Soaka Til Sunrise: My 2025 Trinidad Carnival Experience

Not About That TT Core Carnival Life—But Still About the Vibes

While thousands are obsessed with the main weekend of Trinidad Carnival, I’ve never been one of them. As an introvert who loves a little peace and simplicity, that scene is just too crowded and chaotic for me to keep going back every year. And don’t even get me started on the price hikes during that time—madness!

But let’s be clear—visiting Trinidad is always a treat. The food? Amazing. Getting around? Pretty easy. Things to do? Always plenty. Over the years, I’ve found my sweet spot by hitting up the more low-key but still very hype events leading up to the main carnival. My introduction to this approach was Bacchanal Road by Caesar’s Army, which let me soak in the carnival energy without all the mayhem. (Want an inside look on my Bacchanal Road experience? Click HERE.)

Disclaimer Alert!

At T’ingz Nice, every trip, adventure, and getaway is brought to you by me, myself, and my hardworking pockets—no sponsors, no promotions, just pure, unfiltered experiences. I share my journeys because I love them, not because I’m inviting the whole world to “pull up” (in my Rihanna voice…IYKYK)). Some gems are best kept a little exclusive, nah mean? And listen, what works for me may not work for you—our travel styles, budgets, and tolerance levels might be very different. So, if something catches your eye while reading any of my articles, please do your own research, plan accordingly, and travel smart.

Now that we got that out of the way… let’s get into these vibes! I’m on a deadline to post this before the month of February ends!

Soaka Til Sunrise: A Bucket List Fete Finally Checked Off

One event that had been sitting pretty on my bucket list for years? Soaka Til Sunrise, a massive jouvert-style fete thrown by W.O.W. Events. Not to be confused with their Soaka Street Festival during the core weekend, this one usually happens a few weeks before Carnival Monday and Tuesday.

Fast forward to September 27, 2024—I spotted the Soaka flyer on the promoters’ Instagram page. Before getting too hype, I had to cross-check my calendar. To my surprise, the dates lined up perfectly with my work schedule. No classes on February 3rd or 4th? That meant I’d even have a day to recover. Screenshot saved, and straight to the DMs it went for my homegirls who I knew would be down for the shenans!

A week later, our little group chat was born. And despite my usual hesitation, I also ended up joining a larger, more established chat… why? Because sis needed to stay in the know! At first, I dreaded it—some group chats are just too much with all the personalities and nonstop messages. But this one? Surprisingly chill. So chill, in fact, that I had to DM a friend to make sure I hadn’t missed some secret initiation step. Eventually, I got kicked out (LOL) because the chat was actually for folks using their group transportation. More on that later!

Where to Stay: Finding the Perfect Spot in Port of Spain

Finding lodging in Port of Spain always has me holding my breath. Since I’d never done Soaka before, I wasn’t sure how tricky it would be to lock down a decent spot. But one thing was certain: hotels are not my jam if I can help it. No fridge? No microwave? No thanks. I’m all about private rentals—somewhere with a stove, a terrace, enough space to move around, and if I’m lucky, a washer and dryer. Clutch rentals are especially important when dutty fetes are involved, and a checked bag is not an option!

We ended up in a condo in the Woodbrook area, and when I first saw the listing, I had to blink a few times—because I just knew I’d have to look further out. Y’all, I have never booked an Airbnb so fast! A five-minute walk to The Ave? Restaurants and parking on site? Say less. This was luxury in the carnival rental game! I don’t even want to check what it costs during peak carnival time, but that’s not my business lol.

To Drive or Not to Drive? Transportation Woes & Wins

If you haven’t gathered this already, I like to have a solid handle on things because, well… trust issues. I don’t like waiting on people, and I definitely don’t like relying on them when I’m ready to move. My first time at Trinidad Carnival in 2015, I ended up driving in Port of Spain (not by choice), and I learned real quick—would I rent a car during the madness of core weekend? Absolutely not. But for a more laid-back weekend like Soaka? Oh, fa sho’… and I did!

Since I don’t drink much, playing designated driver is never a big deal—as long as my friends don’t overdo it. After some research, I booked my car through Alamo. Four-day SUV rental with insurance? $288. Worth it. Here’s why I prefer driving:

  • I can leave when I want.
  • No waiting on a driver who’s double-booked.
  • No struggling to find my ride in a sea of people.
  • No explaining my location over loud music.

And before y’all come for me, yes, I know there was a group bus. But aht-aht! That was not an option for me. Sitting on a bus with a bunch of people making multiple stops? Nah. I’ll see y’all at the fete!

 

Iron Park (Friday Night)

  • Love steel pan? This is for you.
  • Cooler fetes not your thing? Skip it.
  • Into photo ops and props? You’d like this.
  • Crowd was mixed in age.
  • Fun? Yes. Would I go again? Maybe.

Cruizin’ (Saturday Morning)

Sidebar: I used to love me a good boat ride back in my spring chicken days. But now, never quite knowing how long they’re gonna keep you on the water, not knowing how packed the vessel might be, the guessing game of whether the boat will leave on time or dock at a respectable hour… so many unknowns. I’m just not with it anymore. And don’t get me started if they add a second boat after the first one sells out – ALWAYS a red flag for me! The flashbacks of Afloat JA and Ubersoca Cruise always come rolling back (IYKYK). I try my hardest to avoid having any obligations after a boat ride because you just never know!

Okay so about Cruizin’ (boat 1 to be exact):

  • 1-hour delayed start—we coulda slept in and ate!
  • Sound quality on the second level? Not great.
  • People vs. Spacing? Not my cup of tea
  • Doubles station on board? A blessing!
  • Fun? Yes. Would I return? Maybe.

Soaka ‘Til Sunrise (Sunday Early Morning)

FYI this was the only event I purposely didn’t drive to. We hired a driver because I wanted to be all the way free. Since this was THE main reason people flew in for the weekend, I anticipated traffic being absolutely insane. I didn’t want to deal with any of that – the risk of losing steam before or after the event was not an option. Best decision everrrrr! At the end I was like gurl you was smart fa dis move! 

  • Don’t like getting dutty? Stay home.
  • Not into cooler fetes? Skip it.
  • Huge crowds an issue? This ain’t for you.
  • Fun? Unquestionably!
  • Would I return? Hard yes!

A-Class

So, we bought tickets for this event and never attended it. Word on the street was it was nice though! And, would you believe it was another cooler fete lol?

We had all intentions of going when I conducted my initial research and saw that it was only 15-minutes away. Chile, by the time we got dressed, sat in the car and turned on the engine, Waze was like “yeah so, it’s gonna be 36 minutes sis”. I was like “Soooo y’all wanna go hang at the Hyatt?” Cus guess who wasn’t finna be sitting in Trinidad traffic for an hour. My spirit just knew 36 minutes was a lie.

Listen…Best decision EVER! This is why you gotta roll with like minded souls who be down with the same shenans. We hung out at the Hyatt, then spent some time jamming in a bar on The Ave.

Final Thoughts: A Well-Timed Escape

This trip was exactly what I needed heading into my birthday week—just enough fetin’, plenty of time to lime, and great vibes with my girlies. If you know me, you know I really needed that reset! When I come back from a trip with barely any photos, you know a time was had.

If you’ve never done Trinidad Carnival, I’d say go at least once so you can decide if it’s worth repeating. But the truth is, there are so many ways to get your Trinidad carnival fix without diving into the core weekend madness. It’s all about what works for you—your personality, your schedule, and of course, your bank account. Dassit.

Thanks for reading, y’all!