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Barbados map
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Embassies & Consulates
Canada
Canadian High Commission, Bishop’s Court Hill, St Michael, t (+1246) 429 3550, bdgtn@international.gc.ca
Office hours 8am-4.30pm on Mon-Thu and 8am-1.30pm on Fri. Consular Services are open for Canadian citizens 9am-12pm on Mon-Fri. Closed during local and Canadian public holidays. After hours emergency contact information
United Kingdom
British High Commission, Collymore Rock, St Michael, t (+1246) 436 6694, britishhc@sunbeach.net
Office hours 8am-4pm, Mon-Thu and 8am-1pm on Fri. Closed during local and UK public holidays.
United States
US Embassy, Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St Michael, t (+1246) 227 4000
Office hours 8am-4.30pm on Mon-Fri, except on local and US public holidays. The American Citizens Services office (ACS) is open to American citizens 8am-12pm and 1pm-2.30pm, Mon-Fri. For American Citizen Services only t 227 4399, consularbridge2@state.gov |
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Emergencies
Police – 211 or 430 1700
Fire – 311
Ambulance – 511
Hospital – 436 6450
FMH Emergency Centre – 228 6120 |
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Flights/Getting There
Barbados is very well connected to Britain and North America, with many flights arriving each day, usually in the afternoon. Currently there is a limited service from continental Europe. The island also has a good inter-island network and so it acts as a hub for other islands within the South Eastern Caribbean. If you cannot get a direct flight to another island in the area then it may be possible to fly via Barbados.
The following airlines serve Barbados -
UK -
British Airways from Gatwick, Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick and Manchester, First Choice from Manchester Nov-Apr, First Choice and Thomsonfly from Gatwick Nov-Apr, Thomsonfly from Birmingham Nov-Mar
Europe -
Martinair from Amsterdam. Condor from Frankfurt
USA -
US Airways from Philadelphia, American Airlines from New York & Miami, Air Jamaica from New York (JFK), Delta Air Lines from Atlanta and JetBlue Airways from New York (JFK).
Canada -
Air Canada from Toronto and Westjet from Toronto
Regional -
Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA), Air Jamaica, LIAT, and American Eagle, which have flights across the Caribbean. Flights to the Grenadines are served by SVG Air and Mustique Airways - the two airlines also operate together as Grenadines Airways. |
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Flora & Gardens
Bajan gardens are some of the prettiest in the Caribbean. Even around the smallest home you will find crotons (brightly coloured perennial leaves) and bougainvillaea or hibiscus. And hotel gardens are often wonderful, particularly if you do not know tropical flora well. They are immensely fertile and full of colour throughout the year. Hotel gardeners can be fun to talk to. Get them to tell you the local names for the various plants, which are colourful in a different way – check mother-in-law’s tongue and lobster claw. The most interesting public garden in Barbados is Andromeda on the Atlantic coast, but the others, including the Flower Forest and Hunte's, are certainly worth a look.
The best time of year for flowering is in the dry winter season, between January and March. The Barbados Horticultural Society has its flower show at Balls Plantation in Christ Church then as well as and a programme of ‘Open Gardens’, which runs between January and March. Also, the BHS has been very involved with the Chelsea Flower Show in London. In the twenty years to 2009 they won around fifteen gold medals. The Barbados Flower Arranging Society has also won both the gold medal and the Best in Show award in the Flower Arrangement category.
Andromeda Botanic Gardens, St Joseph, t 433 9384 info@andromedagardens.com
A six acre garden started as a private plant collection around the home of the late horticulturalist, Iris Bannochie in 1954. There are over six hundred different species of plants on view, laid out in a series of ‘rooms’, spaces sectioned by borders and stone walls. Andromeda was left to the people of Barbados in 1988 and is now run by the Barbados National Trust. There is a gift shop and small café. Open daily, 9am-5pm.
C O Williams Flowers, Canefield Plantation, St Thomas, t 438 6297
Commercial growers of anthuriums, ginger lilies and heliconias who supply local florists and businesses. They also produce specimens for the Barbados Horticultural Society’s award winning displays at the Chelsea Flower Show in London. They have an intriguing array of anthuriums which can vary in size, shape and colour – large green and pink heads to a striking purple. There is a small show garden (the greenhouses are not open to the public) and you can purchase cut flowers. They also have a mixed fruit orchard. Open week days only.
Flower Forest, St Joseph, t 433 8152 ffl@sunbeach.net
A fifty acre, lush, tropical garden with a nature trail and lovely views to the east coast. The gardens are stocked with a variety of heliconia, hibiscus, red ginger lilies, torch ginger and palms. The area of lawn with a gazebo at the heart of the garden has excellent views and is often used for weddings. Snack bar and gift shop. Wheelchair access and
facilities, though the trails can be bumpy. Open daily, 9am-5pm.
Hunte's Gardens, Castle Grant, St Joseph, t 433 3333
www.huntesgardensbarbados.com
Delightful gardens created on the site of a former sugar plantation by the owner, Anthony Hunte, who lives on property. The slopes of a small gully have been completely filled with all manner of flowering shrubs and plants, of varying shapes, sizes and colours. There are hundreds of tropical plants from all over the world here, including South America and Thailand. Down in the gully is a lovely area of lawn with a wicker table and chairs where you can sit and admire the surrounding slopes. The gardens and nursery are open daily from 9am to 4pm and the entrance fee is Bds$20/US$10 per adult (children half price), which includes a rum punch or soft drink. There is no wheelchair access.
Orchid World, St George, t 433 0306 ffl@sunbeach.net
A stunning six acre former pig and chicken farm with around 20,000 orchids on display. Well worth spending an hour or two strolling around the attractive grounds. The best specimens are kept under cover or special netting. Snack bar and gift shop. Note: There was a change of ownership in late 2007 which has seen some changes in the orchid stock on the fences along the trails. It is hoped that the new stock will be established by the start of the 2009 winter season. Wheelchair access and facilities though the trails can be bumpy. Open daily, 9am-5pm.
Welchman Hall Gully, St Thomas, t 438 6671
www.welchmanhallgullybarbados.com
A jungle-filled limestone ravine bursting with exotic trees and plants, and a good place for spotting the Barbados green monkey, early morning or late afternoon. If you would like to imagine what Barbados looked like before sugarcane arrived, this is the place to visit. The gully is part of the same geological network as Harrison’s Cave, and you can see limestone formations along the trail. One of the few places where you will find nutmeg trees on Barbados and a rare clove tree. Self guide although guided tours are available with 24hrs notice. A Barbados National Trust property, acquired in 1962. Open daily, 9am-5pm.
Barbados Horticultural Society, Balls Plantation, Christ Church t 428 5889
Balls Plantation is the location of their annual flower show which is normally held towards the end of January
More stories about Barbadian/Caribbean plants
If you are interested in accommodation that is surrounded by an abundannce of Caribbean flowers and gardens of particular note, we recommend: | Cobblers Cove
One of the most exquisite of Caribbean hotels, small, low key and extremely elegant, 40 suites hiding in enviable tropical gardens at the northern end of Barbados’s West Coast. | Fustic House Private Estate
A captivating 7 bedroom/7 bathroom hideaway, heavily accented with Oliver Messel’s flair, set in 11 acres, part Garden of Eden botanical gardens, surrounded by cane fields and farmland overlooking the NW Coast. An exotic setting amongst nature and magical for weddings. | Crystal Springs
A magical 8-bedroom seafront home bearing the hallmarks of Oliver Messel who transformed it from a beach house in the 60s. Highly sought after for family get-togethers, celebrations and weddings. |
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Food & Cooking
You can eat extremely well on Barbados – some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean are set on the beaches and cliffs of the West Coast – see Restaurants.
Local food also has its own strong tradition on Barbados, and this can be interesting to experience. Most hotels have a weekly buffet of local food, which will give you a taster, but it is also worth noting that most of the villas on Barbados have their own cooks who would be delighted to introduce you to local food. Like much West Indian food, Bajan food is quite hearty, with stews accompanied by rice ‘n’ peas or hefty vegetables such as plantain or sweet potato.
There are of course plenty of fish dishes, but an island favourite is flying fish, which is served steamed in a tasty but light onion and tomato based sauce on cou-cou (not unlike polenta, made from cornmeal and okra) or the fish is seasoned with Bajan Seasoning (a blend of spring onions, thyme, marjoram, onions, garlic, black pepper, spices and salt, which you can buy in any local supermarket) and then dipped in egg and breadcrumbs and pan fried. A flying fish cutter (local salt bread roll with salad) is very popular, and is usually enhanced by a dash of the local yellow pepper sauce.
Salt fish (once a slave staple, now fondly retained) is another firm favourite on Barbados. It can be cooked in a variety of ways, but one that should not be missed is freshly fried fish cakes of salted cod, flour, herbs and pepper. They are sold at all local festivities.
Black pudding and souse, a local delicacy, is very much a special treat for high days and holidays. The black pudding is a blood sausage with sweet potato and herbs and the accompanying souse is pickled pig’s head and trotters (though many places substitute this with more traditional cuts of pork) with cucumber and breadfruit. You can often get this on the deli and takeaway counter in supermarkets. If you are staying on the West Coast, head inland to the Loose Cork Bistro & Tapas Bar at Bagatelle Great House in St Thomas for their popular ‘Pudding & Souse Lime’ on Saturday mornings from 11am.
Such local fare is most often found at street festivals, rum shops, and on occasion even at fresh food counters at supermarkets. Over recent years, the spot for local food has become the Fish Fry at Oistins, a fishing village on the South Coast, which sees a nice mix of locals and visitors and makes a lively early evening out. In fact there are a number of places with a Friday night fish fry. At Six Men’s Bay in the north of the island you can go along to the fish fry with a bottle of wine and cutlery provided by the Fish Pot Restaurant.
An easy to follow cookbook of traditional Barbadian and Caribbean recipes is the award-winning Caribbean Recipes “Old & New” by LaurelAnn Morely. The book is available through Amazon or directly from LaurelAnn (who will sign it if you ask) at her home and restaurant, The Cove, where she is the chef. The book features the artwork of her late father, Gordon Parkinson. The Cove is located just off Cattlewash on the East Coast and their Sunday buffet of traditional fare is extremely popular, featuring many of the book’s dishes. |
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Golf
Barbados has excellent facilities for golfers. There are six golf courses on the island and another championship standard course well underway at Apes Hill Resort. Courses are kept to a high standard and some have excellent views down to the coast and over the Caribbean Sea. The settings are very attractive, but wind can be a significant factor sometimes.
Four of the courses are on the West Coast, three of which are in the Sandy Lane complex. Here you will find their original Old Nine course, a nine-hole course with narrow fairways that run through a pretty mahogany forest, and two newer courses, the Country Club course and the Green Monkey course, which are served by their own clubhouse high above the coast. The fourth course is in the rolling countryside of Royal Westmoreland, where there is currently an 18-hole championship course.
If you are staying on the South Coast then it would be easier to play at the Barbados Golf Club in Christ Church Parish, a public course, or the nine-hole course at Rockley. Preferential tee times are reserved for guests of the various hotels to which they are attached, but each course has a certain number of times reserved for outsiders.
A leg of the World Golf Championships was hosted in Barbados in December 2006, on the Sandy Lane Country Club Course. Backed by the International Federation of PGA Tours, the World Cup saw 24 nations, including Barbados and Trinidad and Toabgo, in competition for a purse of US$4 million.
Barbados Golf Club, Durants, Christ Church, t 428 8463
An eighteen hole, 6,805 yard, par 72 course situated close to the airport. Re-designed by Ron Kirby and opened in 2000 it has a clubhouse with bar, restaurant and a duty free pro shop. Green fees from US$115 for 18 holes and US$60 for 9. Club rental US$15-25, cart fees per person US$15-20 shared and US$20-25 single, pull trolley US$10-15 and shoe rentals US$10-15. Specials - 3 day unlimited golf pass including cart - US$300, 5 day - US$450 and 7 day - US$640. All prices subject to change without notice.
Royal Westmoreland Golf & Country Club, St James, t 419 7263
A picturesque 18 hole championship course designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, 6870 yards, par 72 and with attractive views to the coast. Elegant clubhouse with pro shop, bar and restaurant, water stations on the course plus the Halfway House for snacks and drinks. Limited tee times are available for non residents, green fees for 18 holes US$250 including a cart. Reduced green fees and 9 hole rates are available for Royal Westmoreland villa guests.
Sandy Lane Golf Club, St James, t 444 2000 or 2500
Forty-five holes between three courses, a 450 yard driving range and spacious clubhouse with bar and restaurant. Country Club Course - an 18 hole, 7060 yard, par 72 Tom Fazio course. A round costs US$235 in high season and $190 low season, or you can opt for a 7 day pass for US$1,300, 14 days from US$1,900-2,400 or 21 days $2,700-3,500. A two sided driving range is located here, along with the club house restaurant, bar and lounges, a pro shop, boutique and a locker room. Old Nine Course - the original Sandy Lane course, built in 1961, is 3345 yards, par 36. Green fee for 9 holes is US$100 year round, cart rental is US$30. Green Monkey Course - an exclusive 18 hole, 7343 yard, 72 par course created by Tom Fazio, partially out of an old limestone quarry.
A cart and a caddy are required for the Country Club and Green Monkey courses. The carts are fitted with a GPS system and are included in the green fees. A caddy for 18 holes is US$40 excluding tips. The Country Club and the Old Nine courses are open to outside visitors, for whom the quoted green fees apply (reduced fees are available for hotel guests), however the Green Monkey course is reserved for hotel guests only. Soft spike shoes are required for all three courses. Equipment rentals - Callaway’s clubs US$65, Foot Joy shoes US$20 and Soft Spike change US$15. Prices valid from 01 Nov 2008 to 31 Oct 2009 and are subject to change without notice.
Rockley Golf Resort, Rockley, Christ Church, t 435 7873
Nine hole, 2833 yard, par 36 course, with alternative tees for 18 hole play, making it par 70 and 5610 yards. Relaxed and friendly set-up with a clubhhouse, bar, restaurant and sports pro shop. Soft spikes required. Green fees for 9 holes during low season US$39 and for 18 holes US$49. Club hire for 9 holes US$9 and US$12 for 18 holes, pull carts US$4-6 and a single cart from US$10-12.50, double from US$15-20. Reduced rates available for weekday tee offs 10-12.30. All day special on Sundays with ‘two play for the price of one’. All rates are subject to change without notice.
If you are looking for the best accommodation for golfers on Barbados, try: | Grendon House
A grand 5-bedroom villa with Italianate and plantation-style design overlooking Sandy Lane’s Old Nine golf course on the West Coast of Barbados. Set in lush gardens, Grendon House is exceptionally well appointed and ideal for Barbados golf and a perfect setting for entertaining. | Sandy Lane
The Caribbean’s most famous hotel, glitzy in season with large, elegant rooms on stunning Paynes Bay, at the heart of Barbados’s prestigious West Coast. | Royal Westmoreland
An elegant, exclusive, gated villa community set in 500 acres with sweeping views of the West Coast and first class golfing facilities. Hosts celebrity golf tournaments, attracting the rich and famous, including royalty. | Solandra
A very comfortable 3 bedroom villa set among lawns and mahogany trees on the famous Sandy Lane Estate on the west coast of Barbados. Solandra has a traditional Barbadian interior with excellent outdoor space and gardens and is a well-priced find in the exclusive surroundings of the estate. Suits couples and small families. | Sandalwood House
Perfect for golf in Barbados, Sandy Lane Estate villa with 4 air-conditioned bedrooms, set in an acre of leafy, landscaped gardens overlooking the Old Nine golf course. Well furnished with all the latest modern technology (iPod stations in each bedroom), Sandalwood House is ideal for families and friends and has use of a cabana on Sandy Lane beach. | Happy Trees
Gracious, well established 4 bed/4 bath Sandy Lane home giving an air of relaxed formality, brimming with fine objects. Good venue for entertaining and beach living on Sandy Lane Beach. | Bluff House
Elegantly casual, 6 bedroom coral stone villa with a relaxed and understated style set in over an acre of mature grounds in a much sought-after location next to Sandy Lane hotel. Good indoor/outdoor living and entertaining areas with a pathway to Sandy Lane beach. | Klairan
A super villa with splendid pool area, beautifully landscaped gardens with coastal views, an elegant dining room, romantic gazebo, fish pond, with 3 of the 4 bedrooms located in romantic garden cottages. Excellent for entertaining. | Colony Club
A large and gracious beach hotel set on the famous West Coast of Barbados. Colony Club takes the best of elegant and classic Barbadian style to create a very comfortable, modern beachfront resort. Leisurely, social atmosphere, good facilities on property, plenty of activity nearby. | Landmark House & Cottage
An elegant, sprawling, Moorish style beach retreat, with 4 en suite bedrooms in the main house, shaded tropical gardens with open air living and dining areas, set on the world famous Sandy Lane beach. | Mon Caprice
Contemporary, plantation style villa with grand furnishings, in a sought after location just steps from Sandy Lane beach, 5 bedrooms, family room, formal sitting and dining room, upper terrace, and pool terrace. | Bohemia
A must have villa for the VIP Caribbean traveller – 5 en suite bedrooms, opulent, custom made luxury with Versace trimmings, impressive entertainment areas, lots of toys including a Weinbach piano, set in 1.5 acres on Sandy Lane Estate. Perfect for corporate entertaining or a special wedding. | Leigh House
A gracious 6 bedroom/6bathroom beachfront property set in delightful gardens on Sandy Lane Estate. Furnished in an English country house style, and once featured in Country Life magazine. | Heronetta
One of a select few homes with an exclusive beachfront setting on Sandy Lane’s famous bay. A luxurious, elegantly furnished 4 bed/4 bath home, 4 acre garden. Excellent dining areas, good for entertaining. | Point Of View
A splendid, extremely well furnished, luxurious 4 bedroom Sandy Lane villa with 1 bedroom cottage, stunning views to the Caribbean Sea, colourful gardens, lovely swimming pool and sun terrace with good outdoor living areas. |
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Health & Fitness
For medical issues, please see under Medical
The Pilates Studio, Morecambe House, Worthing, Christ Church, t 228 8426/232 7948
pilatesbarbados@hotmail.com
Founder Moira Mulvey Walters (qualified Osteopath see under Complimentary Health) is a certified Pilates instructor and offers morning and afternoon Pilates classes. Will do private villa sessions by arrangement.
Surfside Wellness Centre, Needham’s Point, St Michael, t 436 1024
www.surfsidewellness.com
Pilates every Monday 8am and 7.30pm and Wednesdays at 10am. Non members US$12.50 per class. Yoga classes held Monday 4.30pm, Tuesday 7.30pm, Friday 9am and Saturday 8am, and you will need to join the gym for US$30 per week.
The Sanctuary, Chimborazo, t 433 1787
Set in a former plantation house, the Sanctuary offers regular open days, special workshops with visiting tutors, yoga days and private consultations. Classes include meditation, yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi. Private consultations on Past Life Regression, tarot reading, aromatherapy, Reiki healing, iridology, shiatsu, Indian Head massage, ear candling, reflexology and kinesiology available.
Also see under Holistic Activities, Spas, Yoga/Tai Chi. |
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Hiking
Hiking has become a fairly mainstream activity on Barbados in recent years and there are a couple of options to choose from for the eco enthusiasts and those who are adventurous minded or want a less sedentary way to see the island.
The Barbados National Trust, t 426 2421 or 436 9033 offers an excellent hiking option ‘Hike Barbados’, which meets at points of interest and beauty spots across the island on Sundays throughout the year. Morning hikes start at 6am, afternoon hikes at 3.30pm or a full moon hike at 5.30pm. The morning outing is split into four different groups of varying speeds (slow/stop & stare, medium, medium fast and fast/grin & bear) whilst the afternoon/full moon is one group at ‘stop & stare’ speed. Reservations are not required, simply turn up (on time) at the designated meeting spot. The National Trust Sunday hikes are free and all guides work on a voluntary basis. The hikes are an excellent way to meet people from all walks of life and uncover the hidden secrets of Barbados.
See our Barbados Calendar of Events for the Hike Barbados 2008 scheduled hike dates and starting points. Please check locally if you require specific directions to starting points.
You can make hiking reservations for other days and times through Hike Barbados' lead guide, Stephen Mendes, at t 228 8027 or 266 8027, reservations@hikebarbados.com. He offers personalised hikes for US$25 per person, minimum of 2 persons (or US$50). Group discounts are available.
The Barbados National Trust, t 426 2421 or 436 9033, also runs the Arbib Nature & Heritage Trail in St Peter. Hikes are available by reservation only and can be booked for any day or time. Minimum of 2 persons on each hike at US$25 per person (or US$50). Group discounts are available.
Peach and Quiet’s Walking Week is one of the most original activities in the Caribbean. A daily walk to a different area of the island is led by Adrian Loveridge, who introduces the area with a talk and then he gives a stream of information along the walk itself. The walking is not that strenuous, covering three to five miles each day over three hours or so. Points of interest include nature and the different environments such as the coastlines, forests and mangroves, but also historical aspects of the island such as the story of sugar, the old Barbados railway and, incredibly, an early model of the Iraqi Supergun. Walks are only available as a part of the special Walking Week package. During the week Peach and Quiet will host dinners with interesting Barbadian personalities, say a politician, an educator or a museum curator, who will talk about life on the island.
Recommended clothing: long pants/trousers, cool shirt, sturdy shoes, a hat and high factor sunscreen or sunblock. Take plenty of water to drink.
Please note that the Hike Barbados free Sunday hikes and the reserved/personalised hikes are not covered by insurance and therefore participation or any arrangements you make are at your own risk. |
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History/Population/Politics
The first inhabitants of Barbados were Amerindians who paddled across from South America. Initially it was Arawak Indians, who were followed by the more warlike Caribs (from whom the name Caribbean derives, aswell as the word cannibal, because they are thought to have been cannibalistic), who it is thought drove the Arawaks off the island, but left it themselves in the early 1600’s. When Portuguese sailors visited the island around 1537 in search of gold, they found a small population of Amerindians, and named the island Los Barbados, after the Bearded Fig Trees that they found on the island.
The English first arrived in 1625 when Captain John Powell sailed in and claimed the island in the name of King James I of England. He returned with 80 colonists in 1627, landing in the area now known as Holetown. The annual Holetown Festival is held to commemorate this event. Over the next 20 years the population blossomed, helped by unrest in England due to the struggles between Charles I and Oliver Cromwell, and many English settlers arrived to escape the troubles. Sugar was introduced to the island in the 1640’s and by 1660 the industry was thriving. The introduction of sugar cane as the main crop and its subsequent success brought massive importation of slaves from Africa.
The first Parliament was held in 1639, making the Barbados Parliament it the third oldest in the Commonwealth, after the British House of Commons and the Bermuda House of Assembly. After the emancipation of the slaves in 1834 and the subsequent introduction of sugar beet in Europe, the island’s sugar industry gradually went into decline. In the twentieth century Barbados moved toward the formation of an independent society with enfranchisement of women in 1944 and universal adult suffrage in 1951. A two party system and a cabinet government emerged during the 1950's, and in 1966, led by the late Errol Walton Barrow of the D.L.P., Barbados was granted independence from Britain on November 30th.
POPULATION
Barbados has a population of approximately 267,900 of which 80% are of African descent, 4% of European descent and 16% of mixed race. The literacy rate is 98%.
POLITICS
Barbados became independent from Britain on 30th November 1966. The island is a parliamentary democracy with a 29 seat House of Assembly and a 21 seat Upper House or Senate. Barbados is currently led by Right Honourable David Thompson of the Democratic Labour Party, which was elected to power in January 2008 with a comfortable majority of 20 of the 29 seats in Parliament. The main opposition party is the Barbados Labour Party, which was in power for three electoral terms until 2008.
Barbados has the third oldest Parliament in the English-speaking world, which was established in 1639. The country is a member of the Commonwealth, and still has the Queen as head of state, who is represented by the Governor General, Sir Clifford Husbands. |
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Horse Riding
Caribbean International Riding Centre, t 422 7433
Novice rides: 1 ½ hours through Scotland District to Morgan Lewis Beach - Bds$120, return transfer included. Intermediate/advanced : as above but longer ride, 2-2 ½ hrs, Bds$180.
Big C Stables, t 437 4056
Popular local riding school run by Di Clarke in Christ Church.
Congo Road Equestrian Centre, t 423 8293
Specialises in dressage. |
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Island Hopping
Barbados is so well served by international fights that it is a hub for local airlines, particularly for St Vincent and the smaller islands in the Grenadines.
One very useful fact to know is that there are a number of flights from Barbados to the Grenadines, both as day tours and as transfers, that are known as ‘shared charters’. Practically speaking they run every day, but because they are run by charter airlines, rather than scheduled companies, they are not listed on the international computer systems. See below for the airlines that offer shared charter to the Grenadines.
REGIONAL AIRLINES
LIAT
Caribbean Airlines (former BWIA)
Air Jamaica
‘Share charters’ to the Grenadines are offered through the Grenadines Air Alliance, Grenadines Airways which is made up of:
SVG Air
Mustique Airways
No ferries currently link Barbados to others in the area so getting around by sea is rarely a possibility and is limited really to private yachts.
Day trips to other islands:
Grenadines Discoveries
Fly to Union Island and join a Catamaran for a day sail, with snorkelling and swimming stops in Mayreau, Tobago Keys and Palm Island. $640 including lunch and drinks.
Chantours, t 432 5591
Tailor made overnight packages, yacht charters and day trips to the Grenadines, including Mustique.
Caribbean Safari Tours, t 427 5100
One day air tours to the Grenadines, St Lucia, St Vincent and Young Island, and Grenada. Overnight packages also available.
For more information on Grenadines trips please contact St James Travel & Tours.
If you would like to charter a plane, then they are available through:
| | St Barth CommuterA local airline based in St Barths, which offers scheduled flights from there to St Martin/St Maarten and Caribbean private aircraft charters to islands all over the Eastern Caribbean. They have a fleet of five twin-engine planes and five specially trained (STOL) pilots with permission to land in St Barths. | | SVG AirA local Caribbean airline that offers charters to the Grenadines from around the region, often from Barbados, but also from St Lucia and Grenada, even from as far as Puerto Rico. SVG Air has around a dozen 5-19-seater planes and also offers island hopping and air ambulance services. |
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Local Organisers
On Barbados we recommend St James Travel & Tours for their concierge services, group travel, business incentives, weddings and special events. St James Travel Limited, its sister company is a fully licensed IATA Travel Agency.
Local organisers or ‘ground handlers’ as they are known in the travel industry are the guys that can make the difference to how your holiday goes from the moment you walk through Immigration through to when you step back onto the tarmac to commence your homeward journey. They are the ‘fixers’.
If you book a flight inclusive holiday from the UK/Europe, the services of a ground handler should be included. If you are an independent traveller wishing to have things organised for you, then it might be worth taking up their Concierge Service.
| | St. James Travel & ToursSt James Travel & Tours was conceived in 1982 and quickly became the Rolls Royce of Barbados’s local organisers, or ‘ground handlers’ as they are known in the travel industry. A ground handler can make all the difference to how your holiday goes. They are on-island ‘fixers’, What matters when you use them is their efficiency, the strength of their local contacts and their sheer buying power to assure the best quality service for the tour operators they represent or independent travellers. |
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Local Transport
The bus system in Barbados is a fairly good one and the Government’s Transport Board fleet of blue and yellow buses (BM licence plate) reaches every corner throughout the island on a regular basis. You will need exact change for the Transport Board buses and they stop only at official bus stops, which are marked either ‘To City’ or ‘Out of City’ in a red and white circle. As the buses do not stop automatically, you must put out your hand in order to stop them. The destination is displayed over the front windscreen.
The Government service is supplemented by privately operated mini-buses (B licence plate) that are painted yellow with a blue stripe down the side, and route taxis (ZR licence) which are white with a burgundy stripe. These buses do give change, and they also play local music (somewhat loud at times) and can be hailed down anywhere on route. Destinations are usually on a sign placed in the bottom left-hand corner of the windscreen, and routes normally painted on the sides of the buses. It should be noted that ZR vans are an adventure as well as a mode of transport. They tend to stop at the drop of a hat and travel at speeds which are not for the faint hearted. But then they’ll go out of their way to drop a granny with her shopping outside her house. Perhaps avoid travelling at peak times when buses are packed to the limit.
The fare to any destination is Bds$1.50 one-way. Main bus terminals for the Transport Board buses are in Bridgetown - Lower Green for the North and West and Fairchild Street for southbound. Speightstown also has a large terminal. The main terminals for the privately owned mini-buses and route taxis in Bridgetown are at Cheapside (Lower Broad Street) and the River Road Stand.
Depending on the routes, during the week buses can operate from as early as 5.30am to as late as 12.30pm.
For more information on the Government Transport Service, t 436 6820
www.transportboard.com |
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Medical
Generally the climate in Barbados is pretty benign and there are only a couple of issues that you can encounter here that are not in Europe or the States. Check that your coverage for polio and tetanus is up to date. There is no malaria in Barbados, but there are very occasional outbreaks of dengue fever – another mosquito-borne disease which happens after considerable rain. You should take normal precautions against mosquito bites. If you are susceptible then make sure to use insect repellent during daylight hours and after sunset.
Visitors’ prescriptions can be fulfilled by local pharmacies, following consultation with a local physician.
HOSPITALS
The medical facilities in Barbados are among the best in the Caribbean. There are eight polyclinics throughout the island and two hospitals.
The general hospital is Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in Bridgetown which has 600 beds and operates a 24 hour A&E department.
There is also a modern private facility at the Bay View Hospital in St Michael which does not have an A&E Dept., however there is the FMH Emergency Medical Clinic in St Michael.
VACCINATIONS
Vaccinations are not required for entry into Barbados, though you may with to check with your GP prior to travelling. There is one exception, for travellers who have come from areas infected with of Yellow Fever, where a vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one (1) year of age. |
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Music
The island rhythm on Barbados is calypso, one that they share with, and over which they compete with, the Trinidadians. You will hear the calypsos on the radio, particularly in the run-up to carnival (both in Barbados in August and in Trinidad in February). There are also some more traditional styles of music, including string bands, which are known as tuk-tuk bands.
The Barbados Jazz Festival takes place in January and sees a variety of singers in a fairly broad interpretation of jazz. Unfeasibly for the Caribbean there is actually an opera season (and operetta too), the Holders Season, which is usually held in March. Gospelfest is a celebration of local church music and is held in May.
There are a number of well known musical groups that play the clubs and bars. Look out for Krosfyah, Masala and Strategy The Band.
The island has five major recording studios, including Eddy Grant’s (Ice Records) studio, Blue Wave, and several smaller ones. International artists that have recorded on the island include Sting and the Rolling Stones. |
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