Caribbean Travel Tips

Passports
We strongly suggest all travelers TAKE A PICTURE OF YOUR PASSPORT and email this photo to yourself (or keep this photo in your smartphone) in the event you lose your passport while on vacation.  If you lose your passport while traveling, Customs and Immigration Officers will need access to this photo in order to expedite the paperwork necessary for your re-entry back into the United States. We also encourage our clients to email your Trofino Tri Star Travel consultant a snapshot of your passport to retain on file. Your travel consultant will then be able to assist Customs and Immigration officers with re-entry paperwork. While it is not necessary you provide your travel consultant with a copy of your passport, it is highly advised.   

Caribbean Packing Suggestions
1. We suggest taking a backpack to use while at the beach during the day.

2.  Ziplock baggies of various sizes come in handy, especially for wet clothes or to keep valuables
     from getting wet.
3. Plastic clothes pins come in handy to hang wet bathing suites during the evening.
4. A small “first aid” kit with waterproof band-aids, Tylenol or some sort of aspirin, Imodium, gauze, waterproof tape and Neosporin.
5.  Small bottle of aloe gel (in case of sun burn)
6.  Waterproof Sunblock (35+ UV protection is recommended)
7.  Water shoes for the beach and ocean or comfortable walking shoes/beach sandals. Additionally, we suggest packing more than one swimsuit, a beach
     sarong or cover-up as well as a light rain jacket in case you are off premise of the resort (say on an excursion) and you get caught in a downpour.
8. Pack a decent pair of sunglasses with a cord for the glasses (especially if wearing in the ocean) as well as a hat to keep the sun off your face during
    afternoon hours.

What to Wear During the Day
Beach attire is standard in the Caribbean during the day. Shorts, flipflops, cover shirt, sarong or cover-up and hat (to keep the sun off your face) is typically what most wear. Be sure when leaving your room for the day that you take plenty of sunscreen with you as you will need it when outdoors.  When eating in any dining facility during the day, men are required to wear a shirt (tee shirt is acceptable)

What to Wear During the Evening
Beach attire is not appropriate during evening hours in resort dining facilities  Resort al le carte restaurants will not permit men to wear Bermuda shorts in any restaurant. Young children are permitted to wear Bermuda shorts however if you are over the age of 16, men will be required to wear long pants and a collard shirt (for al la carte restaurants). If you elect to eat at the resort buffets (during the evening) you may wear Bermuda shorts however you will not be permitted to wear “beach” attire in any dining facility during evening hours. Women typically wear skirts or a sundress during evening hours (which ever is more comfortable for your personal preference). Please remember evening hours are not over-the-top formal, but are more formal than day-time beach attire. 

Currency (Money)
U.S. Dollars are accepted everywhere throughout the Caribbean however most vendors will not accept $100.00 or $50.00 notes. We strongly suggest clients not travel with currency larger than a $20.00 note. We also highly suggest clients take more $1.00’s and $5.00’s than $20.00’s. The $1.00’s or $5.00’s can be used for leaving tips to bartenders or hotel maids while the $20.00’s can be used to purchase items while shopping. Please remember, if you pay for items in U.S. currency, vendors may give you change back in local currency (unless you ask prior to making the purchase if they can give you change in U.S. Dollars). Thus it is suggested to keep your dollar notes in smaller increments and not an over abundance of $20.00 notes.

If you run into an instance where you need to exchange currency from USD into local currency, the resort front desk staff will exchange your currency, for a small exchange fee.

Credit Cards
Credit Cards are widely accepted throughout the Caribbean. Visa, Mastercard, American Express are more accepted than Discover cards. While Discover cards are accepted, they are not as widely accepted than Visa, Mastercard or American Express. We suggest calling your credit card company prior to traveling to the Caribbean to advise them of your travels to avoid your credit card company shutting off your card due to perceived fraudulent activities.

On-Site Vendor Representative (located at your hotel)
While on vacation, please remember you have access to full-service vendor representative who works at your resort.  His/Her office is located in the hotel’s lobby usually around the corner from the front desk check-in. The representative works in coordination with our office and is there to assist with any excursions you may wish to sign up for or to answer any on-site questions you may have while staying at the resort.  As they work in coordination with our office, we advise all passengers to utilize their services and expertise for any questions you may have while on premise of the resort during your vacation.

Additionally, no later than 24-hours prior to your return back to the Airport, please reconfirm your transfer time directly with your on-site representative.  He/She may have updated transfer information for you and you will need to reconfirm your transfer pick-up time for your return flight back to the United States.      

Caribbean Weather
Caribbean rainy season typically begins in late May and lasts through November, so packing a light rain jacket and other waterproof gear is important. The dry season begins in mid- to late-November and continues through February. Please keep in mind, the weather in the Caribbean is extremely hot and humid during March thru September so please ensure you pack appropriately.

Caribbean Electrical Outlets
Electrical outlets ARE THE SAME as in that of the United States for the majority of the Caribbean destinations. You will NOT need a electrical adapter to take with you while on vacation.

Cell Phone Coverage
Each U.S. carrier (Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, etc.) has options for traveling outside of the United States. We encourage all clients to contact their carriers directly to inquire about cell coverage while traveling outside of the United States. Most carriers will charge a nominal fee to add to your cell-package to cover your data or cell phone usage while traveling. Please note, it is the sole responsibility of the passenger to obtain the correct information directly from their respective cell phone carriers

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