Best of the Caribbean–Tips on Travel to Barbados

BarbadosIf you’re looking for the quintessential Caribbean island where you can truly “unplug” from the world, Barbados is for you. Barbados, a small island in the Lesser Antilles, is without question, the most British island in the Caribbean. Traditions like afternoon tea still prevail. Cricket is the sport of choice, and dressing for dinner is a must, yet Barbados is far from stuffy. It’s a sophisticated island with rich history, exceptional hotels and restaurants and activities galore. Here’s a few tips on the best times to go, and how to get there.

1. Travel off-season. The influx of tourist during the peak season, which is from mid-December to mid-April, causes an incredible increase on hotel and flight fares. If you’re on a budget, choose to go off-season, when hotels can discount rooms as much as half. With a little planning and flexibility, you can stretch a tight budget much further in the off-season. Consider traveling mid-April through mid-December, when many airlines offer irresistible deals to Barbados. Being a tropical island, Barbados is beautiful and wonderful all year round, and there’s something to be said for off-season–smaller crowds and more discounts on the island!

Barbados22. Consider Budget Airlines. Flights to Barbados can connect from Miami or San Juan, but direct flights are available from various airports nationwide. The airport code for Barbados is BGI, so for the best flight deals, log onto www.CheapFlights.com to search. Airlines traveling to Barbados include American Airlines, Jet Blue, US Airways, Air Canada, Caribbean Air, West Jet and Virgin Atlantic.

3. Be a little flexible. Being flexible with regards to your departure and arrival times is another little secret in finding cheap flights to Barbados. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays usually have fewer crowds, so airlines provide cheaper fares on these days of the week in order to fill the empty seats. Late night flights or “red eye” flights are usually less expensive as well.

Barbados34. Pack Light. Many airlines apply charges for checked bags, so carry only essential stuff and keep it to a very manageable minimum. It would also help to know beforehand the limit for a carry-on bag of your selected airline so that you can adjust the amount of gear you put in. Pro-tip; bring sun-block with you, because it’s very expensive in Bermuda, but be sure to pack it in checked luggage only–you can’t carry it on.

5. Avoid eating in-flight. Flights from the US, specifically from New York, to Barbados takes about five hours, so be sure to pack some snacks for in-flight. Make it a point to eat before embarking on your flight to avoid buying food on the plane or airport restaurants, which are ridiculously expensive.

Getting great deals on flights to Barbados is not so difficult. If you’re willing to travel off-season and be flexible with flight times, then you are assured a wonderful time in this exciting and beautiful island paradise–on a limited budget.Barbados 5

Recommended Reading