Barbados

Why Barbados is special
It has held onto its British heritage to the point that it is nicknamed "Little England".

Barbados's heritages
Two
British is the main one - and traditions like afternoon tea and cricket matches are firmly entrenched.

The African heritage is also evident in many forms, including food and festivals.

Hurricanes
Few
Because Barbados sits in the far southern Caribbean, few hurricanes strike it.

Barbados's coasts
Three
The island is triangular, creating three coasts. Each has its own character.

• West Coast
  Many quality beachfront resorts reside here because it has gorgeous white-sand beaches and it is located on the leeward (non-windy) side of the island. Bridgetown, Barbados' main city, is at the southern end of the West Coast.
• East Coast
  The cliffy and rocky seascape is stunning, but it can be quite windy. It lacks great swimming beaches but has many first-rate diving and snorkeling sites.
• South Coast
  This well-populated Barbados region has resorts and beaches, but not as classy as found on the West Coast. Nightlife is lively.

More Barbados tips & insights
Food
The most famous local specialty is the flying fish sandwich. Overall, Barbados cooking is above the Caribbean norm.

Rum
The noun "rum" was coined in Barbados. Today, the nation is one of the world's biggest producers of rum, a spirit made from sugarcane.

Tourism
Half of the gross national product comes from tourism, which has a well-developed infrastructure.

Language
The official language is English. The British accent reigns.

Size
Barbados is roughly 22 kilometers (14 miles) wide and 34 kilometers (21 miles) from top to bottom.

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