Shopping in Barbados

Shopping in Barbados is Plentiful and Tax-Free

For Americans, “Duty Free” is a great benefit when it comes to shopping. People who live in the United States are used to paying up to an eight percent in sales tax (or even more). In Barbados, there is no sales tax for visitors who bring their passports or airline tickets with them when they shop. And, Barbadian stores offer a huge selection of high-quality merchandise. Shopping in Barbados is a unique experience because not only do shops on the island sell high-end items such as cashmere sweaters, excellent quality jewelry, and other expensive items such as electronic equipment, but they also sell many items that are hand-made by local individuals and artists. It is easy to find high-quality and hip clothing for sale in Barbados. The country is known for its clothing industry and its fashion designers. T-shirts are a great seller in Barbados because many of them are hand-painted with original designs. If a person is in Barbados on vacation and looking for a gift to bring back to someone at home, they won’t have to look for long. There are so many good deals on great items that finding the perfect gift or souvenir is hardly difficult. For a more unique item, there are a multitude of small shops that carry items crafted by locals such as jewelry, pottery, items carved out of wood, paintings, and baskets. In addition to the crafts of local artists, there is a large selection of Barbadian liquor for sale. The island is famous for its rum and tourists and shoppers are encouraged to bring some back for souvenirs. There are many varieties of rum available and all vary by how they were made, how old they are, and their color. Barbadian rum makes a great gift and also a nice purchase to bring home to serve as a memory of a vacation to the island. The main street in Barbados is called Broad Street. On Broad Street there is a large area called, “Bridgetown,” that is home to many small and large department stores. Not only are the items sold in these stores tax free to tourists, but most everything is priced far less than what Americans and Europeans would expect. Another popular area to visit for shopping purposes is called the "Chattel House Villages." This shopping area is made up of wooden houses that are actually stores. Included are boutique stores that primarily sell gift items, stores that sell hand-crafted clothing, and studios which feature craft items created by locals. There are also restaurants and bars in this shopping area that provide a place to stop, relax, eat and drink. Other small shopping areas in Barbados include Holetown and Speightstown. These shopping areas feature many unique, small stores that sell crafts, gifts, clothing and souvenirs. The best part about shopping in Barbados, besides the fact that items can be purchased “duty free,” is the fact that the sales people in the shops are friendly, extremely helpful and knowledgeable. Most stores are also air-conditioned which provides a nice break from the heat outside. Although Barbados is a relatively small island in the Caribbean, it is keeping up with current internet and technology trends. Many Barbadian stores now have web site and offer shopping online. So, if a person cannot make it all the way to Barbados for a visit, and really desires to shop in a Barbadian store... the merchandise can be just a few clicks away!