Barbados - Caribbean Island

Barbados

A Barbados villa vacation is the perfect break for the family or group of friends who are seeking sun, sea, luxury and a step back in time. Many of our Barbados villas have a full staff of cook, housemaid, laundress and gardener. This is a level of luxury that is still affordable and unexpected to most American families. The island itself is beautiful and well cared for and is a mixture of the old fashioned and the new. You will find the perfect Barbados villa from our huge selection of properties. Book your Barbados villa through CVOA.

Barbados Best Villa Service

We want offer you the best possible service when you book your villa vacation through us. We will try hard to answer all of your questions and help you with any of the arrangements for your vacation. Please do not hesitate to ask us if we can help in any way.

Barbados Weather

Barbados is warm and sunny with a year round average temperature of 75-85 F. Slightly cooler night temperatures are the standard. Rain is more common in the summer months and more often than not is revitalizing and much desired. The rain is typically short-lasting and rapidly followed by blue skies.

June to November is Hurricane Season in Barbados, with September and October being the peak.

Barbados Air Travel

Find your best pricing and itinerary for air travel on our airfare booking engine.
http://www.cvoa.com/book_flights.php

You may then book there or use the information to go directly to the chosen airline website.

Barbados Time Zone

Barbados is in AST which is GMT less 4 hours. During the winter months Barbados is one hour ahead of US Eastern Standard Time and in the summer Barbados time is the same as US East Coast time.

Barbados Entry Requirements
American, Canadian and European citizens require a valid passport and a return or outbound air ticket.

Barbados Airports

The international airport in Barbados (BGI) is Grantley Adams International Airport.

Barbados Car Rental

We recommend that you rent a car for almost all of our Barbados villas and condos. We will be happy to help you book your Barbados car rental.

Barbados Arrival Information

You will be welcomed at your Barbados villa by the villa housekeeper or by a staff member. We will arrange a taxi transfer from the airport for you and have your rental car delivered to the villa. If you prefer, you can choose to rent your car at the airport and make your own way to the villa. We will be happy to provide you with detailed directions from the airport to the villa.

Barbados Villa Food Provisioning

Food provisioning services vary from villa to villa. We will work with you to make sure that you receive the help that you require. Be sure to state your requirements when submitting your Travel Details Request form, which you will receive about two months prior to travel.

Barbados Beaches

Barbados offers many white sand beaches and brilliant blue seas. The sea is translucent. Popular beaches on the West coast include: Brighton Beach, Paynes Bay, Sandy Lane, Gibbs, Mullins and Speightstown, The South East coast beaches are Rockley Arca Beach, Silver Sands, Foul Bay, Bottom Bay, Cattlewash and Bathsheba.

Barbados Restaurants

Barbados has many restaurants offering almost every type of food. Here are some ideas to help get you started. Be free to venture out and find some of your own as well.

West Coast
Surfside Beach Bar & Restaurant – Sports/Beach Bar, Bajan
The Mews – Seafood, Asian, Vegetarian
Il Tempio – Italian, Seafood

South Coast
Wispers On the Bay – Caribbean
The Restaurant at Southsea – Seafood, Exotic

East Coast
L`Azure – International, Seafood
Naniki Restaurant – Bajan, Caribbean, Seafood

Barbados Food and Wine Shopping

Wonderful fresh food and fish are available at the shops and markets in Barbados.
Here are a couple of suggestions for specialty food and drink items.
Gourmet Shop, Chattel Village, Holetown – luxury food and wine
Wine World, Spring Garden Highway, St Michael – fine rum, wine and spirits

Barbados Shopping

Barbados is one of the leading tax-free retreats. It offers luxury good that are thirty to fifty percent less than prices charged in Europe and North America.

There are many places that you can shop and buy souvenirs from your trip.
Best of Barbados - Tel: (246) 421 6900 – These shops are located throughout the island. They offer all sorts of interesting craft items made locally.
The Chattel Village – Holetown - Tel: (246) 432 1490 which carries ladies clothing, tee shirts, souvenirs, gourmet food and wine, and swimwear.
Dacostas Mall – Bridgetown - Tel: (246) 430-4844 – This mall boasts over 25 shops and restaurants and you are pretty much guaranteed to find what you are looking for.


Barbados Attractions

If you want to get away from your beach, your swimming pool or your lounger for a few hours, then there are plenty of things to do on Barbados. There are Jeep and even ATV safari tours and hiking to see the beauty and rugged parts of this amazing island.
You can watch horse racing or visit underground caves, flower forests and even wild monkeys. There are historical plantations from the times of the pirates.

Barbados Water Sports

Whilst on Barbados, you will be able to try every water sport that was ever thought of including – snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, and even swimming with turtles.

Barbados Money, Credit Cards and Banks

American Express, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in the resort areas. ATMs are widely available if you are in need of cash. Be sure to let your credit card company know that you will be using your card overseas.

Currency – The local currency is the Barbados Dollar (BD$). As of June 2009, the current exchange rate is 1.975 BD$ for every 1.00 US$.

Barbados Airport Departure Tax

As of June 2009, there is a departure tax of BD$ 55 ($27.50 US) per person over 12 years of age. Most airlines include this as part of the ticket price but be sure to check if it is included and, if not, have enough cash available to pay on departure.

Barbados Dress Code

Bathing suits are required on Barbados beaches. Casual shorts, tee shirts and sun dresses are normally worn. Most restaurants accept nice shorts and shirts for evening dinners, but there are a few that require more formal wear, so check when you make your reservations.

Barbados Water

Barbados has some of the purest water in the world and the tap water is good to drink.

Barbados Electricity

Barbados has reliable electricity with few outages. Electricity in Barbados is 110 volts/50 cycles, the same as the US.

Barbados Languages

The official language of Barbados is English. In informal situations, you will often hear Bajan, which is an English-based Barbadian Creole.

Barbados Religion

There are over 100 religious groups that operate in Barbados. Visitors should have no difficulty in finding a place to worship.

Barbados Restaurant Tipping

Tipping is optional throughout the island but is highly encouraged for good service.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Police 211
Ambulance 511
Fire 311

Directory Assistance 411
Operator 0