5 More Things to Know Before you go to Barbados travel tips

Barbados is an amazing country full of friendly people, amazing food, beaches and wildlife. Every country has its own quirks and rules though, and Barbados is no different. Check out my additional Barbados travel tips below for things that can make your stay even better.

If you haven't read 5 things everyone should know before going to Barbados check it out here.

1 Vehicle Horns - Coming from the UK, you usually hear a vehicle horn when someone has pulled out in front of another car or as a form of expletive (@##!) while driving. But in Barbados, it is used in a much friendlier manner. It means 'I'm letting you out' 'Thank you' 'Do you want this bus to stop' 'Hey' and many more I'm sure. Walking along the streets, the horn will be a continuous sound effect on your journey. In Barbados it is a sound of happiness, unlike in the UK where it is a sound of rage.

2 Pudding and Souse - I like my dessert and the vast majority of restaurants in Barbados don't have much on offer, unless you are eating in one of the expensive ones aimed at the tourists. So when I started seeing signs for Pudding and Souse I got a little excited (probably more than I should have really). I'm from the north of England, pudding is another word for dessert right?.......er, well in Barbados, no. Pudding and Souse is the traditional Bajan meal had on a Saturday and it contains pickled pork and the pudding is steamed sweet potato. Being pescatarian, this was definitely off my menu, but it might be something you want to try. I'm still on the hunt for some good dessert places!

Until then, I will make my own:

3 Greetings - Bajans are friendly folk. Walk down any street and most people you pass will say Good Morning/Good Evening/Good Night (not many seem to use afternoon). So get in the spirit and say it back to them too. I was suspicious and wondered 'What do they want?' (maybe I'm a jaded soul) but they really just want to say hi and welcome you to their country.

4 Beware of some of the trees - When travelling you might check to see if there are any critters that are able to hurt you, but I'm sure most of us don't even think about the trees. There are hundreds of coconut trees, and trust me if one of these falls on you it will be putting a serious downer on your holiday, so best to keep clear.

Barbados also has a tree with poisonous sap so powerful that if you stand under the tree in a rain storm it can cause skin burns and damage to the eyes if it gets in them. When we were on the South Coast I didn't really see any so thought it had been blown out of proportion. But on the West and East Coast, I have seen them everywhere they are called Manchineel Trees. They generally have a big red band painted on them and some also have a poison sign to warn you of the danger. They have small green fruit that drop below (they are similar to a small green apple) so make sure children don't pick them up and try to eat them if one is nearby. It would probably require a trip to the hospital. When I first arrived I was a little paranoid about these, but now I walk past one most days as I go to the beach. I know they aren't going to do anything to me unless I do something silly so don't worry too much just be vigilant.

5 Drones - Barbados has strict regulations about drone flying and you have to apply for a licence and a permit for each time you want to fly. This sounded like such a hassle that I left mine at home. When arriving into the country drones have been confiscated until you can prove you have the correct paperwork or until you leave again. So unless you plan to do this well ahead of your trip it is probably best to just leave it at home.

As I learn more from being on the island I will probably have more tips so keep an eye out for more.