Kirsty is a holiday aficionado. What she doesn’t know about the Caribbean isn’t worth knowing, and that’s a fact. She recently set her sights on getting to grips with Barbados, and was kind enough to share her keen insights in this very blog. This week Kirsty walks us through The Club Barbados, and the secret to unlocking its full potential.
Rum before water
We arrived at Manchester airport around 7am for our early morning check in with Thomas Cook, which was quick and easy. All we needed to do was hand over our passports for inspection. You no longer need physical tickets with Thomas Cook, saving a lot of time and paperwork. The security queue was very long, so I was happy that I pre-booked fast track tickets. We avoided all these queues and went straight to the front, saving about an hour of waiting around.
Hot Tip #1: We can easily hook you up with fast track tickets if you add on an airport lounge, or airport parking.
I was impressed with our Thomas Cook flight right from the get-go. The seat space was good (the same as Virgin or BA), and the seats themselves were leather-lined and reclined, with all the classic seat-back entertainment you know and love.
Hot Tip #2: You can expand your entertainment options by taking your tablet on-board. You’re fine using them on the plane during flight, just make sure you have plenty of charge before you leave. You might be asked to show that your device will turn on before your board the plane, as a security measure.
After a flight filled with good food and great entertainment, we had a brief touchdown in St Lucia before arriving in Barbados. Our first stop was The Club Barbados where we received a wonderful reception, and I found myself with a rum punch in-hand before I could even blink – which is a common experience in the Caribbean!
We stayed in a One Bedroom Suite, which was traditionally styled and featured the most amazing view over the beach, the pool, and the gardens. It was just right for us, and I’d recommend it for anyone. We thought we’d kick things off in style, so on our first night we had a reservation for the sunset restaurant, which is just as amazing as it sounds. It offers a stunning beachfront atmosphere, with low lighting accompanied by the notes of a skilled pianist, not to mention the most wonderful food. We capped off the night with a drink in the bar before hitting the hay in anticipation of our next day on the island.
Enid, you aren’t half delicious
The manager of The Club Barbados gave me a tour of the property, and unquestionably one of the highlights of this resort are The One Bedroom Oceanfront Rooms, they were just stunning. They’ve recently been refurbished, so they were bright and immaculate, equipped with flat screen TVs and tea making facilities.
Hot Tip #3: If you’re thinking of going to The Club Barbados, seriously consider the One Bedroom Oceanfront Rooms. You won’t regret it.
The rest of the day was filled with lovely lazy afternoon lounging beside the pool, leading up to a delicious meal at Enid’s. As a traditional Caribbean restaurant, there was a wealth of classic Caribbean cuisine to tuck into, and the staff were very attentive. This was a delicious way to wrap up day two in Barbados.
Hot Tip #4: Enid’s has to be booked in advance (we secured our place the morning of our meal), but it’s totally worth it. It’s brimming with delicious Caribbean delicacies.
Holetown and general funk
As this was our last full day at The Club Barbados, we decided to make the most of the hotel’s activities, so we took advantage of a walking Tour to Holetown (which was completely free) where a member of staff walked us into Holetown and showed us the sights with a good dose of historical knowledge.
Hot Tip #5: Holetown is only 10 minutes away by foot, and everyone should give it a go. There’s a brilliant mixture of one-off shops, local bars, and high-end shopping. Better come armed with that plastic…
Later that afternoon we decided to go back and get ready for another meal at the sunset lounge (because it was so good the first time), and enjoyed some live entertainment to add a touch of funk to our last evening at The Club Barbados.
Keep an eye out for the next leg in Kirsty’s journey, which will whisk us around Sea Breeze Beach Hotel!
