Cricketing legend Brian Lara says the biggest asset of his home island of Trinidad is the warm hospitality of its people, as he shares some holiday ideas with Travelbite.co.uk at World Travel Market.

After a successful cricketing career and a lot of world travel, Lara still makes his home in Port of Spain and says the place to go for nightlife is Arepita Avenue, which is very busy with bars and restaurants open seven days. But he recommends visitors to Trinidad get out and meet the local people. “That’s when you will have the best experience,” he says.

Of course the hallmark event is Trinidad’s famous Carnival and Lara recommends tourists spend a week in Trinidad and then a few days in Tobago to recover from the partying!

Trinidad also offers many natural and relaxing experiences. Lara grew up in the small village of Santa Cruz and used to hike with his friends over the mountains to the north coast of the island. “I would love visitors to experience the drive across to the north coast,” he said.

He also highlighted the opportunity to watch turtles laying and hatching eggs during the period from March to August at Toco. Nowadays there are lodges so you can stay near the beach and stay up half the night watching this natural wonder.

Brian Lara’s favourite beach is a small, unknown cove between Las Cuevas and Filette. 101 Steps, so-called because of the access route down to the beach, is “very beautiful, very private and very romantic”.

As for cricket watching, apart from Queen’s Park in Port au Spain, Lara recommends visiting one of the many beautiful little country grounds in southern Trinidad.

“Here you’ll always get a meal as well as a cricket match as someone always brings out the curried chicken!”

For more information and holiday ideas in Trinidad & Tobago see the tourism website.

Natasha von Geldern

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