plaza | Endeavour Road (off Uriah Butler Highway), Chaguanas |
| East Trinidad | |
| City of Grand Bazaar | Junction Churchill Roosevelt and Uriah Butler Highways |
| Trincity Mall | Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Trincity |
| Valpark Shopping Plaza | Churchill Roosevelt Highway, Valsayn |
| South | |
| Gulf City Shopping Complex | La Romaine, San Fernando |
