Essentials to live in Barbados

Yes, if someone else is paying for shipping, customs and delivery of your personal goods, bring everything. If you are paying yourself, you might want to consider what to bring. Shipping runs about $10 (USD) per Cubic Ft (2014), and that does not include customs or delivery to where you are going to live. The customs on personal goods, and things that you have used for more than a year are reasonable so bringing what you can is a good idea, but you do have to consider the shipping fee. Bring your electronic gadgets, and if you have a tv, stereo system and such, bring them. Kitchen electronics are also a good thing to bring, although you can find good deals on those things. If you buy electronics on line somewhere else and have them sent here, the customs is not too bad, as these products fall under the educational title. For clothes and shoes there are myriad of stores, both little and big here, but the selection might be smaller, than to what you are accustomed, so bringing clothes and shoes is a good idea. If you love your furniture bring it, and keep in mind that many places for rent come furnished, but that is something that you can find out ahead of time. When buying a place you sometimes can buy the furniture, fridge, and stove. If you have bicycles, bring them. Bicycle parts are reasonable to buy here, but the assembled bike incurs a bigger customs price. As for cars, I have heard both sides, some say, go up north buy a car in a place that is not too far from the Carribbean and pay shipping and customs, but others say the customs are too high. Customs on a used car will be far less than on a new car, and of course that depends on the car. Everyone learns what the best way to buy something is. Sometimes the customs and shipping make it too expensive to have something shipped, so it would be better to buy it here, and at other times it is a better deal to pay the customs and shipping.