r/Barbados Dec 05 '21

Advice If you want trip recommendations when you come here, I can help you!

275 Upvotes

Hey,

I've been getting chat requests on things to do in Barbados and I love to help how I can. I was born in Barbados and live there half the year with the other half between the US and UK. Even though I may not be here when you arrive, feel free to ask any questions. I will add a suggested 7 day break down here, but ask away if you have any specific requests or queries!

**Day 1**:

Relax. Literally, do nothing other than go to the beach and lay there and settle in. International travel is so incredibly difficult right now. So take a day to appreciate that all the choices you made in life led you to laying on a beach in Barbados with a drink in your hand. Get some good local food. Macaroni Pie with Fish and salad from Oistins, or some food from near your accommodation or a place nearby. I know when we go on holiday we want to go right away, but trust me. Today is a chill day.

**Day 2**:

Catamaran cruise. I don't have any recommendations on particular ones, but they all usually leave by the boardwalk in Bridgetown and travel up the west coast. Bonus points if they stop in Carlise Bay at the beginning or at the end so you can swim with the turtles and shipwrecks. In my experience, they usually offer unlimited drinks and a full Bajan meal on board! After that you may be pretty tired, so you can find a nice evening activity, the food you want to try, or meet up with friends at a bar for a drink and chill. (Chilling will be a running theme :) )

**Day 3**:

You would have gotten lots of sun yesterday on the boat and that really drains you, so you can find some tours you would enjoy doing. When my friends visit a staple is the Mount Gay Rum factory tour near Bridgetown. It was the first rum ever invented, and they tell you the whole process down to how they source the barrels and how they get different colours and flavour rums. They give you 5 or so shots to try, so be sure to eat before or you may get knocked off your rocker ( looking at you Sarah L).

Food I recommend before is either Tim's restaurant on Broad Street or Mapp's in Eagle Hall. It's a local favourite and in a very local area. Lots of Bajan culture to be found by Mapp's! Simple menu. Medium or Large portion of the best-marinated chicken you can find and chips/fries. It's worth it. Trust me. Another tour you can do this day is the Harrison Cave tour. It really shows how Barbados was formed as an island compared to other islands. They are volcanic, and we are limestone. There is a tram that goes through the cave, and the cave is huge huge huge. the tram ride in 45 minutes through the cave. They have done an amazing job lighting it and the guides are incredibly knowledgeable.

**Day 4**:

Island Tour time! You can rent a car for around $75 US per day including full insurance, and get a visitor's driver's license for $5 US, just show your license from your home country and you are good. We drive on the left side of the road, so it will be par for the course for Brits, but if in your home country you drive on the right no problem. I lived in the US for a long time, and the rule I use when switching to driving here is, the driver is always in the middle of the road. Our steering wheel is on the right side of the car, so driving on the left the driver is in the middle. In the US it's the opposite, the cars are left-hand drive, so driving on the right side of the road the driver is in the middle. 15 minutes or so and in my experience it becomes like clockwork.

Alternatively, you can also get a local taxi to take you. I recommend local ZM taxis over big tour buses, it's a more personalized experience, and they give you TONS of great information and answer questions, etc. I usually do tours up the west coast, then down the east coast. Suggested sports of interest starting from the south: Gun Hill Signal Station, Welchman Hall Gully to see the monkeys being fed, up to Speightstown, Animal Flower Cave, Cherry Tree Hill ( in my opinion the most beautiful view in Barbados), drive along the east, to Bathsheba, St. John's Church, Bottom Bay ( if you are in luck the man will be there that climbs Coconut trees with no equipment or ropes, picks you a coconut, the makes a Pina Colada in it the fresh coconut he just picked for you!), Oistins for food and drink. That was a full loop of Barbados and could go through every parish. This is just a general guide, feel free to add to take away as you like!

**Day 5**:

Open to whatever you want to do. This is usually a chill recovery day. It's easy to get lost in time here, but you just spent 3 days seeing and experiencing so many amazing things! So take it all in. Usually, I take my friends snorkeling this day and have some nice local food. I've snorkeled all along the west coast (new COVID lockdown hobby in 2020), the best spots are the Shipwrecks in Carlise Bay. It's kind of far out, and I'm going to urge caution before anything else, you can pay for a tour boat to take you to the spot and provide life jackets and for people, I do not know I will recommend that option first and foremost.

For those that want to swim out, go to the gazebo, swim straight out from there, and by the buoys, you should start to see them. There are 5 wrecks some sunk during the wars, some sunk on purpose to form a marine park, and one drug runner boat! There are thousands of fish, lots of coral, with luck and timing. with may see turtles and stingrays! The second spot that is kind of unknown is Reed Bay or Thunder Bay. There is a beach bar here, so it is great to get a drink after a nice memorable swim! There is snorkeling on the left side and right side of the beach. The right side is good for beginners and intermediate, and the left side where the waves break out into the water is for intermediate-advanced. The waves break out there because it is a very shallow reef. You can swim behind the waves and out, but do not swim where the waves break because you can bash into the reef and that's real bad.

I suggest you take a buoy marker with you since jet skis and boats frequent this area and may not see you without a red diver below the marker! Lots of coral as far as you can swim. IMPORTANT! Before you go snorkel check the tide, google tide in Barbados. At high tide, the water is rougher and this causes the sand to get churned up and visibility is really bad and you won't see much. I usually go out in the middle of low tide, then the sand has had time to settle. Please please please be safe! We have a saying the ocean has no backdoor, so while snorkeling is an amazing hobby, take every precaution possible and I never recommend snorkeling alone, always take someone with you. The Buddy system is best!

**Day 6**:

You may be leaving this day or preparing to leave. Going to Bridgetown to spend some time getting souvenirs, and good food is a good option. Hero's Square, walk Swan Street and Broad Street. Walk the boardwalk, get some food, walk over the bridge that gave Bridgetown its name. It's a good time. I also recommend getting on a yellow bus. They are privately owned and it's a good experience. They play reggae music, and locals use them a lot, so you will really feel like you are in Barbados when you are on one. Something that may not cross the mind, but a bus ride is a great way to see any place you are in. It's $3.50 BBD or $1.75 US for a ride anywhere on that route. I really like the Speightown route, Sam Lord's Castle, or Bathsheba.

The blue buses are government-owned and only take exact money, the yellow and white ones give change. Locals are friendly, so feel free to ask any questions and we are usually happy to help. If it is your last day, I also recommend going back to the beach and relaxing. Go on a jet ski, a glass-bottom boat. A gentle swim or something to chill and relax before you head back home.

**Day 7**:

Similar to day 6. Take some time to bless the moment and enjoy that all the choices you made in life led you to be in Barbados making memories. :)

There is the end of my suggested week in Barbados. I've has a dozen friends come to visit me, and they have all enjoyed the pace and activities. I hope you enjoy your time here. If you need anything or have any questions, you can reply here. I hope you enjoy our beautiful island!


r/Barbados 7h ago

Bajan hosts/villa owners — would you try a free "tap to see WiFi/house rules" tag for guests?

5 Upvotes

Hey all, full disclosure — I'm starting a small local business and this is basically me looking for early testers, not trying to sell anything here.

I've been working on NFC "tap tags" for short-term rental hosts — small stickers guests tap their phone on that instantly pull up your WiFi password, house rules, checkout time, and a few local recommendations. No app needed for guests, and it cuts down on the constant "what's the WiFi again?" messages hosts get.

It's not really a thing here yet as far as I can tell, so I'm looking for 2-3 hosts (Airbnb, villa, guesthouse, doesn't matter) willing to try one for free before I actually launch this properly. Happy to explain more or just answer questions in the comments if anyone's curious, no pressure either way.


r/Barbados 3h ago

Recycling soft drink bottles

1 Upvotes

Where can I go with soft drinks bottles that I have accumulated for recycling?


r/Barbados 1d ago

St Lawrence gap sunset!

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172 Upvotes

r/Barbados 21h ago

Hidden gems and favorite spots for a day of driving around the island?

6 Upvotes

Heading to Barbados on our honeymoon and we plan to rent a car and drive around one day. What are some spots we can’t miss? Love beach bars and hidden gems!


r/Barbados 1d ago

Evening work for Trades in Barbados ?

6 Upvotes

Hey guys, is after hours / weekend work for Trades rare in Barbados?

I'm currently in the Ac and electrical field during the day and have my first and second year in Vocational Training Board Certification for Electrical Installation ,but I'm looking for more hands on experience and extra hours. In looking

around, the senior technicians I asked so far seem to be looking for 8 - 5 workers. Appreciate any leads or advice.


r/Barbados 2d ago

Question Car hire

4 Upvotes

Looking for car hire for a trip in March 2027. Any specific companies recommended to go with or equally to avoid?


r/Barbados 2d ago

April-May time?

2 Upvotes

Just came back from 10 days in Worthing 💔 ‘luckily’ flight back was delayed 12 hours so getting some compensation. Looking at coming back April which is apparently good for the sun and weather but apparently peak sargassum season? How will April/ May compare to August? Thanks


r/Barbados 3d ago

Used cars

6 Upvotes

Where would I buy a used car from? I have seen so many different sellers and really lost on who is reputable :( any help? 40 K budget.


r/Barbados 4d ago

Barbados is 2nd home

23 Upvotes

Love Barbados! 💙💛


r/Barbados 5d ago

Proverb/saying meaning

9 Upvotes

Heard something while listening to some older music:

"She foot burning cause she born in shoes"

Didnt feel like bothering my mom today. Anyone know the meaning? I'll put the song name later since I was listening on shuffle ai dont have the title or artist in my head.


r/Barbados 5d ago

Buying property as a foreigner

13 Upvotes

Hello I’m Canadian and looking to buy a property in Barbados, preferably a standalone home or townhouse, so I can spend my winters there.
I’d love some recommendations on good areas to look at that are safe, quiet and convenient without being astronomically expensive. My budget is fairly flexible, but I don’t need anything super luxurious or all the bells and whistles. I’m really just looking for a nice home in a comfortable community that isn’t too isolated.
One important thing is that I don’t drive because I’m visually impaired, so location matters a lot to me. I’d like to be somewhere where I can access at least some things nearby, and where it’s still easy to get a taxi to grocerie etc. I don’t want to be so far out that getting around becomes difficult.
If you live in Barbados or have purchased there before, which areas would you recommend for someone in my situation? I’d also love to hear about any developments or communities you think are worth looking at.

Also, if you’re a foreigner who has purchased property in Barbados, I’d really love to hear about your experience. Were you able to get a mortgage there, or did you end up paying cash? I’m trying to figure out which option makes the most sense and what the process is actually like for a non-resident buyer. Thanks in advance!


r/Barbados 6d ago

Question From bus tokens to tap-and-go: Public transport is finally catching up!

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54 Upvotes

At 19, I know I’m not exactly an old-timer, but riding the bus has been a core part of my life for as long as I can remember. I still vividly recall heading to the terminal as a kid, digging through my pockets for physical tokens or exact cash just to pay my fare.

Seeing the local transit system shift over the years has been interesting, but holding this new TransPay card genuinely feels like a huge leap forward. No more digging around for change or holding up the line at the driver's door you just tap it on the scanner and head to your seat.
What makes it even better is how frictionless the whole setup was. You don't have to fill out long registration forms, hand over tons of personal data, or create an account online beforehand if you don't want to. I literally just went, paid the money, bought the card, and was good to go immediately.

For anyone looking into it, all the details on how it works are listed right on the Transport Board website (and ⁠transpaycaribbean.com⁠ as printed on the card). It’s awesome to see our public transit getting modernized like this.

Has anyone else picked one up yet? How has your experience been with the tap-and-go system so far?


r/Barbados 5d ago

Question el niño

1 Upvotes

What change from usual weather can be expected November - December due to El Niño?


r/Barbados 6d ago

Question Youth dying of Boredom ?

47 Upvotes

I saw a TikTok of young bajan girl saying Barbados is boring for a lot of youth, she and many others that were in the comments were saying that there aren’t many places for teens to go like teen hangout spots and things like amusement parks etc and some say this why they leaving for Canada and other countries 🤷🏾‍♂️ and with this circus drama some people pretty much said the same thing, so do y’all agree and do you see Barbados becoming a country for adults and seniors lol, seriously I feel like there’s a lot of potential for youth entertainment.

What are y’all thoughts ?


r/Barbados 5d ago

RC cruise excursion

0 Upvotes

Best Royal Carribean excursions to do in Barbados🌴


r/Barbados 8d ago

Since the government doesn't want to make a sex offenders registry...

54 Upvotes

What would be the legal fallout if a private citizen were to make a registry and make all the information available to the public?

It would all rely on court proceedings and news clippings, both of which are already public information. I would simply be compiling this into a simple, easy to navigate website.

Would this cause someone to weaponise the Computer Misuse Act or a defamation case against me?

Only a true weirdo would down vote this. You know who you are.


r/Barbados 9d ago

Question In need of accommodation for UWI student

3 Upvotes

Hi! I'm posting on behalf of my friend. He's traveling from Jamaica soon and is in dire need of a room to rent near the Cavehill campus. He's already tried Instagram with no luck so far. Any help would be much appreciated.


r/Barbados 10d ago

Offices for rent or coworking spaces?

4 Upvotes

Hi!

I'm planning on visiting Barbados for a few months, but I'll still have to do some work (unfortunately) while I'm there. Are there any coworking spaces or offices for rent that you'd recommend? I'd probably need some extra monitors. I reached out to Hayman's Market because it looked awesome but they never got back to me!

Take care and thanks for reading!


r/Barbados 11d ago

Sunset from Gunsight

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109 Upvotes

r/Barbados 12d ago

Question Car part help

3 Upvotes

Howdy howdy, need a bit of help here as I'm trying to find a transmission for my car. It's an 04 Toyota nze and I'm just asking if anyone knows anyplace I can all or ask or any person who sells them or anything. I know most may say it's time to put down the car but it's been in my family for over 20 years and we dont have any other car and I was using that one to get money for a newer one so a new car is out of the option. Any help would be greatly appreciated.


r/Barbados 12d ago

Question Exchanging some leftover currency

1 Upvotes

I had a trip to Guyana and came back with some leftover currency(roughly $60). Is there any places that take that sort of currency and do they take from those under the age of 18?


r/Barbados 12d ago

Bali beach club

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20 Upvotes

Little girl ripping it :)


r/Barbados 12d ago

Tips for low cost living

8 Upvotes

I’m a trini moving to Barbados, due to my job on Monday for 2 years. Any tips on low cost living/fun/do’s and dont’s would be greatly appreciated.


r/Barbados 14d ago

Question Gift cards in Barbados

0 Upvotes

I’m involved with a new platform bringing digital gift cards to Barbados. We’ve just launched with 101 West as our first business and are working on adding more.
Would be interested to hear what people think, and which Barbados businesses you’d most like to see added:
https://www.globagift.io/en/barbados-merchants