However, as others may have told you, you may not always get the best exchange rate when you are given change.Most businesses will accept US$ but you will receive your change in BDS$. But be aware that very few vendors will give you US dollars back in change. One of us keeps the US money and one of us the BDS. You can use US dollars everywhere in Barbados but you’ll get your change in Barbados dollars.
Bear in mind when you pay with US dollars your change will be in Barbadian dollars. On the streets, $1 US Dollar is usually matched to $2 Barbados Dollars. You can very easily pay for something with US dollars and receive change in Barbadian dollars.
Some small bills are good for tips too!There are 100s of threads on Currency and the use of Buses ...s well as the Insider Pages ...do a searchwith the exchange being what it is now, the easiest thing to do is withdraw from the ATM in barbados and you will receive BDS currency.
On your travels around Barbados you will find that US currency is accepted across the island, and most stores and restaurants accept major credit cards. We were told by the Hotel how much, both US$ & local. Most places also accept credit or debit cards, although there may be a small charge for using credit cards.You can bring your dollars and sterling to change at the banks in Barbados, or you can withdraw cash at one of the many ATMs on the island which tend to offer better rates than most currency exchanges (do check with your own bank regarding what charges they apply).
If you purchase BBD in the UK the rate won't be nearly as generous and is currently around £1 to $2.30. There are 8 Scotia Banks in Barbados, which allow you to withdraw Barbados money from their ATMs.You can very easily pay for something with US dollars and receive change in Barbadian dollars.Many tourists like to use traveller’s cheques instead of cash for personal security reasons.There are 6 different types of Barbados bills or notes and 5 different types of coins.If you are with CIBC, they run 9 branches of banks known as First Caribbean International Banks. 3. Buses require exact change so you would be better off using local currency really.It all depends on how comfortable you are without cash ans/or how much you will need at the airportJust to clarify, the bus fare is $1.50 BBDS$.
You can very easily pay for something with US dollars and receive change in Barbadian dollars. It stands at a value of two Barbadian dollars to one US dollar. I once ordered my currency from the Post Office specifying all low denomination notes and it … US is best. there are royal and scotia banks there and the withdrawal fee for me is $5.00 CDN. The local currency is in Barbadian dollars and all prices are in Barbadian dollars i.e.
Malc196. Please remember that costs are quoted in BBDS$ (except for hotel-room costs and a few duty-free items which you'd most-likely purchase on a card anyway).If the ATM happens to be not in use then I can convert some of the £GB into BDS$ at the bureaux de change ... you usually get a good rate on £GP>BDS$A previous post on this forum said the exchange was 1.5 Barbados to 1 USD but we found the going rate to be 2 to 1 USD and this is what the official currency converters on the internet said.The taxi to your hotel is a fixed fee. Do not bring Barbados Dollars, you'll get dinged with exchange charges by your bank or currency dealer. A handy Barbados currency converter that is very easy to use. Barbados banknotes are issued in the following denominations: 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 Dollars.
You can use this everywhere - you usually get change in BBD$. I ysually take a couple hundred in US$ with us, so were were covered for the initial expenses. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one....but unless the fares go up ( presently BDS$ 1.50 ) you will have to give 1 US$ as they don't take US$ changeWe had no problem with US$ this past November.