By Robert Curley
Caribbean Travel Expert, about.com
Unlike many other Caribbean islands, you would never use the word "sleepy" to describe Barbados. The island's vibrant culture and rich history come to life in its lively Bajan festivals, nightlife, and friendly people. Famous luxury resorts are a big draw, but you can also find fun in a local rum bar. And you can't beat the restaurants here, renowed as some of the best in the Caribbean.
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Barbados Basic Travel Information
- Location: Easternmost of the Caribbean islands, in the West Indies north of Venezuela.
- Size: 21 mi/34 km long, 14 mi/23 km wide.
- Capital: Bridgetown
- Language: English
- Religions: Protestant, Roman Catholic
- Currency: Barbadian Dollar; U.S. dollar widely accepted.
- Telephone/Area Code: 246
- Tipping: 10-15%
- Weather: Dry season January-June; rainy season June-October; trade winds moderate tropical temperatures year-round.
- Barbados Flag
- Crime and Safety in Barbados
- Airport:Grantley Adams International Airport
- Barbados Tourism Authority
- Barbados Consular Information Sheet
- CIA Factbook: Barbados
Barbados Attractions
Cave tours, restored plantation homes, wildlife preserves, gardens and rum
or cigar factory tours are just a sampling of Barbados' many and
diverse attractions. Bridgetown is a great city for strolling, and the
island's many museums are a testiment to Bajans' proud history and sense
of identity. Golf and watersports are popular, as are outback tours by horse, on foot, or on an ATV or 4x4.
Barbados Beaches
Surfers flock to Barbados' East Coast for big-wave action, such as at Crane Beach,
while families prefer the calmer waters of the West Coast; beaches here
are typically lined with resorts. Many of the South Coast beaches have
reefs that invite snorkelers. For solitude, try Bottom Bay near Sam
Lord's Castle. All beaches in Barbados are free and open to the public,
but there's no nude sunbathing.
[post_ads]Barbados Hotels and Resorts
Barbados
has a reputation as an upscale destination, so it's no surprise to find
resorts from brands like Fairmont and Hilton among the big hotels. Sandy Lane is perhaps the most famous: Tiger Woods got married there (Book Now).
But while luxury dominates the west coast, moderately priced hotels,
inns and guest houses can be found on the south coast and elsewhere.
Barbados also has many luxury villas -– private homes that can be
rented, even fully staffed.
Barbados Restaurants
Casual
by day, island-sophisticated by night, Barbados' restaurant scene is
typically mixed. One nice aspect: you can actually find an inexpensive
meal, such as stands selling "roti" -– pastries stuffed with spicy potatoes and meat. Flying fish and cou cou
(a mash of corn meal and okra) are the national dishes, found on the
menu of Barbados' many local restaurants; the island also has an
abundance of elegant eateries serving cuisine from around the world to
Barbados' discriminating visitors -- some led by the only Zagat
guidebook in the Caribbean.
Barbados Culture and History
Barbados
was settled by the British in 1627, and endured a slave-driven sugar
plantation economy for 200 years. Sugar, molasses and rum are still
parts of the economy, but tourism took the lead in the 1990s. Barbados
won independence in 1966, although it remains part of the British
Commonwealth. A mix of British stoicism and African-flavored joie de
vivre typifies today's Barbados: the Bajan dialect you'll hear English
spoken with is a perfect example of the mix.
Barbados Events and Festivals
The annual sugar-cane harvest was the original Crop-Over;
today, Barbados' biggest festival runs three weeks spanning July and
August, peaking with the annual Kadooment parade. The yearly Holetown
Festival marks the first British settlement with a street fair and
parade. Barbudian sophistication is evident at March's Holders Season,
which brings in opera, Shakespeare, and other performing arts.
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Barbados Nightlife
Bridgetown
is known as one of the nightlife capitals of the Caribbean. You'll find
everything from big-city sized discos to open-air dance clubs and bars
with local bands banging out reggae, calypso, soca and more. Dinner
cruises also are popular, and a lingering dinner at one of the island's
great restaurants is always a romantic option. St. Lawrence Gap in
Christ Church has staged dinner shows, street parties, and a variety of
nightclubs with live music.
