MAIN Travel Caribbean Barbados

The most eastern island in the Caribbean located northeast of Venezuela, the island named by its Portugese discoverers is today more often referred to as "Little England" for its long history of subsequent English colonization.

Surrounded by the Caribbean Sea on the West coast and the Atlantic to the East, Barbados is divided into 11 parishes, connected by an excellent public bus system that runs through the center of the island.

Around the shore, 70 miles of white sand, palm-fringed beaches look out on crytal clear waters in every shade of aquamarine to blue. Those marine inhabitants leaping from the sea are the famous flying fish of Barbados, which today serves as a national icon that regularly appear not only menus but on Bajan currency, as well.

Despite the exotic scenery and endless opportunities for basking or playing in the Caribbean sun, Barbados is in some respects still English to its core especially in its captail city, Bridgetown, where hotels may just as often serve afternoon tea as hot & spicy Bajan cookery.

Further south, no visit to Barbados would be complete without a visit to the town of Oistins where the regularly scheduled weekend outdoor "fish fry" by local vendors is a favorite with Bajans and tourists alike.

Traveling north from Bridgetown, also don't miss a trip to Harrison Cave for a tram ride around stunning stalactites and stalagmites topped off by a spectacular underground waterfall, making this the island's No. 1 tourist attraction by far.

Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia - Like it says, with the official tourism office providing a colorful jumble of facts, photos & information on Barbados attractions, sightseeing, beaches & architecture, cruises and day trips, special packages, hotel booking, plus practical guides to airfares, passport & entry requirements.

Barbados Travel Information - Excellent intro from Lonely Planet with detailed overviews of Bridgetown, Holetown, St. Lawrence, the Barbados Museum and wildlife preserve, interesting historical facts, weather guides, when to go, how to get there and get around, with photo gallery and related links.

Fun Barbados - Kick back and discover major attractions, the beach scene, a complete restaurant guide searchable by cuisine, information on clubs and nightlife, arts & crafts, helpful travel tips, event calendar, photo gallery, related links.

Barbados travel guide - Been-there advice from Wikitravel on where to eat and what to see, plus practical travel advice on getting around by bus or car, insider views on local cuisine and customs, hotel suggestions, health & safety tips.

Access Barbados - Fact-filled virtual tour of Bajan parishes, culture, nightlife and beaches, with interesting history & fun facts, weather information, maps & photos.

Travel Reviews Guide at Totally Barbados - Visitor-submitted raves on what to see and do, plus surf around the rest of the site for hotel & restaurant guides, photo gallery, related links.

also see in Travel -> Travel Cruises

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