By thinking a little about your holiday destination before you travel, and taking some simple steps when you are there, you can gain so much more from your holiday. You will also be making a positive contribution to the people and the places you visit.


Travel to Barbados with as little packaging as possible
Recycling facilities have become familiar in the UK but they are, as yet, rare in the Caribbean. Although the island has now started to recycle some bottles, plastics and glass, a lot of rubbish ends up in landfill sites. You can help avoid a rubbish mountain in your holiday resort by removing unnecessary packaging from anything you plan to take before you leave home, and by packing travel size cosmetics and taking them home with you. You can also ask your hotel resort if they have any recycling facilities for empties!

Please put your litter in the bin
Bins are available on each beach and by disposing of your rubbish this way, you’ll be helping to keep the beaches and sea free from litter.

Take rechargeable batteries on holiday
By taking rechargeable batteries on holiday with you, instead of leaving old batteries on the island, you are helping to reduce pressure on the sanitation service in Barbados.

Be as sparing as possible with water
By using water wisely, you will help to conserve water supplies in Barbados. Water is scarce on the island and Barbados is actually one of the top 15 water scarce countries in the world.

If you drink bottled water, please try to recycle the bottles
Alternatively, tap water is safe to drink in Barbados so you could reduce the number of bottles used on the island by drinking from the tap instead.

Help to conserve water in your hotel
Every day while you are on holiday you can help to reduce water usage by taking short showers rather than baths and making sure that taps are fully turned off and not dripping once you are finished in the bathroom. You could also use towels for more than one day to reduce the amount of laundry that is done.

Be sparing with electricity 
Remember to switch off lights and air conditioning units when you leave your room, and don’t leave the TV on standby.

Be sensitive to the culture of the island
Please be respectful of the culture and beliefs of Barbadians. For example, please save your beach wear for the beach and dress appropriately when shopping and eating in restaurants. Barbadians are very religious people so try to avoid swearing as obscene language is seen as unacceptable.

Enjoy meeting the locals 
The Barbadians are very friendly people and the island is a great place to relax. However, do keep personal belongings in a safe place and be aware of your surroundings...just remember to take a little care, as you would in the UK.

Take care of the local wildlife
The Green Monkey can be seen in many places on the island. Visitors are reminded not to feed them and maintain a safe distance if you are taking a picture. These animals are wild!

Help to protect turtles in Barbados 
There are several species of turtle in Barbados, and July is nesting season. During July, please avoid shining bright lights on beaches late at night, keep noise to a minimum and please do not touch nesting turtles. If you see nesting sea turtles you can alert the Barbados Sea Turtle Project by calling (246) 230-0142. They will come to the scene to make sure the turtles are cared for and not disturbed. They will also be happy to give you lots of information and let you watch the eggs hatch, at a safe distance, making it a great experience for you and the sea turtles!

Support local craft workers 
If you would like to buy a souvenir, you can buy local crafts from licensed beach vendors. This helps to support the local economy. Licensed beach vendors can be found in huts or cubicles that are provided by the National Culture Council. While on the beach, you may come across locals selling various items, take time to have a look and see what is on offer, they will move on if you politely refuse their goods.

Help preserve the coral 
The coral reefs in Barbados are beautiful but fragile. When snorkelling or diving, please refrain from walking on, touching or removing coral.


This guide is reproduced courtesy of The Travel Foundation. For further information, visit their website, Make Holidays Greener.