Crown Point
The Come and Go Point
Crown Point has the greatest concentration of hotels, guest houses and car rentals in the
island. You will find here 2 banks and 4 ATM machines, an office of the tourism
authority, book and souvenir stores. There is a met station. And a Police Station. And a good representation of businesses.
Every week aircraft disembark about over 2000 visitors to the island here .
THE AIRPORT
The runway that you see here is already long enough to accommodate almost all aircraft, jumbo jets.
The sum of $75 million has recently been allocated for airport improvement, so "soon" the building will be taking on a new look. The present building is completely covered but so designed as to give the impressioin that you are out of doors. It is in fact two buildings with a road in between . So you get out of your car on the curbside of airport building.
THE WAY IT USED TO BE
Progress is wonderful. But there are those alive who can recall the days
when travellers to and from Crown Point had their "airport" under a calabash tree as they awaited or disembarked from the
ex-World War II DC3 or Viscount aircraft with their radial piston engines and propellers.
WHEN YOU ARRIVE
When you come directly to Crown Point, that is, if you don't deplane in Trinidad first, there are immigration and customs officers to satisfy. If you have a return ticket, accommodations and proper identification, you should have little trouble. However you should check with the Trinidad and Tobago office in your country before you leave, as some requirements change from time to time.
A friend of mine went to Barbados with proof of citizenship only and was admitted. Then he came to Tobago only to find that he needed to have a valid passport. He was allowed to stay because he had made a bona fide mistake and had relatives here to stay with. Nevertheless he was issued a deportation order and had to check with immigration before he left. So make sure your documentation is in order.
BRINGING GIFTS
If you are bringing gifts into the country you are now allowed $3000 TT duty free,
including alcohol and cigarettes. Check before you come. You can also bring
personal items for your use while here, and non-personal items which you can
certify you are taking out with you when you leave. Personal items do not
include CD's or stereo equipment.
Also a word of caution. Don't bring in drugs. Nor attempt to take any out
with you. We have many foreigners languishing in local jails, who perhaps felt
they were sophisticated enough to outwit the local police!
THE VICINITY
Close to Crown Point is Store Bay, Pigeon Point and some other not so well known beaches. "Close" means within walking distance. One visitor was heard to say that this was the first place he came to where you could check in early and then go to the beach before boarding your plane. This is literally true, especially if you are in possession of a rented vehicle. Many rental firms will allow you to park the vehicle in the parking lot -when you leave with the keys locked in the car. In five years I have never heard of a car being stolen in Tobago. By the same token, if you are booked into a Crown Point hotel or guest house, depending on the time of your flight and the checkout time of your accommodations, you can check out and return to the hotel. Some hoteliers allow this, but obviously it depends on occupancy and how nice you are to them or they to you. Nice pays!
If you are here in September and you are staying in Crown Point, then you can get up early on the appointed Saturday morning and make your way to Store bay for the finish of the annual Great Race. The race itself is over before 8 o'clock. But thye crowds and the music and the festive athmosphere and the crowds and the beer last the rest of the day!
CRUSOE'S CAVE
There is a road that takes you from Crown Point around to the other side of the airport,
"behind the airport" as it is locally known. If you take it you will come to a sign
that directs you to Crusoe's Cave. Crusoe was the hero of Daniel Defoe's novel,
The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe of York,
Mariner". I suspect that there are people here who think Robinson Crusoe was a
real person.The story was based on the life of a real person, Alexander Selkirk,
but Crusoe himself is a fiction. And Tobago is by no means the only island
claiming to be Crusoe's island.
Anyway, when we visited Crusoe's cave we were met by a
well-educated elderly lady, who not only gave us a 'history' of Robinson Crusoe
but also regaled us with light philosophical poetry. We felt well entertained
and cheerfully paid the small sum that allowed us to cross her property and
inspect the caves.
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