Do buses in Barbados accept card payments?

Barbados public buses annoyed me because of the change situation. I arrived at the Fairchild Street terminal with only a $20 bill from FirstCaribbean ATM, and the driver flat-out refused to take it. Had to run into a bakery just to break the note before I could board. The ZRs also cram in way more people than comfortable, and they don’t even consider adding card readers. For a country with so many tourists, staying cash-only for public transport feels outdated.

I actually loved the Barbados bus rides. The colorful ZRs blasting soca music from Hastings to Speightstown were half the fun of being on the island. The flat BBD $3.50 fare makes it simple - hand over the cash and enjoy the ride. I withdrew from a Scotiabank ATM near the Bridgetown port and broke larger notes at Trimart supermarket in Worthing. The rides felt safe and lively, and I didn’t miss cards at all. Carry some coins and you’ll have no problem.

I stayed at a guesthouse in Worthing and rode the ZR vans into Bridgetown daily. Every ride was BBD $3.50 cash, no exceptions. The van conductors were quick, sometimes a little chaotic, and definitely preferred coins or $5 notes. I once tried using a BBD $50 bill I’d just taken from the Republic Bank ATM in St. Lawrence Gap - conductor rolled his eyes and waved me off until I found change. Honestly, cards aren’t even in the conversation here. Cash is king for transport.

Barbados doesn’t have metros, only public buses, ZR vans, and minibuses. They’re all flat fare and cash-only, usually BBD $3.50, paid directly to the conductor or driver. Don’t expect to swipe a card anywhere on the bus system. ATMs from FirstCaribbean (CIBC), Republic Bank, and Scotiabank are around Bridgetown and St. Lawrence Gap, so it’s easy to withdraw local dollars. Keep coins and small bills since drivers don’t always have change. If you’re staying at a hostel in Hastings or near Oistins, just stock up on small cash early.