Barbados Travel Guide

Barbados — Shopping

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Shopping

As a trading hub since the early 1600s, Barbados has a long history of commerce and boasts excellent links with merchandisers throughout the Caribbean. High quality, inexpensive goods and first-class service await shoppers and Barbados is the eastern Caribbean’s tax-free haven. Umpteen chichi boutiques and funky street stalls are found along the coast. Bridgetown is the shopping epicenter and boasts major Caribbean chains as well as local crafts. Local specialties range from rum, straw goods, painted silk prints (batik) and woodcrafts with black coral and shell jewelry especially popular buys.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0830-1600 (supermarkets are open longer on Saturdays).

Currency

Barbados Dollar (BBD; symbol BD$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of BD$100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 2. Coins are in denominations of BD$1, and 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

The Barbados Dollar is tied to the US Dollar.

Currency Exchange

Commercial banks offer the best rates of exchange. The Barbados National Bank and a range of international banks each have an office in Bridgetown with branches in Hastings, Holetown, Speightstown and Worthing.

Credit Cards, Debit Cards, and ATMs

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in the resorts, but cash is preferred for customs duty payment. ATMs are widely available.

Travelers Checks

Accepted by all banks and most hotels. Opt for traveler's checks in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling to avoid additional charges.

Currency Restrictions

The import of local currency is unlimited but should be declared on arrival. The export of local currency is prohibited. There are no restrictions on the import of foreign currencies providing declared on arrival. The export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival.