Atlanta Carnival 2011 Update: Las Lap!

Added it into the original blog post as well!  Thanks to Jo Ventures for the invite!

Trinidad Carnival 2011 SUPERPOST! Pics AND Videos!

Don't forget to check the Eloquence, Inc. YouTube page for individual videos (slowly but surely they are coming!)

 Click on the link above each of the pictures to see the album showing all the pictures from each set.


Hundreds of Pics & Videos Coming!

Trinidad Carnival 2011: Summary

Day 1: Getting To Trinidad

Day 1: Tobago

Day 2: Liming and "Housekeeping" Errands

Day 2: Girl Power fete

Day 3: Insomnia fete

Day 4: Jab Molassie, J'ouvert/Monday mas prep

Day 5: Carnival Monday (Chocolate City J'ouvert, D'Krewe mas)

Day 6: Carnival Tuesday (D'Krewe mas)

coming soon:

Day 7: Maracas Beach

Day 8: Trinidad

Day 9: Getting Out of Trinidad

Trinidad Carnival 2011: Day 3--Insomnia!

Trinidad Carnival 2011: Day 3--Insomnia!

Pictures AND videos!

Trinidad Carnival 2011: Day 2--Girl Power 2011!

Trinidad Carnival 2011: Day 2--Girl Power 2011!

Pictures AND video!

What To Pack For Your Trip to Carnival

From my friend Fleur and her Carnival Obsession group started on Facebook...do not feel you need to carry EVERYthing on this list (I for one will never take extra feathers, after paying several hundred USD for a costume I am not helping decorate it, that's what I paid the band for!), but make sure anything you see and want/need -- or haven't thought of -- that will ensure a great carnival experience is packed so you are ready to rock and roll as soon as you step off the plane at Piarco!

Things to pack on your Carnival trip

Time to get serious I need to start to get my stuff together for Trinidad Carnival.

Things to pack on your Carnival trip

The Carnival Diva Edition

Make up kit (maybe a little extensive)

Foundations

Translucent Powder

Bronzing Powder

Eye Shadow Base

Concealer

Water Proof Gel Eyeliner

Liner pencils

Eye Shadows 

Powder Blushes

Lipstick Color

Lip Liner Pencil

Lip Gloss

False Eyelashes (bring the drama)

Eyelash Adhesive

Eyelash curler

Concealer brush

Gems

Spirit gum

Face Glitter

Glitter adhesive (you can use clear eyelash glue Duo is a great brand )

Water proof mascara  

Q-tips

Brush cleaner

Makeup remover

Oil blotting sheets

Toiletries

Shampoo/conditioner

Lotion

Baby oil

Sun block (the strong stuff I don’t care if you black or white)

Epsom salts (to soak your feet after the jammin')

Razors

Shaving cream

Contact lenses paraphernalia

Nail clippers

Nail fill

Body wash

Deodorant

Toothpaste

Sunglasses

Tweezers

Band-Aids

Allergy kit, if needed

Feminine hygiene products

Prescription medicines

Birth control

Condoms

Vitamins

Wet wipes

Health boosters such as Airborne

Hair

Shampoo/conditioner

Weave glue

Wig cap

Head tie

Silk scarf

Boddy pins

Hair ties

Brush

Comb

Gel

Hair products

Mas players list/ Costume repair kit

Glue gun

Glue stick

Safety pins

Velcro tape

Double sided tape

Needle and thread

Mas boots

Innersoles

2/3 pairs Mas tights low rise (dancer tights) 

Extra Sequins and feathers

Capezio Ultra Soft Tights (comes in plus sizes); $10 - $15 at Amazon

Technology Packing List

cell phone

iPod(s) or other player’s

digital camera and memory card

video recorder

laptop, netbook, iPad, kindle...

GPS

For all the above: batteries, chargers, cords!

Unlocked gsm phone

Kodak EasyShare C183 digital camera, available at Walmart.com etc.

Miscellaneous

Maps of the area

Reputable taxi services

Notebook/journal

Guidebooks--buy the best! It's a small investment, compared to the cost of your vacation.

Ziploc bags Use for toiletries, makeup  wet swimsuits,  

Binoculars

***Tickets to the fetes

Feel Free to add

I will add:

an itinerary of where you plan to go morning, noon, and night each day...and an outfit selection plan for each so you know what to pack!

Also, copies of important documents such as passports, licenses, flight itinerary, guesthouse/hotel contact information, and a HARD COPY of contact information for people you plan to link with at the carnival as well as all the contacts in your phone in case the phone is lost or stolen...should email yourself a scanned copy of everything so worst case, if your luggage disappears you still have access to major paperwork!

Let your banks know which country you will be in and what dates BEFORE you leave so that they don't suspect fraud and freeze your account if they see charges racking up in a foreign country all of a sudden!

A memory card for your camera with the MAXIMUM gigabytes of memory!  Don't want to run out of memory far from a computer!

Carnival 2015 updates to the list:

5 Hour Energy (1 or 2 cases)

Gel mask (can be refrigerated or kept in a small cooler of daily ice in your room to sleep with and eliminate puffy eyes if, like me, your eyes get puffy when short on sleep! Not at all sexy for your fete pics and you don't want to be hiding out behind sunglasses 24/7 after your first day of extended Trini-style partying!)

A couple handheld wave-able versions of your nationality's FLAG so you can jump and wave and represent where you are from for carnival!

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL 2015 UPDATE (TAKEN FROM ANGELAPANAMA.COM):
Bug Spray & Sunblock [2015: CHIKUNGUNYA VIRUS IS CARRIED BY MOSQUITOES!]
The mosquitos in the Caribbean are trained assassins. They laugh at your mediocre bug spray & then they eat you alive. This is the method that worked for me and Paco and saved us from the usual “eaten alive by flying ninja assassins” scenario:
Step (1) Apply an oil or lotion based bug repellant
Step (2) Apply spray bug repellant [ENSURE IT CONTAINS DEET]
Step (3) Apply Sport SunScreen Spray (sport being the key word)
Step (4) Bug repellent bracelets on the wrist and ankle

Seems extreme, I know. Maybe you are one of the lucky people that mosquitos don’t bother.Even if they don’t bother you, don’t skip the sunblock. I have a friend that never learns and always spends the week after carnival peeling and looking like he has leprosy.

Jouvert
(1) Draw string backpack - Your jouvert band may or may not give you a backpack, come prepared.

(2) Zip lock bag for your important ish. Nothing worse than having to run from the water hose cause you have your cell in your pocket.

(3) Baby oil – gone are the days of having blue skin after jouvert , Cover yourself in baby oil and the paint will fall right off. Now I am not a fan of carrying around open containers of baby oil. I feel like they are bombs waiting to explode all over my ish. So I buy the travel size for each jouvert. I don’t open it until I arrive at the jouvert & then I dump it.

Trinidad Carnival 2011: International Soca Monarch Ticket Outlets!

Come watch Machel Montano, Iwer George, Bunji Garlin, Fayann Lyons, Destra Garcia, and other soca stars battle for King of the road (2011 Soca Monarch)!  Came across this while cruising D'krewe's page!

From the International Soca Monarch Facebook page and website:

International Soca Monarch Ticket Outlets & Prices

BMOBILE INTERNATIONAL SOCA MONARCH &
PLAY WHE GROOVY SOCA MONARCH COMPETITIONS 2011
Hasley Crawford Stadium Friday, 4th March 2011 Start time: 9:30 pm
TICKET OUTLETS: By Districts

Port-Of –Spain  Vibes - 66 Prince Street – 625-7070 Cache – Prince Street – 627-2258 Tee Tee Vais – 54 Prince Street – 483-4402 Cleve’s – Frederick Street – 624-0827 Bhagan’s Drugs – 625-6209 De Gallery- 77 Woodford Street – 628-3363 In Excess – Aboutique Mall Simon’s Musical Supplies – St. Vincent Street Promenade – 625-6412	BMobile Flagship Stores  Westmall Brian Lara Promenade, POS Trincity Mall DSM Plaza, Chaguanas Library Corner, San Fernando
Morvant  Square One Restaurant – 674-3212	Westmoorings (Westmall)  Cache – 633-5907
Trincity (Trincity Mall) Cache – 640-0341 Vibe 66 - 640-0000 Bed Quarters – Industrial Estate - 663-4000	Chaguanas Xtra Foods Supermarket – 665-7550 Shades of Ebony, M0ntrose Mall - 222-7229 Mohammed’s Bookstore - 665-2959
St. James  Crosby’s – 622-7622 Kam’s Music World – Long Circular Mall – 622-4327	Arima Michelle’s – 667-3927 Bhagan’s Drugs Store -667-1791 In Excess – 664 5968 Hearty Foods Supermarket – 664-2839/0360
San Juan  Croisee Pharmacy Jugan’s Grocery & Feed Depot – 638-4474	Sangre Grande  Economy Supermarket – 668-2038 Grande Pharmacy
Tunapuna  ETC – 645-1011	Toco  Radio Toco
Santa Cruz  Uncle Beddoe’s Supermarket – 675-2228	Grand Bazaar  Xtra Foods – 662-8157
Curepe  Bobby’s Bar Manhattan Lounge	Couva  WM Peter’s & Sons Gas Station – 636-4519 Carol’s Pharmacy – 636 4801
San Fernando  Michael’s Bookstore – Library Corner (next to Crobsy’s) – 653-1166	Princess Town Mohammed’s Bookstore, High Street – 655-2915

Tickets are also on sale at:
Caribbean Prestige Foundation for the Performing Arts - #66 Prince Street, Port-of-Spain
Contact us at: 624-2134; 623-0986; 627-0947.

ADVANCE TICKETS:
Silver: $230.00 [TTD]
Gold: $420.00 [TTD]
Platinum: $680.00 [TTD]
***Energy In The City***

QUESTION:

reports are that one can get tickets cheaper online. where online is this option?

ANSWER:

www.socamonarch.net - you must be a member tho, member have special prices. [Note: become a member here]

QUESTION:

ok what's the difference with each ticket? are all the sections seperated? Gold -> Platinum?

ANSWER:

yes those sections will be separated. Gold is food inclusive and Platinum is all inclusive with a premium bar.

QUESTION:

Are these adv ticket prices what cost will it go up too if tickets aren't purchased right away?

ANSWER:

 ticket prices are only increased the day before the show, please refer to the images on this page for the prices.


***adding this post to my Trinidad Carnival Bible!***

ROCKWILDAZ liked the blog so much they asked if I want to work with them!

IF??!!

Is that even a question? lol!

I LOVE Rockwildaz!  Always referring anyone who wants to know where the hot events are in Jamaica over to their Facebook page!

Rockwildaz Facebook

And they're on twitter too: @rockwildaz!

It's amazing how just doing something I love can make unexpected people take notice and lead from one thing to another! :-)

Rockwildaz website

As my friend (and the one who inspired me to take my interests to a blog of my own and off the small world of just my Facebook friends) said:

wow ....It's happening...Im telling you...that you are going to be a force from now on...they can tell you have some quality stuff......and the word will spread

Eloquence, Inc.

All Island Carnival Jamaica: Fete From Parish to Parish With the Biggest Names In Soca and Dancehall!

All Island Carnival Jamaica (Facebook)

Taking Jamaica Carnival nationwide!

Check the schedule of events and attend one near you, if you live in the area or will be near one of the events while on vacation...or fete non-stop at ALL the events!

Also follow them on Twitter @All_Island_Carn for the latest updates!


And check out the website: http://allislandcarnivaljamaica.com/

Facebook pictures (and website screenshot) from the January 29th Soca Junkies event:

Ronnie & Caro's Home Sweet Home Fete: Wednesday March 2, 2011 9pm-4am!

Artists will be there LIVE!  As Ronnie McIntosh of the mas band Ronnie and Caro stated: NO LIP SYNCING FROM THESE ARTISTS........LIVE!!!!!!

I would love to be there but the timing looks tight and tickets only available for purchase in TNT so we will see!

TrinidadFeteTickets: Gentlemen's Ball, Brian Lara, etc. Fete Prices and How to Purchase Non-TFT Fete Tickets!

Remember them from my blog posts here, here, here, and here (and the Trinidad Carnival Bible)?

the TFT logo

From TFT email:

Official prices have not been released to date for the following:
* GMB - Gentleman's Ball - Carnival Edition - Thurs 3rd March 2011 (11pm)
* Lara - Sun 6th March 2011 (2pm)
* Girl Power - Fri 4th March 2011 (9pm)
* Insomnia - Sat 5th March 2011 (11pm)
* Dawn  -  Sun 6th March 2011 (1 am) 

•  Please click here to check for Fete Ticket Price & Purchase Location & Committee Contacts for events we do not cater to.  This listing will be updated and kept current as we get information coming in to us.

• Sunny Side Up Breakfast Party tickets (Individual & Couples) are sold out by the promoters.  There are limited COMBO tickets available - 1 SSU (all inclusive-individual) & 1 Break Biche (premium drinks inclusive)

Once again we wish to remind patrons that our prices include our Pay Pal fees, administrative & service charges.  Unfortunately, this service cannot exist without these charges and our ticket prices will not be the 'fete/event advertised price'.  Currently T.F.T does not offer a package price for bulk/group purchases.

Sincerely
TFT Communications Team

EMAIL: trinidadfetetickets@gmail.com

MOBILE: +44 781 118 6566, (TT number to be advised in 2011)

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/ttfetetickets
SKYPE: trinidad.fete.tickets (skype i.d) (SKYPE button also on website)
WEB SITE: www.trinidadfetetickets.com
FREE VOICE MAIL: if you use the Google Talk service, you can leave us a voice mail via that programme.

Chocolate City J'ouvert Band Launch Friday February 4; Cooler Fete February 27!

Remember Chocolate City from my blog posts here, here, and here?

From my Facebook inbox:

YES PPL ONE MORE DAY FOR THE BAND LAUNCH OF THE SWEETEST BAND IN THE WORD CHOCOLATE CITY PRESENTS "FANTASY ISLAND" COME TELL US WHAT IS YOUR FANTASY..........#29 STONE STREET PORT OF SPAIN. BEHIND POWER GEN....FROM 8PM TILL....4TH FEB......COME OUT IN YOUR NUMBERS FOR MORE INFO CALL MAS CAMP 6234627 FROM 2PM.
Houston - 678-3995
Zarin - 685-0738
Nigel – 702-7989 (south)
All Star - 788-5629
Katty - 793-0516
Karla - 704-9999
Mas Camp - 623-4MAS
CHECK OUT www.chocolatecitymastt.com

CHOCOLATE CITY COOLER FETE 27TH FEB KEEP IT LOCKED TO 91.9 FOR MORE INFO AND FACEBOOK

Trinidad Carnival BIBLE!

Because we're all tired of crawling the entire Web universe for all the bits and pieces of information needed to do Trinidad Carnival and do it right!  One-stop: everything you need to know, in one place, and I will update if needed or if it's brought to my attention that info has changed!

Most efficient way to use this blog post is to print it out and refer back to it as a checklist, one time through the list clicking on each link for the reading material (doing your homework!) and a second time through (and more often as needed!) as you complete each segment of planning! *If you start late in the planning calendar (after August), the order changes to which element has the earliest deadline...*

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS:

• AIRFARE & DEPARTURE TAX (some airlines include it, if not pay it on departure)
• COSTUME
• COSTUME ACCESSORIES (e.g. boots & decor etc.)
• HOUSING
• FETES/EVENTS
• FETE OUTFITS
• TRANSPORTATION
• SPENDING MONEY
• EMERGENCY MONEY
• PASSPORT APPLICATION/RENEWAL
• WIRING FEES & MISCELLANEOUS (incl. international calls: Trinidad area code is 868)

****BOOK IN THE TIMELINE ORDER LISTED BELOW, IN THE TIME-FRAME LISTED, OR YOU RISK MUCH HIGHER PRICES AND THE BEST AND/OR THE MOST AFFORDABLE BEING SOLD OUT!***


TRINIDAD CARNIVAL BOOKING/PURCHASE TIMELINE:
1. HOUSING (deposit or ask friend/family/couchsurfing host the SPRING before the carnival you wish to attend...do not sleep on this one many people book again where they stayed this year for the coming year...before they leave!)


***Stay in Woodbrook.  Location is central to carnival activities, is a known tourist area and therefore has ready public transport, and most spots are about 10-15 minutes walking from the Savannah.  Wherever you book, make sure and ask them how far they are WALKING from the Savannah because there will be no driving carnival Monday and Tuesday!***


***Note: dates in the Caribbean are written DD/MM/YY, date then month then year, not month/day/year as it is in the U.S.  To avoid confusion, always write or type out the full month, date, then year in this format only if communication by fax and/or email: March 7, 2011.  In the U.S. that is written 3/7/11...in Trinidad, Jamaica, and other Caribbean countries, it is written 7/3/11!  Don't end up booking for the wrong dates! ***

Nemoy Guesthouse

***Make sure to mention more than once that you are booking for CARNIVAL of the next year...the rates are significantly higher than the regular and you do not want to budget for a $500 week of housing only to find out they misunderstood you and you actually owe $1,000!***


***When dealing with the smaller guesthouses, first find out the manager's name, and then insist on speaking only with that person...I have had errors in booking/rates information from uninformed staff, so go straight to the top when dealing with small businesses!***


***Trinidad doesn't have tourist customer service from the businesses.  Individuals will help you get connected so make friends when you are there for the next time, and online through band and event company fb pages ahead of time...but the businesses are generally still in the Stone Age on technology (inability to book/purchase online through a direct website or even PayPal, for example, so you end up wasting money on Western Union and Moneygram every two seconds) and customer service (as compared to, say, Jamaica, where everybody and every business is going out of their way to show tourists a great time and do not have foreigners running to and fro trying to sort every detail out on their own).  If someone is particularly rude/lazy, move on to the competition! There is NO mas-related or tourism related service you need that any company there has a monopoly on!  And by the same token, if you find a little business or enterprising person that treats you like a welcome potential client, and comes through on their end of the deal...bring them business and support them!  That's what I did!***


2. FLIGHT (the SUMMER before the carnival you wish to attend! ...international flights = 2 free checked bags; confirm with airline before booking)

Destination is Piarco International Airport in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.  Abbreviation is POS.  In the U.S. Caribbean Airlines, American Airlines, and others provide service from major cities.  It is possible to pay a cheaper total fare by booking the international leg out of Miami or Fort Lauderdale separately, and booking a domestic flight from your location to Miami or Fort Lauderdale later when sales are happening.  However booking the entire trip as one international flight allows you to check two pieces of luggage free of charge for the whole journey (check with airline before booking).

If you are flying with a Jamaican or other CariCom country passport, you (as of the posting date of this blog) do not need any advance visa paperwork for the 1 or 2 weeks you will be in the country.  Verify all current travel requirements to enter and depart Trinidad and re-enter your country of residence (if an immigrant to where you live now) through your embassy, the U.S. Department of State, and the Trinidad Immigration Division (see Other links).

3. COSTUME/BOOTS/MAKEUP/BODY ART (the SUMMER before the carnival you wish to attend for bands #1-#4! or the fall before  for everyone else; watch their Facebook pages and websites for launch dates and themes each year.)  Soon as you are registered, deposit on your boots decoration and schedule your makeup/body art appointments for carnival Monday and/or Tuesday...these book up FAST!

Frontline costumes for females are generally, from top of mas band list to bottom, $1,000 USD down to $500 USD.  Subtract $100 USD or more as you go down the list down the list for backline.   

Male costumes from top of the list below to bottom are around $500 USD down to $150 USD.   

Individual costumes, male or female, are more than the highest price I listed for that type of band's frontline female costume...contact designer/band directly for pricing.

The list of mas bands below is ROUGHLY in size order from largest bands (2,500 or more masqueraders in the band) to smallest.  There are MANY more bands, some come out one year only, some are just hard to find online. Each band has a new theme every year and several sections of costumes related to the theme.  Usually about 12 costume choices per band, per year, plus customization options such as one-piece, monokini, corset, thong, boyshorts, etc.

There is generally a sense of hyperventilation/panic/insanity over TRIBE where even if other bands are wide open for business, people keep trying to beg, borrow, or steal costumes to get into the band (and others like it) once sold out.  While being able to play mas with the friends/group you came with is a legitimate concern, do not be fooled by this weird paranoia into thinking it's the only band that will have pretty costumes and the only band that has fun on the road (YouTube can confirm that one!).  If you have a large group and they are not all precise with their timing and MONEY or even one other person but they are not dependable to be ready with their MONEY (and their trigger finger, if you all are going the online route) when the time comes to register fast, aim for a band that is not such stress to get into so that someone does not get left on the other side of the "sold out" sign.   

Do not forget your travel-size SUNBLOCK...SPF the highest you can find! 

TRIBE 2011...within 24 hours of registration opening

TRIBE 2011...within 24 hours of registration opening

TRIBE 2011...within 24 hours of registration opening

It is always better to get registered in person by someone on the ground in Trinidad who can physically walk into the mas camp before they open the doors for registration the first day, especially if the section you want is hot and likely to sell out fast.  But if you have no one down there, contact the mas band and arrange FedEx, DHL, or UPS international to a person with the authority to receive mail on behalf of the band, and make sure it includes a cashier's cheque (no cash, no cheques, no money orders!) for either the minimum amount (upon conversion to TTD) required to deposit on the costume type you want, or the full payment.  ALSO make sure it includes every single measurement, contact information, and meal/Monday wear/etc. selection as they instructed everyone to do when registering.  Double-check your receipt (they should be able to email you or fax you confirmation...include an email address and a fax number in the mail!) asap and get any errors corrected.  These costumes are custom-made after you order...after production may be too late.

^^^Another reason to make friends while there, and before you go...individual Trinis are super-willing to help any and everyone enjoy their country's biggest celebration. Just don't let the native snobbery (classism, rampant throughout the Caribbean including my own Jamaica) cause you to spend more than you know you can afford.  

4. FETES (the FALL before the carnival you wish to attend for all all-inclusives and the fetes that happen every year such as Girl Power and Insomnia...fetes are made available to reserve by deposit way before the final price is announced by the promoters so do not expect to know the final price until December/January!  The SPRING of --not before, the same season of-- the carnival, for the cheaper fetes.)

The cheaper fetes often do not have online purchase options, so you would either need to walk with the money for the fete or have someone on the ground get your ticket.  Again, just don't let the native snobbery cause you to spend more than you know you can afford.  They may hint (STRONGLY) that everyone who is anyone is going to be at x, y, and z fete...but if you can only afford x...don't be peer pressured into y and z!  At the same time, if you hear the word "gunta" (thug, gangster) associated with, say, a fete...try not to go unless going with some nice strong guys. Just in case! lol.

5. J'OUVERT (The SPRING of --not before, the same season of-- the carnival)

You need to be willing to get dirty. Period. Ensure you go with an established, secure band as this is wee hours of the morning in an unknown country and city. No valuables, and take a waterproof camera, cause...you need to be willing to get dirty!

Silver Mudders J'ouvert

6. TRANSPORTATION (The SPRING of --not before, the same season of-- the carnival...or just hail taxis and maxis by hand when you get there, and perhaps work out future transport needs with one you use and like...)

Trinidad drives on the LEFT hand side of the road (as does Jamaica and many other former British colonies)...and the entire West Indies drives with rampant disregard for traffic laws.  If you have never driven in Trinidad and it is your first time there, skip the rental car unless you are hiring a driver with it.  There will be many drunk drivers --which the police are cracking down on, by the way-- on the road, possibly including you...and you will be on roads with hairpin turns and possibly not that well lit especially heading to and from fetes away from Port of Spain...and you will be very, very short on SLEEP.  Recipe for disaster your first time around!  If you are staying in Woodbrook, especially on French Street, taxis are up and down and parked by there constantly...

7. COMMUNICATION (Either the month you leave through your national carrier IF they allow you to roam in Trinidad on the phone YOU have versus their GSM/global phones, or at the airport in Port of Spain, Trinidad/a local cell phone vendor--BMobile and Digicel have pay as you go GSM phones using SIM cards that give you a local number and cut huge roaming fees from U.S. providers that work in the Caribbean, such as Sprint)

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL:
From About.com
From SurviveInTrinidad's blog (Trinidad police's safety tips)
From ChroniclesOfASocialEsquire's blog (MALE guest blogger's point of view! lol!)
From ChroniclesOfASocialEsquire's blog (the female version this time!)
From Sport-Heute.ch (non-American foreigner's comprehensive view)
TrinidadCarnivalDiary's blog (3D, 365-day-a-year guideline to TNT carnival by a veteran TRIBE masquerader)
From me! Trinidad Carnival 2011 SUPERPOST! Pics AND Videos! (So you can see what it's like!)
Carnival On A Budget from TrinidadCarnivalDiary
Carnival On A VERY Tight Budget from Eloquence, Inc. (me!)
National Carnival Commission of Trinidad & Tobago
Trinidad Carnival dates for the next TWENTY years so you can plan early!

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL COSTUMES (Mas!):
(You may see the men's costumes on the websites and the facebook pages. There are other bands as well!)
1.  TRIBE Carnival and facebook (and part 2 of the band, BLISS and facebook, as of 2011)
2.  Harts Carnival and facebook
3.  IslandPeople Mas and facebook
4.  YUMA and facebook
5.  D'Krewe Carnival and facebook
6.  Legacy Carnival and facebook
7.  Ronnie and Caro and facebook
8.  Trini Revellers and facebook
9.  Pulse 8 Carnival and facebook
10.Roam Mas and facebook (can order DIRECTLY from Facebook page!)
11.Oasis Carnival and facebook

TRIBE 2011

Bliss 2011

Harts 2011

Islandpeople 2011

YUMA 2011

D'Krewe 2012

Roam Mas 2012

TRINIDAD JUNIOR CARNIVAL (AKA KIDDIE MAS):
Rosalind Gabriel

Rosalind Gabriel 2011 presentation

Rosalind Gabriel 2010

Spoilt Rotten Kids (and Facebook)

Spoilt Rotten Kids 2011 presentation

Spoilt Rotten Kids 2011

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL BOOTS DESIGN/MAKEUP/BODY ART:
(Yes, men do get their sneakers/shoes decorated as well, in more manly styles, see the sites/facebook pages for more)
Niecy's Custom Designs (New York, USA--takes orders from anywhere, pay by PayPal)

Sarah Benjamin Paul Makeup; Body Art by James Paul

Sarah Benjamin Paul artwork

Body Art by James Paul

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL FETES:
From LonelyPlanet.com (2011 fete schedule)
From Rishi Sankar's blog
From TicketFederation (where you can actually buy tickets and see annual fete schedule)
From CaribbeanBoxOffice (where you can actually buy tickets and see annual fete schedule)
From TNTIsland.com
From TriniJungleJuice  and their photos...see if you got caught out there or figure out appropriate dress code for events based on past pics!
Soca Monarch ticket purchases
From GoTrinidad (comprehensive schedule of events--not just fetes--and contact information!)
From Whey All De Fetes Are For Carnival (very popular Facebook event list, updated annually)

Girl Power 2010

Girl Power 2010

Insomnia 2010

Insomnia 2010

Silent Morning Boatride 2010

Silent Morning Boatride 2010

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL J'OUVERT:
Mas Jumbies and facebook (dress up in themed costumes or play in regular tee and shorts)
Insomniacs and facebook (get covered in paint)
Mudders International and facebook (get covered in mud)
Silver Mudders (get covered in silver body paint and mud)--takes payment via Facebook page!
Chocolate City  and facebook (get covered in chocolate)
Dirty Dozen J'ouvert  and facebook (get covered in paint)
and many more!

Chocolate City J'ouvert

Silver Mudders J'ouvert

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL HOUSING:
Alternatives to expensive hotels (**Warning this is not for those who want a U.S. hotel type experience...these smaller ones are for people who need to save as much money as possible and just have a place to drop the bags and shower basically!  If you care about room service and a big pretty room and Hilton type experience...scroll down to the expensive hotels link and try to save money by having 4 or 5 people in the room with you.**)

Private apartment, studio, room rentals (Trinidad Guardian newspaper,check visitor accommodations)

Private apartment, studio, room rentals (Trinidad Express newspaper, F5 to refresh if it doesn't show on first click, then click the button at the bottom to about page 6 for Visitor Accommodations section, then click on the page once to zoom in, and drag the mouse around to view the ads...yes, horrible setup they have!)

Expensive hotels (ranked 1-50 in Trinidad by TripAdvisor travellers)
In Port of Spain:
Expensive Hotel #1

Hyatt Trinidad

Expensive Hotel #2
Expensive Hotel #3
Expensive Hotel #4

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL TRANSPORTATION:
(Please remember to also carry your Caribbean country passport if you are a CariCom national...shorter line at Trinidad's airport...MUCH shorter!)
Car rentals and, if you are driving yourself around

Taxi service (recommended instead of renting, especially carnival time--you REALLY don't want to drive yourself around with the alcohol-infused traffic!)

Everything else including details on how to understand route taxi destinations by colour, how to tell licensed operators, contact information/links to tour guides, water taxi, ferry between Trinidad & Tobago, etc.
Everything else from yet another source...with pics

Maxi-taxi (commercial minivan)

TRINIDAD CARNIVAL COMMUNICATIONS:
Digicel (Trinidad & Tobago carrier: online purchase of phones: no; online purchase of minutes yes)
    Digicel phones (Coral brand cheapest)
    Digicel rates schedule

B-mobile (Trinidad & Tobago carrier; online purchase of phones yes; online purchase of minutes yes)
    B-mobile phones/SIM cards (search for $0-$199 phones)
    B-mobile FAQs and contact information

SIM cards, GSM phones, and plans for rental/purchase--European visitors
2nd option--SIM cards etc. 3rd party vendor and their existing phone compatibility guide
Sprint International (USA carrier)
     Sprint international rates schedule

Verizon International (USA carrier)
    Verizon international Trinidad & Tobago rates schedule

T-Mobile International (USA carrier)

AT&T International (USA carrier)

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO:
From Askmen.com (from a MAN's point of view! lol!)
From me! (and I'm female, lol!)
From DiscoverTNT (which is also on Facebook)

OTHER:
Google Currency Converter
Hotwire.com flights
Kayak.com flights
What To Pack For Your Trip To Carnival
Where to go for massage, the mall, other niceties
Where to find free WiFi/Internet, emergency services, electricity stats, etc.
U.S. Department of State--passports for U.S. citizens
   U.S. passport application (***FORM CHANGES MARCH 1, 2011***)
   Get an expedited (rush) U.S. passport
   U.S. passport fees
   Where to apply for a U.S. passport (usually a full-service U.S. post office or county clerk of court)
   U.S. Department of State--passports for U.S. citizens who are minor children
   First-time American traveller tips
Jamaican Embassy, Washington, D.C.--passport application info
   Jamaican Consulate, New York, NY--passport application form
   Jamaican Consulate, Miami, FL--passport requirements
   Jamaican Honorary Consul, Atlanta, GA--Attorney Vin Martin
   Jamaican passport fees
   Jamaica Registrar General--Jamaican Birth Certificate/Proof of Citizenship Applications (if you need to apply for a Jamaican passport)
   Jamaican Registrar General--free application for birth entry number (MANDATORY before applying for your birth certificate if you don't know the number!)
Trinidad & Tobago Immigration Division
   List of countries requiring or not requiring visa to enter Trinidad & Tobago
Atlanta Consulates (Bahamas, Canada, China, Jamaica, Nigeria, and United Kingdom, among others)

***Trinidad's Tourism Ministry is not listed because I called AND emailed them at the several numbers and couple email addresses they have listed...and they have yet to answer, it's been about a month...not even a voicemail or answering machine they seem to have bought for that department.  So it's verified as a gov't entity that's not exactly doing anything for me as a tourist!***

...and of course:

annnnnd:

Need me to manage/plan/book all this for you, contact me...or go ahead and purchase your trip directly through the Eloquence, Inc. Facebook store!  Secure and private payments via PayPal! :)