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Advanced reconnaissance
Hello All!
I am planning on taking advantage of the Welcome Stamp next year, and, as I have never visited Barbados before, I have just booked flights for mid/late November so that I can come over for an advanced recce. My intention is to book a number of different AirBnB places round the island to try and get an impression of where I might like to base myself. I'm a 45 year old single guy. The vast majority of my working day is aligned to the US Eastern time zone, so I'll be able to go back to working a more standard day (compared to being based in the UK) and perhaps even develop a social life again! My research suggests that the following areas might give me the best balance of being close to the beaches, nightlife, and recreation options:
Specifically, any info on the following will be greatfully received:
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Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Hi Stuart,
Good to hear you're interested in the Hash.. def keep in touch about that.. As for living in a particular area.. I'm very much of the opinion it doesn't matter that much. The island is small and nothing is too far away, but I would suggest a car. Public transport isn't that good overall. I didn't bring my motorbike as in my opinion many cars are not that well maintained and the chance of oil of the road (especially in the wet season) is very real.. and you will understand the potential there.. I think the social scene is something you will grow into.. perhaps through the Hash or your interest in Krav Maga... As for other things.. you need to know the island is expensive - almost everything is imported. Make sure you renew your electronics to bring with you (computers/phone/smart speakers etc) if you have to replace them locally during your stay it will be costly. I'm sure you will have more questions.. thats what we're here for...lol... Ian |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Thanks Ian.
I certainly will. Seond hand car it is then, I guess. What's the market like out there? I'll definitely bear in mind the advice regarding electronics. I was going to look into buying some monitors once I was out there but it might be easier to just pay for the extra baggage allowance instead. I have 10 nighs (after the two nights of approved accommodation) over there in November so I'm hoping I'll get to figure most of this out in advance. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Second hand car market... varies a lot.. Can be expensive but there are a number of bargains to be had amongst a few people who buy Japanese/Korean cars and put them back together here.. if you don't an in-car entertainment system in Japanese.
Keep in touch.. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Stuart if you make another post to the forum I can PM you the contact details of a reputable agent to perhaps source a rental property.
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Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Originally Posted by satellite_ian
(Post 13055892)
Stuart if you make another post to the forum I can PM you the contact details of a reputable agent to perhaps source a rental property.
Will do. Thanks! |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Hi Stuart
I'm in the same boat so interested to hear what you find out. I'll be heading over in Oct/Nov and I'm also trying to work out where I want to base myself, whether to buy a car and all that jazz. Feel free to drop me a message if you'd like to stay in touch :) |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Hi Stuart and Kate if you want a chat over the phone PM me as im in the UK now so am happy to help you with ideas or info or a soundboard for locations etc
I know when I relocated I needed all the help i could get so am happy to pay forward my support Dips |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Hey Guys, if you come from the UK just set your expectations on car prices. Regardless new or secondhand any car to up at least 10 years old will be double on what you might think is expensive. As all is imported and duties are applied plus VAT there is inherent tax on cars across the board. Phones are expensive indeed. Computers are ok as some are exempt from import duties, however your choice is limited than you are probably used to. Good luck with planning your move and hopefully enjoying island life.
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Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Computers are exempt duties.. however it doesn't stop retailers adding in a huge margin... "for shipping"....
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Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Thank you Serendipidy, satellite_ian and Wharfer. I think the car is going to be the biggest potential issue, but as Dips pointed out, I should get nearly as much for it when I sell it at the end of my visa as I'll pay for it in the first place.
I am a professional geek so anything tech related will be coming with me from Blighty. :) |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
>> the potential suitability of the locations I listed
Without more information about what kind of scene you prefer, we can't really tell you which of the three locations you would like the most. Do you like a quiet and laid back environemnt, or a place where there is more going on? Each side of island offers something different, even in terms of scenery. The east coast has a lot of forest and hiking routes, for example. The west coast, on the other hand, has the most turquoise beaches. >> any other areas that might work well for me You have not provided enough information for us to tell you what area might work for you, but I would suggest that you do as you intend, and stay in a number of Airbnb properties in Speightstown, Holetown and Oistins. You may also wish to consider Worthing or Hastings, which is about 2 miles west from St. Laurence Gap. >> reliable letting agents that can be recommended Terra Caribbean is often recommended. >> the reality of public transport on the island vs perhaps buying a second hand car/motorbike There is obviously no train service in Barbados, but the bus transport service to the most popular routes are very frequent. The main type of bus you will come across is what we call a 'ZR' (pronounced zed-R, officially known as a route taxi). These are minibuses which go on fixed routes between the major towns. You will very quickly learn after you arrive on island as to why the minibuses are so frequent, and it's not just because of how many of them are on the road. A day never goes by without road users being pissed off by minibus drivers for either driving too slow, or too fast, or stopping without notice. Minibus drivers often stop traffic in both directions to exchange money or talk to each other. All buses – whether government or private – charge a fixed fee of BDS $3.50 one-way. Taxis, on the other hand, are able to set their own rates. You may wish to rent or lease a car while you are in Barbados. It can be expensive though, because cars themselves are very expensive due to the crazy import duty. For car rentals, I would recommend Drive-a-Matic. For car leases, I would recommend Simpson Motors. You do not need to acquire an International Driving Permit to drive in Barbados, but you will need to bring your UK driving licence with you and it must be valid (not expired). To drive in Barbados using your foreign driving licence, you will need to purchase a Visitor Driving Permit which costs BDS $10 for two months, or BDS $100 for one year. If you are renting a car, you can buy the permit directly from the rental company. For leasing a car, you'll probably need to buy the permit directly from the Barbados Revenue Authority. For stays on the island of more than two months, you will be required to buy a one year driving permit if you buy the permit directly from the Barbados Revenue Authority. You are required at all times to keep your insurance documentation, driving licence and visitor driving permit with you. If you don't furnish this information when a police officer asks for it, you can be fined. >> areas with a good expat social scene (I'm aware of the current curfews!) Holetown, Hastings, Worthing and Oistins have plenty of expats. There are also a few co-working spaces in Barbados, most notably Regus at One Welches and Suit-Free at Limegrove Lifestyle Centre. >> I practise Krav Maga - is anyone familar with any of the academies on the island? I don't think so. I've never heard of this. >> anything else you think will be helpful to know! Make sure you explore each side of the island, not just the west and south coast. For example, the east coast has some of the last remaining ancient forest that once inhabited the entire island. There are also hiking routes, for example at Barclays Park, near Bathsheba. Barbados is not as developed as the UK, and things are very slow here (island time is real). The roads are not maintained to the same standard you will be used to. If you have complained about potholes in the UK, don't worry, you will begin to appreciate how well maintained your roads are compared to the roads in Barbados. However, the road network in Barbados is extensive so you won't face too many challenging exploring even the most rural parts of the island. While we drive on the left in Barbados, the rules of the road are not quite the same. You will come across junctions in which drivers have right of way when you may think otherwise. For example, take note of the following street view image: https://goo.gl/maps/ez7eyPFh3xAu7mYV6. From the point of view of the direction in which the camera is facing, drivers coming from the right have priority, even though they will effectively be taking a right turn. Not all junctions work this way though, so the best advice I can give you is to pay attention and assume you do not have right of way. Even when you have right of way in situations like this, you should use your car horn to warn other drivers you're approaching, given there is a blind spot. Also, we use car horns a lot in Barbados. If you give way to someone, they will usually beep their car horn to thank you. We do not only use car horns to indicate to others a danger or annoyance. If there is a pedestrian crossing, the hazard lights are often used to warn drivers not to overtake them since a pedestrian is crossing the road. Likewise, hazard lights are used by drivers when they are about to reverse into a parking space. Roundabouts are common across Barbados. Obviously, this is no problem for the British, but you will notice that no one indicates at roundabouts – and I do mean absolutely nobody. The roundabouts otherwise work the same as they do in the UK, but there are a few exceptions:
At gas stations, petrol and diesel prices are fixed by the government, and are the same for all gas stations on a given day. You do not pump your own gas. You park at the relevant pump and wait for a gas attendant to see you. You can ask them to fill up to a specific amount if you wish. Final note: that noise you will hear at night, those are whistling frogs. And no, there is nowhere on the island to escape it. 🙂 |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
For car rental I'd suggest MAH or Stoutes...
Vistors' driver permits are bought online.. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Originally Posted by bxpuser1029384
(Post 13061259)
>> the potential suitability of the locations I listed
Without more information about what kind of scene you prefer, we can't really tell you which of the three locations you would like the most. Do you like a quiet and laid back environemnt, or a place where there is more going on? Each side of island offers something different, even in terms of scenery. The east coast has a lot of forest and hiking routes, for example. The west coast, on the other hand, has the most turquoise beaches. >> any other areas that might work well for me You have not provided enough information for us to tell you what area might work for you, but I would suggest that you do as you intend, and stay in a number of Airbnb properties in Speightstown, Holetown and Oistins. You may also wish to consider Worthing or Hastings, which is about 2 miles west from St. Laurence Gap. >> reliable letting agents that can be recommended Terra Caribbean is often recommended. >> the reality of public transport on the island vs perhaps buying a second hand car/motorbike There is obviously no train service in Barbados, but the bus transport service to the most popular routes are very frequent. The main type of bus you will come across is what we call a 'ZR' (pronounced zed-R, officially known as a route taxi). These are minibuses which go on fixed routes between the major towns. You will very quickly learn after you arrive on island as to why the minibuses are so frequent, and it's not just because of how many of them are on the road. A day never goes by without road users being pissed off by minibus drivers for either driving too slow, or too fast, or stopping without notice. Minibus drivers often stop traffic in both directions to exchange money or talk to each other. All buses – whether government or private – charge a fixed fee of BDS $3.50 one-way. Taxis, on the other hand, are able to set their own rates. You may wish to rent or lease a car while you are in Barbados. It can be expensive though, because cars themselves are very expensive due to the crazy import duty. For car rentals, I would recommend Drive-a-Matic. For car leases, I would recommend Simpson Motors. You do not need to acquire an International Driving Permit to drive in Barbados, but you will need to bring your UK driving licence with you and it must be valid (not expired). To drive in Barbados using your foreign driving licence, you will need to purchase a Visitor Driving Permit which costs BDS $10 for two months, or BDS $100 for one year. If you are renting a car, you can buy the permit directly from the rental company. For leasing a car, you'll probably need to buy the permit directly from the Barbados Revenue Authority. For stays on the island of more than two months, you will be required to buy a one year driving permit if you buy the permit directly from the Barbados Revenue Authority. You are required at all times to keep your insurance documentation, driving licence and visitor driving permit with you. If you don't furnish this information when a police officer asks for it, you can be fined. >> areas with a good expat social scene (I'm aware of the current curfews!) Holetown, Hastings, Worthing and Oistins have plenty of expats. There are also a few co-working spaces in Barbados, most notably Regus at One Welches and Suit-Free at Limegrove Lifestyle Centre. >> I practise Krav Maga - is anyone familar with any of the academies on the island? I don't think so. I've never heard of this. >> anything else you think will be helpful to know! Make sure you explore each side of the island, not just the west and south coast. For example, the east coast has some of the last remaining ancient forest that once inhabited the entire island. There are also hiking routes, for example at Barclays Park, near Bathsheba. Barbados is not as developed as the UK, and things are very slow here (island time is real). The roads are not maintained to the same standard you will be used to. If you have complained about potholes in the UK, don't worry, you will begin to appreciate how well maintained your roads are compared to the roads in Barbados. However, the road network in Barbados is extensive so you won't face too many challenging exploring even the most rural parts of the island. While we drive on the left in Barbados, the rules of the road are not quite the same. You will come across junctions in which drivers have right of way when you may think otherwise. For example, take note of the following street view image: https://goo.gl/maps/ez7eyPFh3xAu7mYV6. From the point of view of the direction in which the camera is facing, drivers coming from the right have priority, even though they will effectively be taking a right turn. Not all junctions work this way though, so the best advice I can give you is to pay attention and assume you do not have right of way. Even when you have right of way in situations like this, you should use your car horn to warn other drivers you're approaching, given there is a blind spot. Also, we use car horns a lot in Barbados. If you give way to someone, they will usually beep their car horn to thank you. We do not only use car horns to indicate to others a danger or annoyance. If there is a pedestrian crossing, the hazard lights are often used to warn drivers not to overtake them since a pedestrian is crossing the road. Likewise, hazard lights are used by drivers when they are about to reverse into a parking space. Roundabouts are common across Barbados. Obviously, this is no problem for the British, but you will notice that no one indicates at roundabouts – and I do mean absolutely nobody. The roundabouts otherwise work the same as they do in the UK, but there are a few exceptions:
At gas stations, petrol and diesel prices are fixed by the government, and are the same for all gas stations on a given day. You do not pump your own gas. You park at the relevant pump and wait for a gas attendant to see you. You can ask them to fill up to a specific amount if you wish. Final note: that noise you will hear at night, those are whistling frogs. And no, there is nowhere on the island to escape it. 🙂 |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
@bxpuser1029384 - that is an incredibly detailed post. Thank you!
Less than 4 weeks until I arrive now. The only thing left to book is the various AirBnBs. Almost everyone I have spoken to has mentioned either Worthing, Hastings or both, so I'll definitely be checking out those areas. I have a car rental sorted now so that will give me a lot more freedom to explore. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Originally Posted by Stuart_R
(Post 13062576)
@bxpuser1029384 - that is an incredibly detailed post. Thank you!
Less than 4 weeks until I arrive now. The only thing left to book is the various AirBnBs. Almost everyone I have spoken to has mentioned either Worthing, Hastings or both, so I'll definitely be checking out those areas. I have a car rental sorted now so that will give me a lot more freedom to explore. There are certain entry rules that you need to follow – known as the Barbados Travel Protocols. For example, all arriving passengers are required to be in receipt of a valid nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal PCR test that was taken within 3 days before arriving. The government have published the Barbados Travel Protocols as an easy-to-read booklet here: https://issuu.com/visitbarbados/docs...jE1NzI5MjYzNDk For answers to common questions with respect to the Barbados Travel Protocols, read the FAQ booklet here: https://e.issuu.com/embed.html?d=btm...=visitbarbados A list of approved hotels and villas for the purpose of quarantine are listed here: https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-...es-2021#hotels A list of approved transportation providers are listed here: https://www.visitbarbados.org/covid-...1#divSection_5 You might find it more convenient to either pre-book an approved taxi with your quarantine hotel, or just take one of the available approved taxis after you arrive at the airport, as all passengers are directed to that area after arriving. Obviously, you have to pay a taxi fare like you would during normal times. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Quarantine rules changed today..at least for now.. fully vaccinated people only need a neg PCR test prior to flying in.
If the rules revert then the point of approved quarantine hotels is also slightly incorrect. Private residences (airbnb in this case) can be quarantine approved. The rules aren't complicated but do require the owner to do some work beforehand.. which is why, I assume, not many have been done. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Thank you, again, @bxpuser1029384 for another detailed and helpful reply.
Please remember that all arriving passengers have to quarantine for a period of time at one of the approved hotels, and you won't be able to use your own accommodation, car rental or public transportation until you have been released from quarantine. Only certain taxi companies are authorised to take passengers from the airport to their quarantine hotel. Reply Quarantine rules changed today..at least for now.. fully vaccinated people only need a neg PCR test prior to flying in. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
The changes referred to by Ian take effect from Sunday, October 24, 2021:
https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/chan...avel-protocols If those changes remain in effect by the time you arrive, then it appears you won't need to have a post-arrival PCR test nor will you be required to quarantine, given you are fully vaccinated. You will just need to have a valid pre-arrival nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal PCR test taken within 3 days before arriving on island. Please note face masks are still required in Barbados in more settings than is required in the UK. I don't say that proudly either, because quite frankly we all know they are pointless in many environments. For example, people are supposed to wear a face mask outdoors – yes, when outdoors – but you'll find not everyone complies with that because... I don't know... maybe because it's 35 celsius and we have something called easterly tradewinds? However, wearing one indoors is strictly enforced in every business establishment and by the COVID Monitoring Unit. I really hope we won't be required to wear face masks quite so much in the near future. Also, there is a night time curfew, which runs between 9 pm and 5 am each day. During this time you must remain indoors at your place of residence. There is a Barbados Welcome Stamp group on Facebook that you may wish to join. The group administrators usually announce any big changes to curfews or restrictions. You may also get useful advice from other expats in the group about life in Barbados. Unfortunately the government didn't think to create a website that explains the COVID rules in plain English like the UK government does, so if you'd like some bedtime material to really help you doze off without any possible effort, the statutory instruments can be found in the Official Gazette for your reading pleasure. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
I guess that means I at least get to use the pool at the approved accomodation now. The hotel's protocol was to stay in your room. It would be more hassle at this point to try and find an AirBNB that was happy with a two night stay than it would be to take it on the chin!
I knew from the literature that masks are supposed to be worn "in all public settings", but from what I'd seen on the webcams, it doesn't look like that is widely adhered to outside, at all! Thank you for the information about the curfew. I wasn't sure if the earlier 18:00 start was still in effect or not. Unfortunately (or not, depending on your perspective), I haven't used Facebook since August 2011. I was an early adopter, and an early leaver. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
I find the outdoor wearing of masks has dropped off considerably (in my opinion not a bad thing but thats a personal opinion). People tend to don their masks outside when they are expecting to come into contact with others.
I believe the rules are still that you do not need to wear a mask outdoors when you are exercising... I never do and that seems to be common practice. |
Re: Advanced reconnaissance
Wearing a mask is required inside for sure.. I put my mask on when walking towards a business, but wouldn't put it on until I get out of my car. and then leaving the business/supermarket etc.. I would take it off as I go to my car. I would, however, leave it on, if I felt like I was in an area with more people than just 1 or 2. I don't wear my mask when I get out of my car to go onto the beach.. or on the beach.... I wouldn't , at all ,wear it doing any kind of running etc. while exercising, and likely wouldn't want to if out walking with a group, even 2 or 3 people. but.. if needed I would.. Inside.. going inside.. for sure...
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Re: Advanced reconnaissance
That's pretty much what I am used to in the UK anyway.
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