On the 4th November 2009, I took a short domestic flight from Manchester airport to London Gatwick, I was very nervous but looking forward to what the next 5 days had in store!
After checking in I met with the other travel agents. The flight with Virgin Atlantic lasted approximately 8 hours and 45 minutes but it flew by as I enjoyed watching the latest films on demand. Before I knew it we had arrived in beautiful Barbados! This was my first time to the island.
Barbados is a coral island, just 21 miles long and 14 miles wide. It offers beautiful beaches & stunning scenery. The best way to discover what the island has to offer would be to hire a car, as they drive on the same side of the road as in the UK. If you don’t want to hire a car, I would highly recommend the Island Safari tour. This tour takes you through historic sugar plantations and off the beaten track. There is something to suit everybody in Barbados. You can chill out on the gorgeous Caribbean beaches on the calm west coast. Or grab a bargain with the duty free shops in Bridgetown where Broad street is the main area offering diamonds, jewellery and much more (ensure you take your passports to take advantage of the duty free!). Head to the South coast where the beaches are wider and the waves are bigger which makes it perfect for water sports. For the more experienced surfer’s visit Bathsheba located on the east coast. The island also offers a great marine life where you can snorkel or dive with the turtles! For nature lovers I would recommend visiting the Barbados Wildlife Reserve where you can see the animals in their natural habitat (look out for the green monkeys!). For those that are keen to party you should head to St Lawrence Gap (aka The Gap). This is a fantastic night out; I would recommend a visit to The Ship inn and Harbour Lights bar. Barbados was also once part of the British colony in 1625, so the island itself offers fascinating history. Barbados is actually now known as “Little England”.
The Crane
After we collected our luggage we had a 20 minute transfer to The Crane, where we were greeted with cold Rum Cocktails. The Crane was built in 1887 and is the islands first resort. It is located on a hilltop and it offers panoramic view of the gorgeous ocean & pink sands beach, which is actually named as one of the top ten beaches in the world! A 5* pure luxury complex, the rooms are very spacious with separate kitchen, living area and a huge marble bathrooms. The rooms all have king size poster beds & mahogany furnishings sleeping a maximum 4 adults or 2 adults & 2 children. I was very lucky to be upgraded to the 1 bedroom ocean view suite with a private plunge pool. I would highly recommend dining at the L’Azure Restaurant; you can enjoy the spectacular views of the Crane Beach while eating the English and Caribbean cuisine on offer. The hotel is self catering that offers a complimentary shuttle service that runs twice a week to the supermarket. I would recommend this hotel to couples & families looking for a relaxing break. See Caribbean Warehouse for more information on this hotel
The Sea Breeze Beach Hotel
This is a 4 star hotel and is an All Inclusive resort. It is perfectly located with St Lawrence Gap a short taxi ride away and only 20 minutes to the capital Bridgetown. With only 78 rooms, the hotel offers plenty of activities such as water sports & outdoor games (Volleyball, table tennis etc). Also the hotel has a Children’s Club to keep the little ones entertained. The hotel offers an adult’s only pool as well as a family pool. I would recommend this hotel for couples & families who are looking to have a relaxing getaway but with the option to get out & about easily. Find out more about Sea Breeze Beach at Caribbean Warehouse
Escape at the Gap
This is a 3* hotel and is an All Inclusive resort. It has a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere. It is in an excellent location which is less than a 5 minutes walk to St Lawrence Gap. With only 66 rooms, the hotel caters for large families as the rooms are a spacious size. Also for the children the hotel has a great kids club and a separate kids paddling pool. The hotel itself is split into two blocks, The Beach Side & across the road is the Pirates Block. I would say that this hotel is perfect for young adults looking for the bustling night life of the gap, or for families looking for a budget getaway in the Barbados sunshine. Find out more about Escape at the Gap at Caribbean Warehouse
Silver Point Hotel
This self catering hotel is a located on the South Coast along side Silver Rock Beach. It is a unique modern boutique hotel with only 58 rooms. The hotel and rooms all have modern furnishings throughout. The hotel would suit people who are looking to chill out with the day beds scattered around the pool area & gardens. Also Silver Rock Beach is a fantastic spot for surfers & water sports. I would personally recommend this hotel for couples looking for a relaxing holiday.
Almond Casuarina Beach Hotel
This is a 4* All Inclusive resort located on Dover Beach which is just 5 minutes from St Lawrence Gap. With 267 rooms spread across 10 acres of lush tropical gardens. I would recommend upgrading to the deluxe rooms as these have recently been refurbished. This hotel is a step above a standard All Inclusive resort. It offers premium branded drinks and motorised water sports which are included in the all inclusive plan. The hotel also offers fantastic children’s facilities which are varied to suit every age group, which gives parents time off to relax. Also with 3 à la carte restaurants and 4 bars offering nightly live entertainment. This hotel is a personal favourite of mine as I feel its great value for money and in a perfect location if you would like to get out and about. Find out more about Almond Casuarina Beach at Caribbean Warehouse
Almond Beach Club Hotel
The Almond Beach Club hotel is located on the West Coast. This is an adults only hotel, with 161 rooms spread across 4 acres. It is located next door to the famous Sandy Lane Hotel and is approx 15 minutes away from Bridgetown. This hotel offers a fantastic heath spa (which I would definitely recommend). With this being another Almond hotel you can enjoy the premium branded drinks with al carte restaurants. Also the hotel offers a complementary shuttle between the Almond hotels, so you enjoy the facilities that each one has to offer. I would say that this hotel is perfect for couples & honeymooners looking for a relaxing peaceful getaway. Find out more about Almond Beach Club at Caribbean Warehouse
Settlers Beach Villa
This a 4* self catering hotel, located on the St James Beach. It is close to a wide selection of shops and is just 25 minutes from Bridgetown. It has 22 villas all of which have a full kitchen and spacious living area. The hotel has an intimate feel and is elegant. I think that this hotel would suit families with older children as the rooms are a very spacious, but also couples looking or a very quiet and peaceful holiday. Find out more about Settlers Beach at Caribbean Warehouse
Almond Beach Village
This is a superb family resort spread across attractive landscaped gardens on a gorgeous stretch of beach. It is located 30 minutes from Bridgetown. It is a large complex which offers 10 swimming pools, 4 al crate restaurants & 2 bars. Also the hotel has an adults only section, and a family section. Also there is a 9 hole golf course with a fee of $5 USD per person. This includes green fees, clubs and a pull cart. The Almond offers a brilliant children’s club. Again take advantage of the unique All Inclusive with premium branded drinks & motorized water sports. This is a perfect hotel for families and couples offering fantastic value for money. Find out more about Almond Beach Village at Caribbean Warehouse
Mango Bay
Mango Bay is an all Inclusive resort & it is adults only. It is located on the West Cost just 15 minutes away from Bridgetown. It is a small hotel with 76 rooms, therefore it has a personal intimate feel about the resort. It has modern décor throughout the hotel & rooms. Also you have the option to walk to the nearby selection of restaurants and bars. However this does cause some noise disturbance for those located in the standard block, but the hotel are now in the process of fitting sound proof windows and doors. This is my personal favourite hotel and I would certainly recommend this hotel for honeymooners & couples. Find out more about Mango Bay at Caribbean Warehouse
Bougainvillea Beach Resort
This is a lovely 4* hotel which is located on the most beautiful beach. It is just 5 minutes from St Lawrence Gap. It is a self catering hotel, which has spacious studios and suites with equipped kitchens. It has 3 good size pools, one of which is adults only. The hotel has plenty of activities including a tennis court, fitness centre. For the children it offers an outdoor play ground & indoor playroom. This hotel offers easy access into St Lawrence Gap. I would recommend this hotel to couples, older travellers and families with older children. Find out more about Bougainvillea Beach Resort
Sugar Cane Club Hotel
The Sugar Cane Club Hotel is very unique boutique property. It is located on the west coast on a hilltop nestled between lush landscapes. This is an adult only hotel has recently been renovated. It has a very small intimate feel about the hotel and is a very peaceful resort. Although the nearest beach is under a mile away the hotel runs a complimentary shuttle. There are 42 apartments, which are spacious and have lovely décor throughout. This hotel is perfect for honeymooners and couples looking for a peaceful break.
Final thoughts…
Barbados is a beautiful island which offers some fantastic scenery and stunning beaches. In fact the beaches are the best I’ve seen in my three visits to the Caribbean. Barbados has something for everybody with its world class golf courses, duty free shops, watersports and great nightlife. It is also a fantastic place to come for a relaxing getaway. This island is perfect for couples, honeymooners and families. I thoroughly enjoyed my first trip to Barbados and I hope to return in the future.
