North and Central America and Caribbean

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
• Natural disasters
• General
 

Safety and security

Terrorism

There is a low threat from terrorism, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.  For more general information see terrorism abroad.

Crime

Around 250,000 British tourists visit Barbados each year and the vast majority of visits are trouble-free. Barbados is a friendly and welcoming country and crime rates are relatively low.  Despite the relaxed atmosphere, however, there have been incidents of violent crime including murder. These tend to occur within the local community but can sometimes affect tourists. There have been occasional incidents of serious attacks on foreign visitors, including armed robbery and rape, as well as more opportunist theft of wallets, handbags and personal possessions. For more information see the 'assault, sexual assault and rape overseas' and 'victims of crime abroad'.

You should therefore maintain at least the same level of personal security awareness as you would in the UK and ensure that your living accommodation is secure. Avoid walking alone in isolated areas, including beaches, after dark. Two Canadian tourists were recently violently attacked at Long Beach in the Christchurch area and visitors should exercise particular caution here. Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery. Valuables and travel documents should be left, where possible, in safety deposit boxes and hotel safes.

Political situation

Barbados Country Profile

Local travel

Road travel

You must obtain a local temporary driving licence from any police station at a cost of BD$100 (US $50) which is valid for 12 months. You will need to produce your UK/EU licence to obtain the local one.

Motorists drive on the left in Barbados. There is a high incidence of road accidents, including fatalities, for the size of the island. Most roads are paved but, with the exception of the main highways, many have potholes. In rural areas they are narrow, usually unlit and often have obscured side roads and blind corners.  Road surfaces lack grip and become very slippery when wet.  Speed limits are posted in kilometres per hour (40, 60 and 80 kph maximum) and are lower than the UK. Road signs are poor. Vehicle directional indicators are used intermittently; exercise caution, particularly on roundabouts.  Pedestrians walk on the roads because of a lack of pavements. In the event of an accident, leave your vehicle where it comes to rest and call the police.

Standard taxi fares exist for some destinations but not all. It is sensible to clarify the fare in Barbados dollars with the driver before beginning the journey. You can often pay in US Dollars (fixed exchange rate: $2 Barbados Dollars = $1 US Dollar) as well as Barbados Dollars.

For more general information see driving abroad.