Connecting the Caribbean: How to make the most of the Barbados route

By Fiona Brander, Compass travel columnist

Finally, the new Cayman to Barbados route is bookable, with the first flight ready for take-off on 18 Oct.

Though some may have preferred a different destination, a direct flight to the west coast of Canada for example, let’s embrace the fact that we now have a nonstop 3 hour, 25 minute flight right into the heart of the eastern Caribbean.

When I first moved to Cayman in 2008, I had these grand plans of island hopping all around the region, but quickly learnt that it was easier and cheaper to fly direct from the UK to most Caribbean destinations than from Cayman itself. So, it was very exciting to hear about the new Cayman Airways flight.

The good news is that the prices are great and start around the US$500 mark per adult. But be aware that the best fares need a 21-day advance purchase, or the cost will be higher and, as always, subject to availability.

So, start packing and planning as you now have a beautiful new location to explore.

Gateway to dream vacation

Will you spend all your time in Barbados? Or use this flight as the gateway to a dream yachting holiday, or as a stopover on your way to visit one of the other islands?

For those travellers among us who do not have US visas or ESTAs, it is a way to reach other parts of the Caribbean, Guyana, or even Europe and beyond.

Barbados is a popular location for sporting events, so things just got easier and cheaper for all our talented athletes.

There are flights from Barbados to the UK with Virgin Atlantic and British Airways and, at certain times of the year, Condor airlines will also fly you to Germany.

There are onward flights to the islands of St. Vincent, Grenada, Trinidad, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and Antigua, which you can now book with the combination of Cayman Airways and Caribbean Airlines all on one ticket.

However, I do not believe the new flight will connect the same day to any destinations after 7 Nov., and you will need to have at least one night in Barbados, maybe even two, before continuing your journey. Same for the way back.

Cayman Airways flight schedule:

From 18 Oct. to 1 Nov. only, it is Wednesday flights:

• Departs Cayman at 7am, arrives in Barbados 11:25am*
• Departs Barbados at 12:45pm, arrives in Grand Cayman 3:25pm

* The arrival time of 11:25am is great and would connect to some onward flights, but, sadly, this ends on 1 Nov., to be replaced with the arrival time of 9:35pm.

The schedule changes from 7 Nov:

• Departs Grand Cayman on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:10pm; arrives in Barbados 9:35pm
• Departs Barbados on Wednesdays at 11:45am; arrives in Grand Cayman 2:25pm
• Departs Barbados on Fridays at 9:20am; arrives in Grand Cayman 12pm

So, from 7 Nov., Cayman Airways arrives in Barbados at 9:35pm, which I believe will be too late to connect to any onward flight. Then on the return, CAL departs either at 9:20am or 11:45am which means, for the most part, you will not be able to connect from any destination on the same day back to Cayman and will have to overnight in Barbados both ways at an extra cost if you use this new flight to connect.

Who else operates flights from Barbados and to where?

There are quite a few airlines that fly from Barbados to the US and Canada.

Barbados to other Caribbean destinations

Caribbean Airlines, Inter-Caribbean Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, WinAir, Air Antilles and Fly Airways.

Once you are in Barbados, you can fly either the next day or two days later to your chosen Caribbean island.

Barbados to South America

Caribbean Airlines and Inter-Caribbean airlines fly to Guyana.

It may be easier to fly Cayman via Panama to Guyana with Cayman Airways and Copa Airlines, or via Miami with American Airlines.

You could return via Barbados with an overnight hotel stay.

But you have more options now.

Barbados to the UK

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic

• Virgin Atlantic has a flight to and from Manchester, providing an alternative for UK travellers heading north who wish to avoid the US or London.
• BA and Virgin fly nonstop to Heathrow or Gatwick if you cannot fly via the US, and if the BA direct is too pricey, then this could be an idea, although via Kingston is possibly a better route.

This is not the easiest way to fly from Cayman to the UK, but if you wish to tag on a holiday to Barbados, then it could be an option for you.

After 1 Nov., you will need at least two nights in Barbados on the outbound, if flying onto Manchester and one night if London is your destination.

Then, on the return, you will need at least an overnight before connecting to the Cayman Airways flight back to Grand Cayman. This is because from 30 Oct., Virgin flies Mondays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays from Barbados, departing at 10:15pm to Manchester. When they fly Manchester to Barbados, they will arrive at 2:20pm.

There are daily London flights, but the Barbados-UK flight departs before 9pm and arrives in Barbados in the afternoon.

This doesn’t work well with the new Cayman to Barbados flight which, after 1 Nov., will arrive at 9:35pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, returning to Grand Cayman on Wednesdays at 11:45am and Fridays at 9:20am.

Basically, you will not be able to connect the same day via Barbados.

Prices for the Cayman via Barbados to the UK flights start around US$1,200 per adult with Virgin for a return ticket. But then add the hotels on, and the cost can creep up.

If you have an ESTA/visa, then travelling via the US is probably easier or, of course, there is the direct BA flight.

Cayman Airways has a ticketing agreement with BA, Virgin and Caribbean Airlines.

One ticket number for all flights means the connections are somewhat protected, but mixing airlines does have some risks and can make everything a little more complicated and not entirely stress-free. However, having both airlines on the same ticket does help. The necessary overnight in Barbados when connecting to other destination will also be helpful in case of delays, of course.

Mandatory form to complete for Barbados

You are required to complete the online Immigration and Customs Travel Form, which will be available 72 hours prior to your arrival in Barbados. You can complete the form at a time and place convenient for you.

Once the form is completed, the Immigration and Customs receipt will be sent to the email that you provided in the form. Please save the receipts to your mobile device or print, for presentation to Immigration and Customs, upon arrival.

Also, proof of return or onward ticket from Barbados is required.

• Travel Pros’ Fiona Brander writes a new monthly column in the Cayman Compass answering your travel queries and untangling some of the complexities of modern-day travel. If you’ve got a question or idea for her next column, email [email protected].