WHY GO: Fish burgers, local beers, turtles, stunning beaches & the rum... oh, the rum
FOR HOW LONG: A week... at LEAST!
WHAT'S MY BUDGET: Let's just say, it's a trip to save for. But once you're there, you'll never look back.
WHERE TO STAY: As close to the capital, Bridgetown, as possible
GETTING AROUND: It's a teeny island, so taxis for local suggestions, but the buses are amazing too - plus they're only BBD$2.
LANGUAGE: Easy English
Should Barbados be your next venture? Whether you're a fan of crystal water oceans, and soaking up the glorious Caribbean sun, or you prefer to explore and adventure out, Barbados is a luxurious island, that still has something for everyone.
Carlisle beach
Located in the capital of Barbados, Carlisle Beach offers the most inviting long stretch of pure white sand, and a magnificent view of the calm clear waters. Luckily my hotel, The Hilton, was located right next door to this exact spot. Eek. And I highly recommend a morning stroll to start your day just right.
As an air hostess, I am very well known to the feeling of jet lag. More so than I would like! So one morning I was up early, and decided to walk it off. With my feet in the sand what could make this moment more perfect? Well, it turns out every morning between 5:30-6:30, the racehorses are walked down to Carlisle beach to take a bath in the sea. And there I was. At the perfect time. It was a moment that I felt very lucky and incredibly humbled to come across this unforgettable moment, just by chance. So I'm sharing the joy! It's totally you one for your itinerary!
The Boat Yard
The perfect place for fun packed day on Carlisle Beach! When you arrive, you are offered a beach package, I'm not always convinced on package deals, but this is one I'd do again and again. You can sit and sip on one of their many exotic cocktails, or have a go on the ocean trampoline, rope swing, dive platform, I mean, the list goes on.
Fish Cutters
After a couple of days in Barbados, you'll soon come to realise every restaurant serves up the famous fish cutters, basically, fish burgers. Well, it's worth heading back to Carlisle Beach for lunch or dinner, because you need to go and get the BEST ones right?! Cuz's Fish Shack is right on the beach. Settle down with a cold local Banks beer, and await your fish cutters.
TOP TIP: Careful with the hot pepper sauce, it will blow your head off!
If you're after a more formal dinner, then head to Castaways, a restaurant located in the Gap at St Lawrence. It's a fantastic beach spot. Make sure you go at sunset to get all the benefits!
THE West Coast
If you fancy checking out the "Beverly Hills of Barbados" head to the west coast, also known as the "platinum coast." Start at St James, the hotspot for celebrities, and take a walk down to Holetown. You'll also see the ultimate celebrity famous hotel Sandy Lane and, it looks like a ruddy dream. After staying in the south of the island, I was totally blown away by it all.
There is tonnes of options for places to stop for a drink here, but I found it a struggle to find one without breaking the bank. Therefore I settled for beach walks and a rum induced sleep on the sun lounger. Boy, that rum is lethal!
Like me, if you're not fortunate enough to stay on the West Coast then don't let this put a downer on your stay. I enjoyed the best of both worlds with just day trips over to the west side.
Catamaran Cruises
A MUST DO! Now if there is something I'm good at, then that's Catamaran Cruises. I mean, they could be my absolute favourite. I've done my fair share with different companies in Barbados and other Caribbean islands and I cannot recommend, Cool Runnings enough. They offer loads of different types of cruises, and I've done two. The first time I used them, I booked a day cruise through my hotel. They picked us up in the morning, and the whole day was packed with tonnes of snorkelling, drinking, eating and sun lounging! Not to forget the partying whilst we sailed from bay to bay on the east coast. They stopped of at the most incredible snorkelling spots, with fascinating shipwrecks and not forgetting... the turtles!
The second cruise I did with Cool Runnings, was the IV luxury cruise. I spoke to the lady at the excursions desk in my hotel, she recommended this cruise after I explained I was looking for something more luxurious for my mum and I, and this was the exact thing I was looking for. Now this day has to be one of my top days EVER. It did cost BBD$300 each, but it's worth splashing out on, I assure you.
We were picked up at 10 and driven to Port Ferninand. The most stunning marina I've ever seen, and I was totally blown away when we stepped onto the catamaran. We were treated like absolute royalty from the get go. Greeted with Champagne and strawberries. Drinks on flow throughout the day. The Chef came and gave us the low down on what food was on offer and what canapés to expect. I mean really... We had our own chef! We sailed all up the west coast making pitt-stops for snorkelling and a delicious BBQ. We even anchored up right out side Simon Cowell's house! The whole crew were so welcoming and friendly, it really was an unforgettable day.
The Surf
The surfing lifestyle is one I crave, and for me, Barbados was perfect for it! So really, you can't get the full Barbados experience, without trying these waves before you go home. You'll come across tonnes of surf schools or rentals along the beach. I can recommend the surf school, Ride the Tide. They offer surfing lessons prices at BBD$120 and they're super professional and friendly. Jeez - if only England's coastlines offered the same swells and warmth of the ocean.
The BeachES
I could spend a whole week writing about all the different beaches of Barbados, each one being as stunning as the other.
I like to do some research before going on a trip. If you do too, you've probably found yourself reading about Mullins Beach. It is one of the most popular beaches on the west coast, and awesome for water sports and sunset spots. But it can get super busy, and you'll find yourself being hassled. More well known beaches to visit are Accra beach, and Crane beach, where you'll find lovely pink sand. All beaches in Barbados are public beaches, (even Simon Cowell's) so it's great to venture out and find your own secluded spot. As I said I could go on and on about the beaches. If you have time on your trip then plan a beach crawl day, an awesome way to visit them all! Or most of them anyway! I mean, life's a beach right?!
For me, the most appealing aspect of Barbados is the variety it has to offer. It's made for a luxurious break, soaking up the sun and the glamorous lifestyle, but it still has plenty of adventure and water sports on offer to keep anyone satisfied! You could be looking for a week of sun and relaxation OR a week of activities and adventure - you'll find them both here! So really... what are you waiting for? Get yourself on that beautiful Bajan island!
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