How to Find Hotels In Bridgetown, Barbados

A busy commercial city on the shores of Carlisle Bay, Bridgetown is the capital city of Barbados. As part of the British Commonwealth in the Caribbean, many of Bridgetown's tourist attractions simply hint at the island's heritage, but the flavor of the islands is not lost.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Computer with Internet access for making reservations

Organize Transportation

1. Fly into Sir Grantley Adams International Airport, which is located in Bridgetown.
2. Drive on the left if you rent a car. Most of the major rental car companies can be found at the airport.
3. Use public transportation. The Barbados Transport Board offers reliable transport through rural and urban Bridgetown. Fares are about 75 cents one way.
4. Ask cab drivers for a tour. Most of the drivers know the secrets and the history of the city and can offer a more colorful view of Bridgetown. Many drivers can also recommend last-minute budget accommodations at guesthouses.

Find Your Accommodations

5. To book accommodations, contact Barbados Tourism Authority at [phone] or visit their Web site (see Resources below).
6. Save some money and stay at one of the more inexpensive all-inclusive resorts in the southern part of the city. Packages will save you even more money.
7. Consider a weekend in a Bridgetown non-resort hotel, as rates will be cheaper at the many business accommodations in the city.
8. Know that Bridgetown is the only city in Barbados and offers a nice mix of urban style and resort luxury.
9. Splurge on yourself and stay at one of the trendy beach resorts just north of Bridgetown.

Experience Barbados

10. Have a late dinner of Caribbean barbeque at one of the many bars in Bridgetown. Most of the clubs are found outside the capital, so take a few nights to relax in Bridgetown.
11. Celebrate in the streets during the annual summer Crop Over Festival, which signifies the completion of the sugar harvest.
12. Join the world's largest Conga line. The Congaline Carnival, held the last week in April, is a music festival culminating with a parade through Bridgetown. Nearby accommodations overlook the festival village.
13. Visit from February to May for the driest months. June to October is hurricane season, which means accommodations will be more reasonably priced.
14. Keep plenty of Barbados Dollars handy for use in the many street markets.

Tips & Warnings

• Most hotels have shuttles to and from the airport and to various parts of the city.
• Seeing most of the sites in the city center is easiest on foot.
• Do not tip without checking your bill, as a 10 percent service charge is added to most hotel bills.
• Because Bridgetown is a popular winter destination, accommodations should be booked in advance during the holidays.
• No need for a translator, as English is official language in Barbados.
• As of January, 2007, passports are required for US citizens traveling between the US and the Caribbean by air. In January, 2008, the requirement will extend to include those traveling by land or sea.