This guide will help you to start planning your trip to Barbados, with details about costs, weather details, clothing and hotels you will soon be on your way.
Planning a beach vacation in Barbados: Resorts, cost, clothing and weather
Barbados is a beautiful island situated in the West Indies. Barbados boasts more activities per square mile than any other island in the Caribbean. Planning your vacation can be overwhelming, especially if you have never been to Barbados. If you desire a vacation of lying on the beach and enjoying the ocean, with its spectacular beaches of every type, in Barbados you can be sure to find the beach vacation of your dreams. This guide to planning your vacation in Barbados will help you to plan your perfect vacation.
In planning your beach vacation you will need to know what to pack, how to get to the island, where to stay and how much you are going to spend. The currency in Barbados is the Barbadian dollar. It is tied to the US dollar. The exchange rate is normally 2 Barbadian dollars for every 1 US dollar.
Let's talk about the weather in Barbados first, which will help you in packing for your trip. You will also need to know about the traditional attire in Barbados, so you can be sure to include the proper wardrobe.
Weather - It is warm and sunny all year round. The average high temperature throughout the day is 75-85F. The nights are slightly cooler. The island has tropical breezes that keep the island from becoming unbearably hot. The hurricane season runs from June to December. Hurricanes are not as common in Barbados as they are in other Caribbean islands. Tropical storms can occur during this time, though storms are generally short lived.
Attire - You should plan to bring beach attire; sunglasses, light fabrics and of course a swimsuit. Formal wear for men may include khaki pants, and for women a cotton dress would be appropriate. Though the people in Barbados are relaxed, Barbados was under the rule of England for so long that many traditions of England still exist; therefore there are places in Barbados where more formal attire is appropriate, banks included. You will see business men and women wearing traditional business attire. Because the nights can become cool, you may want to bring a light jacket and pants.
The cost for your trip will vary dramatically depending on your flight, hotel, activities, family size and such. One of the most expensive components of your trip will be airfare.
Transportation to the island -You will need to fly to get to Barbados. The costs of the flights will vary depending on class, charter and time of year. Coach class tickets can run from $350 upwards. In December you can end up paying upwards of $550 per ticket. Chartering a plane and first class tickets will cost much more. In addition, you will need your passport to stay in Barbados. In addition, Barbados requires visas from citizens of certain countries. You can go to http://barbados.org/docs.htm to see if you are required to obtain a visa. If you are required to obtain a visa the cost for your trip can increase by a couple hundred dollars.
Another major cost component of your trip will be accommodations.
Accommodations - While in Barbados your cost for accommodation can vary depending on season and quality of the accommodations. There are hotels for as little as $42.00usd per night. There are other hotels and villas that are priced well over $1000usd per night. The price you pay for the hotel will depend on what you require and want. Hotels closer to the beaches are more expensive than hotels away from the beach. However, there are no private beaches in Barbados. So, no matter where you stay you can visit any beach you want to visit.
Many resorts offer vacation packages that will include food, activities and lodging. This may be a wonderful idea to use, if you have never been to the island and do not want to spend extra money. Also if you have never been to the island, these packages can help you in deciding what beaches to visit or activities to do.
When deciding which hotel or resort you may want to consider that Barbados can be divided into four sections; north coast, south coast, west coast and east coast. The west coast has smoother, quieter waves. This may be more appropriate for families with smaller children, who are afraid of the waves. The east coast has larger waves. This side of the island is more suitable for surfing and activities that require larger waves. The north coast has beautiful views, while the south coast has medium size waves. Depending on what beach activities you are looking for, you may want to stay closer to one coast than the other. But remember, Barbados is a small island so you have easy access to all coasts. You can see many of the popular beaches in Barbados at http://www.barbados.org/beachimg.htm.
The beaches in Barbados are equaled by none other in the Caribbean. The sand is perfect, the water warm, and the sights beautiful. There is no better island to visit if you want a beach vacation.
