Barbados Fact File

Red Tape

British passport holders do not need a visa, but your passport should be valid for at least six months after your arrival. You must also be able to show a return or onward ticket.

Weather

The average annual temperature is 26 degrees, with no big differences from month to month. Rainfall occurs mostly between June and November but tends to be of the 'heavy afternoon shower' variety and it's warm! Last hurricane was Janet in 1955.

Times

Barbados is four hours behind GMT, or five hours behind BST. It takes about eight hours to fly there from the UK.

Money

The currency is in the Barbadian dollar (Bds$). Barbadian dollars and US dollars can both be used - US$1 is worth about two Bajans dollars. Credit cards are accepted in most places, you can also make cash withdrawals at banks and ATM's

Dress

Bring lightweight clothes for the tropics. While not enforcing a dress code, some of the swankier restaurants on the West Coast are quite dressy places in the evenings. Don't forget sunglasses sunblock and beach footwear. Topless sunbathing is frowned upon by the locals, as is wearing skimpy beach gear away from the beach.

Driving

If you plan to hire a car, a Barbados driving permit is required, available from car hire companies for Bds$10. You should also bring your national driving licence or an international driving permit.

Dining Out

RESTAURANTS

Barbados, and particularly the west coast, has a number of top quality restaurants. However many of these also match London prices. There are listings for all the restaurants on the island in the villa guide. Below are some of our recommendations.

Gourmet Restaurants
The Cliff 432 1922
Daphnes 432 0832
Tides 432 8356
Calabaza 424 4557
You must make reservations and prices are expensive but the food, view and ambience are spectacular.

Other Restaurants
Mangos 422 0704
Olives 432 2112
The Mews 432 1122
Lone Star 419 0599
Fish Pot 439 2604
Reservations recommended

Casual Dining
Surfside
Cocomos - 432 0134
Mannies (at Mullins beach) - 422 1878
Groots (run by a Dutchman from Lancashire!) Blackened snapper or steak and kidney? The choice is yours.
Bombas
Cheffette - the one at Holetown is right on the beach

There are some good restaurants on the South Coast, though it is quite a distance to travel for dinner in the evening.

TAKEAWAYS

Patisserie Flindt (just on the right as you get into Holetown) sell tasty salads, rolls, sandwiches, quiches, etc for lunch on the deck or for a picnic on a day out. The cakes are fabulous and it's worth going down for morning coffee or afternoon tea.

The pizza restaurant in Holetown 'Pizzaz' (just past the Chattel Village) also does takeaway.

Good Choice Chinese - 432 8249 Sunset Crest
East Winds - Chinese - towards Speightstown
Sittar - Indian, Good to eat in or takeaway. In Holetown

BARS

The Monkey Bar at Sandy Lane Hotel is a wonderful "grown up" cocktail bar, well worth a visit.

For sports fans, there are a few sports bars in Holetown that regularly show major football games, boxing, etc - the Surfside is a casual outdoor place on the beach opposite the petrol station and the sports bar at the Mango Bay hotel is indoor and air-conditioned. The Coach House Pub along the coast to the South also regularly shows English football matches.

The Lone Star and most of the West Coast hotels also have bars where it is not mandatory to eat

Groots Bar - is just down from us to the left on the main road. It's run by an English couple and it is a very friendly place. Prices are much more realistic and the food is good. (Curries/fish and chips etc) and they do takeaways. It is a 10-minute walk away, opposite the Coral Reef hotel. Michael Winner gave it a rave review in the Sunday Times (Feb 2004).

Health Spas

Hands-on approach to guests' wellbeing is available by visiting a host of spas offering luxurious treatments:

-Té Spa at Villa Nova, St John 246 433 1524 www.villanovabarbados.com
-The Spa at Sandy Lane, St James 444 2000 www.sandylane.com
-The House, Paynes Bay, St James 432 5525 www.eleganthotels.com
-Royal Westmoreland Golf & Country Club, St James 422 4653 www.royal-westmoreland.com

-Home Visits, Schofield Hewitt 231 2861. He brings everything he needs with him and the massage can take place on the veranda or inside as you wish. He will tailor the massage or other beauty treatments to your requirements and he will call by to talk about what you would like prior to any appointment if you wish.