The first and most amazing thing I remember about Barbados is the people. They were so friendly! Everyone, everywhere. We got lost in the jungle while driving our car and when we stopped to ask for directions back to the coast, guess what they said? Would you like a beer and some barbeque? I mean really would we do that in the UK? Probably not to random strangers (outside of the pandemic I am talking about).
Barbados is one of the most well-known islands of the Caribbean it ranks 26th in size of all the islands. That is out of 126 islands which make up the Caribbean in total. It has a lot to offer which is why it is so popular. It doesn’t matter who you may be travelling with; solo, couple or family. It’s ideal for all. From surfing lessons to cooking classes. Mountain hikes to rum tasting. Swimming with dolphins to dancing to steel drums. There is something for everyone to enjoy which is why so many people recommend it.
When did I go? December 2014. Who did I go with? Family (two adults, one twenty-year-old, one seventeen-year-old). Where did I stay? Turtle beach by Elegant Hotels. Why? Perfect for families; we had an interconnecting room so we could be on one side and my parents on the other. It was all-inclusive so fitted us perfectly (we are foodies if you haven’t read any of my other blogs yet). My brother was at a “building” stage of his fitness journey so he would need to eat food about eight times a day. I think at that stage my parents didn’t want to be paying for eight meals so this all-inclusive was definitely the most cost-effective choice. Also remember that you are on an island so if you did have any other meals plans such as bed and breakfast or half board; food and drinks will come at a premium price. Expect to be paying the equivalent of £5 for a beer, in 2014. I imagine that now the prices would have gone up by £2-£3. Good news is that most hotels will be all-inclusive anyway so you don’t need to worry about paying the extra prepayment for the upgrade to a different board, it’s already done and dusted. TIP: always check to see what exactly is included in an all-inclusive; does the hotel have five restaurants but you can only use one? Hmm.
I will do a whole review of Turtle Beach separate to this post but for now let’s get you excited about Barbados itself. Oistins, an odd name, apparently it came from a wild, drunken fellow. Who knows. Oistins is a fish market which happens every Friday on the South of the Island. Disclaimer! his may not be a paragraph for any Vegetarians or Vegans out there but if you like your fish then keep reading. The locals all come together to dance and cook their fresh catches of the day. It’s just a fun evening filled with laughter and Caribbean music. What’s not to love? If you like the sound of that take a look at the Harbour Lights Beach Extravaganza Dinner Show! It’s quite a mouthful I know but also another evening to add to your list. This is on Wednesday instead so if you only have one week make sure you keep these nights in your mind. The show is roughly $50 per person. Seems quite alot right? Well included you get a full BBQ dinner (buffet so as many plates as you like), free-flowing drinks the whole time (7pm-10pm) and then the entertainment on top: fire-breathers, dancers, musicians and so on. The drinks are alcoholic or non-alcoholic and include the favourite Caribbean cocktails like Rum Punches and Pina Coladas (virgin ones on offer as well). It’s a night to remember and suitable for the whole family. Young children also get their soft drinks included and they have entertainment suitable for them as well. It’s brilliant! The rest of the nights on your holiday you can either spend in your hotel, on the beach or in another one of the restaurants around the island.
HOTEL TIP: Elegant hotels have a dine around so even if you are staying on the South side of the island you can go visit a different Elegant hotel and use the all-inclusive there!
So, daytime, what’s to do? You are on holiday remember so it’s time for your ‘R&R’. But for those explorers out there like myself who like to do something a little different than sitting on the beach the whole time away, then a few suggests… The South-West coast of the island is the perfect time to fit some surfing in. There are loads of little different surf shacks and you just pay the locals for some lessons if you need them or to hire a board. Best time to surf is usually in the mornings; they will advise if on the day the sea is good for it. Car hire, which I mentioned in the first paragraph is also a fantastic option to be able to get around the island. The roads are easy to drive and it is very reasonable as well, price wise. You can organize this locally again as well and there are a lot of different operators out there for this. Your hotel should be able to point you in the right direction for your closest pick-up location. We used ‘Express Rental Hire’ for our vehicle and it was fun as it had no doors! Sounds bizarre I know but tap into Google “Chevrolet MOKE”, you’ll know what I mean. It was a laugh and kept us very, very cool while driving. We explored the island a few times and went back to our favourite places, you can drive the whole island in a day if you want to but I would recommend breaking the journey up and doing it over a few different days. When you get further inland as well as continuing north of the island parts turn into a beautiful tropical rainforest and then some parts turn into farmland fields again. Make sure to get off the beaten track when you go, get away from the coastline (South and West) as these are the most touristy parts of the island. You won’t be disappointed. Next, a boat trip! Who loves a boat trip? I do! There are a huge amount of options all different types, all different lengths of time. Do you have a whole day to spare? Or just an afternoon? Some include food, some include drinks, some include diving, some include swimming and some include snorkeling. Just have a look at what suits you and your time frame. Boat size as well is important as some are large catamarans which can hold up to 80 people. Some are a lot smaller or you can either get a private one for just your group size. We used “Tranquility Cruises” which included snorkeling and lunch, it was a half day also so it fit our family really well. If you are lucky you will get the opportunity to swim with dolphins or turtles!
If you have any other questions about Barbados head over to my contact me page to ask them.
LAST TOP TIP: Since people tend to gravitate to Barbados it has become one of the most expensive places to visit in the Caribbean (particularly for flights and hotels), but only if you are visiting at peak times. Try stick to the off-season months of May and June outside of any school holidays. This doesn’t always work, for example for families who have strict holiday dates to fit with school time. But if you have the flexibility with your dates, take it and go at an off-peak time. Important: hurricane season is August to October so this needs to be avoided. If your budget doesn’t stretch to a Caribbean family holiday if you have young children, I suggest South East Asia instead.
LEAH HANCOX 