Organize your stay Barbados
Money Barbados
The local currency is the Barbadian dollar. Its parity is fixed to the US dollar (1 BBD = 2 US$). The US dollar is also widely accepted as a means of payment. In terms of exchange, 1 BBD is more or less equivalent to 50 Euro cents. Fares are quoted as BBD (or their equivalent in US$) or simply as "$".
Budget & Tips Barbados
Barbados enjoys a relatively high standard of living for the region, although inequalities remain glaring. Being a small island, many goods have to be imported
Passport and visas Barbados
European Union nationals do not need a visa for a stay of up to 3 months within a 6-month period (Canadian or Swiss nationals can stay up to 6 months without a visa). A passport valid for the entire duration of the trip is required, as well as a return ticket.
The Embassy of the French Republic in Castries, Saint Lucia, is responsible for Barbados
Nelson Mandela Drive - Vigie GPO
Private Box 937 Castries
The Belgian Embassy in Jamaica is responsible for Barbados
Jamaica
Tel: +1 876 3827850
Swiss nationals should contact the Venezuelan embassy at
Centro Letonia
Torre Ing-Bank, piso 15
Av. Eugenio Mendoza y San Felipe
La Castellana
Caracas 1060
Venezuela
Tel: +58 212 267 95 85
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.eda.admin.ch/caracas
The High Commission of Canada in Barbados handles a number of consular tasks (passports, marriages, etc.)
Bishop's Court Hill
St. Michael, P.O. Box 404
Bridgetown, Barbados BB11113
Tel: +1 246 629 3550
E-mail: [email protected]
Driver's license Barbados
Renting a car is not a problem in Barbados, and rental companies are plentiful. Of course, you'll need a valid driver's license to obtain your visitor's permit. These permits are issued by car rental agencies or by the Barbados Licensing Authority at a cost of 10.00 BBD. The permit is valid for two months from the date of issue. To rent a car, you must be 21 years old and have had your license for at least 2 years. Please note that, as a former British colony, driving is on the left. Seatbelts must be worn, and please note that speeds are limited to 40 km/h in town, 60 km/h in rural areas and 80 km/h on main roads.
Health Barbados
Tap water in Barbados is perfectly safe to drink.
There are few health risks, with the exception of mosquitoes, carriers of dengue fever and Zika. Don't forget to pack a strong mosquito repellent. Some hotels, especially on the east coast, are also equipped with mosquito nets.
Mandatory vaccination Barbados
In most cases, no vaccination is required. However, depending on your country of origin, you may be required to show proof of vaccination against yellow fever if you come from a high-risk area.
Security Barbados
Barbados is a safe destination for the region. Just be on the lookout for pickpockets and remember, even if you're offered one, that drug use is illegal here. Use only official cabs (marked with a "Z" on the license plate).
Time difference Barbados
Barbados is in the Atlantic Standard Time (UTC-4) time zone all year round. There is no time change between winter and summer. The time difference therefore varies from country to country, depending on which country observes daylight saving time.
For Western Europe, the time difference is 5 hours during winter time and 6 hours during summer time.
For Canada, there is no time difference with Barbados during daylight saving time, i.e. when it's noon in Bridgetown, it's also noon in Ottawa or Montreal. During winter time, Barbados is one hour ahead of Canada.
Spoken languages Barbados
The official language of Barbados is English (the British version, with a few local peculiarities). In everyday life, Barbadians tend to use Bajan, a Creole dialect derived from English.
Communication Barbados
Barbados is very well covered by an efficient telephone network. You'll have no trouble accessing Wi-Fi (in hotels, restaurants and even on certain beaches and public places). The two cell phone operators on the island are Flow and Digicel. Both offer prepaid SIM cards (eSIM in the case of Digicel) for tourists. If you're used to using mobile data at home, don't forget to deactivate dataroaming before arriving in Barbados to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
Electricity and measurements Barbados
Electricity. The standard is 150 V (50 Hz). Sockets are either double-blade flat (type A) or double-blade with round grounding plug (type B). If you're coming from Canada, no problem - plugs and voltage are similar. If you're coming from Europe, you'll need an adapter. Also, check that your appliances are compatible with the voltage (which is 220 V in France). If not, you'll need a converter.
Weights and measures. Barbados uses the metric system, as in Europe (grams, liters, kilometers).
Temperature. Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius
Luggage Barbados
Barbados enjoys a warm climate all year round. So pack light clothes in natural, breathable materials (cotton, linen) for optimum comfort, to which we'll add a more elegant outfit for evening outings, as well as a small cardigan in case of cool nights.
If you're planning to hike, remember to pack pants to protect you from mosquito bites and scratches, as well as "tropical force" repellent and a pair of sneakers or hiking boots.
For the beach, don't forget your swimsuit, beach bag, mask and snorkel. For the last two, if you don't want to take on too much, check whether your accommodation offers them for free hire.
Don't forget to bring a water bottle (to stay hydrated), sunscreen and aftersun (for sunburn) and a compact umbrella, raincoat or poncho in case of rain (especially during the wet season).
Barbados is blessed with a particularly clear night sky. Don't hesitate to download a free application like SkyMap on your smartphone for a journey through the stars.
In case you run out of anything, supermarkets and mini-markets will be happy to help.
