Bellairs

McGill University's official Bellairs Research Institute link gives general information about Bellairs.
Follow the Facilities link for concrete information about Accommodations (room rates etc.) Note that you should not contact Bellairs directly about accommodations. Rather, you should let us (the workshop organizers) know your arrival and departure information as well as food restrictions etc. by entering this information in the Google Sheet to which we have sent you a lin. We'll compile the information and will send it to Bellairs.

General facts about Barbados, an island in the North Atlantic ocean NorthEast of Venezuela are found in the CIA World Factbook.
As of March 1st 2004, visitors from most countries require a valid passport and return ticket to enter Barbados. The www.barbados.org site gives information on visitor documents such as visas for citizens from certain countries,
barbados.org gives an overview of airlines serving Barbados. flightstats.com gives real-time flight status information for Grantley Adams (BGI), Barbados' international airport.
Note that it is not uncommon on long-haul flights for your luggage to be delayed, especially if you have a short connection (Shocon label if the connection time shorter than 70min). If so, it will be delivered to Bellairs if and when it arrives. This is usually the next day, but it may also take longer. Hence, do not forget to pack essentials (such as a toothbrush and a swimsuit :) in your hand luggage. Here you see Juan looking very happy when his suitcase is finally delivered to Bellairs, the day before his departure.
The following link explains how to rent a car and drive (and obtain a drivers license - car rental companies can issue a drivers license if you have a valid license, at a cost). Note that as in most former British colonies, Barbados has left-sided traffic.
One Barbados dollar is currently worth approximately 0.5 US dollar. US dollars can be used almost everywhere, though change is given in Barbados dollars. If you plan to take the bus to Bellairs from the airport, you need exact change. It used to be possible to get Barbados dollars at a small exchange place in the airport, just behind the baggage carrousels, after you go through immigration and before you go through customs. There is now only an ATM left, so you probably need to get small change at a shop near Departures (or order food at Cheffette).
Many places such as Bellairs, supermarkets, tourist shops, Surfside and Just Grillin' accept credit cards. You may want to check with your bank whether your cards are activated for use abroad (you can often do this activation yourself via web-banking).
You will sometimes need cash, for example on the bus. Apart from the money exchange at the airport, you may also withdraw cash with either your credit card or with your Maestro card from an ATM. Banks do add to the regular exchange rate. In 2018, Adrien Coppens compiled some useful information on withdrawing money with a Maestro card from the ATM in Holetown. Again, you may want to check with your bank what their rules are about foreign cash withdrawal. In my experience, it is far better to use Maestro than a credit card to withdraw money as the latter is treated as a loan. Note that Canadian banks such as BMO and Scotiabank operate on Barbados. If you have a Canadian bank card, there may be no extra charge for withdrawal.
In the supermarket and in particular, the Sunset Crest Massy Stores in Holetown where we buy our supplies, you need to show a photo ID when paying with a credit card. This requirement may also exist in other shops. You can find the supermarket's opening hours here.
In addition to the Duty Free shops in the airport (after check-in and security), some shops outside the airport also sell duty free. The condition for getting the duty-free price is that you can prove that you're not a Barbados resident and that you will leave the island and take the purchased goods with you. That is why you need to bring both your passport to the shop. Your airline (return) ticket does no longer seem to be required.
Examples of what you can buy in these Duty Free shops: underwater goggles if you forgot to bring some, Barbados T-shirts, souvenirs and rhum. Note that the duty free price of rhum is about the same as the regular price in the Massy Stores supermarket. You can find opening hours of these stores here. The one nearest Bellairs is Sunset Crest � Sunset Mall #2. Note that this is not the Sunset Crest Massy Stores supermarket. The Sunset Mall #2 is located further towards Bridgetown, past the Sandy Crest medical centre.
On your way there, you will also pass the Holetown Chattel Village, a collection of small boutiques. I don't know whether duty free purchasing is possible there. Note that Chattel houses are typical of Barbados and often very picturesque.
Just beyond the Chattel Village is Just Grillin' where we've had lunch in the past. A little further, at the end of the parking lot, is Bean 'n' Bagel which has a very nice breakfast and lunch selection.
On the opposite side of the street (Cemetary Ln) from Bean 'n' Bagel is the Sandy Crest Medical Centre (+1 (246) 419-4911). It is open 24/7.
Fancy (and expensive) restaurants: Fusion Rooftop, in the fancy Limegrove lifestyle centre. Most likely only for cocktails. Much more affordable, on the ground floor, is the Lemongrass restaurant. Slightly North from Bellairs, across the street is the Horny Ram. Mostly British clientele, with live music on Friday evenings. Along the beach, a 10min walk North of Bellairs, the boutique hotel Lone Star has very nice food and impeccable service.
Barbados Weather gives detailed weather forecasts (including satellite images of cloud cover).
The Barbados Tourism Encyclopedia points out the " Seven Wonders of Barbados". Personally, I find the Barbados National Trust Sunday hikes (usually 6-9am) in non-touristy parts of the island much more interesting. Search for details under "Special Events".
The fishing community of Oistins has a weekly Fish-Fry on Friday evening with island music and local food.
For the adventurous: hike to the HARP gun. See also this description in the Atlas Obscura.

The official Bellairs contact information:
```
         Bellairs Research Institute
         Holetown, St. James Parish, Barbados
         Tel.   : +1 (246) 422 2087 (office)
         Tel.   : +1 (246) 422 2034 (dining hall)
         Fax    : +1 (246) 422 0692
         e-mail : bellairs-enquiries.science@mcgill.ca
        
```
Since the gate to enter Bellairs from the side of the Brace building is now always locked, late arrivals to Bellairs (i.e., when the office is closed) should always make precise arrangements with the workshop organizers about how to get in.
The Barbados airport is located at the South of the island. Bellairs is located on the North side of Holetown. To get to Bellairs from the airport, you can
- take a taxi. Bellairs now uses Prince Butcher for taxi services: '+1 (246) 263 20 06 (also WhatsApp). You can also e-mail him at princebutcher1989@gmail.com. The organizers will let him know when your flight arrives (as well of that of others arriving around the same time), he can pick you up from the airport. Look for him after you exit the customs area. He will normally hold a "Bellairs Research Institute" sign. If for some reason, you need to take another taxi, ask to be taken to the Bellairs Research Institute in Holetown. Most taxi drivers know where Bellairs is (thanks to the many workshops as well as the field semesters for students). In case they don't know, say it is located in between Folkstone Park and the Coral Reef Club on the North side of Holetown. There is now a sign at the airport which gives fixed prices for several destinations . In 2023, the price to Holetown is $122 Bds. Beware that this is the price for one person without luggage. Extra people with with luggage need to negotiate. The price is lower if you share. You can find a list at barbados.org. Note that those prices are only for rides from the airport. You negotiate the price in the opposite direction. Normally, the organizers and Bellairs will take care of booking taxis. It is always good to agree on a price before the ride. With any taxi you book, don't forget to mention that you will need a receipt! At the time of boarding, it may be too late. The taxi ride takes between 40 minutes and 1 hour, depending on traffic. Taxi driver John Drayton has also been very helpful and reliable: +1 (246) 420 15 89 (office) or +1 (246) 257 68 76 (cell). You can also e-mail John at rehotaxitrans@gmail.com. John sometimes uses colleague Winston +1 (246) 230 36 92 as backup (for ungodly-hour-of-the night rides). Bellairs used to use taxi drivers Jason +1 (246) 256 82 35 and his wife Nicole +1 (246) 256 83 37.
- take the bus ($3.5 Bds, exact change required, no change given on the blue official government buses). The exchange place inside the airport baggage claim hall is no more, so you probably need to go to Cheffette to get small change. Cross the parking lot to get to the bus stop when you come out of the airport's main exit. Don't forget that traffic drives on the left-hand-side of the road! You need to take a bus on the airport-side of the road. If you're really adventurous, you won't take the blue government buses, but rather an orange private one :) There is a direct bus (destination Speightstown) on Sunday and holidays. On weekdays, buses are more frequent, but you need to first take a bus to the Oistins hub (buses to Bridgetown will also stop in Oistins) and switch there to a bus to Speightstown. Switching in Bridgetown is not advised (I'm told one needs to transfer between bus terminals). Note that there is no "transfer" ticket. When you switch in Oistins you need to buy a new ticket. Bus schedules can be found on the Transport Board website. Buses are not always on time. The Airport - Bellairs trip takes around 1.5h, depending on traffic. The bus takes a longer route (along the coast) than a taxi (which takes an internal "highway"). The bus stop is right in front of Folkestone Marine Park, just past Holetown and the Bellairs entrance is 30m farther down the road. Ask the driver to tell you when you've arrived. Just past the Folkstone Park stop is the entrance to Bellairs. On the way back to the airport, take buses going to either Airport or Kirtons or Sam Lords Castle (the last two stop at the airport, the one to Sam Lords Castle is very infrequent) or to Oistins and switch there to get to the airport. If you have a really early flight out of Barbados, you should book a taxi.
A note for those who came to Bellairs before: the gravel road next to Bellairs leading to the beach no longer has an entrance to Bellairs near the Brace building. You can now only enter Bellairs through the main entrance! Walk across the parking lot, and continue on the narrow path to the office. Once you have keys, you'll be able to walk on the narrow walkway to the right of the office, to the internal gate.
A detailed map shows where exactly Bellairs is located. And there's always Google Maps.

View Larger Map
The 2006 workshop pictures give a good impression of the style and atmosphere of Bellairs CAMPaM workshops.
It is possible to arrive before the workshop week starts and/or to stay beyond the end of the workshop week. If the previous/next workshop does not fully fill up Bellairs, the Bellairs administration can put you up at Bellairs. If Bellairs is full, as is often the case, they will try to find you a good rate at a nearby (30min walk, not on the beach) hotel. In previous years, The Palms
```
 The Palms Resort
 Travellers Palm and Halcyon Palm
 Palm Avenue, Sunset Crest
 St.James, Barbados
 Tel: +1 (246) 432 67 50 
 Fax: +1 (246) 432 72 29
 Email: res@thepalmsresort.net
        jholder@thepalmsresort.net (Jeniffer Holder, general manager)
 Website: http://www.thepalmsresort.net
```
has been the place of choice. As of 2023, the price should be 120US$/night for a non-AC room with two beds. Internet needs to be paid extra. Registration is at the Travellers Palm and usually, the rooms are in the (more primitive) Halcyon Palm 50m up the road (Mayhoe Ave). Note that the registration desk closes at 18:30, so do let The Palms know if you will arrive late. In this case, the night guard will have your keys ready and you can pay the next morning. Taxi drivers know how to find The Palms (turn right at the Sunset Crest mall). If you arrive by bus, let me know, and I'll post detailed directions.

When The Palms is fully booked (as in 2014), the All Seasons Europa is used.
```
 All Seasons Europa
 Palm Avenue, Sunset Crest
 St.James, Barbados
 email: reservations@allseasonsresort.bb
 web: http://www.allseasonsresort.bb
 Tel: 1 246 432 5046
 Fax: 1 246 432 0893
 Toll Free US & Canada - 1 888 312 2744
 UK - 44 207 101 9657
```
It is very close to The Palms.

You should not book your accommodation with Bellairs directly but rather mail the organizers your arrival/departure information. Rooms are normally shared with two per room.
The cost for the stay ((breakfast,) dinner, and lodging) needs to be settled before your departure with the Bellairs office. The office accepts Visa and Mastercard credit cards as well as cash. It is possible to us use credit cards such as American Express in banks to obtain cash.
The following map [pdf] (thanks to Godfried Toussaint) shows the location of the Bellairs facilities (offices, rooms, dining hall, etc.). Note that as of 2008, the Brace apartment is no more. Instead, a whole new second floor has been constructed with new guest rooms and meeting rooms.
At lunchtime we typically walk to Surfside along the beach (includes wading through water if the tide is high, though the new boardwalk has made the walk a lot less adventurous than it used to be) for a nice lunch. Breakfast menu [pdf] which is really the lunch menu and Sandwich menu [pdf] (2012, so prices will have increased).
Lately, we've started going for lunch at Just Grillin': efficient, affordable, and delicious fresh grilled fish.
The voltage on Barbados is 110V and North American plugs are used. Almost all current laptops have a switched-mode power supply which can handle input voltages in the 100V-240V range. Your plug does however still require an adapter if it's not of the North American type.
House rules:
1. Kitchen and Food
  - Breakfast (toast, pancakes, ... varies daily) is provided by Bellairs, if the group has signed up for it. If not, we buy our own breakfast ingredients in the supermarket.
  - We can make coffee in the kitchen any time we want. The available coffee at Bellairs is of the instant variety. If you wish to bring your own coffee (and share) that is appreciated.
  - Dinner is provided by Bellairs (the roast chicken is wonderful and local fish is often served). If you need specific food, you will most likely find it at the local supermarket. There is a guest fridge in the guest kitchen between E and W block, as well as in the kitchen for the Brace guests, where we can keep our own private food. Please label your food and remove any left-over when you leave.
2. Showers and Sand
  - Sand in the shower drains can cause serious blockage problems. Be sure to rinse off the sand from your feet before entering your rooms. There are water taps (and some showers) outside for this purpose.
3. Locked Doors and Valuables
  - Please leave your room locked when you are not in.
  - Each room has a small safe where you can leave your money and other valuables. If you leave valuables such a laptop or camera in your room (in E or W block) certainly do not leave it within arm's reach of the back windows facing the public park.
4. Telephone, Computers and printing
  - There is a phone in the downstairs Brace entrance (next to the sink). You can make local calls with it, for example to book a taxi or a restaurant. You need to select a line first before you dial the number.
  - The wireless internet connection speed is reasonable, most of the time. The speed is high enough to use Skype, which is far cheaper than buying local phone cards.
  - There is a computer with an attached printer in the library (Brace building downstairs, on the way to the office). As the printer frequently runs out of paper and the staff may not be available to replenish, bring some paper if you plan to print.
Sun, Wind, and Insects
1. Rain showers do occur, and though the rain is warm, it is still best to carry an umbrella when you notice there is chance of rain.
2. Bellairs is situated on one of the best beaches in Barbados, so don't forget your bathing suit for swims before breakfast, between work sessions and even at night (the daily "midnight swim" is now a tradition). Right in front of Bellairs is a small (and somewhat alive) coral reef. Do bring snorkeling goggles as the fish are gorgeous. Above all, don't forget sunscreen !
3. Depending on the weather conditions and other factors, we may get some mosquitoes (this is typically more of a problem during the rainy season). You should bring some bug repellant (DEET) just in case. Note that there is no malaria on the island of Barbados.
  As of 2018, Barbados is free of active zika transmission. Though there have been cases of dengue fever in marshy parts of the island in the past, there is currently (2019) no dengue fever outbreak in Barbados.

Barbados

Getting to Bellairs

At Bellairs: Practical Information