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Whether
you have already chosen the lovely Caribbean
island of Barbados for your vacation, or are
still in the process of making your decision,
the information below is invaluable.
Weather
Barbados
weather: Sunny days and stormy weather
Barbados weather is mostly sunny and fair with
warm days, cool winds and cozy nights.
We
are in the tropics, and believe it or not, some
people actually put on a sweater in the cool
night winter time breezes. Barbadians complain
that the sea is cold when its 78oF !!!
It
rains most in summer and a good rainfall is
refreshing and much needed. Rain is usually
followed quickly by sunny skies and within minutes
everything will be dry.
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Tropical
rainstorms sometimes occur in the hurricane
season which runs from June to October
(as we say in Barbados - "June too
soon, October all over!"). Tropical
rains are spectacular but the island is
very porous and the heaviest rains quickly
drain off into the underground lakes or
the sea.
Hurricanes
usually avoid Barbados. They arise off
the African Coast and head to the Caribbean,
swinging North about 100 miles from Barbados.
The
pattern is reasonably consistent as hurricanes
tend to bounce from one land mass to the
next and Barbados is somewhat separate
from the Caribbean island chain. This
does not of course make us immune, but
the last occasion which Barbados suffered
a direct hit was in 1955. There is a story
of a bus driver who drove his passengers
straight through the worst of Barbados'
hurricanes, "was a bit of a breeze"
he is supposed to have said.
Other
recorded hurricanes to hit the island
occurred in 1898 and 1831.
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Documents
Passports
Every person entering Barbados,
including all North American citizens (Americans
and Canadians), should be in possession of a
valid passport and a valid return ticket.
Some
countries need a visa, for this contact the
Barbados Immigration Department at: 1-800-268-9122
for more information.
Cruise Ship Passengers
Visas are not required for passengers on cruise
ships with the exception of citizens of the
C.I.S., Eastern European countries, People's
Republic of China, Taiwan, South Africa and
Korea.
Cruise ship passengers who are
"in-transit" and stay less than 24
hours are not required to carry a valid passport.
However, if you are beginning
and ending your trip in Barbados or are "in-transit"
to take a flight at the Grantley Adams International
Airport, you are required to possess a valid
passport.
For
a complete Barbados Cruise guide for cruise
visitors, crew and management, please visit
the Barbados
Cruise Tourism website >>
You
may also contact the Barbados Immigration Department
at: 1-800-268-9122 for more information.
Duration of Stay
Duration of Visit to Barbados
Visitors coming to Barbados should provide proof
of adequate means of support for the duration
of their stay to the satisfaction of the Immigration
officer at the port of entry. They should be
in possession of valid return tickets.
Extension of stay
Visitors wishing to extend their stay in Barbados
should apply to:
The Chief Immigration Officer
Immigration Department
Careenage House, The Wharf
Bridgetown,
Barbados
Tel: (246) 426-1011
Currency
Our Dollar is fixed to the U.S Dollar and does
not fluctuate. Its rate to other currencies
fluctuate daily based on their fluctuations
relative to the U.S. Dollar.
US dollars are accepted island-wide, and most
stores and restaurants accept major credit cards
and travellers cheques.
Credit
Cards and Travelers Cheques
Most Barbados hotels,
restaurants
and businesses will accept credit cards. Travelers
cheques in U.S., U.K. and Canadian funds are
also cashable at many outlets.
There are many commercial banks
in Barbados (mostly British and Canadian) and
most have ABMs that will accept credit cards.
They all dispense funds in Barbados dollars
at the current rate of exchange.
The
major credit cards that are readily accepted
are
Visa
American Express
MasterCard
Carte Blanche
Diners Club
EnRoute
Eurocard
Barclaycard
Electricity
Electricity in Barbados is: 110 volts/50 cycles.
There is a reliable electricity supply, with
only the occassional outage.
Standard plug types in Barbados are: (1) Flat
blade (2 flat blades) and (2) Flat blades with
round grounding pin.
Most Barbados hotels can provide adapters and
transformers for hair dryers and other appliances
Drivers
License
You can obtain a Barbados drivers license for
$10.00 Bds on producing a valid National or
International License. All authorised car
rental companies can issue you a drivers
license if you have a valid license.
Police
Stations
Hastings
Worthing
Holetown
Licensing Authorities
Oistins
Christ Church
Pine
St. Michael
Folkestone
Links
& Sources:
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