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This information is current as of October 31, 2009

 

 

 

     Beautiful Barbados with its wonderful, soft pink sand, and calm turquoise water, lies 100 miles east of the Lesser Antilles chain making it one of the most remote islands in the Caribbean.  The whole island is 21 miles long --north-to-south-- and 14 smiles wide. Although it is a relatively small island it has a population of approximately 260,000 people.  Barbados looks cleaner and is generally a tad more upscale than most of the other Caribbean islands.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DOCKING
     Barbados has a modern, spacious cruise terminal which opened at Barbados Port in 1994. It houses more than 20 duty-free shops, craft stalls, a post office, communications center with internet links and a Barbados Tourism Authority information office where you can find details of tours, taxis and bus services.

     The two restaurants at the port are Coconuts and Millie’s Snack Bar. The former is the more formal of the two.

    Due to security reasons, local tour companies are not allowed to hawk for business at the terminal and are only allowed in to pick up customers who have pre-booked tours. Independent-minded passengers wanting to arrange their own tours – as opposed to ship excursions – need to make arrangements in advance.

     There is a shuttle van service for passengers from the port into the city of Bridgetown ($2 pp) (approximately one mile from the pier) where you will  find even more taxis.  There's a total of around two hundred taxis operating in the port area. 

       

                    

               

 

 

   

                 Bridgetown Shopping Street                                              Pelican Village Craft Shops
 

SHOPPING
    A few minutes’ walk from the main building is the Pelican Village Craft Centre, made up of stalls built in the style of traditional Bajan chattel houses and said to be the largest arts and crafts centre in the Caribbean. It houses 25 shops, a gallery, and a small cafe.  Just opposite the village is Trevor's Way - a small oasis on the busy street where you can sit on the benches after you finish your shopping, and watch the catamarans sailing by or the fishing boats bringing in their catch to the nearby market.

     The capital, Bridgetown is one mile from the terminal– about a 20-minute walk--5 minutes by taxi ($3USD). Alternatively, there are plenty of taxis in Bridgetown to get you to your outlying destinations.  Broad Street is the main street of Bridgetown and consists mainly of banks, department stores and duty free shops. Other streets in Bridgetown such as Swan Street, Roebuck Street and Tudor Street consist mainly of smaller shops and businesses, together with wayside vendors.  Bridgetown offers excellent shopping, historic churches and a synagogue.  Bridgetown's air-conditioned shopping centers are a duty-free paradise, with high-quality merchandise often priced 30-50 per cent lower than in Europe or North America.

HISTORY

     The majority of citizens are descendants of slaves who were brought here to cultivate the sugar cane industry.

    The islands' first inhabitants were the Amerindians around 1623 C and during the next 300 years several tribes inhabited Barbados at varying intervals including Caribs and Arawaks. Barbados was given its name by the Spanish -- translated as the "bearded ones."

     The island was re-inhabited by the English on the 27th February 1627 by Henry Powell, and thus started a period of an uninterrupted English rule of 339 years. In 1966 Barbados gained its independence from Britain.

ECONOMY

     Although sugar remains the islands' main agricultural product, tourism has taken over as the main foreign exchange earner, and with such glorious beaches, duty free shopping, unique and beautiful handicrafts, the island is marketed worldwide.  Barbados has many places of interests such as the beautiful caves, green scenery, and luscious botanical wonders which offer many memorable experiences.  Barbados is also recognized as the birthplace of rum, and Mount Gay; Cockspur, and Malibu remain as the largest distillers. There are over 2,000 rum shacks on the island and they are great places to meet the locals and chat with some very interesting souls.

CURRENCY   

     The Barbados dollar is pegged to the US dollar at an exchange rate using the Currency Converter below. US dollars are accepted island-wide and most stores and restaurants accept major credit cards and travelers checks.

GETTING AROUND

     Driving in Barbados is on the left side of the road and the majority of vehicles are “right hand drive.” The island has an extensive road network of about 1,475 km of paved roads. A highway links the north and the south of the island. There are a number of ways to get around the island by hired car, taxis and buses; all are safe, reliable and convenient.
     Taxis are a great way to get around Barbados, whether for custom tours or general transport services.  Most local taxi companies offer a choice of luxury cars, small vans or large coaches for groups. You might even be able to negotiate a private tour with a  driver who will combine specific sightseeing points for a certain amount per person while giving you a tour of the salt flats, slave huts, private beach, houses, and informing you about history of the island. This might be preferable to taking a tour bus and having to go to places you have no interest in, and consuming precious time that you have on the island.

     If the taxi lines are long near the port, walk to the Parliament Building to pick up a cab without extensive waiting.

Below are average rates for local journeys, and should be used only as a guide. ALWAYS CONFIRM THE PRICE WITH YOUR TAXI DRIVER BEFORE BEGINNING THE TRIP.

DISTANCES FARES SHOWN IN  BBD
(US$1 = BBD$2)

BETWEEN THE BRIDGETOWN
HARBOUR/CITY CENTRE AND:
 
Any point North of Speightstown -  $40.00
East Point -  $40.00
Bathsheba/Cattlewash -  $38.00
Crane -  $34.00      (Inside terminal gates they were charging $80USD to Crane. Pick up a taxi in town for a lot less)
Sam Lord's Castle/Pollards - $36.00
St. George's Parish Church - $16.00
St. John's Parish Church - $36.00
St. Albans - $25.00
Sandy Lane/Holetown/Porters - $22.00
Callenders - $24.00
Oistins  -$20.00
Long Beach/Silver Sands  -$24.00
Speightstown/Heywoods - $30.00
Grantley Adams International Airport  -$30.00
Welchman Hall Gully/Harrison's Cave - $30.00
Prospect/Holders/Paynes Bay  -$16.00
St. Lawrence/Dover  -$18.00
Rendezvous - $16.00
Hilton/Grand Barbados/Garrison  -$12.00
Paradise  -$12.00

BUSES

     Many vacationers tend to travel in a relatively concentrated area, usually close to their hotels. The bus system in Barbados is an excellent alternative to the hassle of parking a rental car or hailing a taxi for short trips between your hotel, the shops, and the beach. Bus rates and schedules are convenient for travelers, and interaction with the locals adds interest and authenticity.

     Two types of buses service Barbados. Blue buses with yellow stripes are government-owned; their smaller, yellow and blue-striped counterparts are privately-owned. Fares for both types are $0.75(USD) and exact change is required.

     The main difference between the two types of buses found on Barbados is that the privately-owned minibuses tend to have shorter routes, enabling them to pick up passengers more frequently. On the other hand, government buses take riders a little farther from the central hub of town - ideal for travelers interested in doing some sightseeing. Buses service most stops every 20 minutes, and both types generally post their destinations on the front of the bus. Locals will tell you that it's a good idea to flag the bus down with your hand, even if you are standing at the stop.

    Buses might be a great option for visitors who want to see a specific area of town while saving money--and know the bus routes. However, they are not as comfortable as a taxi ride, and there are many stops and starts.