BARBADOS

Surrounded the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean sea, Barbados has something for every kind of traveller: the foodie, the explorer, the historian and the adventurer!

The name “Barbados” is from either the Portuguese term os barbudos or the Spanish equivalent, los barbudos, both meaning “the bearded ones”. It is unclear whether “bearded” refers to the long, hanging roots of the bearded fig-tree (Ficus citrifolia), indigenous to the island, or to the allegedly bearded Caribs who once inhabited the island, or, more fancifully, to a visual impression of a beard formed by the sea foam that sprays over the outlying coral reefs.

Total Area: 439 km2 (169 sq mi)

Capital: Bridgetown

Country Code: +1 -246

Country Population: 287,025

Credit Cards: Visa, Amex, MasterCard, Diners Club, EnRoute, Eurocard, Barclaycard.

Currency: Barbadian dollar ($) (BBD)

Departure Tax: Departure Tax of BDS $55 (US $ 27.50) applies for all passengers over 2 years old leaving Barbados. Effective October 1, 2018 an additional fee has been added – passengers flying outside of the Caribbean region pay US$70 per person, and those flying within the Caribbean pay US$35 per person.

Drives: Left

Electricity: Electricity in Barbados is 110 volts/50 cycles.

Ethnic Groups: 91% Black, 4% White, 3.5% Multiracial, 1% Indian, 0.5% Other/Unspecified

Official Language(s): English, Creole

Religion: 75.6% Christianity, 20.6% No religion, 2.5% Others, 1.3% Unspecified

Time Zone: GMT -4

Tipping: Tipping in Barbados is discretionary and should reflect the service you have received, however, a service charge of between 10 to 15% is typically added to your bill in hotels and restaurants.