When do you register for Trinidad Carnival 2009? How do you choose your costume and who do you pay?

Question

If I could be directed to a website that would be great. Also a great hotel to stay at. Not far from the festivities. I understand all needs to be booked and payed for months in advance.

Answer 1

Carnival bands start launching in August/September. You should be ableto register for costumes from September. What kind of band are you looking for? Young people would usually play in Tribe, or Island People- those are the 2 most mpopular bands.

The website for tribe is wwwcarnivaltribe.com

The website for Island People is www.islandpeoplemas.com

If you are looking for an older crowd to play with try Trini Revelers

If you prefer to play with costumes that are not skimpy...more coth.. you can try Brian Mc Farlene Band.

I am not sure of the websites for the above 2 bands.

Try to book your plane tickets as early as possible, to get them the cheapest

Answer 2

Carnival Registration dates vary by the Carnival Band that you're interested in playing with. You should start checking the Mas Camp websites around August for registration dates and band launching information.

Here is useful link for many carnival bands:  http://www.toronto-lime.com/links.html

As far as accommadations and travel, this should be done way in advance. Sometimes, up to a year in advance, depending on the location. Most hotel chains don't release Carnival Rates until around the same time Mas Bands begin their registrations. However, for smaller hotels, guest houses, and apartment rentals, because these are generally cheaper than hotels, it is reccommended to begin your search now for 2009, as many of them require deposits and balance payments before you actually arrive.

As far as proximity to the Carnival parade, you want to find some where that is close to or withing: The Savannah, St. Ann's, and Ariapita Ave.

The Hyatt, Courtyard, Hilton, Crowne Plaza are all large hotels that are in great locations.

Here is a useful link with some other accommadations: -

http://www.wheretostay.com/caribbean/tri...

Also check out this website : http://www.carnivalburnout.com/tnt08/hom...

They offer carnival package deals that includes costumes, travel, accomadations, transportation and even fete tickets.

If you however, you end up making last minute arrangements for Carnival 2009. Check out this website: http://www.CarnivalJunction.com . It is great for finding last minute costumes and accommadations.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

The bands usually have the new costumes on their websites around August and September of the previous year. This is about the time you should also look into getting your plane ticket.  You could probably look into hotels about now. The Holiday Inn near the Savannah is a good spot.

Check out www.carnaval.com it lists a large amount of the bands participating. Also definitely try saucytrini.blogspot.com.  Saucy's website is excellent she tells you everything you need to know.  Hope you go in 2009 and have the time of your life.