If you read my first post I mentioned that I went to Barbados recently and had a blast! Well naturally, I’m here to give you my Barbados travel guide! I am so excited to dedicate the next few posts to this small island in the Caribbean.

Why Barbados, you ask? Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island outside of the Atlantic hurricane belt (major plus if you’re planning a Caribbean getaway during these months). The British settled here in the early 1600’s. Although the country has gained independence 50 some years ago, much of its customs are British! Afternoon tea? Yes! Add the many white sandy beaches and rich culture, Barbados is the perfect holiday getaway!

Language

Bajans (pronounced Bay-juns), speak perfect English. Like the rest of the Caribbean islands, Bajans have their own dialect with African influences. It’s a spoken language, so don’t worry! Bajans can tell tourists from their own and will speak to you in English.

Currency

The currency of Barbados is the Barbadian dollar (BBD). The rate is fixed at $2 BBD to every $1 USD. The nominations are 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Coins are 5, 10, 25, and 1 dollar. I found the currency very easy to use! US dollars are accepted everywhere. I suggest bringing your USD in small nominations (1s, 5s and 10s). You’ll get the change back in BBD, then just use the rest of your Barbadian dollars. Don’t be like me and bring mostly 20s USD. There were a few times where I wish I had more smaller bills especially when buying from smaller businesses.

Transportation

Getting around Barbados is easy! You can take the bus anywhere along the island for $2 BBD (local currency only!). Or you can take a van called the ZR. You’ll find these vans in highly populated areas. I’ve read they pack as many passengers as they can so it can definitely be an experience! My personal experience is renting a car. I’ll write more about this later!

Location/Where to Stay

Barbados is divided into 11 parishes. Every parish except two border the coastline. I stayed in the Christ Church parish which suited my needs for city living, proximity to the beach and airport, and nightlife. You want country living? Stay in Saint Andrew! Wealthy lifestyle? Saint James is for you! I suggest figuring out how you want to live out your vacation and going from there. Barbados has some inclusive resorts, hotels and a small few of hostels. Airbnb is big here and it’s also how I chose to sleep at night. New to Airbnb? Sign-up here to get $40 in travel credit!

Beaches

With calm white sandy beaches on the west side of the island to rough exotic landscapes on the East, there are plenty of beaches to chose from! I spent most of my time at Brownes beach in the Saint Michael parish. It was about a 15 minute drive from my stay in Oistins and I found no seaweed. Also, if you’re into water sports, there are tons of vendors along this beach. I was able to rent a beach chair and umbrella for $20 USD. If you go to Lobster Alive, I was able to snag a beach chair, umbrella, and two complimentary drinks (non-alcoholic or alcoholic) for $10 USD! A steal indeed! The chair and umbrella were a little more beat up then the one I rented along another stretch of this beach. My suggestion would be to walk around and ask. Other notable beaches are Miami Beach, Crane Beach, Bathsheba, Dover Beach.

 

Things to Do

The amount of things to do in Barbados are limitless! You want to indulge in some history? Visit St. Nicholas Abbey, George Washington House, or Morgan Lewis Sugar Hill. Adventurous spirit? Harrison’s Cave and Animal Flower Cave to name a few. Family friendly? Animal Wildlife Reserve is great for all ages! Just want to drink? Trust there is plenty of that throughout the island. But to learn more about how rum is made a visit at the Mount Gay Tour is a must! Want to have fun at night? Oistins Fish Fry on Friday nights is the place to be!

 

I’ll be writing more tips and things I learned about some of the places and experiences during my stay so check back for more!