Barbados has stayed true to its English roots since the early 1600s, when British sailors landed on the island. While the French, Spaniards and Danes fought over the rest of the Caribbean, the British settlers in Barbados remained steadfast to their English traditions. Today, tourists can still expect to experience a little bit of British influence in this Caribbean destination point.
Tourists booking flights to Barbados are heading into an island paradise. The Caribbean has carved out fantastic underwater caves in Barbados, creating a picturesque undersea environment prized by photographers, divers and snorkellers. Adventuresome travellers heading to Barbados for a glimpse of the underworld should book their Barbados flights and accommodations in advance. The weather is continually gorgeous on land, but marine life is swayed by undersea movements. While cheap flights to Barbados can be purchased during the off-season, snorkellers and divers should be aware of tropical storms and hurricanes that are common in the Caribbean.
Search and compare: cheap flights to Barbados
Back to top
The weather is mostly sunny and fair in tropical Barbados, with an average of high daytime temperatures of 24 to 29 degrees Celsius. These hot conditions are tempered by the prevailing cool northeast tradewinds. The dry season occurs from January to June and the hurricane season extends from June to October. Hurricanes, however, usually miss Barbados. Instead the island experiences some spectacular tropical rainstorms. These are usually short and heavy spells that dry up quickly.
Back to top
Peak Season:
The high season for flights to Barbados runs from February to May, when the weather is best.
Off Season:
Hurricane season is June to October, so accommodations and flights to Barbados will be cheapest during this time. Bring a waterproof coat if you’re visiting then.
Search and compare: cheap flights to Barbados
Back to top
Road is the only means of transportation on the island, either bus, car or taxi. The buses are inexpensive and relatively fast. However, most long-distance routes are to or from Bridgetown, so you’ll have to make a stop there if you’re travelling between other destinations, whether you want to or not.
Cars are available to hire, though you also need to buy a temporary Barbados drivers license (for an extra £5). All car hire companies will arrange this for you.
Taxis are available in the cities.
Back to top
- Bridgetown is the capital, but few tourists spend too much time here. The streets are quaint with lots of colonial buildings and artifacts. The Barbados National Museum is also in town, housed in the building of an old prison. Among the exhibits are a display of the coral structure that makes up the island, furnishings from an 18th-century plantation house and a reference library of books about the island.
- Remember your manners while you’re in Barbados. It is usual to greet people in a shop or when asking for directions, before getting to the request for information. As you pass people on the street or outside their houses, they will often wave hello. Bajans are very friendly and will be happy to assist you, or recommend good places to eat. Recommendations from locals are hard to beat…
- Fish is a staple food in Barbados, for obvious reasons. Grilled fish, fried fish and fish stew make up many meals. The best places to eat fish are round fish markets, where the day’s catches are grilled or fried fresh for the customer. If you're vacationing in the Easter time, don't miss the Oistins Fish Festival which takes place over Easter weekend.
- To wash it all down, try some of the local drink: rum. There are a number of distilleries open to visitors. One of the most famous brands is Mount Gay Rum. The Mount Gay Rum tour takes you to the museum, a reconstructed rum shop, past an assembly line and finally to the bar. The distilleries are in St Michael, close to the Malibu visitor centre.
- There is a vast array of tours on offer from the official tourist board. Whether you’re interested in the wildlife, the sea, arts and crafts, diving or black culture, there is a specific tour designed to show the best the island has to offer. There are even day tours specifically designed for those who have come off a cruise ship.
Back to top
All tourists require a return or onward ticket, proof of sufficient funds and documents for onward travel. Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay.
Back to top
British tourists require a valid passport. No visa for stays of up to six months are necessary.
Back to top
