Location
The ultimate digital nomad guide to Barbados including where to stay, coworking spaces, coffee shops and visas.
There is a 2 day quarantine for travelers arriving onto the island. Outsite Member Christian said this of his Barbados quarantine experience: 'Just arrived in Outsite Barbados, from Switzerland a few days ago. Also completed the quarantine process on arrival. They asked me to present my negative test before the flight and upon arrival, all smooth sailing. We then checked into our quarantine hotel for the mandatory quarantine (we can recommend Butterfly Hotel - you can actually go out to designated spaces in the hotel so it's actually quite nice) . We then did the local test the next morning (private test gets you faster results) and got the second test results the day after. With that, we were already free to go after 2 nights in the 'quarantine' and am now working on the balcony with ocean view!'.
View all official travel advice for Outsite locations here.
Bathsheba is largely comprised of smaller, local villages and surf hang outs. This is on the eastern side of the island.
This refers to the resort-laden west coast of the island, known for it's beautiful hotels and beach clubs.
A small active fishing town in the south of the island, best known for their fish fry.
The capital of Barbados is a great place to stay if you'd like to learn more about the history of Barbados, and have a number of dive sites on your doorstep.
Barbados hasn't always been on the radar for digital nomads, but due to COVID travel restrictions and the introduction of the Barbados Welcome Stamp, it's becoming more of a viable option. The island also works on Atlantic Standard time, which works well for U.S and European timezones. Check out the stats on living in Barbados on Nomad List.
There are a handful of coworking spaces in Barbados. Barbados Pop Up Cowork is a new project from the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, converting one of their spaces into an open office space. Ten Habitat used to be one of the biggest coworking spaces in Bridgetown, however they are currently closed due to COVID.
You can get fiber optic WiFi in Barbados. Fast WiFi is included as part of your stay in Outsite. If you're in an AirBnb, ask for a Speedtest to make sure it's up to speed.
Need more info? Check out the Magic Seaweed Report for Barbados.
There are many grocery stores on Barbados, however most of the food is imported and slightly more expensive. Choosing local rice, vegetables and fish will help you budget. Massys and CostULess are 2 of the most popular. The fish market in Westin is also a great spot to buy local fish.
Body Restoration, on the West Coast, is one of the best places to buy supplements and health foods on Barbados.
The Barbados Welcome Stamp is a 12 month visa that costs $2,000USD. It takes 10 minutes to apply, and they offer options for families too. Read more about the digital nomad visa here. U.S citizens do not need a visa for stays of less than 6 months. Check out if you will need a visa for Barbados here.
Barbados is a largely safe country for travelers, especially in populated areas. Petty theft and crime do happen so you should stay vigilant in crowded places. Homosexuality is still illegal in Barbados, and while this is being challenged by Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality, LGBTQ+ travelers may face some hostility.