ike night and day and Jeckyl and Hyde, Trinidad and Tobago couldn't be more different. Trinidad is a major industrial and petroleum force in the Caribbean basin, with a dynamic energy level and a fast pace. Tobago is the sleepy cousin and much more typical of a West Indian island. Somehow they got stuck together in a political marriage. But both benefit from each other. Tobago gets the wealthier Trinidad to fund government services and build roads, schools, and bridges. Trinidadians use beautiful Tobago for weekend and holiday escapes. The relationship seems to work.

The islands are twenty-one miles apart and located just off the coast of Venezuela. Only eight miles separate Trinidad from Venezuela, and in fact both islands were once geographically connected to South America. Yet they are very West Indian in orientation. Trinidadian influences can be seen all over the Caribbean, both economically and culturally. For most travelers, Trinidad is interesting primarily for Carnival - the biggest in the Caribbean and the world's third largest after Rio and New Orleans. It will appeal to the adventurous party-lover who revels in mass celebrations, calypso and pan music, and rubbing sweaty elbows with the local populace. Tobago is a year-round destination that will appeal to the lover of quiet, very friendly, and rather undeveloped islands where few Americans roam. Both are located outside the hurricane belt, which makes them a good vacation option at the height of hurricane season (August through October).