The most easterly of the Caribbean islands, sunny Barbados lies 400 km (250 miles) northeast of Venezuela. Barbados offers excellent water sport opportunities for the adventurous, or stretches of golden beaches for the more laid-back tourist. The calm, turquoise, warm waters of the Caribbean coast on the west of the island contrast with the rugged beauty of the treacherous Atlantic coast on the east.
Barbados has a tropical climate with year-round warm weather, made pleasant by cooling trade winds. The wet season, from July to November, has only brief showers -- Barbados is drier than most other Caribbean islands. Temperatures range between 21-27 C (70-80 F).
The population of Barbados is primarily of African origin, with some islanders from Britain and the rest of Europe. The culture is a mixture of British tradition and easy-going Caribbean style. English is the official language. The major cities and towns include Speightstown, Bathsheba and Bridgetown.
Hotel and resort accommodations are plentiful but can be pricy. Recreation includes golf, horse-back riding, fishing, sailing, snorkeling, diving, sightseeing and shopping. Diners can choose from a wide variety of restaurants in most price ranges.
The road system is well developed, and mostly paved, although roads tend to be narrow, winding, and busy. Cars, motorcycles and bicycles can be rented. Buses are available and inexpensive. Taxis are also available, but not inexpensive.
Grantley Adams International Airport is southeast of Bridgetown. North American airlines serving the island include American Airlines, Air Canada, Air Jamaica, Air Sunshine, Continental Airlines and US Airways. Other carriers include BWIA (British West Indies Air), British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.
Barbados is a popular cruise destination with Bridgetown as the major port of call. Cruise lines such as Holland American Line, Carnival Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, and Windstar Cruises offer a variety of cruises.
The communications infrastructure is modern and reliable, with international direct dialing available.
Barbados is a parliamentary democracy, an independent state within the British Commonwealth. The chief of state is the British monarch, represented by the governor general. The head of government is the prime minister.
The economy is dependent on tourism, but also includes sugar cane cultivation, offshore finance and information technology. Prices tend to be high, though reasonably priced guesthouses can be found.
Though the crime rate is relatively low, both violent and property crime against tourists are increasing in Barbados.
Want more background information on other Caribbean countries? Just click the link below or vist out Destinations section:
Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Bahamas Bermuda British Virgin Islands Cayman Islands Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic Grenada Guadeloupe Haiti Jamaica Martinique Montserrat Netherlands Antilles Puerto Rico Trinidad and Tobago
The iJET® Intelligence Center
Intelligence Officers at iJET are currently monitoring local conditions in Barbados to provide a level of information that surpasses any available from other public sources, including the U.S. State Department. Free from political constraints or concerns, our data provides vital, unfiltered information created specifically for travelers.
Travelers to Barbados or those considering travel to Barbados are strongly advised to purchase an Intelligence Brief early in the travel planning process for the most timely and concise information available on the country.
For only $7.50 you will receive the most complete intelligence available to the general public. Each Intelligence Brief contains data on 12 areas of concern for travelers (including local weather, Security and Health advisories, Local Travel Alerts, Entry/exit requirements, Cultural and Business information, Transportation updates, Communications/Technology, the Legal and Financial situation, Environmental concerns and Language) plus you will receive a detailed map and real-time updates from the world's leading private intelligence gathering organization.
To purchase and immediately download the latest Intelligence Brief for the country -- Click Here
Those traveling to this country or any other region are also advised to sign-up for a Destination Tracker to have there travels monitored and any relevant updates immediately forwarded to them, wherever they are in the world!
To sign-up for a Destination Tracker, which includes Intelligence Briefs for the countries you will visit --Click Here