Buying a Prepaid SIM Card in Trinidad and Tobago Guide

Trinidad and Tobago is a dual-island in the Caribbean. Trinidad is the larger island while Tobago is the smaller one.

The country is popular for cruises, which usually dock at Port of Spain, which is the capital of Trinidad. While walking around Trinidad, you will hear a lot of Soca music. Moreover, you can visit Queen's Park Savannah, Fort George, and the National Museum and Art Gallery.

Maracas Beach is a lovely beach and so is Englishmans Beach. Little Tobago is known as the paradise of birds, as you can find many beautiful birds flying around – great for birdwatching, even though you are not into it (you will be fascinated). In short, Trinidad and Tobago is a fun travel destination.

What will not be fun is dealing with a roaming bill you get from roaming with your provider in Trinidad and Tobago. Roaming can be expensive, which is why many travelers prefer to buy a local SIM card in Trinidad and Tobago.

In this article, I will go over everything you need to know about buying a SIM card in Trinidad and Tobago. Let's do this.

Telecom Providers in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago have 2 telecom providers: Digicel Trinidad and Tobago and bmobile. Both operators have 2G, 3G, and 4G/LTE networks.

What SIM card should you buy when visiting Trinidad and Tobago? If you want to buy a SIM card in Trinidad and Tobago, I would recommend going with bmobile because of their unlimited data plans without a high-speed data allowance like Digicel, and because they offer unlimited international SMS.

Do note that bmobile’s coverage is slightly worse than the one of Digicel, but the difference is small.

Although most countries in the Caribbean require passport registration when buying a SIM card, in Trinidad and Tobago, it is a hit or miss (in my case, bmobile asked for it while Digicel did not). Bring your passport with you – just in case.

In Trinidad and Tobago, prices are advertised without 12.5% sales tax. I have incorporated the taxes in the prices listed in this post, which is why they may look odd.

There is not much more to say about Trinidad and Tobago, so let’s see what Digicel and bmobile have to offer to us. 

Tip: Looking for cheap flights? Book with AirWander and add stopovers! Not in a hurry yet? Set up flight alerts with Airfarewatchdog and get notified when ticket prices for your preferred route(s) drop!

Digicel Trinidad and Tobago

Digicel Trinidad and Tobago, just Digicel, has become the largest operator in the nation. bmobile used to have a monopoly until Digicel entered the market, and Digicel managed to become the more popular operator with effective marketing campaigns and promotions.

Digicel SIM cards are sold in Digicel stores throughout Trinidad and Tobago for 50 TTD ($7.40) or (56.25 TTD with tax). Ask for their 4G SIM card if you plan on using their 4G/LTE network. Recharge cards are sold from 20 TTD to 500 TTD, but you can also top up online with a credit card.

To recharge your Digicel SIM card, you have to dial *121*VoucherCode#. For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *121*123456#. To check your balance, dial *120#.

Digicel has several Unlimited Prepaid Plans, which come with unlimited data, unlimited on-net calls, and unlimited on-net SMS.

Do note that although data is unlimited, you do get a high-speed allowance. After that, your speed will be reduced to 2G speeds, which is extremely slow. Luckily, you can add more high-speed data, which will be introduced later.

The following Digicel Unlimited Prepaid Plans can be bought online or on the My Digicel App:

• 22.50 TTD: 10 GB high-speed data and 30 off-net minutes for 1 day
• 56.25 TTD: 3 GB high-speed data and 30 off-net minutes (a day) for 3 days
• 111.38 TTD: 7 GB high-speed data and 30 off-net minutes (a day) for 10 days
• 336.38 TTD: 25 GB high-speed data and 300 off-net minutes for 30 days

If you are out of high-speed data, then you can buy any of these data add-ons:

• 11.25 TTD: 1 GB
• 22.50 TTD: 3 GB

Like the Digicel Unlimited Prepaid Plans, you can activate these add-ons on the My Digicel App, but you can also activate one by dialing *323#. You can only buy an add-on if you have an active plan, so you cannot solely buy a data add-on to save costs, unfortunately.

You can also get The Quickie, which is a 5 TTD plan that comes with unlimited on-net calls and SMS, unlimited WhatsApp messaging (no VoIP), and Facebook (no video or VoIP) for 1 hour. The Quickie can be activated online, on the My Digicel App, or by dialing *424#.

Digicel also sells a Visitor SIM for 202.50 TTD or 30 USD, which comes with 3 GB, unlimited on-net calls and SMS, unlimited emails, unlimited WhatsApp (no VoIP), and 200 Anywhere Minutes for 30 days. You can buy this SIM card in any Digicel store.

Anywhere minutes are local off-net calls, calls to Canada, Digicel Caribbean nations (Digicel numbers only), the United Kingdom (landline only), the United States, and Venezuela (Telefonica Mobile numbers only). Digicel Caribbean includes:

Unlike most tourist SIM cards, the Digicel Visitor SIM does not expire after its validity of 30 days. Instead, it will be converted into a regular SIM card. Then you can buy regular plans, which are the ones mentioned earlier.

bmobile

bmobile used to be the sole operator before Digicel entered the market. After a while, bmobile lost its number 1 spot.

bmobile SIM cards can be bought in bmobile stores across the country. Their starter packs range from 50 TTD with 25 TTD in credit to 300 TTD with 500 TTD in credit. Top-up cards are sold from 20 TTD to 100 TTD in various shops throughout the country, and you can top-up online with a credit card.

To reload, you have to dial *135#VoucherCode#. For example, if your voucher code is 123456, you would dial *135*123456#. To check your balance, dial *120#.

Normally, the salesperson will activate your SIM card for you (if they can be bothered). If not, you have to dial 800-3745 to activate your SIM card.

bmobile sells a few Unlimited Plans, which come with unlimited data, unlimited local calls, and unlimited local and international SMS. The following bmobile Unlimited Plans are available, which can be activated by dialing *123#:

• 22.50 TTD for 1 day
• 111.37 TTD for 7 days
• 392.62 TTD for 30 days

(There is also a regular 30-day plan with 3 GB, unlimited on-net calls, and unlimited local and international SMS for 241.88 TTD)

Streaming speeds on these bmobile unlimited plans will be throttled to 512 Kbps. If you want faster speeds, you can use a VPN that will hide that you are streaming (and any other online activity) so that you can watch your video in good quality. I recommend using NordVPN, which I have been using for years. You can get up to 70% off your subscription today!

Additionally, do not go overboard with using data. bmobile’s Fair Use Policy states “On the rare occasion that a customer far exceeds the average use of 99% of our customers, bmobile may notify the customer that they are using excessive amounts of services, may prompt an investigation to ensure policy violations are not occurring, or have their access temporarily reduced or suspended until it ascertains whether the customer is using services properly.”

Also, tethering (mobile hotspot) is not allowed.

You can also get a bmobile Tourist SIM that is sold at the airport and select authorized bmobile partners (such as hotels). They come in 3 variants:

• 236.25 TTD: 10 GB, unlimited on-net calls, 100 off-net calls, 50 international minutes*, and unlimited local and international SMS for 14 days
• 253.13 TTD: 10 GB for 30 days
• 393.75 TTD: unlimited data, unlimited on-net calls, and unlimited local and international SMS for 30 days

* International minutes are to numbers in Canada, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, and the United States only.

Before you can use the Tourist SIM, you have to make a call to any number.

Once your tourist plan expires, your SIM card will convert into a regular bmobile SIM card, as long as you top up at least 50 TTD and buy a plan within 7 days after your tourist plan has expired.

Other Ways to Stay Connected When Traveling in Trinidad and Tobago

So far, you have been informed about the SIM card options in Trinidad and Tobago. However, that is not the only way to be online in Trinidad and Tobago. I have already briefly mentioned that you can roam with your provider, although it can be expensive in most cases. Besides that, you can use free WIFI connections, mobile hotspots, or international SIM cards.

Roaming in Trinidad and Tobago with Your Provider

Roaming is a term used in wireless telecommunication that indicates a mobile device is outside the range of its home network and has connected to a different, available cell network. Let’s say your provider is Gabon Telecom, then you would be roaming with Gabon Telecom in Trinidad and Tobago.

You may have read horror stories of people coming back from a lovely holiday, only to be confronted with a roaming bill in the thousands. This can still be the case if you do not review your roaming options before going on a holiday. Luckily for you, I have written about the roaming options you have with various providers around the world, which you can read here.

Some operators offer roaming plans. Others allow you to roam for free in Trinidad and Tobago, while several operators let you use your plan’s allowance for a daily fee. As you can see, roaming does not have to be a horrific experience. If your provider is generous and lets you roam for free in Trinidad and Tobago, then you do not even need a local SIM card (although I would still recommend doing so, as your connection speed will be much slower as a roamer than someone who is a customer of the network).

No idea how roaming works? I made this comprehensive guide about what roaming is and how it works. It is worth the read – promised!

Pay As You Go roaming should be avoided, as that is how travelers get high roaming bills. One provider charges you about 1000 USD per GB in certain destinations, which is insane. If you really want to roam, check whether your provider has attractive roaming plans. Else, you will be better off with buying a local SIM card.

Using Free WIFI connections in Trinidad and Tobago

This does not require a lot of explanation, but using free WIFI connections is the cheapest way to connect to the internet because you do not have to pay anything. Nothing beats free stuff, right? Well, not so fast.

First, you need to find hotspots in Trinidad and Tobago. In some countries of cities, you will find so many hotspots that you can try them out one by one and find the one with the fastest speeds. In other places, however, WIFI connections do not seem to exist.

In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, you will many open hotspots to use.

Additionally, public WIFI hotspots are unsecure. They are a prime target for hackers to steal your data and use it for illicit purposes. That is I use, and would recommend you to start using, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) if you connect to a public hotspot. What a VPN does is creating an encrypted tunnel between your device and the hotspot so that your data will stay private. I use NordVPN, and you can get up to 70% off when you get a NordVPN subscription. Get your subscription now or learn more about NordVPN.

Using a Pocket WIFI (Mobile Hotspot) in Trinidad and Tobago

Pocket WIFI is a portable, battery-powered wireless router that allows you to connect your phone, laptop, or tablet without needing multiple SIM cards for those devices to be connected to the internet. They are compact and lightweight so that you take them along with you whenever you need internet access on the go.

Many companies have created mobile hotspots (just have a quick search on Amazon, for example, you will find many). Skyroam, Vision Global Wireless, and Travelwifi are reputable pocket WIFI providers I know. You can get a discount if you rent a router through Skyroam by using coupon code PHONETRAVELWIZ. Cellular access with Skyroam starts at $8 a day while using a Vision Global device starts at $2 a day. Travelwifi offers Teppy, the name of the pocket WIFI, starting from $7 per day. All these services cover more than 130 destinations around the world.

I often recommend mobile hotspots to those who are traveling in groups or with families. They can save groups a lot of money if they are visiting destinations where buying multiple SIM cards would become an expensive endeavor.

I recently wrote an article analyzing the 7 Best Mobile Hotspots for Travelers like yourself, which should be an interesting read if pocket WIFI is something you are considering. I do reviews of individual devices every now and then, so check out my mobile hotspot category to stay up to date.

Getting an International SIM card for Traveling in Trinidad and Tobago

International SIM cards are, as the name implies, SIM cards for international use. Well, that does not explain anything. Although most providers allow you to use your card abroad, some actually restrict this possibility. An international SIM card lets you go abroad without having to change SIM cards when visiting multiple destinations. They have been made with the traveler in mind.

All of this sounds lovely, but international SIM cards are much more expensive than local SIM cards in Trinidad and Tobago. Not only that, some offer poor service as well for high rates. Some reputable companies I know are OneSimCard, SimOptions, Surfroam, BNESIM, and SimCorner.

International SIM cards are appealing to those who travel frequently or are visiting multiple destinations in one trip. Many countries in Africa require you to register before you can use a SIM card, which can be a hassle for some. Additionally, the language barrier may be off-putting to some travelers, which is why an international SIM card can be handy. You order it before you depart and can use it in various destinations.

My recommendation, however, is to get a local SIM card if you are only visiting one destination. If you are visiting multiple ones, an international SIM card could be handy. If you want to learn more about international SIM cards, check out my international SIM card comparison article, where I analyze 10 international SIM card providers so that you do not have to.

The Best Way to Stay Connected When Traveling in Trinidad and Tobago

Getting a SIM card from bmobile would do you well when considering a Trinbagonian SIM card. Be sure to explore the roaming options your provider offers you, as they may offer free or cheap roaming bundles.

You could also consider getting an international SIM card or using a portable hotspot. International SIM cards like OneSimCard, SimOptions, Surfroam, BNESIM, and SimCorner are attractive for those visiting multiple destinations at once or within a year. Portable hotspots like Skyroam, Vision Global Wireless, and Travelwifi will be useful when traveling with multiple people so that not each individual has to get a SIM card but can use the hotspot.

Visiting other countries in the Caribbean? Check out my Caribbean SIM card buying guide covering the other Caribbean destinations, such as Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, French West Indies, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Martin (French) & Sint Maarten (Dutch), Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Turks and Caicos. Going to other places around the world? Then you should also check out my sim card buying guides for other destinations around the world.

What is next?

Looking for the best companies and gadgets to enhance your travel experience? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel! Save money on plane tickets, bus rides, cruises, and accommodation. Besides that, I also list services and items I use to make my life easier – and I believe they will help you too!

Book Your Flight for Trinidad and Tobago

It is time to book your flight. Find cheap flights with AirWander so that you can add free or cheap stopovers in destinations you have not considered yet before going to Trinidad and Tobago. If you are not ready to take off yet, set up flight alerts with Airfarewatchdog, and they will notify you once ticket prices to Trinidad and Tobago drop.

Book Your Accommodation for Trinidad and Tobago

I am a huge fan of Airbnb because it allows me to live with a local or get a local place for myself. Staying in someone’s house or apartment feels much different than being in a ho(s)tel, especially in Trinidad and Tobago. At least, that is how I see it. Moreover, Airbnb can often be much cheaper than staying in a Trinbagonian hotel.

Get Your Travel Insurance for Trinidad and Tobago

You will regret not having travel insurance once you actually need it and “forgot” to get it. Nowadays, travel insurance is cheap and comprehensive unlike back in the days. World Nomads is by far the best travel insurance for adventurous travelers like yourself. You can even get insured WHILE already traveling in Trinidad and Tobago, which is not something many insurance companies allow you to do.

Get a Travel Debit Card

Travel Cheques are outdated. Paying with your credit card or debit card can be expensive because of all the exchange commissions banks charge you. TransferWise allows you to convert your main currency to the local currency for a small fee (up to 8 times less than with your bank!) Getting a Transferwise Borderless account is FREE, so you will get an instant return on your investment.

Enjoy your trip!