Barbados is a coral island, pushed out of sea by volcanic activity in a far away time. On the West Coast of Barbados, coral shore beaches of fine white sand stretch along a blue-green sea. Coral reefs fringe the Barbados shoreline to provide excellent snorkeling and Scuba Diving. Along the East Coast a lively surf is blown briskly by the strong and constant trade winds and the waves pound against a rocky shore. The constant breeze of the trade winds give Barbados a mild and pleasant tropical climate. [IMAGE] Blue Barbados Sky Barbados is a very beautiful island, with lots of art, activities, night life, music, history and some of the best restaurants to be found anywhere. But what makes Barbados even more special, and the reason why so many visitors keep returning to the island year after year, is the people. Barbadians, called Bajans, are warm and friendly souls, always ready to greet you with a sincere smile. Barbadians make you feel welcome and special, in this lovely Caribbean Island. You'll feel its your home and you will want to come back again and again. The island has its very own gold coast for swimmers, named after the fabulous sands. Visitors come from all over the world to take part in windsurfing, surfing and sailboarding competitions. Sports fans can also play golf and tennis and watch some of the world's best cricketers. Visitors from Britain will find other reminders of home, from the wigs and robes worn in parliament, to the statue of Nelson in Trafalgar Square. The architecture in the capital of Bridgetown and second largest town, Speightstown, and names such as Brighton beach also offer many reminders of links between the two nations. There is an abundance of fine restaurants on the island that offer local cuisine, seafood and continental cuisine. The wide range of dining options available in Barbados ensures that there is something to suit every taste and budget. By day informal attire is acceptable in most Barbados restaurants, but at night a more formal dress code is enforced. It is also recommended that dinner reservations be made in advance, especially during the winter. Where to stay in Barbados? You will find inexpensive guest houses with bed and breakfast from under $40.00 U.S daily for a single in the summer to luxury accommodations at some of the world's best hotels at $1,600 in the prime season. From large hotels to small intimate guest houses, Barbados has it all. Stay in a cosy country inn, rent self contained apartments or an elegant villa, on the beach, in town or far away in the quiet countryside. And there are hotels for the sports enthusiasts, from water sports to tennis lessons and professional golf courses. Barbados offers accommodation in every class, for every budget and for every taste. Getting to Barbados is Easy! There are several major airlines that fly regularly scheduled service into Barbados from North America, Europe and South America. The two major airlines that come to Barbados from the United States are American Airlines and British West Indies Airlines (BWIA International). Primary departure points are New York, Miami and Puerto Rico. Air Canada and BWIA fly from Montreal and Toronto, and BWIA also flies out of London and Frankfurt. British Airways flies into Barbados from Europe.South American connections into Barbados include BWIA from Guyana and Caracas, Venezuela as well as regional carriers from both the Caribbean and South America. You may also find good deals on charters coming out of Europe and North America, primarily during the winter months. Whichever airline you fly, you will land at the Grantley Adams International Airport on the southern tip of the island. Barbados boasts not only one of the longest runways in the region, but also one of the most modern airport facilities. The airport is open 24 hours a day. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Barbados/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Sat, 17 May 2008 11:12:23 EST Caribbean, island in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela - 13 10 N, 59 32 W. Barbados is the most eastern island in the Caribbean and technically is in the Atlantic Ocean. It's a tiny dot on most world maps with an area of 430 square kilometres. Barbados has a population of about 250,000 - which is high considering its size. With 97 kilometres of coastline, Barbados offers its visitors excellent water sports and beach http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Barbados/ Sat, 17 May 2008 11:12:23 EST It is warm and sunny all year round with an average daytime high of 75 - 85oF. The nights are usually slightly cooler. The prevailing northeast tradewinds blow steadily so that although it is bright and sunny, it is not unbearably hot. The rain usually comes in quick showers. The dry season lasts from January to June. Barbados is in the tropics, and believe it or not, some people actually put on a sweater in the cool night winter time breezes. Barbadians complain that the sea is cold when its 78oF !!! Sunny days and stormy weather Its mostly sunny and fair in Barbados. Warm days with cool winds and cozy nights. It rains most in summer and a good rainfall is refreshing and much needed. Rain is usually followed quickly by sunny skies and within minutes everything will be dry. Tropical rainstorms sometimes occur in the hurricane season which runs from June to October. Tropical rains are spectacular but the island is very porous and the heaviest rains quickly drain off into the underground lakes or the sea. Hurricanes usually avoid Barbados. They arise off the African Coast and head to the Caribbean, swinging North about 100 miles from Barbados. The pattern is reasonably consistent as hurricanes tend to bounce from one land mass to the next and Barbados is somewhat separate from the Caribbean island chain. This does not of course make us immune, but the last occasion which Barbados suffered a direct hit was in 1955. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/Barbados/ Sat, 17 May 2008 11:12:23 EST Traffic drives on the left in Barbados. Many of the car rental companies will deliver your vehicle to the airport or your hotel for your convenience. A local driving permit, which is mandatory, costs US$5. Roads are fairly well maintained in Barbados, better than many other Caribbean http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/Barbados/ Sat, 17 May 2008 11:12:23 EST Restaurants and Dining: For such a small island, Barbados offers a large variety of excellent cuisine, from European and International restaurants offering romantic candlelight dinners and sophisticated ambiance to casual dining that features savoury local specialties. Restaurants and small eateries pepper the island, so no matter where you stay you will never be far from good food. Fish of all manner is naturally a primary menu-topper, and some people say that unless you've eaten Bajan-style fish, then you haven't really experienced its magnificence. Roti, a folded pastry filled with spicy potato and meat in a sauce (often curry) is the Caribbean reply to North American fast food. National Dish: The national dish of Barbados is flying fish and cou cou. Cou cou is a mashed potato-like dish made from corn meal and okra. It is covered with an au jus made from the flying fish preparation. Pudding and souse is also distinctly Barbadian, but is not for everyone. Unique Deserts: Mango and guava mousse with black pepper ice cream, tamarind and balsamic sauce, or West Indian curry ice cream and rum and pineapple tart. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/Barbados/ Sat, 17 May 2008 11:12:23 EST