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Cars 4 Rental Information on Barbados

General

Area: 430 sq km (166 sq miles).

Population: 267,000 (2000).

Population Density: 620.9 per sq km.

Capital: Bridgetown. Population: 5,928 (1990).

GEOGRAPHY: Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean chain of islands. It lies well to the east of the West Indies. To the west, beaches are made of fine white sand and there are natural coral reefs. Along the east coast there is a lively surf as the sea pounds the more rocky shoreline. Barbados is predominantly flat with only a few gently rolling hills to the north. The coral structure of the island acts as a natural filter and the waters of Barbados are amongst the purest in the world.

Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1966. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir Clifford Husbands since 1996. Head of Government: Prime Minister Owen S Arthur since 1994.

Language: The official language is English. Local Bajan dialect is also spoken.

Religion: Mainly Christian, with an Anglican majority, Roman Catholic minority, plus small Jewish, Hindu and Muslim communities.

Time: GMT - 4.

Electricity: 110 volts AC, 50Hz. American-style two-pin plugs are in use.

Communications:

Telephone

Inward IDD service is available and outward IDD is available from most telephones. Country code: 1 246. Outgoing international code: 011. Hotels have telephones available to both residents and non-residents. There are cardphones at the airport, the seaport, the university campus, in Bridgetown and at the offices of Barbados External Telecommunications (BET) in Wildey and Bridgetown. Payphones exist throughout the island, although it may be better to use cardphones for overseas calls. Overseas calls may also be made from the offices of BET at Wildey, St Michael. Local calls are free when calling from a residence. Collect overseas calls can be made from cardphones and payphones.

Mobile telephone

TDMA and GSM 1900 networks. Network provider is Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular (website: www.caribcell.com). Unregistered roaming is available – visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number.

Fax

Available at hotels. BET provides services for members of the public.

Internet

There are about 20 Internet cafes throughout Barbados. The major ISPs are Cable & Wireless BET (website: www.cwwionline.com), CariAccess, CaribSurf (website: www.caribsurf.com) and Sunbeach.

Telegram

Services are provided by Barbados External Telecommunications (BET). The Cable & Wireless office is at Lower Broad Street (Mon-Fri 0700-1900, Sat 0700-1300). There is a 24-hour service at Wildey, St Michael.

Post

Deliveries are made twice a day in Bridgetown and once a day in rural areas. Post boxes, which are red, are plentiful. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1700 at Bridgetown main office; other branches are open Mon 0730-1200 and 1300-1500, Tues-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1515.

Press

The main dailies are East Caribbean News, The Barbados Advocate and The Nation. Foreign newspapers are also available.

Radio: BBC World Service (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice) and Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov) can be received. From time to time the frequencies change and the most up-to-date can be found online.

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Money

Currency: Barbados Dollar (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.

Note: The Barbados Dollar is tied to the US Dollar.

Currency exchange: The best exchange rates are available at commercial banks. The island is served by the Barbados National Bank and a range of at least six international banks, each with a main office in Bridgetown and further branches in Hastings, Holetown, Speightstown and Worthing. ATMs are available.

Credit & debit cards: American Express, Barclaycard, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Eurocard, MasterCard and Visa are accepted in the resorts, but cash is preferred for customs duty payment. Discover Card may be used in certain places. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services that may be available.

Travellers cheques: Accepted by all banks and most hotels. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars or Pounds Sterling.

Currency restrictions: The import of local currency is unlimited, subject to declaration. The export of local currency is prohibited. The import and export of foreign currency is limited to the amount declared on arrival.

Exchange rate indicators
The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Barbados Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar:

Date Nov ’03 Feb ’04 May ’04 Aug ’04
£1.00= 3.37 3.64 3.57 3.68
$1.00= 1.98 2.00 2.00 2.00

Banking hours: Generally Mon-Thurs 0800-1500, Fri 0800-1700.

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Health

Special Precautions Certificate Required
Yellow Fever No 1
Cholera No No
Typhoid and Polio 2 N/A
Malaria No N/A

1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from countries with infected areas.

2: A small risk of typhoid exists.

Food & drink: The water in Barbados is considered by some to be the purest in the world; it is filtered naturally by limestone and coral and pumped from underground rivers. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat.

Other risks: Immunisation against tetanus and hepatitis A are usually recommended; hepatitis B may also be recommended for long-term travellers. A low risk of dengue fever exists. Hay fever and asthma can be exacerbated during the sugar cane harvesting season. Leptospirosis may occur during the rainy season (October/November). It is also important to note that there is a high prevalence of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), particularly amongst the 20-45 age group, of which it is the second-biggest killer. All necessary precautions should be undertaken.

Health care: Excellent medical facilities are available in Barbados, with both private and general wards. Barbados has a reciprocal health agreement with the UK, which entitles UK nationals to free hospital and polyclinic treatment, ambulance travel and prescribed medicines for children and elderly patients. However, prescribed medicines for those other than children or the elderly and all dental treatment must be paid for. To receive treatment, UK nationals must show their UK passport or NHS medical card, as well as their temporary entry permit. Medical insurance is recommended for all other nationals.

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Climate

The balmy, tropical climate is cooled by constant sea breezes but is still sunnier and drier than the other islands. The dry season is from December to June; during the so-called wet season (July to November) some brief rain showers are likely. Average sunshine hours per day are 8 to 10 from November to March and 8 to 9 from April to October.

Required clothing: Lightweight cottons are advised; beachwear is not worn in towns.

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Passport

Passport Required Visa Required Return Ticket Required
British Yes 2 Yes
Australian Yes No/3 Yes
Canadian 1 No/3 Yes
USA 1 No/4 Yes
OtherEU Yes 2 Yes
Japanese Yes No/5 Yes

PASSPORTS: Passport valid for duration of intended stay required by all.

Note: 1. As of 1 March 2004, nationals of Canada and the USA require a valid passport to enter Barbados.

VISAS: Tourist visas are required by all except the following:
(a) 2. nationals of EU countries for stays of up to six months (nationals of the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland and Slovenia for stays of up to 28 days), except nationals of Latvia, Malta and the Slovak Republic who do need a visa;
(b) 3. nationals of commonwealth countries for stays of up to six months (nationals of Botswana for stays of up to 60 days), except nationals of Cameroon, India, Malta, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Pakistan and Papua New Guinea who do need a visa;
(c) 4. nationals of Armenia, Brazil, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Mali, Mauritania, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Tunisia, Uruguay, USA, Vatican City and Zimbabwe for stays of up to six months;
(d) nationals of Turkey for stays of up to three months;
(e) 5. nationals of Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea (Rep) and Panama for stays of up to 90 days;
(f) nationals of Costa Rica for stays of up to 30 days;
(g) nationals of CIS countries for stays of up to 28 days (nationals of Armenia for stays of up to six months), except nationals of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan who do need a visa);
(h) nationals of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cuba, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Romania and Venezuela for stays of up to 28 days.

Types of visa and cost: Tourist: £18 (single-entry); £22 (multiple-entry).

Validity: Three months from date of issue.

Application to: Consulate (or Consular Section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section.

Application requirements: (a) One application form. (b) One passport-size photo. (c) Valid passport. (d) Evidence of return or onward flight. (e) Company letter where required. (f) Fee; payable by cash or postal order. (g) Special delivery, addressed envelope for postal applications.

Working days required: Two (in person and by post).

Temporary residence: Enquire at the Immigration Office in Barbados.

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