Important Notice: The bus company transporting registrants back and forth to hotels is insisting that buses must leave the hotels in the morning a full two hours before the conference begins due to the very wide fluctation in traffic conditions in Port of Spain. Thus the departure times in the morning from hotels is 7am. This may be altered later in the week but for now the time is 7am each morning. If your bus arrives early feel free to drop by a campus coffee shop before the meeting begins. In departing at the end of the day buses will generally drop at hotels, wait for a about a half hour for people to change, and then depart for the social event. Communicate with your driver.

Travel Information

Passports and Visas

If you are arriving by air from most other countries you will need a passport. Citizens of some countries will also need a visa to visit Trinidad. If you are a non-US citizen catching a connecting flight through a U.S. airport such as in Miami or Puerto Rico, citizens of nations required to obtain a visa to visit the U.S. will need to acquire a U.S. visa even if you are only transferring to another international flight. Make certain to check visa requirements and, if needed, apply for them well in advance of the conference dates. If you need an invitation letter to acquire your visa, request such a letter from onsrud@gsdi.org

Arriving in Port of Spain by Air

Numerous airlines fly non-stop into the Port of Spain airport (POS). Although most facilities at the airport should be obvious, student aides from UWI will be on hand holding a GSDI 10 sign to welcome most international flights on Saturday and Sunday February 23-24 (5:00 pm-9:00 pm). They can help you find the official airport taxi desk, hotel shuttle stops, automated teller machines, money exchange facilities, tourist office and answer any questions you may have. The UWI campus and site of the GSDI 10 conference in St. Augustine is six kilometers from the airport and lies between the airport and downtown Port of Spain. The time of travel from the airport to the Hilton Hotel in the city is approximately 45 minutes by taxi but very dependent on time of day. Standard taxi zone fares are established in Trinidad but you may place several passengers in the taxi at the same rate. GSDI 10 greeters at the airport on Saturday and Sunday may be able to link you up with other arriving passengers going to your same hotel. (Zone rates from Parco Airport to: Kapok - $30 US, Hilton - $25 US, Cascadia - $35 US, Normandie - $30 US, Holiday Inn Express - $17 US). If your hotel has a shuttle you might want to arrange it in advance.

Obtaining Cash

Automated teller machines are available on campus, at the Hilton and throughout the urban area.

FOR THOSE PAYING CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES ON SITE: We prefer payment using a pre-prepared money order in $US made out the GSDI Association, cash in $US, or cash in $TT converted at a ratio of $1 US = $6.5 TT and rounded up to nearest 100 $TT. This high rate of conversion is used to partially offset currency exchange costs when paying in $TT. (Examples: $625 US = $4100 TT, $575 US = $3800 TT) Upon arrival, $US may be acquired at the airport at an automated teller machine. A bank is available on campus, Republic Bank Limited, where one may use a credit card to obtain cash in $TT if needed to pay your registration fee.

Getting Around Town

Port of Spain and St. Augustine are typical busy urban areas. Taxis are conveniently available at the airport and most hotels. Shuttles to and from selected hotels to the university conference facilities will be provided each day. The shuttles will be traveling the opposite direction of the prevailing city traffic each morning and afternoon primarily on a "buses only" road and therefore the estimated shuttle travel time from the Hilton to the university is approximately 20 minutes. Transport among hotels may be best by taxi or rental car.

A. Buses to and from Hotels and Events

Buses will depart from the Holiday Inn Express Suites, Kapok Hotel and Hilton at the times shown. Buses running to and from the Kapok Hotel will also pick-up and drop-off guests staying at the Normandie, Cascadia and Alicia’s House on Circular Road near the intersection of St. Ann’s Road. To be conservative we are estimating 45 minutes of travel time from hotels to the campus in case of traffic. Buses have been instructed to leave hotels exactly on time so please be there several minutes early. If you miss a bus, taxis are generally available.

Bus Schedule between UWI Campus and Hotels

	Depart Hotels	Arrive UWI	Depart UWI	Arrive Hotels
*Monday* 25 Feb	7:00	8:15	17:45	18:30
*Tuesday* 26 Feb	7:00	8:15	20:00	20:45
*Wednesday* 27 Feb	7:00	8:30	17:45	18:30
*Thursday* 28 Feb	7:00	8:30	17:45	18:30
*Friday* 29 Feb	7:00	8:30	17:45	18:30

Bus Schedule To and From Off-Campus Social Events

Port of Spain at Night: Intergraph	Depart Hotels	Arrive Pan Yard	Depart Pan Yard	Arrive Hotels
*Wednesday* 27 Feb	19:00	19:15 to 19:45	22:30	23:00

Gala Banquet: ESRI	Depart Hotels	Arrive Hilton	Depart Hilton	Arrive Hotels
*Thursday* 28 Feb	19:00	19:15 to 19:30	22:45	23:00 to 23:30

B. Cars

For those renting or otherwise driving cars, parking is available immediately adjacent to the Learning Resource Center where most sessions will be held.

C. Taxis

Hotels to UWI Campus: Because the UWI campus is in the same zone as the airport, the fees noted previously apply as well to travel to the campus from your hotel. Some hotels may have shuttles that are far less expensive. There are also inexpensive multi-passenger route taxis used by locals that run along numerous major routes that will stop for those by the road. By example,the cost from the MaxiTaxi hub in Port of Spain to UWI is $TT 5. Ask your hotel where the routes are.

Other Issues

When departing Port of Spain you are required to pay an airport departure tax of $100TT in cash.

Most electrical devices adhere to U.S. standards and buildings have U.S. standard electrical outlets (60 htz, 110-120 volts)

Car rentals are available at the airport and driving is on the left side.

ATM machines for obtaining cash in Trinidad and Tobago dollars ($TT) are conveniently available at the airport, the university, the Hilton Hotel, and elsewhere.