My Childfree Vacation in Barbados

One of the perks of being childfree is the ability to pick up and go as you like which is what I did a few weeks ago when I headed out to a short childfree vacation in Barbados.

My birthday was coming up and I was trying to figure out what my treat for the year would be.

I decided on a luxury wristwatch, a self-care subscription box for a few months, and a beach vacation to get away from winter.

I’ve never traveled in the Caribbean before so Barbados was as good a place as any to start.

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Childfree Vacation in Barbados Day 1

My flight was delayed by several hours then when I finally arrived at Bridgetown, it took forever and a day to check into the hotel which I will never return to BTW.

They offered me a rum punch while I waited for hours to check in. By the time I was able to get into my room, the entire day was gone.

I still changed into my beach clothes to catch the last of daylight on the beach, relax and take some pictures.

Childfree Vacation in Barbados Day 2

On day 2, I woke up early to take advantage of a full day on the beach. Once I got some breakfast in me, I got myself a nice spot under an umbrella and got to dipping.

If you read my earlier Memories from My Childfree Vacations, you know I don’t like running around on vacation.

After an hour of dipping, I went back under my umbrella and read for a while then went for a walkabout to take some pictures on the expansive Pebbles Beach.

I had dinner at the open restaurant overlooking the beach. The food was not good but the view was nice.

I enjoyed letting myself waft away to the rhythmic slamming of the waves against the sand and just be…

Childfree Vacation in Barbados Day 3

I opted for a scenic historical and cultural island tour on the second day. The tour took pretty much the entire day.

We drove through the Garrison Historic Area, a UNESCO World Heritage site then headed over to the west coast.

We stopped at a small seaside town, Speightstown for a break and a nice cuppa by the beach.

Afterward, we went to Cherry Tree Hill where we enjoyed a magnificent view and shopped for some local crafts.

We also visited Bathsheba Beach and had a very nice lunch in a nearby restaurant. Very beautiful spot to take lots of pictures.

After lunch, I was ready for a long nap but we headed back to Bridgetown and stopped at a few more places before I was dropped off at the hotel.

We were also supposed to stop at the lovely Animal Flower Cave for a dip and some food but unfortunately, a lot of the staff came down with COVID so it was closed for the day. Oh well…

The tour came to BBD$100 and included hotel pick up and drop off, rum punch and snacks, and a local lunch with more rum punch along the way.

Rest of My Childfree Vacation in Barbados

After the busy schedule of day 3, I spent the rest of my childfree vacation chilling on the beach, taking dips, and reading which was pretty much what I went there for.

I did get invited to join a few random catamaran cruises leaving from my hotel beach but as a single, solo traveler, I didn’t think that was a safe thing to do.

I did go on walking expeditions around the city a few times and everything was fine. I felt perfectly safe the entire time.

What To Wear in Barbados?

As soon as I threw off my winter clothes, I spent the rest of the time in shorts, crop tops, sun dresses, and flip-flops!

I changed into a long beach dress for restaurant visits. I also kept a pashmina on hand at all times in case of a chill but I never needed it.

This is the way to go on an island. I did not see one person in a business suit the entire time I was there.

Where Did You Stay in Barbados?

The hotel I stayed at was quite bad and seemed to have some sort of issue with WOC. I thought I was imagining it until I went online and checked the reviews.

Bottomline, they don’t deserve a mention in this article. If I ever return to Barbados, I will definitely avoid this hotel and will tell everyone to avoid it.

Other hotels I discovered in Barbados that I noted for next time include:-

Barbados Currency and Tipping Culture

The currency in Barbados is the Barbadian or Bajan Dollar (BBD). However, they accept US$ as well. The exchange rate was $2 BBD to $1 USD.

I also used my debit card to get some money out of the ATM without issues and the bank’s exchange rate was favorable.

Tipping isn’t expected but well appreciated. I tipped 10 – 18% on almost everything but you don’t have to tip that much if you don’t want to.

US$2/day is ideal for housekeeping and US$1 – 2 for taxi drivers. If you go on a tour or catamaran cruise, tip amount is at your discretion.

Note, if you pay for anything in US$, your change will be given in BBD.

How Much Did the Trip Cost?

The entire trip including flights, hotel, food, tour, tips, medical insurance, taxis, and gifts came to an average of BBD 3,800 (US$ 1,945 approx).

Things To Know Before Travelling to Barbados

Most countries can get a 6-month visa on arrival but you should still check before you travel.
Everyone traveling into Barbados by sea, land, or air has to complete the online Immigration and Customs Travel Form HERE.
Don’t forget travel insurance for the duration of your trip.
Bring along your vaccine certificates just in case.
Check with your bank about agreements with local banks regarding using your debit card (s).
It never hurts to inform your bank (s) you’re traveling so they don’t accidentally block your card while you’re outside the country thinking it’s fraudulent transactions. If they do, you will not be able to reactivate the card until you return home in most cases so better safe than sorry.

The next stop for me is likely Bermuda, Bahamas, or Aruba, or maybe all three if I can get my childfree travel money to go the extra mile this year.

I also recently acquired a 10-year US visitor visa so I’m about ready to be everywhere in the states this year! lol.

Enjoy your visit to Barbados if you ever go!

Childfree Chica is living her best childfree life and enjoying every moment of it. She funds her childfree adventures by making smart financial decisions and investing her money wisely. You can learn more about her and this community HERE. Interested in telling us about your childfree journey? Submit your story here.