This part of the Caribbean hasn't quite lost its British accent. Barbados is the 'Little England' of the Caribbean, but not so much so that the locals have given up rotis for kidney pies, or rum for bitter ale. Bajans, as the islanders call themselves, are as West Indian as any of their Caribbean neighbours, and have tended to selectively borrow rather than assume English customs. Barbados sits almost a hundred miles east of its closest neighbour, so when the Spaniards, Danes, French and others were busy fighting over the rest of the Caribbean, Barbados sat back with its Pimm's on ice, remaining solidly British.
Geography:
Barbados is a distorted pear-shaped island lying 2585km (1610mi) southeast of Miami and 860km (535mi) northeast of Caracas, Venezuela and a third the land size of London. The western coast has white-sand beaches and calm turquoise waters, while the cliff-lined Atlantic eastern coast is much more turbulent. Coral reefs surround most of the island.
Destination Facts
Capital: Bridgetown
Governor General: Sir Clifford Husbands (representing Queen Elizabeth II)
Prime Minister: David Thompson
Government: independent state within the British Commonwealth
Time zone: GMT -4
Area: 432
Population: 281.000
People: African (90%), English, Scottish & East Indians
Languages: Protestant (67%), Roman Catholic (4%), none (17%), other (12%)
Currency: Barbados Dollar (B$)
Major industries: Tourism, sugar, light manufacturing, component assembly for export, agriculture, fishing.
Major Trading Partners: Caribbean Community (CARICOM), UK, US
Country Dialing Code: 246
Getting There
The best time to go to Barbados is during the cooler, drier months of late winter and early spring (December through May). Mid-December to Mid-April is also the peak tourist season when prices are higher and hotels most crowded.
Barbados' Grantley Adams International Airport is on the island's southern coast, 16km (10mi) southeast of Bridgetown. Over the next few years, the airport is undergoing massive expansion. When complete, it will be the main gateway to the south and southeastern Caribbean, especially for flights from Europe. From the North American mainland, American Airlines, Air Canada, Air Jamaica, Air Sunshine, Continental Airlines and US Airways operate services from major US and Canadian cities. BWIA (British West Indies Air, based out of Trinidad) has flights from London, Frankfurt and Zurich, while British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly to Barbados from London-Gatwick. Condor makes the trip from Frankfurt. Several airlines - including LIAT, BWIA and Caribbean Star - offer flights from Barbados to other Caribbean destinations. In season, a steel band and complimentary rum punch greet arriving passengers; a modest airport departure tax is the island's kiss good-bye. Few car rental agencies have booths at the airport, but most will pick customers up. Otherwise travellers have a choice of catching a taxi to their destination or simply walking out onto the road and catching a local bus. About 500,000 cruise-ship passengers arrive in Bridgetown's harbour each year.
The best and cheapest transport option on Barbados is the bus. There are three kinds of buses: government-operated public buses, which have the most extensive routes; a privately operated minibus system; and route taxis. Renting a car is another good way of getting around. None of the island's many car rental agencies is affiliated with a major international rental chain, so just call to book a car and someone will swing by your hotel to pick you up. Temporary driving permits are required; they can be obtained for a small fee through your rental agency. In Barbados, you drive on the left. Taxis are also available and fares are fixed by the government. However, vehicles are unmetered so establish a fare in advance, especially if you hire a taxi for a sightseeing tour. Rent bicycles in Hastings and Maxwell. Because of Barbados' easterly position and challenging sailing conditions, it's well off the main track for most sailors and there's no local yacht charter industry.
Weather
The climate in Barbados tends to be nice year-round: in January, the average daily high temperature is 83° F (28° C), while the average low is 70° F (21° C). Temperatures come down to average highs of 86° F (30° C), and lows of 74° F (23° C) in July. February to May are the driest months (April averages only seven days of rain), while July is the wettest month with some 18 days of rain. June through October is the hurricane season: September and October are the most humid months and have the highest hurricane risk.
Events
The island's top event is the Crop-Over Festival, which originated in colonial times as a celebration of the sugar cane harvest. Festivities stretch over a three-week period beginning in mid-July. There are spirited calypso competitions and fairs around the island. The festival culminates with a Carnival-like costume parade on Kadooment Day (the first Monday in August). In February, the Holetown Festival celebrates the 1627 arrival of the first English settlers on Barbados. Holetown's week-long festivities include street fairs, a music festival at the historic parish church and a road race. The Oistins Fish Festival, held over Easter weekend, commemorates the signing of the Charter of Barbados. It's a seaside event focusing on boat races, fish-boning competitions, local foods, crafts and dancing. The National Independence Festival of Creative Arts, held throughout November, features talent contests in dance, drama and singing. Performances by the finalists are held on Independence Day (30 November). There are also a handful of international sporting events, including the Barbados Windsurfing World Cup, held at Silver Sands in January, and the Caribbean Surfing Championship, held in early November at Bathsheba.
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