Barbados
Barbados Travel Guides
Written by the specialists who plan our trips to Barbados: where to go, when, and what is worth knowing before you book.
All Barbados Travel Guides
The Best Gay-Friendly Caribbean Islands
The Caribbean, with its crystal waters, flawless weather and white sand beaches, is a dream destination for many travellers. With a temperate climate year-round, the Caribbean ensures consistent appeal regardless of the season. The beaches are famed for having pristine white sand, pink sand (e.g., Pink Sands Beach in Harbour Island, Bahamas), and even dramatic black volcanic sand (e.g., beaches in St. Vincent and the Grenadines).
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Gay-Friendly Travel in Barbados: “It’s a very welcoming island”
Jack Dunmore gave Out Of Office the challenge of putting together a week of R&R with enough to keep three friends occupied if the beach was too much like hard work.
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Barbados vs Bequia: Which Island Should You Visit?
When it comes to choosing between Barbados and Bequia for your Caribbean getaway, it’s a bit like comparing champagne to a fine rum—both are exquisite, but they have distinctive charms. What’s more, both can be enjoyed alongside each other - if you’re the type of person who likes to break with convention. We'll also unravel the mystery of how you get to Bequia and the best ways to combine it with Barbados.
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Gay Sailing Charters in the Caribbean: Luxury Yacht Experiences
The Caribbean offers more straightforward sailing conditions for LGBTQ+ travellers than most ocean destinations. Island nations here range from actively welcoming (St Barths, US Virgin Islands) to legally hostile (Jamaica), but the luxury yacht charter infrastructure operates with professional neutrality regardless of local attitudes. Most crews working the high-end charter circuit come from Europe, Australia, or the US, bringing service standards that don't vary based on passenger orientation.
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Is the Caribbean Gay Friendly?
There's so much to see and do in the Caribbean. Explore the colonial charm of Old San Juan in Puerto Rico, with its cobblestone streets, pastel-colored buildings, and historic forts like Castillo San Felipe del Morro. In Aruba, relax on Eagle Beach, famed for its soft white sands and crystal-clear waters. Head to Curacao for its iconic Handelskade waterfront in Willemstad, where brightly painted Dutch-style buildings meet turquoise seas.
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Puerto Rico vs. Barbados – which is better?
When choosing between Puerto Rico and Barbados for your next Caribbean getaway, it can be tricky to make a decision. Both are very inviting and they both have different charms. It takes around 2 hours to fly between the islands so it’s advisable to pick one over the other. We generally don’t advise combining both islands in the same trip. So, what exactly differentiates one island from the other?
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Meet Donnya Piggott: Barbados’ Most Outspoken LGBT+ Activist
Barbados is one of the most beautiful islands in the world, but it's a tricky proposition if you're LGBT+. Homosexuality is illegal in Barbados. Although homophobic laws are rarely enforced, they cast quite a shadow over the island if you're gay, bi or gender nonconforming. Enter Donnya Piggott. Donnya is an outspoken LGBT+ activist from Barbados. She has spearheaded B-GLAD, a public advocacy organisation campaigning for LGBT+ rights.
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Trips through Barbados
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Frequently asked questions
Travelling with Out Of Office
What does Out Of Office do?
Out Of Office is a luxury LGBTQ+ travel company specialising in tailor-made holidays and extraordinary journeys around the world. We create bespoke luxury holidays, LGBTQ+ honeymoons, safaris, cruises, beach escapes, private tours and group trips, with every itinerary designed around you. Our travel specialists combine global expertise, first-hand destination knowledge and trusted local partners to create seamless, highly personalised experiences.
Is Out Of Office a gay travel agency?
Out Of Office is an LGBTQ+ owned and run luxury travel specialist, with particular expertise in gay and LGBTQ+ travel. We understand the additional considerations that can come with travelling as an LGBTQ+ person or couple, from local laws and customs to finding genuinely welcoming hotels and experiences.
We welcome every traveller, including friends, families and allies. Many of our clients are not members of the LGBTQ+ community, but choose Out Of Office for our luxury travel expertise, personalised service and discretion.
Do you create tailor-made LGBTQ+ holidays?
Yes. Every tailor-made trip with Out Of Office is designed from scratch around your interests, travel style, budget and the way you want to experience a destination. We can arrange luxury hotels, private transfers, flights, guides, excursions, cruises and special experiences as part of one personalised itinerary. The journeys shown on our website are there to inspire you rather than restrict you; only clearly identified group departures operate as fixed itineraries.
How do you choose LGBTQ+ friendly hotels and destinations?
We combine first-hand destination knowledge with trusted local expertise to recommend luxury hotels, resorts and experiences where LGBTQ+ travellers can feel informed and welcome. We also consider the laws, customs and attitudes of each destination, because LGBTQ+ rights and experiences differ around the world. Our team regularly visit many of the properties we work with and where a destination requires greater awareness, we give you clear and considered advice so that you can make an informed decision about where and how you travel.
We plant trees for every booking
For every booking made with Out Of Office we commit to planting trees in your name to help reduce the impact of travel on future generations. You'll even get a link to see where your trees are planted in the world via our partner Ecologi.
We donate to Rainbow Railroad with every booking
Rainbow Railroad helps LGBTQ+ people escape state-sponsored violence and persecution. A donation goes with every trip we sell, funded by us and never added to your price.
Start Planning Your Trip
Tell us where you would love to go, when you are thinking of travelling and what kind of trip you have in mind. One of our LGBTQ+ travel specialists will create a tailor-made itinerary designed around your destination, style and preferences.
One named specialist, first enquiry to homecoming. No call centre, and nothing is charged until you decide to book.