Barbados Holidays & Hotels

A holiday in Barbados can be anything you want it to be, so it is a great idea to plan your holiday carefully, ensuring that you enjoy the experience of a lifetime. There are several things to consider for your trip; chief among them being the flights to and from the island, as well as the type of accommodation you are likely to want to use while you are staying there. Being a small island packed with so many attractions, sights and sounds, you may wish to consider whether it is practical to rent a car or motorbike to see some of the attractions slightly further afield, whereas other tourists may need time to consider the public transport options. Barbados is also a very popular destination for couples seeking a paradise wedding setting, or somewhere to begin married life together on a beautifully romantic honeymoon. Barbados Holidays offers many breathtaking options for anybody considering this kind of break.

Being a dream island, Barbados Holidays have so much to do to entice the visitor from their hotel. The island is the perfect place for many sports and it will come as no surprise to discover that water sports are particularly popular. Diving and snorkelling off the coast in the warm, azure waters is a popular pastime for beginners, right up to experienced divers while surfers of all abilities are drawn to the island to test their skills on some of the finest surfing beaches in the Caribbean. More sedate aquatic pastimes include sailing and yachting, with fishing also hugely popular, including plenty of big game fishermen offering the chance to catch Marlin, flying fish or barracuda in the tropical Caribbean Sea. On land you can enjoy a round of golf in sumptuous surroundings, take a hike into the less well trodden areas of Barbados, as well as take advantage of several adventurous activities including aerial treks, Segway adventures and expeditions including a tour of the ocean floor in a submarine. Fun for all and enjoyable Barbados Holidays

The weather in Barbados is split into two distinct seasons. The wet season lasts from June to November, with rainfall of between 40 and 90 inches during that period. However, the name is something of a misnomer - temperatures remain warm and the rain during this period usually arrives in short, sharp bursts meaning that there is still plenty of beautiful sunshine about. The dry season lasts from December to May and year-round temperatures hover between 21 degrees C and 31 degrees C. Unlike other Caribbean islands, the easterly location of Barbados means it is usually unaffected by the North Atlantic hurricane season. Holidays never seen to fail to surprise and offer some great Barbados experiences.

The weather in Barbados is split into two distinct seasons. The wet season lasts from June to November, with rainfall of between 40 and 90 inches during that period. However, the name is something of a misnomer - temperatures remain warm and the rain during this period usually arrives in short, sharp bursts meaning that there is still plenty of beautiful sunshine about. The dry season lasts from December to May and year-round temperatures hover between 21 degrees C and 31 degrees C. Unlike other Caribbean islands, the easterly location of Barbados means it is usually unaffected by the North Atlantic hurricane season. Holidays never seen to fail to surprise and offer some great Barbados experiences.

If you want to get around the island for the best Barbados holiday experience, then you have two main choices. The first is to rent a car or a motorcycle and venture out under your own steam to see the many attractions on offer. Many car hire operators will deliver your vehicle to the airport or your hotel for ease of collection, and they will also ensure you obtain the required local driving permit, allowing you to drive on the roads legally when you make your booking. In addition, your rental car company can also sort out any additional insurances, such as CDW insurance or motorcycle insurance, if required. The second option is to use public transport. Buses and taxis are available to tourists for this purpose. Buses run from 06:00 until midnight and the good news is that the government-owned bus companies charge a flat rate fee for all journeys to any part of the island of BDS$1.50. Taxis are widely available across the island and offer a little more privacy and convenience for a little extra expense. Taxis available to rent include the usual types of car and small vans up to and including coach size vehicles depending on the needs and size of your party.

How to get to Barbados

Several international airlines offer flights to Barbados throughout the year. From the UK, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer daily non-stop flights from Gatwick to Barbados’ Grantley Adams International Airport. Virgin Atlantic is also set to offer a twice weekly service from Manchester Airport to Barbados.

Depending on where you want to stay during your Barbados holiday, Barbados offers a variety of different accommodations for the visitor. Most popular are the elegant and sumptuous hotels on the island, which are often set in the most beautiful surroundings and ideally placed for many local attractions as well as the beach, and there is a wide price range of rooms available to suit all budgets. Another option is a resort; this is like a hotel but set in its own beautiful surroundings and featuring a whole host of exclusive options, including spa and wellness packages, beautiful swimming pools and secluded private beaches. Resorts are exclusive, and that exclusivity does tend to come at a slightly higher price. Other options include guesthouses, which are popular with students and travellers on a budget, whereas families who like a little more privacy and quiet time find apartments and villas for rent are a great way to experience life on this idyllic island. Barbados Holidays offer first class accommodation with first class service.

Many people assume it was the British who first colonised the island in 1627, but in fact Amerindians from Venezuela, followed by Arawaks and Carib Indians were the first to call the island home. By the time the British arrived centuries later, the island was virtually uninhabited. In its early days, the island flat land and climate made it the perfect place to harvest sugar cane; with that came plantations and the dark days of the slave trade. While this brought great wealth to plantation owners, in 1833, with anti-slavery sentiments growing on the island, Barbados became the first country in the world to abolish slavery - a fact that the island is and should be rightly proud of. Since 1966, Barbados has been a member of the Commonwealth and still has Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. Barbabados has a long establised holiday resort trade.

Food lovers are truly spoilt in Barbados. The local Bajan cuisine is among the healthiest and most innovative in the world. Fish is a crucial element of many items on the Bajan menu with tuna, red snapper, salmon and kingfish all highly commended. Also, shrimp, lobster and crabs are exquisite to taste while the national symbol of Barbados, the flying fish, is a delicacy worth trying. What makes the fish so special is not so much the local waters but the way they are cooked. Barbadians have taken the influences of their ancestors from Africa, the Caribbean as well as Europe and the West Indies to create a menu and a taste that is unique to the region. As well as outstanding seafood, meat is popular with traditional items like chicken, beef and pork forming the basis of many dishes. What makes the dishes special however is what they come served with macaroni pie, pelau and rice and peas are all popular sides, while the many local fruits and vegetables provide a mouth-watering alternative to the items common at home. Best of all, what makes Bajan cuisine so tasty is that the food is so fresh. With Bajan chefs preparing dishes using the finest local ingredients, you can be sure that your sumptuous meal not only looks fantastic but tastes amazing, too.

One of Barbados’ most popular attractions is its beaches, especially along the Platinum Coast of the west and the reef-protected waters of the south. Over 60 beaches, covering 70 miles of exquisite sandy bays, offer the tourist some of the most unspoilt and beautiful stretches of sand in the world. Barbadians know how to throw a party and after a great evening meal, it is time to enjoy the party atmosphere. The island comes alive at night with a vast range of bars available, from bars on the beach to sports bars and jazz venues inland. Broad Street in Bridgetown is one of the most attractive shopping regions in the entire Caribbean and is resplendent with some of the most popular names in fashion. An alternative is to head to the local stores and shops in nearby Chattel village, where locals sell their homemade produce at great prices. Finally, to see the true Barbados, you need to take in the sights, from Hastings Rock and the Main Guard Clock Tower to St Nicholas Abbey and the Barbados Museum, there are many outstanding attractions across the island awaiting the lucky visitor who can drag themselves away from the beach for a day or two for an amazing Barbados Holiday.