There are always so many things to think about and organize before you pack your bags and leave for Barbados.
On this page you will find some important points you should consider doing before you set off for the airport.
Here is a checklist that you can refer to before you leave:
Things to do or consider:
- Ensure you passport is up-to-date
- Obtain visas for Barbados or for other countries you might visit while you are here
- Arrange flights; ask airline about baggage allowance and items you can travel with
- Whether you will need travel insurance and/or medical insurance
- Ensure all of your immunizations and medical check-ups are in order
Things to bring with you:
- Basic clothing
- Driving licence
- Medical records
- Academic records
- Birth, wedding certificates
- Special medication you might need
- Tri-band mobile phone set to roam
Things to have on hand when you arrive at the airport in Barbados:
- Passport with visa
- Job letter/letter of admission form school or university
- Document indicating your financial resources while staying in Barbados
- Cash
- Address and directions of where you will be initially staying
Documentation
Some things you might already have handy and others make take some time to sort out, so be sure to allow yourself plenty of time so as to reduce or eliminate unwanted surprises.
Many documents such as visitors visas that you might need for other countries might only be able to be dealt with in your home country and you might not be currently living there, so please also check to make sure whether this might be the case or not.
Many legal documents may have to be notarized by the appropriate departments or professionals so you need to find what your specific requirements might be.
Flights to Barbados can become full at certain times of the year, so make sure that you book well in advance. There might also be weight restrictions and black-out dates, so ask the airline or travel agency well in advance for this information. Also remember to ask about the various items that are restricted for travelling with, either in your checked luggage or hand luggage.
Medical Information
Another important factor to consider is medication - if you are on medication there might be a chance that the exact one will not be available in Barbados and a substitute or alternative will need to be found. Make sure that you have enough to cover yourself for 6-8 weeks while you look for alternatives and of course discuss this with your current doctor.
Make sure that all of your immunizations and medical check-ups for you and your family if they are travelling with you are also up to date. It will certainly save you time in Barbados running around if much of this is dealt with in advance.
Do your current medical and travel insurance policies cover you while you will be in Barbados? You will need to find out if this is the case and whether it will be necessary to have this done or not.
Other Matters
You will also need to have your, your spouse's and/or your children's academic records current, so as to avoid any disappointments with pending school entries, if this is relevant. This will be required on application at any schools/universities across the island.
Don't forget to travel with an appropriate amount of cash, preferably US dollars or British pounds. This will be helpful in securing a porter at the airport should you need one (US$1.50 per bag) and a taxi or any other incidental items should the need arise until you can get to a bank for more.
Lastly, please have handy the name and address of where you will be initially staying on the island. This will be required information on the immigration/customs forms for entry at the airport.
Remember, the more prepared you are the less chance of any surprises, frustrations or embarrassing situations.
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