Under $100: Bridgetown, Barbados

Barbados’ largest city and the hub for cruising tourists and business, Bridgetown is full of history and culture. The downtown is a UNESCO World Heritage site and, whether you’re staying right in the city or at another resort in Barbados, it’s well worth a day exploring.

Start out with breakfast at Coffee Barbados Cafe, where you can find exclusively Caffe’ Torelli coffee and locally sourced produce. The chill environment will be the perfect start to a day of adventure, and you’ll definitely need that caffeine to fuel the rest of your sightseeing.

Take a walk about the city to get yourself acquainted. Make sure you see Chamberlain Bridge, a swing bridge in the city center constructed in the 1800s and a popular photo spot with nice views. You can also see one of the world’s oldest synagogues and one of the most historic sites in the Caribbean when you pass by the Bridgetown Jewish Synagogue, built in the 1600s and still active today.

Grab lunch at Brown Sugar for authentic Bajan cuisine and even gluten-free items. Make sure to order the national dish — cou cou and flying fish. It’s a blend of cornmeal and okra, with poached flying fish. Whether you go with this, or maybe the split pea pumpkin soup or fish chowder, you can easily enjoy lunch for less than $15.

Once your stomach is full, pay a visit to the Mount Gay Rum Distillery for a tour. You’ll receive a rum punch to sip while you discover the history of the distillery and learn about the rum production process. Guests also can purchase rum to take home at a more affordable price than what you might find in the duty-free shops.

Spend the rest of your afternoon relaxing on one of the island’s best beaches, Carlisle Bay. The serene, Caribbean waters are great for swimming and snorkeling and there are many bars and restaurants within walking distance. Better yet, the beach is public and free.

End your day in beautiful Bridgetown with dinner at Tapas, where the views are great and the drinks are, too. Try the fish pot — a mix of seafood in a tomato sauce — or one of the delicious curries. There are many dinner options available for less than $25.