Barbados: main airports
Barbados has a single international airport: Grantley Adams International Airport, near Bridgetown, the main gateway to the island and an important regional hub for connections to the eastern Caribbean.
Barbados: recommended activities
Barbados: visa and entry requirements
Most nationalities (European Union, United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia) do not need a visa for tourist stays, generally up to 28 days on entry (extendable). The passport must be valid for the duration of the stay; proof of a return or onward ticket is required.
Barbados: safety
Barbados is among the safest Caribbean islands for tourists, with violent crime against visitors rare. As in many tourist destinations, petty theft is possible on beaches and in crowded areas: the usual precautions (not leaving valuables unattended) are sufficient. Hurricane season runs from June to November, peaking between August and October: check the weather forecast if travelling during this period.
Barbados: health situation
No vaccination is mandatory for those arriving from Europe. The island's health facilities are of a good standard by regional standards, with Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Bridgetown as the main reference point; for more complex cases, repatriation to the United States or the United Kingdom is common, hence the usefulness of travel insurance with medical coverage and possible evacuation. Dengue risk is present, as in much of the Caribbean: mosquito protection is recommended.
Barbados: currency, payments and connectivity
The currency is the Barbados dollar (BBD), pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of 2:1; the US dollar is widely accepted everywhere, often at the official exchange rate. Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and tourist shops. Uber does not operate on the island: local taxis (identifiable by their Z-prefix licence plate) are the main means of transport, generally at a rate agreed in advance. For connectivity, the operators Flow and Digicel sell prepaid tourist SIM cards. For driving (on the left, as in the United Kingdom), a temporary local licence is required, obtainable at rental agencies upon presentation of the original licence and a small fee.
