Barbados villas and frequently asked questions

On this page we are are trying to answer some of the questions that we are typically asked during the day by our customers. Although these are the best answers that we know of at this time, things change. If you have a specific question concerning a villa and it's facilities, it is always good to ask us the specific question to be sure of the proper answer. Things do change and we try our best to provide the best answers possible by constantly updating our site. If something is in error, please let us know so we can correct it.

What type of Government does Barbados have?

The island of Barbados was governed by the British from 1627 until 1966 when it gained it's full independence.

Which airport do we land at?

The Barbados Airport is called Grantley Adams International Airport and is located on the south coast of Barbados in the Christ Church parish.

What is required to go through customs on Barbados?

As of March 1, 2004, ALL North American citizens (Americans and Canadians) traveling to Barbados will need a valid passport. As of January 1, 2006 , all U.S. Citizens departing and re-entering the U.S. will need a U.S. passport. A driver’s license and certified birth certificate are no longer valid for re-entry to the country after your Caribbean travel experience.

Will someone be there to meet us?

No one in Barbados will meet you at the airport on arrival unless you have arranged for transfers to the villa or the pick up of a rental car. It is your responsibility to arrive at the villa.

How do we travel to the villa?

Transfers can be arranged for a fee that will take you from the airport to the villa on arrival. You can also make arrangements to pick up a rental car at the airport if you like. It is your responsibility to arrive at the villa. It is highly recommended to take the transfers for the 1st trip to the villa.

How do we get into the villa?

One of the staff personnel from the villa will be at the villa on your arrival.

How many people are allowed in the villa?

The capacity of the villa is defined by the number of bedrooms the villa has. Only two people are allowed per bedroom. I.E. for a 5 bedroom villa, 10 people are allowed. This includes small children as well. Generally, one extra person can usually be accommodated with a rollaway bed or crib that is available for rental but each villa is different and the question should be asked prior to committing to the rental.

Is there any maintenance support while we are in the villa?

Each villa management company has a staff of maintenance people on hand to handle any difficulties or breakdowns you might have while in the villa. It is important that you contact them while you are on the island when the problem occurs. They will make every effort to fix the problem within a reasonable amount of time. We will provide with the proper phone numbers to contact the right people should a problem arise.

What type of electricity is available on the island?

Barbados has 110 volts and American style plugs.

What kind of staff support do we get with the villa?

Most villas on Barbados come with daily maid service and cook service, 6 days per week. The maid will sweep the floors, clean the bathrooms, and make the beds. Each villa also has the service of a cook as well. Her reasonability is the kitchen. She will cook three meals per day for the guests. The guests still have to buy the food but they will prepare the meal, serve it and clean up the mess afterwards. It is a wonderful service. Family style cooking is provided. Each villa also has it's own caretaker that maintains the gardens and outside area. Sometimes, this caretaker also takes care of the pool. If he doesn't, a pool man will come in about twice per week.

Are we required to tip the staff for their efforts?

The staff do receive a small wage from the owners of the villas but the bulk of their yearly wage is generated by tips. Generally a tip of between 5 & 7% of the villa rental rate is recommended to be split amongst the staff. Your tips are greatly appreciated.

What is the staff's working hours?

Generally, the maid & cook work from about 8:30 am to about 1:00 pm. The cook will then come back at a pre arranged time to cook dinner. The caretakers usually work early in the morning or late afternoon to escape the heat and sun of mid-day.

Do all the villas have live in caretakers?

On Barbados, most caretakers come on a daily basis.

Do the villas have kitchens?

All the villas that we represent have at least family style kitchens.

Are there retail food stores available on the island?

Barbados has wonderful retail grocery stores stocked with items from the USA, Europe and local traditional food. We enjoy the island for the wonderful selection of foods that are available. We really enjoyed the local fresh fish markets. One can stop by on the way home from the beach and pick up the catch of the day for a very low cost. The cook will prepare it for dinner. Again, it is a wonderful service and a great cost savings.

Is there other types of shopping available on Barbados?

Barbados has a great selection of retail stores available throughout the island.

Where do the cruise ships harbor in Barbados?

The large cruise ships that visit the island dock in Bridgetown.

Are there mosquitoes on the island?

Please remember you are in the tropics. There are mosquitoes on the island most of the time. During high season between January and April, there is less rain so mosquitoes are fewer unless you are playing in the bushes. During the rainy season, the little pests are more plentiful. At night it is good to wear long pants and use the bug repellent on your ankles. If they are bad, use more.

Are there activities on the island?

Barbados has an abundance of night time activities including restaurants, shopping, live local bands and dancing. Many of the restaurants on the west coast bring in live bands on a rotating schedule. The South Gap area on the south side of the island has several large areas where local bands are playing. Some of these are very, very good. In the day time, one can go shopping, go to the beach, have lunch at a fine restaurant, take a charter boat for sailing or fishing, or visit the historic spots on the island.

Where are the best beaches on the island?

Almost the entire west Coast of Barbados is a beach with beautiful white sand and a slow slope to deep water. The west side is the leeward side of the island so wave action is fairly minimal. The west coast of Barbados is very rough due to the constant trade winds and swimming is generally not allowed. There are also beautiful beaches on the south side of the island by Sam Lord's or the South Gap.

Is it necessary to rent a car while on the island?

If you are staying in a villa, you will probably want to rent a car to get around. There is a good bus service available that goes around the island and if you can stand the wait and don't mind walking a little, it does work very well. There are many rental car agencies available on the island or Heart of the Caribbean can also make a reservation for you through the local land management companies.

Is driving on the right hand or left hand side of the road?

Driving is on the left hand side of the road on Barbados. If you have never done it before it is really quite simple. When you 1st start out, just follow someone. After that, just have your partner nudge you when you start drifting over.

Is it necessary to take the car insurance while on the island?

This is always a big question. Local CDW (collision damage waiver) is available when you rent your car from the local agency for additional costs. Some folks don't need it depending on the type of credit card that they use. It is always a good idea to call your credit card company to see what your coverage is. It is important to be covered because if something does go wrong, you will be expected to settle it before you leave the island. Make sure you fully inspect your car and mark down all the little dings and dents so everyone knows how the car was received. Also make sure your car has a spare tire and a jack, just in case. There are many gas stations on the island so refueling is not a problem.

Are telephones available in the villas?

Almost all the villas have telephones for local and long distance phone calls. For that reason, all villas in Barbados do require a security deposit in the form of a pre-authorized credit card slip. Heart of the Caribbean will also give you a local 800 number to call that will allow you to charge your calls to your credit card before you go. Please be aware that the phone calls back to the states or to Europe are very expensive and the bills can add up very, very fast. One of the best ways to use the phones for international calls is to have someone call you during specific times of the day when you are at the villa.

Are towels and linens provided for us at the villas?

Yes, they are.

We hope this information helps when you are making your travel arrangements.