Barbados has many options for direct flights from major hubs like JFK, Fort Lauderdale, London Gatwick and even Miami. It’s a relatively short flight from most locations which means it makes the perfect escape for weekends trips or even longer trips. The high season runs from November to April, this is usually when many celebrities come and visit the island, especially over the Christmas period. This celebrity hype makes Barbados quite an expensive place to come and visit, even harder on a budget.
This beautiful island has many beaches dotted with hidden away budget hotels and Airbnbs that offer a wide range of budget options.
If you are looking for things to do in Barbados then check out our ultimate Barbados guide here. If you are looking for in-depth details about accommodation options in Barbados then have a look at our Barbados accommodation guide here.
How To Travel Barbados on the Cheap
Before you even leave home you should remember our budget travel tips, we also pack pretty light so we travel carry on only, you can use our Barbados packing list for what you need for your trip to Barbados.
Accommodation
Budget Hotels
When looking at budget hotels in Barbados, the best time to visit is from May to June and September to October which is considered low season here in Barbados. Hotels like the Rostrevor Hotel, All Season Resort and Salt Ash offer decent rates during the low season.
Air BnB
Barbados on a budget during high season it may be a little more difficult to find places to stay. Your best option would be to browse AirBnb where you may be able to find a few hidden gems. The only downside is they may be a little further away from the beaches. Some sweet spots are apartments in Holetown such as Golden View, Pura Vida and some of the other sunset crest villas. These are all within walking distance to the beach and have pool access at The Beach House. You would definitely need to book in advance, especially for longer stays.
Couchsurf
Another option would be couchsurfing. There are a few people on the island doing this but again you may not be too close to the beach. During low season the prices of hotels drop and you can find some nice spots for under $100 US. It is also not as busy and you can make your booking closer to your travel dates.
Transportation
Renting a car can be expensive here, so renting a scooter is probably a better option if you want some freedom to explore Barbados on a budget. It would be a better option to rent the scooter for the weekend which is when you can do an island tour of Barbados and explore and then use public transport for the majority of your trip. Buses here costs about $1US and you can get around the island pretty well.
Just remember that we drive on the left hand side of the road in Barbados!
Food
Everyone knows eating out is expensive. There are a few spots where you can get reasonably priced food such as Just Grillin’ and Lemongrass. If you don’t want to eat out the whole time then head to the grocery and cook in your AirBnB. Cooking for yourself will always be cheaper and healthier. Alcohol can take a toll on the budget but you can’t come to the Caribbean and drink water on the beach. Lucky for you the beer is cheap and so is the rum. You can buy Banks Beer and Deputy for about $1US in the gas station and rum shops always have 4 for $10bds ($5US) specials.
Activities
As I mentioned before you can rent a scooter and explore the island. This is a free and fun way to spend a day. You can also go swim with the sea turtles instead of booking a tour! One of the most obvious ones is to just go to the beach. Go to a different beach everyday, that’s why you are here. Pack a cooler if you want some drinks. It will always be cheaper to buy from the gas station or rum shops. There’s no better Barbados on a budget activity than sitting on the beach with a cooler full of beers. Another way to experience the island is to visit Oistin’s Fish Market, this is a great cheap night out. This place is rocking Friday and Saturday nights. You can get some good local food from one of the many shops around the area and of course some 4 for $10 beers!
We hope this has given you an idea of how to travel Barbados on the cheap! If you are looking for more Barbados posts to plan your trip then have a look at some of these:
Barbados sounds so cool! I’m a bit concerned about going around the island. How much does it cost to rent a scooter per day? Also are the buses frequent enough? Thanks for your info!
The buses are pretty frequent! It depends on the scooters but I found for about $50us per day with specials over the weekends etc
You can rent cars from $50us a day
Which company did you rent from?
Barbados is one of my favourite countries! I’ve been twice and loved it so much! It’s great that you can travel here on a budget, as so many people think the Caribbean is for the rich and famous! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve always wanted to visit Barbados, it sounds like paradise. So glad that it can be done on a budget, though I would be tempted to splurge a bit. What would you say is the average you’d spend a day including everything?
All your other expenses etc per day could run you a max of 50US daily excluding accommodation. It also depends on activities etc because you can easily overspend
I always thought Barbados was a luxury place to visit. I am so chuffed that you can do it on a budget too. I need to put this on my list 🙂
Everyone thinks this but there are budget options for sure!
I’m glad to read this as I think anywhere can be done on a budget, especially if it is somewhere you just want to get outside and explore the beaches. It’s nice not to have to sit by the pool of a luxury hotel (although I’d still love to do it!)
I didn’t realise Barbados could be done on a budget! So happy to hear that it can be done without spending a fortune!
I love the idea of renting a scooter to explore the island. The cost of transportation is one aspect of traveling that is often overlooked but can add a lot to your total budget. Great tips and I would love to try them out soon in Barbados, although I think these tips apply to any destination.
Thaks for putting together a useful guide for Barbados! Id love to see where Rihanna is from some day and for $100 flights is a bargain! Renting a scooter is always a good idea too!
Thanks for the tips! Barbados must be gorgeous, although I’ve never thought of it as a cheap place to visit. Flights from Europe always seem pretty pricey, but sounds like you can save quite a bit on activities and accommodation!
Yes coming from UK is pricey but you can find flight deals from manchester
Are there any scuba opportunities here? How much would they cost?
Also, will I be able to get vegetarian food easily?
There lots of scuba places actually. I’m not sure about prices though. Most places are pretty good with vegetarian now too so yes
Cool post. Barbados sounds so exotic. Helpful tips indeed!
Thanks for sharing these tips for budget travellers! That’s an interesting article 🙂
You can rent a car from Chelsea motors where if you rent for 5 days they give you 2 days for free.
Would cost about $300 US for the seven days and much safer than a scooter.
Masala grill on Maxwell road is a great local Indian eatery, you eat in their from yard. Excellent food and very inexpensive.
Where are turtles currently?
Hey they are still in these spots. Alleynes bay is a definite on the west coast!