It is warm and sunny all year round with an average daytime high of 75 - 85 degrees Farenheit. The nights are usually slightly cooler. The prevailing northeast tradewinds blow steadily so that although it is bright and sunny, it is not unbearably hot. The rain usually comes in quick showers. The dry season lasts from January to June.
Barbados is in the tropics, and believe it or not, some Barbadians actually put on a sweater in the cool night wintertime breezes. Barbadians complain that the sea is cold when its 78 degrees F!!!
Back to top.There is no “best time”, and we love to go to Barbados throughout the year. If you like peace and quiet and a mainly adult time without young children, then avoid the main school holidays, but if you want a family holiday when your children can make new friends, then school holidays are great.
As the island has a fairly constant temperature and is warm and sunny all year round, the different prices are simply a reflection on how busy the island is. As you can see Christmas and New Year are always busy, lively and all round fun.
Back to top.International airport: Barbados (BGI) (Grantley Adams), 13km (8 miles) east of Bridgetown, in the parish of Christ Church. Airport porters charge Bds$1 per bag for transporting luggage to the street outside of the customs terminal.
Facilities in the airport include a bank, bar, duty free shops and restaurant.
Back to top.From the airport you can always get a taxi or minivan, or you can hire a car and they will deliver it to the airport. We normally get a taxi through choice and have the hire car waiting at the villa when we get there.
Taxi: Taxis do not have meters but the Government regulates fares. Listings are available from the Tourist Office. It normally costs us between BDS$ 80 & BDS$-100 (about £30) to get from the airport in a minivan taxi and about BDS$ 80 on the return journey (the return is normally cheaper because there is no waiting time).
Feeling adventurous? ZR Vans: There are many licensed "Mini Vans" that run around the island picking up tourist and locals. You will recognise them by their "ZR" license plate. They have few fixed schedules but there are many of them and service is frequent. The rate is about Bds$1.50 and is not recommended for the nervous passenger as ZR stop frequently, often abruptly, and move quickly to pick up the maximum paying passengers in the shortest time.
Back to top.What the ladies say: with high-quality, tax-free merchandise, excellent service by friendly and knowledgeable sales staff, and comfortable, air-conditioned stores, shopping in Barbados truly is great fun!
Duty-free shopping is especially popular, with prices typically being 30 to 50% less than in Europe and North America! When making duty-free purchases be sure to have your passport or airline ticket with you. Your packages can be delivered to the airport or seaport for your convenience.
If you need a break from shopping the bars are great!
Back to top.You are spoilt for choice. Take an organized tour, bus, taxi, ZR van, hire a car or even walk. You can even go horse riding if you’d like that. We normally walk the beaches (all beaches in Barbados are public so you can walk for miles especially when the tides out) or travel by hire car and simply explore.
We have been going to the island for nearly 15 years and we find somewhere new each visit.
Back to top.Wow, good question! Everybody has their own answer, sun, sea, sand, clear water, great golf, tennis and other sports, meeting friends, the Barbadians themselves are so friendly, the climate, the great dining, the service. The infrastructure is good, with good roads, good electricity, water you can drink from the tap, a good health service, international flights every day to many major cities throughout the World, it’s lush vegetation, wild Green Monkeys and loads more.
In one sentence, everybody I know who goes there can’t wait to go back. Careful, it may be addictive!
Back to top.It is private, safe, secure, friendly and luxurious with something for everyone. You can relax at the villa, chill out around either of the pools, and enjoy the facilities of the Clubhouse or at the sanctuary. You can play tennis or golf or just go for a walk or jog amidst the beautiful tropical surrounding.
You can be private and unnoticed, or you can mingle with the other residents and socialize at one of the many regular events.
Back to top.It is ideal whether you are adults wanting time to yourself or a family with children and as our housekeeper is there 5 days per week you need not do a thing if you want to just relax. The flexible luxurious accommodation means that you can laze around the villa, dine out as often as you wish or simply self-cater if you prefer. It’s an ideal mix of having your own space and being able to make a sandwich or have a cup of tea when it suits you. You decide.
Back to top.The villa welcomes kids of all ages, and as some of the residents live at the resort permanently there are a number of children under 18 months, some of whom were born there. It is possible to get child minding and baby-sitting arranged through The Sanctuary or our Managing agent.
For older kids The Pelicans Nest clubroom is located at the Sanctuary. It is a dedicated facility that children between the ages 4 to 12 years of age may visit between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. each day with video games, toys and books provided for their entertainment. This room is only supervised during specific holiday periods and these times are posted on the sanctuary notice board.
During school holiday periods the sanctuary team provide supervised sports camps and pelican club days. The charges and sign-ups for these amenities are published on the notice board as you enter the Sanctuary.
The Pelican Club is meticulous in its planning, care and attention to detail, giving you absolute peace of mind while you relax by the pool, play golf or tennis, or simply enjoy the company of your friends. Your children will love it and so will you.
Back to top.Yes. There are a number of excellent hire car companies on the island. We use and recommend Stoutes Car Rental who will take your booking via the phone or the Internet, and deliver the car to you at the villa prior to your arrival if you wish. It really is easy.
Back to top.Yes. Drivers must be over 21 and under 75 years old. Each driver must have held a valid driving licence for at least two years.
In order to drive on the island you need to have a Local Driving Permit which the hire car company will issue when you book the car.
Yes, if you have a Tri-Band GSM phone with international roaming enabled your phone will work. I use EE, Vodafone and O2 and all three work.
Electricity in Barbados is: 110 volts/50 cycles and in the villa we have US power sockets, with some UK sockets in the kitchen for added convenience. We have a hair dryer in each bedroom and when we go we use US-UK adaptors.
Back to top.We have been going for years, and we believe it’s very safe.
Did you know the people of Barbados have a history of long ingrained Christian principles, a sound and free educational system with a literacy rate of 97%?
The United Nations Development Index (1996) ranked Barbados third in terms of quality of life among 160 developing countries worldwide (Hong Kong and Cyprus ranked first and second respectively). Barbados ranked ahead of countries such as Spain, Italy and Ireland.
All of our friends and regular visitors highlight the friendliness of Barbadians as its greatest and most pleasing asset. This is reflected in the highest repeat visitor factor in the region of 39%
Barbados has the third oldest parliament in the world with 358 years of an uninterrupted parliamentary system of government.
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