Could Barbados Be Your Ideal Luxury Vacation Destination?
Barbados was settled by the English in the 17th century, and has been an independent state within the British Commonwealth since 1966. Barbados is part of the group of islands known as the Windward Islands which is part of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies, commonly known today as the Caribbean.
The people of Barbados are known as Barbadians, though they refer to themselves as Bajans. The capital of Barbados is Bridgetown on the south west side of the island.
Barbadians love to celebrate, holding numerous festivals throughout the year, examples include; Barbados Jazz Festival (mid Jan); Holetown Festival (mid Feb); Oistins Fish Festival (1st week in April); Crop Over Festival (mid July - 1st week in August) and Kadooment Day (1st Monday in August) - a national holiday and the biggest party day of the year.
Barbados is a beautiful tropical island with soft coral beaches and an array of watersports possibilities. Find out more and decide if Barbados is the right place for Your luxury vacation:
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Barbados Location
Barbados is the farthest east Caribbean Island, 100 miles east of St Vincent & The Grenadines, 535 miles northeast of Caracas, Venezuela and 1,610 miles southeast of Miami, Florida.
Geographic Coordinates: 13°10"N, 59°32"W |
Getting To Barbados
Grantley Adams International Airport is in the southern part of Barbados. Flights arrive daily here from all over the world. Direct flights are available from such places as: New York, Miami, Toronto, San Juan, London (Gatwick), serviced by airlines including: American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic Airlines, British Airways and Air Canada. You can also ´island hop´ from Barbados to other Caribbean Islands with several regional airlines.
Barbados Climate & Weather
Barbados Weather
Current Conditions
Barbados - Grantley Adams |
Barbados is in the Tropics, so it is warm and sunny all year round with average daytime highs between 75-85F, only slightly cooler at night. However, the cooling northeast trade winds will keep you comfortable. The rainy season is June to December with an average rainfall of 40" on the coast to 90" in the central ridge area. Showers are refreshing and quickly dry up. |
Being so far east, Barbados rarely experiences the full force of hurricanes and other tropical weather systems.
Barbados Language
The offical language of Barbados is English, but with local pronunciations.
Barbados Currency
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The currency on Barbados is the Barbados Dollar (denoted by BD$), divided into 100 cents. BD$1 equates to $US0.50 (50¢) $US currency is accepted everywhere on Barbados, and most establishments accept all major credit cards. Banks can also exchange other foreign currency.
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Barbados uses the Metric System of weights and measures.
Barbados Food
Barbados offers a wide choice of dining experiences to fit any palate or budget. Formal restaurants on the west coast are generally more expensive, more casual restaurants on the south coast cost less. If you appreciate dinner with an incredible view, you´ll love eating on the east coast of the island.
Formal restaurants on the west coast include; Carambola and also Daphne´s (both French food), Il Tempio (Italian), La Mer and also The Cliff (both International).
Inside Advice - Dining in Barbados can be great fun and does not need to be expensive. You´ll find very good, inexpensive, food in the many small restaurants, beach bars, and 100´s of ´rum shops´ around the island.
For great food and good value try; Mannie´s Suga Suga (Mullins Bay), Blue Monkey Beach Cafe and also Surf-side (Holetown), The Fisherman´s Pub (North Coast), Atlantis and also Bathsheba´s Round House (East Coast).
Barbados Accommodation
Barbados has an excellent range of hotels, resorts, and guesthouses for you to stay at. Most are concentrated on the sheltered West coast, rather than the more rugged Atlantic coast on the east. A collection of expensive resorts are located on the islands most popular beaches north of Bridgetown. High-end places to stay include; Cobblers Cove Hotel, Coral Reef Club, Sandy Lane Hotel & Golf Club, and The House (all on the West coast).
Inside Advice - If you are looking for less formal and less expensive resorts, there are several very good alternatives on the south coast such as Sandy Beach Island Resort and Divi Southwinds Beach Resort. If you want a luxury vacation away from the busy resorts, with a lot more privacy and space a luxury villa / vacation home rental is probably your best choice. On Barbados, you can rent an entire luxury villa, with your own private pool, visit the resorts when you like, and then retreat from them for the peace and tranquility of your own ´home away from home´.
Things To Do On Barbados - Recreation & Entertainment
Take Your luxury vacation on Barbados and experience ´the ultimate´:
Water & Beaches of Barbados
All of the beaches on Barbados are open and accessible to the public, even those beside high end resorts and private homes.
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The majority of the beaches are soft white sand made from finely ground coral. The West and South sides of Barbados meet the Caribbean Sea, and are the most sheltered places for swimming. The East and North sides have some cliffs as well as beaches and face the Atlantic Ocean - their waters tend to be more turbulent.
Coral reefs surround most of the island. |
Barbados is second only to Hawaii as the best place in the world to Windsurf, especially the South coast. Conditions are suitable for both the beginner and the pro, so bring your board or rent one of theirs.
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Everyone will love the thrill of an Atlantis Submarine Expedition - cruise through the undersea world on a fully air conditioned comfortable submarine.
Barbados welcomes the novice or expert, no matter what the watersport. Consider trying: snorkelling, scuba diving, kayaking, windsurfing, buggy boarding, fishing, sailing, swimming with turtles... |
Ashore On Barbados
There are so many things to do on Barbados aside from the water & beaches. Try a sport, including: hiking, cycling, cricket, golf, horseback riding, polo, tennis... Consider taking in some of these places: Andromeda Botanical Garden, Farley Hill National Park, Barbados Wildlife Reserve, Harrison´s Cave (take a tram through subterranean stream passages) seaside villages, historic towns, The Flower Forest or Orchid World. Visit a Plantation House, a Lighthouse or English country churches, (some dating back to the 17th century).
Barbados is hosting the 2007 Cricket World Cup Final (March 5 - April 28, 2007).
When nighttime comes, relax with a romantic walk along a secluded beach or take in one of the many nightclubs featuring: Reggae, Calypso, Popular Music, Steel Pan Music or Contemporary music - something for all tastes.
Come ashore on Barbados and experience it all.
Transport On Barbados
A rental car can be easy and convenient, but when in Barbados drive on the left. You will need either an International Driver´s license or a temporary permit - rental agencies, all local companies, can set you up with this for BD$10. If you choose this option be very careful to check your charges, the vehicle condition and the insurance and liability terms and conditions.
Taxi is another good option for getting around, there are plenty available and they are easily identified by a letter "Z" on their license plates. A trip from the airport to your destination will be in the range BD$25-60 (US$13-30)
Barbados operates a bus service throughout most of the Island, but service can be unreliable. The buses are blue with yellow stripes and a fixed fare of BD$1.50 (US$0.75) applies to all routes - payable in local currency, exact change. Privately operated minibuses, yellow with blue stripes also operate around the island.
Barbados Electricity
Mains electricity on Barbados is 115V alternating at 50Hz.
Barbados Size
Think of Barbados as a distorted pear-shape, measuring about 22 miles (North - South) long from North Point to South Point by about 15 miles across its´ widest point between Prospect and Ragged Point. The area of Barbados is approximately 167 square miles.
Barbados Population & Demographics
The population on Barbados is about 280,000 people. For Barbados population demographics click here
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Barbados Economy
Sugarcane plantations were historically important for Barabados, but today tourism is the by far largest industry, about 80% of GDP. Offshore finance and light manufacturing also contirbute to the economy. |
If you have any questions, or need help in any way with planning Your Luxury Vacation On Barbados, please feel free to e-mail or Contact Us
