Barbados is located at 13˚N and 59˚W of the Equator and as a result, our Standard Time is Greenwich Mean Time. There is no Daylight Saving Time in Barbados.
Since Barbados is predominantly coral and limestone our water supply is naturally filtered and is of a very high quality and perfectly safe for drinking. However if you prefer, well known brands of bottled water are available island wide so there is no need to travel with water. Be sure to drink plenty fluids throughout your holiday, as too much exposure to sun, heat and excess alcohol consumption can result in dehydration.
Persons planning to use their mobile phones whilst on holiday in Barbados should ensure that the roaming feature is activated prior to their arrival on the island. Please bear in mind that once in Barbados these calls will be charged at International rates and this can be quite costly. You may want to pursue the option of purchasing or renting a phone locally and using the prepaid service offered by any of our two local service providers. LIME - http://www.time4lime.com/bb/ or Digicel - http://www.digicelbarbados.com/.
Most restaurants and hotels will indicate if a 10% service charge will be added to your bill, where this is not the case tipping is at your discretion but is generally expected.
For most restaurants dining is a elegantly casual affair unless a dress code is specified.
Getting around in Barbados is easy, if you are staying where you want to be, then walking is your best bet. Not only is it affordable but you get to explore the island literally from the ground. However, if walking is just not an option, you could always take a taxi or rent a car from any of the local car rental agencies or even take a bus, minivan or Route Taxi (commonly referred to as a ZR) at a cost of just two Barbados Dollars a ride ($2.00 Bds.).
Barbados has a fairly decent network of roads throughout the island and public transportation can be used to access most places of interest. Buses are available from 5.00 am until 11.00 pm and the bus fare to any point on the island is Bds $ 2.00.
Travel Tips