Travel Guide to Barbados

This family friendly travel guide to Barbados covers everything we did when we visited the gorgeous Caribbean country as a family. My last time in the Caribbean was in 2014 for our honeymoon in St Lucia. Since then, I had been planning a trip back but something always came up. This time, I wasted no chance in booking it for our 1st trip of the year and it was the most wonderful week with our toddler.

A little background on Barbados

Barbados is in the Atlantic Ocean and a part of the West Indies. Even though it technically is in the Atlantic Ocean and does not border the Caribbean Sea in anyway, it is considered to be part of the Caribbean islands. 

Barbados’ currency is the Barbadian/Bajan Dollar (BBD) but US Dollar (USD) is accepted everywhere. You will often see both costs displayed for everything from experiences to souvenir shops. We used our UK bank card to make all payments and even to withdraw cash from the local atm. While cash is king in places like the markets (and for tips too), we were totally fine travelling there with no cash. At the time of our visit, 1 USD = 2 BBD and £1 was approximately 2.5 BBD.

Barbados has a very high literacy rate. Our taxi driver said it is something like 99.9% literacy and they boast one of the highest rates in the world.

How to get to Barbados

We flew British Airways from London Heathrow to Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados. Our flight was just under 8 hours each way. 

Virgin Atlantic and TUI are also popular airlines that fly direct from the UK. Barbados is included in most of the Caribbean cruise routes; so it is quite an easily accessible and popular destination from the UK. 

We arrived in the evening and were ushered to the self service check into the country. There is staff on hand to help while you register yourself into the country. We went through immigration and were stamped into the country with no hassle. It was a very easy entry into Barbados with our British passports. There was no country tax or entrance fee or visa required. 

After picking up our suitcases, we jumped in our pre-arranged taxi to the resort.

Travel Guide to Barbados: Where to stay in Barbados

We had been craving an all inclusive stay so we booked Wyndham Grand Barbados Hotel and Spa. It is east of Barbados in the parish of St Philip. Wyndham Grand is a lovely all inclusive hotel that is perched on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is steps from one of Barbados’ historic gems, Sam Lord’s castle from the 19th century.

I have written a detailed review of our stay at Wyndham Grand Barbados. However, for this travel guide to Barbados, see ideas of other options to consider.

Travel Guide to Barbados: Things to do in Barbados

These were all the experiences we did with our almost 3 year old toddler.

1. Harrison’s Cave

As someone who is not a fan of enclosed spaces, I definitely thought twice about this experience. However, I am glad I did not let my worry stop us from exploring this incredible place. Harrison’s cave is naturally formed limestone rock through erosion. It is an underground attraction that has become quite popular when in Barbados. 

We got there early, joined the short queue and were given hair nets and safety hats. Then we all got on the train and were driven into the cave by Andrea and Shay, our lovely tour guide. It took a full minute to get into the cave via the Bois tunnel. Harrison’s cave is a lovely experience and I loved that there was no age restriction. 

2. Hunte’s Gardens

This might have been my favourite thing that we did in Barbados. We got a taxi from the resort to Hunte’s gardens and our wonderful driver, Delwin gave us history lessons enroute. When we got to Hunte’s gardens, we paid the entrance fee of 40 BBD per adult (our toddler was free entrance) and stepped into paradise. That is the only way I can describe this place. We spent about an hour just walking around, taking photos and spotting wildlife. 

Hunte’s Gardens is aptly named “the most enchanting place on earth” and this is spot on. I have been to so many pretty gardens around the world and I can confidently say that Hunte’s Gardens is in my top 5. It is incredibly romantic, serene and scenic; that you get lost in the experience. I loved that there is soft jazz music playing as you stroll around the garden. As you walk around, there are garden benches hidden amongst the greenery. It gives you the chance to stop, sit and take it all in from time to time. 

There is a gift shop and a visit to Mr Hunte’s house. There is a small cafe as well for afternoon tea and cakes. 

3. St Nicholas Abbey

I genuinely think this was the best full day out for us. The entire experience lasted about 4 hours but the pace is slow so it does not feel overwhelming. 

St Nicholas Abbey was named after England’s Bath Abbey by one of its owners, not that it looks anything like Bath Abbey. I will be the first to admit that I am not particularly a fan of slavery/colonial tours so I thought to skip this. However, one photo of the train ride and I thought to give it a try. Thankfully, the experience was such a delight.

There are different categories of tours to do at St Nicholas Abbey and we settled for the full experience. This included the train journey for 45 mins with a stop for a view of Scotland District at Cherry Tree Hill. Followed by a visit to the “Great House” with a 30 min guided tour and viewing of the 1930s movie of life in the plantation.

It ends with a Rum Distillery Tour. 

The Steam Train

Our steam train was “Winston”, built in 1926 in Belgium and was a beauty. Our toddler was convinced that it was Thomas the Tank Engine and I made no effort to convince her otherwise. I loved this part of the tour so much and that view over Scotland district is epic. We bought our table souvenir there as well and Mr E got a coconut infused with rum. After all, we were in Barbados.

The Great House

We went on a tour of the Jacobean mansion which is one of the last 3 remaining in the country. It is over 300 years old, has 7 bedrooms and a fire place which of course, has never been used.

We actually saw a photo of the popular British actor, Benedict Cumberbatch’s ancestor. It is known that his ancestors owned slaves (I think there was a documentary about this); so it was interesting to see the link.

Rum Distillery Tour

The famous rum in Barbados is Mount Gay and you will see this rum everywhere. There are a lot of rum tasting tours and we decided to do the St Nicholas Abbey one. As it is a working plantation, they have their own distillery and produce rum. 

We toured the distillery, went into the cottage where the rums are packaged (by hand, I must add). The lady who was doing the packaging was there so it was all so raw and enjoyable. At the end of the tour, we met Simon who gave us lessons in rum.

Terrace café

There is a terrace cafe where you can have lunch just before you leave. A little gift shop sits on the property as well and you can of course, buy some rum as souvenir.

4. Rihanna Drive

This is more of a photo op than a cultural experience. However there is a Bajan tour that includes a stop at her house. We went there to see the house where Rihanna, the mega superstar spent some of her childhood. The Bajans are very proud of Rihanna (as they should be) and naming this street after her felt full circle. 

Formerly Westbury New Road, this is where Rihanna grew up and rode her bicycles. There is not much to do here but a bar sits across the house if you fancy a local beer.

There is a lovely tribute plaque at the end of the street aptly titled “Our Diamond” It was unveiled in 2017 by the Prime Minister of Barbados. We took photos and walked the length of the street. The cemetery she often refers to sits at the end of the street as well. 

One cannot go to Barbados or write a travel guide to Barbados without including a visit to Rihanna’s childhood home.

5. Bridgetown

The capital city of Barbados and where all the buzz is. It was established in 1628 by English settlers. For a bit of history, it was one of the earliest established towns. This meant that it was a crucial port for the trading vessels from slave trade to sugar trade.

Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados and is the largest city on the beautiful island. Even today, it still has a thriving hub. Its gorgeous old town features colonial buildings (protected UNESCO world heritage sites)

Things to do in Bridgetown, Barbados:

1. Visit the gorgeous beaches – Browne’s Beach, Pebbles Beach
2. Carlisle Bay. This is the beach everyone tells you to go to. Carlisle Bay is a natural harbour and is home to Needham’s Point Lighthouse which is one of the nation’s historic lighthouses.
3. Barbados Museum and Historical Society
4. Garrison Savannah which is the horse racing venue
5. George Washington House and Museum. This is an old Georgian plantation where President George Washington lived in 1751. Apparently, it is the only place outside North America that he visited.

I think that if we ever make our way back to Barbados, we will most likely stay central in Bridgetown. 

6. Bathsheba

This is the surfing capital of Barbados but the reason for our visit? Its beauty. We stopped just off the road and walked along the beach and it was so beautiful. There are some food kiosks lined up for lunch and there are spots to spread your blanket for a picnic. Or maybe just a typical beach day. The rock formations make this part of the island quite unique. My favourite rock was of course “The Mushroom”. We saw a few surfers around; although the waves were not that strong on the day we went.

Bathsheba is also the main fishing village and is full of so much history. There are some historic churches; one of which is Saint Joseph Anglican Church. It was built around 1640 on Horse Hill and rebuilt in 1839 due to a hurricane.

7. Oistins

Everyone will tell you to visit Oistins for the food (the popular fish fry) and they are right. However, it is also a popular place to spot planes landing at the airport, Grantley Adams International Airport. Since our resort had a free shuttle to Oistins, we contemplated going for the evening but laziness won and we chilled instead. 

Even though we did not visit, I thought it was worth mentioning especially for families with older kids. It is a chance to meet with locals especially on Friday and Saturday nights; this is when stalls sell local craft and fried fish delicacies with music blasting all around. The typical jolly atmosphere we’ve come to love and associate with the Caribbean culture.

Family Friendly Travel Guide to Barbados: FAQs

Is Barbados child friendly?

Barbados is a very family friendly country and we noticed that every restaurant had high chairs and kids menus. Every time we ordered a taxi, they would offer to add a car seat for our toddler. Even when we had a full day of exploring in a semi private group, the mini bus had a very comfortable car seat where our toddler napped in between drives. 

Our hotel was particularly child friendly so it set the vibe for the rest of the trip. A look on instagram for content from Barbados will tell you it is popular with families. 

How is the weather in Barbados?

We travelled to Barbados at the end of February and it was hot all through. As with the Caribbean countries, rains are unavoidable. However, from my experience, they stop as quickly as they start. Barbados enjoys a warm and sunny climate. The east side of the island is particularly more windy than the rest of the island. But for most of the year, it is hot and the perfect destination for a winter sun getaway.

Where is the best area to stay in Barbados?

We stayed on the East side of the island which I’d say was lovely however, the beach on that side came with heavy waves. I’d say the West is a better option from what we realised on our trip. You can enjoy the gentle beaches there; which is the main reason people go to Barbados. The parishes on the west coast of Barbados are St James, St Peter and St Michael so look for them when booking your Barbados hotel.

What is the best way to get around Barbados?

I genuinely think that renting a car is the best way to get around Barbados. Driving is similar to UK style and roads are ok to navigate. Taxis are expensive but that was our preferred mode of getting around the country. I would say that the cost does add up if you are taxi-ing everywhere which brings me back to car rental. 

There is public transportation like the Barbados Transport Board buses and the privately owned mini buses. However, for comfort and a family friendly way to explore Barbados, taxis or car rentals would be my recommendation.

Is Barbados an expensive country?

Barbados is one of the more expensive Caribbean islands and I think it’s because it relies mainly on tourism. A lot of goods are also imported and standard of living is quite high which all adds up. It is very possible to visit Barbados on a budget but in general, it is not particularly cheap. Experiences are also expensive so plan your trip accordingly. 

For ideas on a budget friendly visit to Barbados, consider traveling in low season and staying in self catering accodmodations. 

Is Barbados safe? 

For tourists, Barbados is generally safe and there is nothing to worry about. Of course, there will be places to avoid but the crime rate is generally low. The most popular crimes in tourist areas are pickpocketing and petty theft. So if on a beach, don’t leave your things unattended and just stay alert in unfamiliar areas. However, Barbados is a safe country and probably no different (or even safer) to where you are travelling from.

Travel Guide to Barbados 

We were actually in Barbados during the horse racing but we did not plan our day quite right so we missed it. Our plan was to visit Carlisle Bay and our concierge had explained that it was also horse racing day. So we thought it would be the perfect day out. But come morning, we just felt so tired and knew we needed to relax on the resort instead. I’m sure I’ll always regret not pushing ourselves to go but hopefully it is a reason to revisit Barbados in the future.

Barbados is beautiful and I love that it still feels rather authentic even though its major export is tourism. It is filled with tourists but that does not take away from the real spirit of the country. The Bajans are very proud of who they are and if you are lucky, you will meet a taxi driver like Delwin who will give you history lessons for free. 

Bisous, Bugo x