Here’s what you should probably know before planning a trip to Barbados.
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Best Things to Do
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Sample Bajan cuisine.
Pink building in Barbados.Credit:CHRIS TAYLOR/Getty Images
Attend the Crop Over Festival.
Hit the beach.
There are plenty of ways to do a beach day in Barbados.
Guest villa at Coastal Reef Club.Courtesy of Coastal Reef Club
Try surfing.
The island is also a perfect destination to try sports like wind foiling and kitesurfing.
Small, affordable surf schools line many beaches and take advantage of more manageable waves even beginners can enjoy.
Two young men playing beach tennis in Barbados.Gary John Norman/Getty Images
Explore Harrison’s Cave.
Every local expert interviewed for this guide named it among their must-visit spots to eat on the island.
Its location directly on the white sands of Mullins Beach is unbeatable.
Dining patio at Cobblers Cove.Nick Smith/Cobbler’s Cove
Visit during the off-season, between May and November, for much more affordable rates at hotels and resorts.
Even when there are no hurricanes, the island still experiences frequent rains during these months.
Visit in late July or early August to participate in some of the festivities of the Crop Over Festival.
Person under a tree on the coast of Barbados.Westend61/Getty Images
Celebrations culminate at the Grand Kadooment on the first Monday of every August.
Barbados has daily direct flights from many major cities on the East Coast of the United States.
Newdaily flights introduced last fallfrom Delta’s Atlanta hub make it even easier to reach the island.
Beach in Bathsheba, Barbados.TommL/Getty Images
However, each coast of the island offers a dramatically different feel.
The West Coast is also home to the historic city of Holetown.
However, this rugged coastline has nurtured an impressive surf culture and offers stunning vistas.
Bridgetown, Barbados.peeterv/Getty Images
“No visit to Barbados is complete without exploring the East Coast,” says Affonso-Dass.
North Coast
Rocky and rugged, the North Coast is little developed but worth a visit.
Taxis are also available almost anywhere.
More formal bus routes also reach every part of the island and run on more predictable timetables.
