Useful Tips When Planning Your Barbados Holiday

Listed below are some interesting facts and things you should know about the island of Barbados that may help with your holiday plans.

Airport

Barbados has one airport – Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI).  The airport is in the south of the island and is 16kms from Bridgetown, the capital.  There is only one terminal at the airport. The airport does not have skyways, so passengers are required to exit the plane via a stairway and walk to the arrivals hall.

Arrival/Departure Cards

You will be given an Immigration/Customs Form on board your flight. The forms must be completed prior to entering the Arrivals hall. Visitors are required to list the address where they will stay while in Barbados. Customs is generally a formality with rare baggage searches.

Arriving in Barbados

After you have cleared Immigration you will see numerous “Red Caps.” These men and women are available to help you with your bags and will escort you through Customs to the outside arrival area.  It is customary to tip the Red Caps Bds$2 (US$1) per bag.

Buses run outside the airport going east and west. We strongly suggest taking a taxi. The taxi drivers know the back roads and short cuts to avoid commuter traffic. Most international flights arrive between 1pm and 6pm, which is an extremely busy period on highways.

Airport Meet and Greet

We recommend that you take the hassle out of your airport transfers by arranging your own personal Meet and Greet service.  Contact us at www.BarbadosBarbados.com and we will make these arrangements for you.  You will be guaranteed a quality, air-conditioned vehicle and a pleasant and courteous driver who will know exactly where you are going.

Airport Taxis

Airport taxis have standard rates.  As you leave the Customs Hall and exit through the sliding doors, you will notice on the left a sign with a list of taxi fares to various parts of the island.  Check this carefully. Note that there may be additional charges for excess baggage.

Camouflage Clothing

Any form of clothing, including hats, scarves, shorts, t-shirts, back-packs, etc, resembling army camouflage is not permitted in Barbados.  Anyone wearing such articles into the country (even children) will be asked to remove them by the Authorities.

Car Hire

There are numerous car rental companies to choose from but be careful who you select as some are better than others.  We at www.BarbadosBarbados.com will be happy to make these arrangements for you to ensure your car rental experience is a positive one.

Departure Tax

This is now included in the cost of your airline ticket, but for your information it is Bds$60 (US$30) per person.

Drinking Water

Barbados’ water is naturally filtered via the limestone and coral and is therefore safe to drink.

Duty Free Purchases

There is a Duty Free store next to the airport's Baggage Claim and we strongly suggest that you purchase alcohol and cigarettes there. New Government legislation has raised taxes on imported alcohol and tobacco by over 50%.  No longer can you purchase duty free tobacco.

If you are shopping in any of the island's many stores, be sure to take your passport and Immigration Card with you in order to purchase certain items Duty Free.  You cannot purchase alcohol duty free and take them with you.  These items have to be sent to the airport for you to collect on your way out.

Getting Around

In Barbados the cars have the steering wheel on the right hand side, and we drive on the left hand side of the road.  Beware of this when walking or stepping off the sidewalk.  An easy way to remember which side of the road you should be on is that the steering wheel should always be in the middle of the road, never on the side!

Public transportation is fairly good.  However there is no particular schedule. The blue buses are Government owned; the yellow “mini-buses” and the small white “ZR” vans are privately owned and are generally very reckless, at times dangerous. We do not recommend using either the yellow mini-bus or the white ZR vans.  Bus fares are Bds$1.50 to anywhere on the island.

The roads in Barbados are narrow and generally not up to North American or European standards with the exception of the new main highway. Use caution, especially in the country where sugar cane fields can obstruct your view. Bajans love their horns so feel free to return a courteous flash of the lights to proceed first with a BEEP BEEP.

Getting to Barbados

Barbados is the hub for the Eastern Caribbean. There are direct flights from the United States via American Airlines out of Miami and New York (JFK), Delta out of Atlanta, US Airways out of Philadelphia and Charlotte, Air Jamaica out of New York JFK and Baltimore Washington airports.

From Canada there is Air Canada from Toronto's Pearson International (YYZ) and from Montreal's Trudeau (YUL). There are also seasonal charters from Zoom Airlines, Sky Service and coming in November 2008, West Jet.

From the United Kingdom there is British Airways from London's Gatwick North Terminal (LGW). Virgin Atlantic from London Gatwick's South Terminal (LGW) as well as from Manchester's Ringway International (MAN).  BMI has service from Manchester's Ringway (MAN).  Other charter airlines include Excel Airways, Monarch and Thomas Cook.

Local Driver’s Permit

If you are hiring a vehicle the car hire company will issue you with a driver’s permit that is valid for one year.  The cost has just increased (from Bds$10) to Bds$100 (US$50).  Alternatively should you be borrowing a vehicle from a family member or friend, you can obtain your local driver’s permit from any police station.  They accept only Barbados dollars.  Remember to bring your own driver’s permit.

Baby Equipment Rentals

Car seats, strollers, cots and cribs etc, even toys, can be rented for a fee.

Spending Money

United States Dollars are readily accepted throughout the island at a conversion rate of $2.00 Bds equal to $1.00 US.  Any other currency can be converted to Barbados Dollars in any of the island’s banks or at the bank by the airport’s Baggage Claim. Upon departure, once you have cleared Immigration and Security look for the Barbados National Bank kiosk where you can change any remaining Barbados Dollars back to your home currency.

Tipping

It is not customary to tip taxi drivers, although nobody is going to refuse it. Average restaurant tip is 10% but check to make sure a service charge isn’t included. In the supermarkets it is customary to give the boys/girls who take your groceries out to your car a couple of dollars.