| Barbados travel tips posted by real travelers and Barbados locals. Map |
 | Barbados Warnings or Dangers | Tips 1 - 10 of 72 |  |
 manchineel tree by stiab3
Contact with the manchineel tree (or its fruit or leaves) can cause severe medical problems. The milky sap causes blistering, burns, and inflammation when in contact with the skin, mucous membranes, and eyes.
These trees normally have signs on them with the warning. But still be careful with children.
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If you forget, it is helpful to have a passenger who will shout "Left LEFT!!" as the oncoming bus is about to crush you.
Because in Barbados (as in England, Japan, Bermuda and the Virgin Islands) cars drive on the LEFT.
Most of the time there isn't a problem. On the rural roads, there's no one else around to hit. On the few divided highways, the only problem is that you pass on the right instead of the left. And since the cars are RHD (right hand drive) you will be in an unfamiliar seat and it will remind you that you should stay to the left. Try to stay out of rush hour which is usually from generally from 7:00-8:30am and from 4:30-5:30pm.
There are two significant problems though. Making a left turn you may forget to allow for the majority of the car to be to your left rather than your right. And the other problem is the roundabouts.
Flow of Traffic and Navigating Roundabouts
All traffic flows around roundabouts in a clockwise direction. Upon approaching a roundabout - SLOW DOWN! Look right and wait for a break in traffic before merging with the oncoming vehicles. Leave the circle by using your indicator and turn left onto the road of your choice.
Visitors to the island are easily identifiable on the road by the 'H' number plate. Locals are usually accommodating of your confusion with directions, round abouts, road signs etc..., and make allowances! Leave a Comment
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 Sea urchins - cobblers by stiab3
These can be quite painful if stepped on! But if they are removed carefully . . . don't just pull them . . . they should heal up with no problems.
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Don't walk around Bridgetown after dark, especially Baxters Road Area. Take a taxi to where you want to go.
Leave the gold and jewels at home, easy pickings for someone.
Be vigilant as you would be anywhere.
Be polite and just say No Thank you when vendors, or street people ply unwanted trade. Leave a Comment
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Not only does Barbados drive on the LEFT (and in a RHD car you will have to shift with your left hand - you may find yourself trying to shift the window winder), but the roads in Barbados are narrow and have no shoulders. Many of them have no road markings.
As you can see, the sugar cane grows right up to the edge of the road and that restricts what you can see 'around the corner'. In the daytime, drivers will often honk as they approach an uncontrolled intersection. Of course they also honk and wave to their friends.
Buses and vans and small buses are often crowded and tend to travel at high rates of speed and take their half out of the middle.
Some of the rural roads are not very well maintained and deep in the country there are no street lights so it is really pitch black dark. The only advantage to this is that people usually use their headlights at night, so you can see the glow of another car before you get to a corner. Of course this does not help you to see pedestrian or bicycle traffic.
The route signs and directional signs are often missing or misleading. We found one sign to the Edgewater Inn which pointed in the opposite direction to where the Inn was. We asked them, and they said, "The last sign we had to put up needed to point right, and we only had one that pointed left, so we just used that one."
So if you arrive in Barbados at night or late in the day, it will be better to get a taxi and rent a car the next day. And be sure to get a good map if you intend to drive out into the country. Leave a Comment
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There are two reasons why you should always wear your seat belt in Barbados. 1. Because there are some seriously bad drivers about. 2. Because its the only driving offence the police seem to care about. Some of the driving in Barbados is simply laughable, so you should take precautions against some idiot smashing into you. Also, the police don't seem to mind if you are driving pissed out of your head, but if you haven't got your seatbelt on, they'll throw the book at you. Or so i've heard! Leave a Comment
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 Don't sit under a machineel
tree by Aphro
Even taking shelter under the tree when it rains can give you blisters. Seriously!
Most manchineels are identified with signs or a red-painted band around the trunk. If you do come in contact with one, immediately wash yourself off with water, go to the nearest hotel - you might need medical treatment. Leave a Comment
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 fresh coc-nuts by rachel_sun
Avoid walking alone after dark in quiet areas and always keep valubles in the hotel safe. Leave a Comment
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 Surfin by rachel_sunLeave a Comment
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 Banana and palms everywhere by rachel_sun
Also,dont sun bathe if you have aloe vera on your skin as it causes your skin to blister. Leave a Comment
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