Barbados / Island Essentials

All travellers to Barbados will need to know the essential island facts. The information on Barbados shown below is current (2011).

Currency / Credit Cards

The currency of Barbados is the Barbados dollar (BBD or BDS), which is fixed to the US dollar at a rate of US$1.00 = BDS$1.98 (some street/beach vendors may do a straight 2 for 1). All prices on island are quoted in Barbados dollars, with the exception of hotel rates which are in US only, and duty free items where the local BDS$ price is shown alongside US dollar price. US dollars (notes only) are accepted throughout the island, however you will often find that the rate of exchange will not be as favourable in hotels, supermarkets and large stores as that in the bank. 

Most of the major credit cards (including debit cards) are accepted anywhere that deals with tourists on a regular basis. Do not expect local bars or small local restaurants to accept them (if in doubt double check in advance), but you will find that the larger supermarkets often do. It is worth noting that certain credit cards may attract an additional charge.

Check-In/Check-Out

As a general rule check-out times are around 12 noon with check-in seldom prior to 3pm, during which time accommodations are made ready for new arrivals. The majority of international arrivals into Barbados are in the mid to late afternoon, and this should be taken into account during busy times of the year. Some properties may provide day rooms or shower facilities subject to availability, or may be flexible on check-in or check-out times by prior arrangement but you should make all special arrangements at the time of booking.

Departure Tax/Taxes

Airport Departure Tax is no longer payable at the airline check-in desk as it should be included in the cost of your airline ticket - please check your ticket to confirm this. This tax (passenger service charge) is payable by all passengers (over the age of 12 years) leaving the island. The amount is BDS$55/US$27.50 and is exempt for stays under 24 hours. 

Hotel and villa accommodation in Barbados incur an 8.75% government room tax, plus there is also a 10% service charge which is normally added to your hotel bill (unless you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel) and is also expected by villa staff. It can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct make sure you calculate it in when pricing up your trip. 

A 17.5% VAT applies to most services including car hire, tourist attractions, restaurants, retail (apart from Duty Free items), excursions etc, but this is usually included in the published price, except for car hire rates, which are usually quoted excluding VAT so you'll need to add it.

Electricity

Domestic current will operate appliances designated for 115/230 volts AC, 50 Cycles, with 2-pin US style plugs and sockets.

Embassies/Consulates

There are foreign Embassies and High Commissions for a number of countries based in Barbados, including China t 435 6890 and Brazil t 427 1735, in addition there are also consulates/honorary consuls for Austria t 427 3131, Belgium t 435 7704, Denmark t 424 4995, Finland t 432 2347, Germany t 427 1876, Israel t 426 4764, Sweden t 435 7051, The Netherlands t 436 9952, Italy t 437 1228 and Norway t 429 7286. Canadian, British and American citizens can seek assistance as follows: 

Canada 
Canadian High Commission, Bishop’s Court Hill, St Michael, t 429 3550,bdgtn@international.gc.ca Office hours 8am-4.30pm on Mon-Thu and 8am-1.30pm on Fri. Consular Services for Canadian citizens 9am-12pm on Mon-Fri. Closed during local and Canadian public holidays. 

United Kingdom 
British High Commission, Lower Collymore Rock, St Michael, t 436 7800,britishhcb@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 227 4000 – for emergencies after hours ask for the Duty Officer. Office hours 8am-4.30pm on Mon-Fri. The American Citizens Services office (ACS) is open 8am-12pm and 1pm-2.30pm, Mon-Fri, t 227 4399, BridgetownACS@state.gov Closed during local and US public holidays

Emergencies

Police – 211 or 430 1700 
Fire – 311 
Ambulance – 511 
Queen Elizabeth Hospital – 436 6450 
FMH Emergency Medical Clinic – 228 6120

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. Pharmacies are fairly prevalent in the main towns and shopping areas along the west and south coasts, including some of the larger supermarkets. 

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, t 436 6450, 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, t 436 5446, which does not have an A&E Dept., however there is the FMH Emergency Medical Clinic in St Michael, t 228 6120. 

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.

Nudity

Barbadians are quite conservative and any form of nudity is unacceptable. It is, in any event, against the law to be topless or naked if you are in view.

Places of Worship

The main religion in Barbados, unlike so many other Caribbean islands, is Anglican, which is a direct result of over 300 years of British influence. Barbados still boasts a healthy turnout for church on Sunday, when church goers don their best clothes, often looking as though they are off to a birthday party or fancy wedding – children in ruffles and ribbons, and the women in hats and sequins. 

There are said to be over 100 religions in Barbados, with places of worship varying in style from traditional coral stone parish churches, to simple chattel houses and even tents, from which the sounds of tambourines and clapping ring out. Besides Anglican and Roman Catholic you will find Buddhist, Bahai, Hindu, Methodist, Moravian, Islamic, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, Mormon, Jewish, Evangelical, and Spiritual Baptist, to name a few. 

For Anglican and Roman Catholic services, plus one or two others should you wish for a change, see below: 

Anglican – for Sunday services: St James Parish Church, 7.15am and 9.00am; St John’s Parish Church, 6.30am and 9.15 am, St Michael’s Cathedral, 7.15am, 9am, 11am and 6pm; St Lawrence Church, 7.30am and 9.30am. 

Roman Catholic – St Dominic’s, Christ Church, 6.30pm on Sat and 7.00am and 10am on Sun; St Patrick’s Cathedral, St Michael, 6pm Sat and 7am, 11am and 6pm on Sun; St Francis of Assisi, St James, 5pm on Sat and 8am and 10.30am on Sun. 

Spiritual Baptist – Jerusalem Cathedral, Ealing Grove, Christ Church, 9am Sunday or Zion Temple, Richmond Gap, 6pm Sunday and 7pm Friday. 

Pentecostal – The People’s Cathedral, St Michael, 7.30am, 10am, and 6pm Sunday. 

Moravian – Sharon Moravian Church, St Thomas. 9am and 6 pm on Sunday. 

Methodist – James Street Methodist Church, Bridgetown, 9am and 5pm Sunday. 

Times given may be subject to change without notice, therefore please check locally for confirmation of services.

Service Charge/Tipping

If you are booking through a tour operator or travel organiser, service is likely to have been included in the cost of your holiday. If you are booking direct, hotels and villa rental agents do not include service in the quoted rates. For hotels, this will be added to your bill on departure (unless you are staying in an all-inclusive hotel). At 10% (in addition to the government room tax of 8.75%) this can make quite a difference to the eventual price of your holiday, so if you are booking direct, make sure you factor this in when pricing up your trip. 

Tipping for good service is obviously appreciated and is regarded as the norm. In restaurants and bars around 10% should be added. In private villas and apartments, service is not included, so all members of staff, including the night watchman, should be tipped on your departure. Check with the local property manager for guidance. 

In restaurants, the 17.5% VAT will be included in the price of your meal, but there are different policies on service charge, which may or may not be included (is sometimes explained on the menu). You may want to check whether service has already been included when you get your bill.

Time Zone

Barbados is 4 hours behind GMT and so during the winter it is four hours behind Britain and five behind the rest of Europe, and an hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the States. Barbados has no daylight saving time in the summer so the island is then five hours behind British Summer Time (six behind the rest of Europe) and on the same time as the eastern seaboard of the United States.

Water

Most of the water in Barbados is artesian water, rainwater that has soaked into the limestone structure of the land. Generally it is drinkable from the tap and tastes good, but in restaurants you will be offered a choice of bottled or local water. However, with so much pressure on existing groundwater supplies in recent years, a desalination (the largest in the Caribbean) facility is now in operation, which provides water for 20% of the island’s population, currently within the Spring Garden Highway area where the plant is located. Sandy Lane Hotel also has a desalination system. 

Piped water was introduced to Bridgetown in 1861, and to commemorate the event an ornamental fountain, made in Britain, was erected in 1865 in what is now Heroes Square.