Copyright Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

A Barbados beach vacation is a chance for travelers to visit one of the most commercialized islands in the Caribbean. But vacationers need not worry—the island has a full range of great travel experiences.

Barbados has a population of more than 280,000 people, a vibrant economy and a prominent English colonial past. It gives American, Canadian and British tourists a strong sense of comfort and familiarity.

We especially enjoyed touring the capital city of Bridgetown and swimming with sea turtles during our visits there.

Hotel and Resort Tips

The island has more than 500,000 hotel and resort visitors each year, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization. It has another 500,000 tourists who come from cruise ships, making the two types of visits roughly equal in popularity.

Hotel and resort visitors fly into Grantley Adams International Airport near the southeast coast of the island. From there, they need transportation to the places where they are staying because most of them are on the west and southwest coasts of the island near Bridgetown. A rental car from the airport makes sense on an island as large as Barbados for anyone who wants the freedom to see more than just their hotel and resort beach.

Bridgetown is 11 miles from the airport on the west coast. Many of the hotels are clustered in a tight group just south of Bridgetown and are a quick drive from the airport. Others are strung out to the north of the city and take longer to reach.

A hotel or resort near Bridgetown has an advantage because of Bridgetown attractions. Expect to pay $200 to $300 per night or more for hotels such as a Hilton, Wyndham or Radisson. All-inclusive resorts are common with prices much higher than the hotels.

Barbados Tourist Attractions

Bridgetown is the capital of the country and the most active place to visit for things to do. Hotel and resort visitors will usually need a rental car to get there.

Broad Street is the location of many shops, restaurants and historical places. Attractions include St. Mary’s Anglican Church, built in 1825, and the Barbados Parliament Building, which has a beautiful clock tower and vaulted windows.

St. Michael’s Cathedral, which was built in the mid-17th century, is another interesting historical attraction. Anyone walking around may want to have lunch at restaurants on Constitution River right by the Independence Arch. We enjoyed the views when we dined there.

The Bridgetown harbor is the location of an “Atlantis” submarine. The 48-person submarine dives as much as 150 feet on a 45-minute tour to view shipwrecks, sea life and coral reefs. Prices start at about $100 per person.

Barbados has one of the better shore excursions in the Caribbean with swimming with sea turtles. Excursion boats take visitors to an area offshore near Bridgetown. They get into the water with snorkeling gear and swim with giant turtles that are looking for food. The turtles swim within a few feet of visitors.

Major attractions outside of Bridgetown include Harrison’s Cave, a lengthy cave system with underground streams and a 40-foot waterfall. The cave is eight miles northeast of Bridgetown, so hotel and cruise visitors need transportation to get there.

Other unique attractions include the Flower Forest that combines a botanical garden and nature trail. Andromeda Natural Gardens has six acres of tropical plants and flowers.

The island has five public golf courses, which is more than most Caribbean destinations. They are Barbados Golf Club, Rockley Club, Sandy Lane, Apes Hill Club and Almond Beach Village.

Tourism / When to Go

Barbados has a full range of water sports including surfing. © Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.

The most popular month for travelers to visit the island is December and the least popular is September, according to the Caribbean Tourism Organization.

Other popular months are January through March as people up north seek to escape from winter. April is one of the best months to visit Barbados for warm temperatures and low risk of rain.

September and October are the most unpopular months to visit because they are the peak months of the Caribbean hurricane season.

U.S. and Canadian hotel visitors require a passport. Cruise visitors simply need to have their ship ID cards available when leaving the ship and returning.

Weather

© Scott S. Bateman

The average daytime temperature mostly ranges from the low 80s Fahrenheit or high 20s Celsius in the winter to the high 80s Fahrenheit or about 30 Celsius in the summer.

The climate is tropical with a rainy season from June to October. Hurricanes that hit the island are rare. In contrast, a dry season runs from January to June.

Rainfall averages about six inches a month from August through November, which are the riskiest times to visit for weather. It averages about two inches a month from January through May.

Currency / Tipping / Taxes

Currency is the Barbadian Dollar. It is tied to the U.S. dollar at a fixed rate of U.S. $1.00 = BD $1.98. U.S. currency, travelers’ checks and credit cards are accepted at most establishments throughout the island.

Most restaurants automatically add 10 percent to a bill, with 10-15 percent being the norm for all bills. A 15 percent VAT (Value-Added Tax) is used in all shops, supermarkets and restaurants.

Culture / Geography

English is the dominant language. Historically, the economy depended on the sugarcane industry, but it has diversified in recent years into light industry and tourism.

The geography is relatively flat and rises gently to a central highland region.