Barbados has stayed true to its English roots since the early 1600s, when British sailors landed on the island. While the French, Spaniards and Danes fought over the rest of the Caribbean, the British settlers in Barbados remained steadfast to their English traditions. Today, tourists can still expect to experience a little bit of British influence in this Caribbean destination point.
Tourists booking flights to Barbados are heading into an island paradise. The Caribbean has carved out fantastic underwater caves in Barbados, creating a picturesque undersea environment prized by photographers, divers and snorkelers. Adventuresome travelers heading to Barbados for a glimpse of the underworld should book their Barbados flights and accommodations in advance. The weather is continually gorgeous on land, but marine life is swayed by undersea movements. While cheap flights to Barbados can be purchased during the off-season, snorkelers and divers should be aware of tropical storms and hurricanes that are common in the Caribbean.
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The weather is mostly sunny and fair in tropical Barbados, with an average of high daytime temperatures of 75 to 85F. These hot conditions are tempered by the prevailing cool northeast tradewinds. The dry season occurs from January to June and the hurricane season extends from June to October. Hurricanes, however, usually miss Barbados. Instead the island experiences some spectacular tropical rainstorms. These are usually short and heavy spells that dry up quickly.
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One of the best reasons to fly to Barbados is the weather. Cheap flights to Barbados can be purchased if your travel dates and times are flexible.
Peak season:
The high season runs from February to May, when the weather is best. Book your Barbados flights and accommodations in advance, as airlines and hotels book up fast.
Off season:
Hurricane season is June to October, so accommodations and flights to Barbados will be cheapest during this time. Bring a waterproof coat if you’re visiting then.
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Barbados is a gorgeous island worth exploring. You can travel the island by bus, car or taxi. The buses are inexpensive and relatively fast. However, most long-distance routes are to or from Bridgetown, so you’ll have to make a stop there if you’re traveling between other destinations. Check for car rental discounts when booking your Barbados flights.
Cars are available to rent, though you also need to buy a temporary Barbados drivers license (for an extra $10). All car rental companies will arrange this for you.
Taxis are available in the cities.
The following chart gives approximate journey times from Bridgetown (in hours and minutes) to other major cities and towns in Barbados.
| | Road |
|---|
| Speightstown | 0.30 |
|---|
| Holetown | 0.20 |
|---|
| Oistins | 0.20 |
|---|
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- Flights to Barbados will land tourists in capital city of Bridgetown, but few tourists spend too much time here. The streets are quaint with lots of colonial buildings and artifacts. The Barbados National Museum is also in town, housed in the building of an old prison. Among the exhibits are a display of the coral structure that makes up the island, furnishings from an 18th-century plantation house and a reference library of books about the island.
- Remember your manners while you’re in Barbados. It is usual to greet people in a shop or when asking for directions, before getting to the request for information. As you pass people on the street or outside their houses, they will often wave hello. Bajans are very friendly and will be happy to assist you, or recommend good places to eat. Recommendations from locals are hard to beat…
- Fish is a staple food in Barbados, for obvious reasons. Grilled fish, fried fish and fish stew make up many meals. The best places to eat fish are round fish markets, where the day’s catches are grilled or fried fresh for the customer. If you're booking a Barbados vacation in the spring, book your Barbados flights over Easter weekend so you don't miss the Oistins Fish Festival.
- To wash it all down, try some of the local drink: rum. There are a number of distilleries open to visitors. One of the most famous brands is Mount Gay Rum. The Mount Gay Rum tour takes you to the museum, a reconstructed rum shop, past an assembly line and finally to the bar. The distilleries are in St Michael, close to the Malibu visitor center.
- There is a vast array of tours on offer from the official tourist board. Whether you’re interested in the wildlife, the sea, arts and crafts, diving or black culture, there is a specific tour designed to show the best the island has to offer. There are even day tours specifically designed for those who have come off a cruise ship.
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All tourists require a return or onward ticket, proof of sufficient funds and documents for onward travel. Passports must be valid for the period of intended stay.
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U.S. citizens require a valid passport. No visa is required for stays of up to six months.
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