Five minutes gets you from TAB to most Crown Point hotels
The airport taxi rank at A.N.R. Robinson International sits directly outside the arrivals hall, and taxis line up for each flight, so in daytime and evening it runs effectively on demand. Regulars on Tobago forums say the ride to Crown Point hotels is often under 10 minutes, and you can be at Pigeon Point or Store Bay faster than your checked bag would arrive in some bigger airports.
Fares from the official rank are fixed and regulated by the Tobago House of Assembly, with a rate card posted at the airport listing prices for Crown Point, Scarborough, and farther spots like Speyside or Charlotteville. One TripAdvisor poster going to Scarborough reported that the driver simply followed the published fare with “no haggling,” which is the norm for standard point‑to‑point trips.
Expect around 5–10 minutes to Crown Point and 20–30 minutes to Scarborough, depending on traffic around Milford Road and the approach into town. That 20–30 minute Scarborough run is what most trip reports quote, and it covers cruise port hotels, the ferry terminal, and central guesthouses.
Payment is cash in Trinidad and Tobago dollars; ATMs are inside the terminal, so you can pull TTD before stepping out to the rank. Some drivers may accept US dollars for short airport runs but often at a rough self-set rate, so having TTD notes (including smaller $5, $10, and $20 bills) keeps the fare clean.
Watch out for touts who linger just outside arrivals and try to steer you away before you reach the signposted taxi rank; several visitors call this out and recommend ignoring side offers and walking straight to the official line. Complaints also mention that fixed fares to distant villages like Charlotteville can feel steep compared with local wages, especially at night when public transport options dry up.
Regulars say to confirm the price against the posted rate card before any bags go in the trunk, even though the fare is technically fixed, just so both sides quote the same number. Solo and budget travellers sometimes ask the dispatcher if anyone else is going toward Scarborough and share a cab to cut that 20–30 minute ride down in cost per person.
Step-by-step: using the airport taxi rank
- 1. Exit arrivals: After customs at TAB, walk straight out; the official taxi rank sits directly in front of the terminal doors.
- 2. Find the rate card: Look for the Tobago House of Assembly fare board listing fixed prices for Crown Point, Pigeon Point, Scarborough, and other districts.
- 3. Confirm your destination: Tell the dispatcher or first driver in line where you’re going (for example, a named Crown Point hotel or “Scarborough ferry terminal”).
- 4. Agree the fare: Match the driver’s quote to the posted rate before loading luggage, and clarify if you’re paying in TTD or another currency.
- 5. Load bags and ride: Put luggage in the trunk, keep small valuables with you, and expect about 5–10 minutes to Crown Point or 20–30 minutes to Scarborough.
- 6. Swap contact details (optional): If you like the driver, ask for a WhatsApp number; many visitors re-use the same person for later transfers or island tours.
One last tip: for late-night arrivals, treat the official rank as your default plan and grab cash from the terminal ATM before you step outside so you are not negotiating exchange rates at the curb.