Barbados

Barbados sits a little east of the main Caribbean chain, a flat coral island with two very different coasts. The west coast, sometimes called the Platinum Coast, has calm, clear water and upscale resorts. The east coast faces the Atlantic, with rolling waves and the famous surf break known as the Soup Bowl at Bathsheba.

Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Barbados became a republic in 2021, replacing the British monarch as head of state. Below ground, Harrison's Cave has crystal caverns you can tour by tram.

Photo: Postdlf via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Grantley Adams International Airport is one of the busiest in the eastern Caribbean, with direct flights from the US, Canada and the UK and many regional connections. Regional carriers link Barbados with Jamaica, sometimes with a stop.

As fellow CARICOM citizens, Jamaicans can generally travel to Barbados without a visa, but check current entry requirements.

Barbados and Jamaica share a lot: English, a British past, and a love of cricket. Kensington Oval in Bridgetown is one of the sport's great grounds. But Barbados is smaller, flatter and more orderly, with lower crime and a reputation for being safe and well organized. It is also more expensive.

The biggest party of the year is Crop Over, a summer festival that ends with Grand Kadooment in early August. On Friday nights, the fish fry at Oistins is a must, and the national dish is flying fish with cou-cou. Mount Gay, founded in 1703, is considered the oldest rum brand still in production.

Photo: NeilEvans at English Wikipedia via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

• Tour Harrison's Cave by tram.
• Go to the Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday night.
• Watch a cricket match at Kensington Oval if one is on.
• Drive the east coast to see the rock formations and surfers at Bathsheba.
• Swim with turtles on a catamaran trip along the west coast.
• Tour a rum distillery, such as Mount Gay or St. Nicholas Abbey.

December to April is dry and busy. Crop Over peaks in late July and early August.

The west coast, from Holetown to Speightstown, is calm and upscale, with luxury resorts and fine dining. The south coast, around St. Lawrence Gap, Dover and Oistins, is livelier and better value, with beach bars, nightlife and a range of hotels and apartments. The rugged east coast around Bathsheba has a few small inns for travelers who want quiet and sea views. Bridgetown is convenient for a short visit but not usually the main base.

• Currency: Barbadian dollar (BBD), fixed at two to one US dollar; US dollars are widely accepted
• Language: English
• Driving: left-hand side
• Best for: families, cricket fans, food lovers and first-time Caribbean travelers

Swim on the west and south coasts; the east coast is beautiful but the currents can be dangerous. Barbados is also the home island of Rihanna, and you will see her face on murals around Bridgetown.