Planning a trip to Barbados? Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy a fun vacation in this beautiful Caribbean island.
Barbados is a tiny gem of an island with an impressive number of white and golden sand beaches, turquoise waters, friendly locals and mouth-watering food.
How do I know this?
Because I live there!
If you’re planning a Barbados getaway, I’m going to give you an insider’s guide about everything you need to know. I’m a firm believer that when you plan ahead and you’re organized, things run so much smoother. So, let’s do this!
What You Need To Know Before You Book A Trip To Barbados
Weather On the Island
Barbados boasts a temperature that rarely falls below 70 degrees Farenheit (21 degrees Celsius) all year round. This makes it very appealing to anyone who lives in a temperate climate and suffers through freezing cold winters or the chilly fall and spring seasons. For this reason, it’s very popular with British tourists in particular but the island also gets lots of traffic from the US and Canada.
There are only two real seasons to speak of—dry and wet. The Caribbean does have a hurricane season which falls during the Summer months. However, the location of Barbados, being the most easterly of all the West Indian islands, means it falls outside of the usual course of most storms and they seldom make landfall.
Best Time To Visit Barbados
If you’re looking to get away from the cold in your country, November through June is a great time to travel to Barbados. You’ll enjoy blue skies and mostly sunny days. Of course, Christmas and New Year result in peak numbers of people visiting the island which means prices of flights and accommodations are higher than normal.
During July to August, you can take part in some of the country’s famous Crop Over festivities. This is a traditional celebration of the sugar cane harvest and it always ends with a carnival called Grand Kadooment on the first Monday of August. On this day, people wear colorful costumes accented with sequins and feathers. The revelers party in the streets to sweet soca music blasting from speakers on trucks. It’s really a sight to behold if you’ve never seen anything like it.
Looking for the perfect mix of great weather, affordable prices and activities? The best time to go to Barbados is probably May. Many attractions are available and the rainy season has yet to set in. Meanwhile, the majority of the winter crowd will have gone.
Barbados Activities
There are so many things to do in Barbados:
Beaches
Of course, I have to start with the beaches. You can relax and enjoy the sea, sand and sun from the South Coast to the West Coast (also known as the Platinum Coast). Some beaches I love include Accra Beach, Carlisle Bay, Coach House, Folkestone and Port Ferdinand. There, you’ll find the opportunity to participate in water sports like kayaking, snorkeling and diving or even take a ride on a jet ski.
The more popular beaches do have life guard towers but not all of them, so be cautious. Please take note of any flags you see along the beaches as well. Red ones mean danger—possibly strong undercurrents or large swells.
If you’re a daredevil, the more turbulent seas in Soup Bowl, Bathsheba on the East Coast is a surfer’s paradise. Many local and international competitions have been hosted there. The relaxed atmosphere, natural and unspoiled beauty of this side of the island is quite a change from the bustle in the rest of the country.
Check out this awesome Beach Vacation Packing List to be sure you have everything you need to enjoy the island’s sandy shores to the fullest.
Other Things To Do
Besides beaches, some activities I would highly recommend are the Island Safari, Harrison’s Cave and the Animal Flower Cave (one of my favorite spots). You can also book a catamaran cruise and go out to sea or view the marine life on a submarine.
Quite honestly, there are entirely too many for me to mention so here’s a list of more activities and attractions.
Food
You can’t visit Barbados and not try the local cuisine. The food is absolutely delicious and is flavored with lots of herbs and spices.
Fish cakes are a personal favorite and great as an appetizer but if you’re looking for a main meal, Cou-Cou and Flying Fish is the national dish. It’s made of cornmeal and okras and has a similar consistency to polenta or grits. Then, it’s smothered in gravy and topped with steamed flying fish.
Pepper sauce is a condiment served at most restaurants. Word to the wise—stay away from it if you can’t handle the heat. Don’t say, I didn’t warn you!
If food is what you’re after, there are a ridiculous number of restaurants everywhere from small family run establishments to five-star dining experiences. But, there’s nothing quite like Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday or Saturday night. There you can consume freshly grilled fish along with your choice of side dishes or even whole lobsters slathered in butter.
What to Drink
Rum punch is very popular with tourists and that’s no surprise as Barbados is known as the birthplace of rum. And, even as the local sugar industry declines, the country still manufactures excellent rums recognized worldwide as some of the finest and strongest there is. In fact, there are tons of rum shops where locals congregate in every parish.
Mount Gay Distillery, founded in 1703, has a Visitor Center where guests can learn the secrets of making rum and sample some of the award-winning liquors. There’s also Cockspur Rum and Foursquare Distilleries.
In addition to rum, the island is home to Banks Beer Brewery which has produced its distinctive lager since 1961.
Prefer a non-alcoholic beverage? Try some refreshing coconut water. Simply stop at one of the vendors selling this natural drink roadside. They’ll cut the coconuts fresh for you. Sip it right out of the shell or buy a whole bottle and take it back to your accommodation.
On a particularly hot day, purchase a snow cone from the “Snow Cone Man” (women sell them too). You’ll find lots of these carts in Bridgetown. This iced treat definitely hits the spot with sweet syrup and optional condensed milk dribbled over the top. My favorite flavor is coconut and it MUST have milk! Yum!
Where to Stay
There’s no shortage of accommodations to suit your pocket in Barbados. Places to stay range from self-catering apartments to hotels to luxury villas. Click to view this list of island accommodation.
You can also book a place to stay on Airbnb.
Getting Around Barbados
In order to make your way around the island, rent a vehicle, take a taxi or make use of the much cheaper bus service. Taxis are not metered and all legal taxi cars have a license plate starting with the letter “Z”.
The Government-owned Barbadian buses are hard to miss as they are painted blue with a yellow stripe down the sides. Privately owned mini-buses are yellow with blue stripes down the side. Finally, there are smaller ZR vans which are white with maroon stripes. At the time of writing this, the bus fare is BDS$2 per person.
Travel Tips
Of course, there are other things to consider when planning a trip to Barbados:
Is Barbados Safe?
Any time you travel, you want to ensure that you and your family will be safe. Well, there is crime in every country and Barbados is no exception to that. However, the crime rate in the country is much lower when compared to some of its Caribbean neighbors.
Be smart and vigilant as you enjoy your vacation. Don’t walk along lonely, unlit areas at night on your own and avoid carrying large amounts of money or expensive accessories like jewelry. Safeguard your valuables while on the beaches. Basically, act like you would at home or anywhere else in the world.
All drugs, apart from cigarettes and alcohol, are illegal.
Alert your hotel security or the Royal Barbados Police Force of any suspicious activity or anyone who might be hassling you.
Emergency numbers are as follows:
- Police – 211
- Ambulance – 511
- Fire – 311
Here are 19 Things Not To Do In Barbados that will help you stay safe and avoid breaking any local laws.
Do You Need Vaccinations for Barbados?
There are no specific vaccinations required for travel to the island. But, you should make sure that you are up-to-date on routine immunizations e.g. chicken pox and measles.
Be aware, though, that there are mosquitoes and biting flies. Mosquitoes carry diseases such as Dengue Fever so pack insect repellent. Here’s a complete Travel Checklist you can use so you don’t forget to pack anything important for your holiday.
Entry Requirements
When traveling overseas, there are some international travel preparations you should make. Things like checking that your passport has not expired and whether you need a visa are vital.
For most countries, the only entry requirements you will need are a passport that’s valid for the duration of your stay, proof of address for your accommodation and a return ticket. Check to find out if you require a visa for entry to Barbados.
Barbados Currency
The Barbados dollar is pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate of US$1 = BDS$1.98. US dollars are accepted island-wide and most stores and restaurants accept major credit cards and traveler’s checks.
Taking a trip to Barbados is one you won’t soon forget. But, don’t take my word for it! Plan your own holiday and come see for yourself!
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