Barbados is a Caribbean country located entirely on one of the Lesser Antilles islands. It grows sugar cane, produces rum, and welcomes tourists. In 2021, the island gained independence from the British crown, but it is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and the English spirit is evident in everything from golf to the five-o-clock tradition.
Why go?
Barbados is primarily about diving, windsurfing and other types of active water recreation. All the natural attractions of the island are hidden by the ocean. The architecture has wonderful examples of the English colonial style, but to see them, a few days are enough. Therefore, history buffs prefer tours throughout the Caribbean, and those who want to alternate pleasant relaxation on the beach and sea adventures stay in Barbados.
The main thing about the country
- The average daily cost of accommodation and food for a tourist in Barbados is $200-250.
- The official language is English, the Beijan dialect.
- Time zone UTC -4 (7 hours earlier than Moscow).
- The vast majority of the population are Christians. Three quarters of the population are Anglicans, many are Seventh-day Adventists and Catholics.
- The island is composed almost entirely of coral limestone. The relief is flat with an increase towards the center.
- The climate is tropical. In January the temperature is 25-27 degrees, in July – 30-32 degrees.
- Local residents are well disposed towards tourists.
Customs
Personal inspection at the airport includes mandatory scanning of shoes, so travelers will need shoe covers or disposable socks.
It is prohibited to import foreign rum, matches, pornographic materials and items in camouflage colors into the country. Local currency is prohibited for export. Foreign currency can be exported in the same or lesser amount than declared upon entry.
When to go
The rainy season lasts from June to October. It is quite mild, but from mid-summer to mid-autumn the weather can get very bad. Barbados is located south of the hurricane belt, but it is hit by a hurricane once every 3 years, and about once every 26 years a storm passes over the island.
Climate risks do not prevent the Crop Over Festival from being held every year from the beginning of July. The celebration of the sugar cane harvest ends with a carnival that takes place on the first Monday of August.
Although Barbados is a year-round destination, the high season is from December to March. In January, the world jazz festival takes place here, bringing together the best jazz musicians on the planet.
If you are looking for a compromise between predictable weather and the number of people, then you can plan your vacation for the period from November to May. If you arrive on the island at the very end of October, there is a chance to get to the international gastronomic festival Food & Rum.
At any time of year, bathing suits, light, closed clothing, sunscreen and repellents are useful: as everywhere in the tropics, there are a lot of insects here.
Currency
The official currency of the country is the Barbados dollar. It is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 2:1. In some places you can pay in pounds sterling, Canadian or US dollars, but you will get change in the local currency.
There are no problems with currency exchange, banks are open on weekdays until 15:00, on Fridays – until 17:00. On weekends, exchange is possible in hotels and exchange offices.
It is better to bring in American and Canadian dollars and pounds sterling, whether in cash or in the form of traveler’s checks.
When traveling, it is essential to have cash with you: cards of all world payment systems work in Barbados, but non-cash payments are accepted only in large companies, the rest prefer cash. Try to take smaller bills in exchange offices, otherwise there will inevitably be problems with change.
Prices
Barbados is a relatively expensive country. Hotel accommodation will cost one tourist from $180. Public transport fare is $4-5. Taxi from the airport is $46.
Lunch in an average restaurant costs from $30, in a top restaurant – $60-70. But you can eat your fill for less: on the street you can buy a large portion of fish with vegetables for $10.
Beaches
There are many beaches in Barbados. All of them are municipal, and access to them is free. In the south of the island the sand is white, in the west – golden. The east coast is wild, there is practically no infrastructure and, accordingly, no people. The northern shores are not suitable for swimming: the local rocks are constantly hit by too powerful waves of the Atlantic Ocean.
Trade is carried out beyond the recreation areas, but sometimes sellers try to walk along the sand, offering goods. If they interfere, you can contact the police patrolling the beaches. But you still shouldn’t take valuables with you on vacation near the water and leave them unattended.
The beaches of Barbados are generally safe, protected from sharks by reefs and rocks. But swimming in the open sea carries serious risks, as the ocean has strong currents.
Resorts
Sanatorium and resort treatment is not developed in Barbados.
Attractions
One of the main attractions in the vicinity of Bridgetown is the Francia Plantation. The mansion was built at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. By that time, the fields where African slaves had grown sugar cane since the 17th century were almost abandoned. Now a school operates in the mansion building, so access to the museum treasures is closed to tourists. It’s a pity: maps of the Caribbean region dating back to the time of Columbia are kept here. The fields around the mansion have been replanted, and the complex gives an idea of what life was like in Barbados.
Another attraction is the Tyrol Cote estate. It belonged to the country’s first prime minister, Grantley Adams (the position was created in 1966, when the island gained independence from Britain, but retained the monarchy). Next to the coral stone mansion with unusually large windows, there are several English-style cottages. There are also souvenir and rum shops, a cafe with local dishes, and a blacksmith’s tool shop.
Other places to visit in Barbados include:
- fort garrison;
- the house where George Washington lived;
- Botanical Garden “Andromeda”
- Abbey of St. Nicholas,
- Sam Lord’s Castle, a mansion that preserves the memory of the local pirates;
- nature reserve in St. Peter County,
- a 17th century synagogue,
- Codrington Theological College,
- Harrison’s Cave with stalactites, stalagmites and underground lakes,
- sugar museum,
- rum distilleries.
For those who like excursions, a Heritage Barbados Passport will allow you to save a lot of money. It costs $35 and gives you a 50% discount on museum admission and the right to bring two children under 12 for free.
If you ever get bored in Barbados, you can book a day trip to other Caribbean islands.
Entertainment
The main entertainment in Barbados is beach activities. The best time for surfing and windsurfing is from November to June. Scuba diving (including turtle diving), diving with tropical fish and wrecks, kayaking, fishing and submarine tours are possible all year round.
For a change of scenery, there are opportunities to play golf and cricket, ride a Segway or horse, or go on a safari.
Kitchen
The basis of Barbados cuisine is seafood, primarily flying fish.
You should definitely try ku-ku – deep-sea shrimp cooked with cornmeal. Okra porridge is unusual. This vegetable is actively used here. One of the favorite dishes of Barbadians is pepperpot – meat stewed with okra and spices.
A soup made from crabs and vegetables is called callaloo, named after the spinach-like herb that is generously added to the dish.
You will probably come across roti, a flatbread made from unleavened flour similar to lavash, which is used to wrap meat and vegetables.
Conquis is a dessert made from grains, coconut, sweet potato, raisins and pumpkin with sugar and spices. It is mixed tightly and served on banana leaves.
Souvenirs
Barbados is a great place for shopping: it is a duty-free zone and many things are much cheaper here. But if you want to bring home a piece of the Caribbean, pay attention to:
- shells, corals and crafts made from them (be careful with large giant pink shells, you can get a fine at customs if you don’t show a receipt);
- figurines made of stone and precious wood;
- ship models that are exactly like the prototypes (such souvenirs need to be well packed, they are fragile)
- glass figurines and decorations.
At fairs you can bargain, the seller will probably lower the price. If you don’t come across such an event, go to Pelican Craft. This is a place where artisans work. Workshops work right next to the benches, and you can watch the craftsman at work.
Rum is also brought as a gift from Barbados. Manufacturers take into account the souvenir purpose of the product, and in numerous stores you will definitely find unusual options for such a gift.
Transport
The island has a well-developed public transport system. These are buses and minibuses of several types. You should not use Z Buses – minibuses with license plates starting with the letter Z: their drivers are reckless.
For safety reasons, you can only order an official taxi. But there is a nuance with them: the driver will not wait for the passenger, he expects that the one who wants to leave will wait for the car on the side of the road. Taxi drivers do not have meters, the cost of the service must be agreed with the driver before the trip.
Car rental costs $45 per day. To travel, you need to obtain a temporary local license (for 2 months it costs $5, for a year – $50). The basis for issuing the document is an international driver’s license or a national one with a notarized translation. Parking in Barbados is free, the quality of the roads is poor.
Safety
Until recently, Barbados and especially its capital Bridgetown were considered safe, but since 2019, the situation has begun to change. Now, caution is required in the country: the number of thefts, cases of banditry, and shootings on the streets is growing. When visiting large events, caution is required. At any time of the day, do not keep valuables in sight: jewelry, smartphones, cameras and video cameras. Large sums of money cannot be displayed.
It is best to stay in the hotel during the dark hours. Walking alone, including to the beach, can be dangerous. Participation in night cruises and parties is not recommended.
In Bridgetown, you shouldn’t go to the streets of Nelson and Wellington at night. The settlement of Crab Hill in the south of the island is also considered dangerous for tourists, as are any outlying areas in the evenings.
Medicine
It is recommended that you get vaccinated against hepatitis B and tetanus before travelling to Barbados.
Medicine in the country is developed at the European level, so in case of health problems you will not have to go anywhere. Foreigners are accepted by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and the Bayview Hospital. Both institutions are located in Bridgetown.
Traditions
In Barbados, wearing camouflage clothing and protective paint is prohibited.
You cannot appear in public places in leisure clothes; the minimum dress code threshold is casual style.
There are no nudist beaches on the island; swimsuits for women and swimming trunks for men are required.
Internet
Short contracts are offered by local operators Digicel and FLOW.
Useful facts
- Traffic is on the left. In general, the rules are observed, but many drivers ignore traffic regulations.
- The mains voltage is 110 volts.
- Although even strangers on the street may try to offer you some illegal substances, any interaction with drugs will result in at least a large fine.
- Men, including tourists, face life imprisonment for same-sex relations.
- Barbados’ tap water comes from underground sources. It is originally one of the cleanest in the world, but old pipelines reduce its quality, so tourists are advised to drink bottled water.
- For those who want to rent a yacht or boat, it is important to remember: dropping an anchor on coral reefs carries a large fine.
Local laws
Wearing camouflage clothing is considered an offense.