Sunset Apartment - Getting Around Barbados

Car Rental: Is essential whilst staying at Sunset Apartment, as it is located 2.5 miles inland and there is nothing within a reasonable walking distance. There are several different rental companies offering mini-mokes to Landrovers. We are currently trying to assess which is the best option for guests.

• Courtesy Rent A Car - www.courtesyrentacar.com (has office @ Airport)

• Coconut Car Rentals - www.coconutcars.com. Tel: 437 0297  Fax: 228 9820

• Executive Rentals - www.executiverentalsbarbados.com. Tel: 228 1993 Fax: 429 4079

• Stoutes Car Rental - www.stoutescar.com. Tel:416 4456  Fax: 416 4435

• Top Class Rentals - www.topclassrentals.com. Tel: 228 7368 or 418 2121

• National Car Rentals www.carhire.tv.  Tel: 422 0603 Fax: 422 1966

• Jones Car Rental Service www.rentacarbarbados.com  426-4586 or 5030 fax 7296

Driving: Takes place on the left hand side of the road, great for UK residents not so great for our European or North American friends. Driving is generally a civilized affair and drivers quite prepared to give way in many different circumstances in return for a friendly sounding of the horn. The horn is probably the most used accessory attached to the steering column as direction indicators are seldom used, acknowledging a friend on foot or in transit requires that the horn is sounded.

There are things however to bear in mind:

• "Potholes" The Oxford English Dictionary gives the following Definitions, 1. "a deep natural underground cave formed by the eroding action of water" 2. "a hole in the road surface" I would suggest a combination of the two would be more fitting "a deep hole in the road surface"

• There is no roadworthy test for vehicles therefore brake/stop lights may not work, you are in motion and suddenly the vehicle in front is not !.

• "Jam busting" has been introduced at roundabouts basically there are two entrance lanes to the roundabout and both can go straight on into one lane, caution should be exercised.

• Pedestrians will step out into the road at anytime to cross or may be just around the corner walking in the road, beware!

• Night driving has the added challenge of the "Full Beam Club" dipping of headlights is rare in oncoming traffic or indeed traffic approaching from the rear.

• Maps and sign posting leave a lot to be desired.

• Stop signs mean STOP and the Police enjoy enforcing this law and the penalty is a court appearance and heavy fine, speeding also attracts the same penalty although the opportunities to break the speed limit are few and far between.

• Speed limits vary and are strictly enforced by the police so in the unlikely event that you have an open road in front of you remember that fastest that you can go anywhere on the island is 80km per hour (approximately 50mph).

• If you are involved in any accident no matter how small, the normal course of action is to wait for the Police, they tend to write the accident report so do not move the cars even if you are holding up traffic.

Buses: There are 3 types of "bus", Government owned Transport Board buses are blue with a yellow stripe and have a BM number plate, privately owned mini buses are yellow with blue stripes and have a B number plate and route taxis are white with burgundy stripes and have a ZR number plate. At the bus stop you need to put your hand out to stop the bus. Transport Board bus terminals are at Fairchild Street on the south side of Bridgetown, Princess Alice Highway on the West side of Bridgetown and also at Speightstown in St. Peter to the North.  All of these service the major areas of the island and the current cost is $1.50BDS for all destinations.

There is a bus stop a short walk from the apartment but the buses are infrequent and unreliable on this route, furthermore there is a timetable and routes for transport board buses which can be seen on their website www.transportboard.com however it can be an interesting and maybe long journey into the unknown, we haven't lost any guests yet though!.

Taxis: Taxis are readily available but the price for the journey should be established before accepting the ride. A rough guide for fares from the apartment are $20-$30 one way to Holetown (@3.5 miles), $40-$50 to Bridgetown (@11 miles) and $60-$70 to Grantley Adams airport (@15 miles).

Tours: There are many tours of the island take a look out our tours section for more information.