Barbados or Saint Lucia?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 74 63
UNESCO listings among them 6 3
Cost level High High
Busiest month in our write-ups February March
Currency Barbadian dollar (BBD) East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Plugs and voltage A, B - 115 V G - 230 V
Everyday languages English English
Driving side left hand side left hand side
Region Caribbean Caribbean
Capital Bridgetown Castries
Barbados
Polite, proud and sociable; good manners and a proper greeting are non-negotiable.
What we have written up
- Andromeda Botanic Gardens botanical garden
- Animal Flower Cave cave
- Bajan tradition
- Bajan Cuisine and Rum dish
- Bajan Seasoning and Pepper Sauce dish
- Barbadian Cricket tradition
Worth knowing before you go
- The Barbadian dollar is pegged at 2 to 1 US; US dollars are widely taken with change in Bajan
- A 10% service charge often appears on bills; tip 10-15% where it does not
- Cars drive on the left, and buses and ZR vans charge a flat fare paid in cash
Saint Lucia
Easy-going and sociable; Friday night is for street parties and everyone is invited.
What we have written up
- Anse Chastanet Reef beach
- Anse Cochon beach
- Anse La Liberté beach
- Anse La Raye old town
- Anse Louvet beach
- Anse Mamin beach
All 63 places in Saint Lucia →
Worth knowing before you go
- The EC dollar is the currency; US dollars are widely taken with change given in EC
- A 10% service charge appears on most restaurant bills - small extra tips only for standout service
- Driving is on the left and shared minibuses are the cheap local way between towns
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.