Barbados

[billycorn]

I’m due to travel to Barbados early next year and am concerned about the currency.
Is it common to use Barbadian dollars in hotels and restaurants or do people tend to use US dollars?
If it’s the latter we might cancel due to the dreadful currency rate.

The currency in Barbados is as you said Barbados dollars,which works out as 1 Bds dollar being worth 0.50 US dollars, either currency is used, it is not a cheap place to visit particularly at the moment.

We used Barbados dollars everywhere. Didn’t even consider usd

Either. It's not been a cheap place to go for decades so with exchange rate it'll be v expensive.

Yeah either currency is used, however it is very expensive and even more so now. What board basis are you staying on...if its room only I hope you have deep pockets

It’s bed and breakfast, I’m slightly panicking about the cost.
How much ££ would I likely spend a day on food? Is it comparable in cost to the Maldives?

We shopped in local supermarkets for food instead of going to restaurants - much cheaper.
I do recommend the fish supers in the evenings at Oistins fish market though - superb.

You can use the Barbadian dollar anywhere in Barbados; officially there's nowhere that would accept US Dollars and not Barbadian dollars. The way Barbados accepts USD is similar to the way you may see Euro accepted in London, or in touristy areas of other European countries that have their own currencies but border the EuroZone.

However, the Barbadian Dollar is pegged to the US Dollar at a rate of USD 1 to BBD 2, so if the UK Pound drops/rises against the US Dollar, it will drop/rise the same percent against the Barbadian dollar.

Food:
Basic lunchtime menu (including a drink) in the business district30 Bds$($15)
Combo meal in fast food restaurant (big mac meal or similar)21 Bds$($11)
500 gr (1 lb.) of boneless chicken breast18 Bds$($9)
1 liter (1 qt.) of whole fat milk8 Bds$($3.96)
12 eggs, large14 Bds$($7)
0.5 l (16 oz) domestic beer in the supermarket3.42 Bds$($1.69)
1 bottle of red table wine, good quality38 Bds$($19)
2 liters of coca-cola5.64 Bds$($2.79)
Bread for 2 people for 1 day3.53 Bds$($1.75)

Clothes
pair of jeans (levis 501 or similar)150 Bds$($74)
1 summer dress in a high street store (zara, h&m or similar retailers)150 Bds$($74)
1 pair of sport shoes (nike, adidas, or equivalent brands)248 Bds$($123)

www.shopmassystoresbb.com/product-category/grocery-food/

Supermarket prices!

Restaurant menu

champersrestaurant.com/dinner-menu/

Having been there at least 6 times in the past ten years I’d say it all depends where you stay. Barbados can be expensive on the west cost but you can do it cheap. We always pay in Bajan dollars never US. Also you can get prices down. The west cost is extortion but I always stay there. Just choose local places to eat. We don’t even do package holidays anymore there and do Airbnb as it’s so much cheaper. You can get amazing places o n the west coast and then I just cook and we go out a few nights to a mix Of bajan places / high end.

The problem with the west coast is everywhere is premium even the prices at Oistins has gone up loads as it’s so touristy now. But you can find cheap places.
we went with a family of
three and ( 2 adults and 1 adult child) boys who need to eat 3 times a day so budget was about £200 a day for going out £50 not out. Including drinks etc.

Thanks everyone for your input, most appreciated.
We’ve not visited Barbados before so clueless. We’re staying on the West coast (I think) at Cobblers Cove and hope to find some local restaurants to eat. We’ve had a look at the hotels menu and it seems to be in a similar price bracket to a 5* Europe resort/hotel. Not cheap but not worth extortionate either but keen to explore the local area.

West coast is very, very expensive. Especially now,

Cobblers Cove is absolutely lovely, but never been cheap.

It’s gorgeous but not cheap. You can use either currency freely but as PP said BDS is pegged to USD so won’t help you much on the rate

Hi
I know this post is a year old but could you share where you grocery shop for the meals you self cater?

We stayed at cobblers cove in January and we found the food good value compared to other good local restaurants. Taxi’s were extortionate though and we were told prices there have gone up massively. A two course meal with a large bottle of water, one drink each and a bottle of wine you’re looking at £300~£350 for two people. You could consider going half board at CC and having the odd lunch out. You could also use the buses but we didn’t want to do that in the evenings.

A two course meal with a large bottle of water, one drink each and a bottle of wine you’re looking at £300~£350 for two people.

Assume this is a typo? Do you mean that's this cost over the week? Or that's the Barbadian dollar cost (even so still really high).

I went self catering 2 years ago and don't spend anything like this! Also west coast.

Have a missed something? You said you've not stayed in Barbados before?

You have missed that the thread is a year old but the OP came back to update

Christ on a bike to prices!!

Oh god 🙈 sorry!

Sounds very expensive! X

😁

Big supermarket