A fabulous island, Barbados is washed by the warm clear waters of the Caribbean and the Atlantic. Excellent beaches with golden and white sand will provide a great vacation at the water’s edge, and clubs, bars and classy rum will not let you get bored. Tours, photos, prices and hotels – all about Barbados.
According to Wholevehicles, Barbados is a fabulous island surrounded by coral reefs with wonderful beaches, lush tropical nature and an even mild climate throughout the year. Its landscape is dominated by plains, but closer to the east coast, the terrain becomes more mountainous. The island is located on the eastern tip of the Lesser Antilles archipelago. Its east coast is washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and the west by the Caribbean Sea. This is a former colony of Great Britain, where all British traditions are still carefully preserved. Barbados is often referred to as “Little England”. There are protected places on the island where unique species of tropical plants and animals have been preserved in the wild – so it is not surprising that tours here are of well-deserved interest among tourists.
The capital is Bridgetown.
Coasts of Barbados
The south coast is the meeting point of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean with ideal conditions for windsurfing. Along the entire coast there are small 3 and 4 * hotels, bars, restaurants and discos. The center of nightlife is St. Lawrence Gap.
Rum is one of the hallmarks of Barbados. Hundreds of tiny bars and many colorful rum shops are scattered throughout the island and add a lot of color to it.
The west coast is washed by the Caribbean Sea and is famous for its golden sandy beaches and calm clear waters. The best hotels of the island, located here, will suit lovers of a relaxing holiday. Evenings can be spent in cozy restaurants and bars.
The east coast of Barbados is washed by the Atlantic Ocean. This is the most beautiful and at the same time the least explored part of the island by tourists. There are excellent conditions for surfing and wild beaches.
The north of Barbados is the least populated area. Here is the Barbados Wildlife Sanctuary in St. Peter County (25 km north of Bridgetown) – a habitat for green monkeys, roe deer, otters, turtles, and other exotic animals and birds.
Climate of Barbados
Tropical trade wind, close to subequatorial marine. The air temperature fluctuates between +26…+30 °C all year round, and the trade winds and the sea breeze save you from the exhausting heat. About 75% of precipitation falls from June to November, the wettest month is July. Also, summer means possible hurricanes – the largest number of them can hit the island from September to the end of October.
The driest months are from February to May, for example, in April there are only about seven rainy days during the entire month! Actual information: weather forecast for the main resorts of Barbados for the coming days.
Beaches
Barbados has many good sandy beaches, each with its own distinct character. The west coast is famous for its golden sand, the south for white. All the beaches of the island are municipal, but, as a rule, only guests recline on the beaches near the hotels.
Nudism and topless are actually banned: in this respect, Barbados strictly adheres to conservative British traditions.
Hotels in Barbados
Most of the hotels are concentrated on the western and southern coasts of the island, near the most popular beaches. All prestigious hotels are located on the west coast, in the southern part of the island there are more democratic hotels that will appeal to lovers of nightlife.
Windsurfers are suitable for accommodation on the south or southeast coast – this is where the places of their pilgrimage are located. Ordinary tourists are not recommended to stay on the southeast coast – the almost complete absence of beaches and big waves will ruin their vacation.
Mains voltage 110/120 V, 50 Hz. US style sockets and plugs are used. To use European electrical appliances, you need an adapter and a converter that changes the voltage from 220 to 110 V. In 4 and 5 * hotels, adapters are issued free of charge.
Money
The currency of the country is the Barbados dollar (BBD), in 1 dollar 100 cents. Current exchange rate: 1 BBD = 28.81 RUB (1 USD = 2 BBD, 1 EUR = 2.1 BBD).
Currency can be exchanged at commercial banks, exchange offices and hotels. Exchange rates in commercial banks and hotels are almost the same. The island is served by the National Bank of Barbados and at least 6 branches of international banks, so there are usually no problems with currency exchange. Banks are open from 8:00 to 15:00, on Fridays from 9:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 17:00. Banks and most commercial offices are open 5 days a week.
Most hotels, restaurants and resort shops accept major credit cards and travelers checks. In the tourism industry, the US dollar is almost ubiquitous. In the provinces with credit cards is much more difficult – in most cases, preference is given to cash. In addition, various duties and goods in the markets can also only be paid in cash.
In most hotels and restaurants, tips are already included in the cost of service. If not, it is customary to leave a tip of 10% of the bill. Maids are usually given 1 USD per room, porters at the airport and hotels – 1 USD for each piece of luggage, taxi drivers – as much as they want.
Shopping and shops in Barbados
Most shops in the capital are open from 8:30 to 16:30 from Monday to Friday and until 12:00-13:00 on Saturday. There are many duty-free shops on the island – you will have to present your passport and return ticket there. Supermarkets are usually open until 20:00. More than a thousand (!) rum shops are open on the island. In general, Barbados is a rather expensive island, this should be borne in mind.
Local merchants often can’t find change for large US dollar bills, so it’s best to bring small bills with you and pay with a credit card for large purchases.
Cuisine and restaurants
The island’s restaurants are famous for their diversity: here you can taste national cuisine and much more. Flying fish and other seafood are especially popular.
Freshly grilled fish in a restaurant for tourists – 40-60 BBD. A bottle of water in the store – from 4 BBD. A bottle of beer – from 3 BBD.
Rum is one of the hallmarks of Barbados. Hundreds of tiny bars and many colorful rum shops are scattered throughout the island and add a lot of color to it.
Entertainment and attractions in Barbados
One of the ways to get acquainted with the sights of the island is to buy a special “tourist passport” (Heritage Barbados Passport) for about 35 USD. It provides an opportunity to visit 16 major museums, natural and architectural monuments of the country with a 50% discount. The owner of such a “passport” can be accompanied by two children under 12 years of age free of charge.
Despite the outward calmness of life on the island, there are a sufficient number of bars and discos, including Harbor Lights on the sand in the open air.
One-day tours to the nearby islands of the Caribbean: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where the shooting of the famous film “Pirates of the Caribbean” took place, Dominica Island – hundreds of rivers, waterfalls, rainforests and mountains, Saint Lucia – the untouched nature of the tropics, waterfalls and mountains.
Excursions are conducted both in English and in Russian (in the latter case, you need to pay extra for the services of a Russian-speaking guide).
Leisure
Water sports are well developed in Barbados: sailing, water skiing, diving and snorkeling. Thanks to the wind from the Atlantic, the island has become a real Mecca for surfers – both beginners and “pros”.
Fans of scuba diving will really like the West Coast: there the sea is hidden by steep reefs and sunken ships. The east coast is a “paradise” for surfers, the best place here is the Soup Bowl (“Soup Bowl”). The best place for windsurfing, especially from November to June, is Silver Sands (“Silver Sands”) on the south coast.
The island also has three internationally renowned golf courses: Sandy Lane, Royal Westmoreland and Barbados Golf Club.
Every year in January, a major jazz festival is held in Barbados, bringing together musicians from all over the world.
Holidays in Barbados
The island nation of Barbados is located in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Once you visit Barbados at least once in your life, you will want to come back here again and again. Life on the island flows serenely, as if in paradise. The sun shines all year round, and natural disasters do not happen at all.
Very hospitable and cheerful people live in Barbados. The main occupation of the locals is the cultivation of sugar cane and work in the tourism sector. Despite the seeming harmlessness, many of them still strive to make money on tourists. Some sell fruits picked up on the road, others beg. One thing is invariable: no matter what they do, the smile never leaves their faces.
In Barbados, tourists will find a lot of entertainment for themselves. You can sunbathe on the beach and swim in the gentle Caribbean Sea, wander around shops and shops in search of souvenirs, explore caves and sit in a restaurant, go diving and even swim with turtles.
You will definitely not be bored in Barbados. Time will fly by unnoticed, and very soon it will turn out that you need to fly away. But who wants to leave paradise?
