Destination Overview
Time difference: GMT -4 hours
Capital: Bridgetown
Currency: Barbados Dollar (USD used in resorts)
Flight time: 8.5 hours
One of the most sophisticated Caribbean islands and yet still one of the most laid back, step off your flight in Barbados and feel yourself relax into island time. Small in size but big in personality, Barbados offers a true flavour of the Caribbean, from rum punches to the unmissable fish fry at Oistins. The island culture, like its national drink, is a heady blend of national influences (West African, British and Indian) which culminate in colourful carnivals, a smiling population and lip-smacking cuisine. Add to this a selection of award-winning restaurants, a splash of watersports, a sprinkling of soft white sand and a topping of luxury – whether in the resorts of Platinum Coast or the duty-free shopping – and you’ve the perfect recipe for a Caribbean island holiday from heaven.
The stunning coral island is beloved for its rhythm of life: Barbadian rhythm moves at its own pace, and it’s likely a lot slower than yours. Affable locals will enjoy impressing tales of their island and their exploits upon you at any opportunity, so proud they are of their little patch of paradise. Bridgetown is the beating heart of Barbados, but each part of the island has its own distinct flavour.
Along the fashionable west coast you’ll discover most of the island’s most iconic resorts, lapped by crystal-clear azure waters. This area is known as the Platinum Coast, due to its manicured white beaches and upscale resorts. The palm-fringed shorelines are lined with palatial mansions and world-renowned resorts, as well as boutique hotels where you can escape from it all. In the south you’ll find a lively mix of family-friendly resorts, nightlife and the best places to try wind and kite surfing thanks to a stiff breeze. Get yourself down to Fish Friday, a Barbadian institution, for a fun night out with locals and visitors from around the world.
Celebrate Barbados’ quirky mix of traditions, like cricket and calypso, exotic spiced rum and afternoon tea, on a beach break to remember in one of the most richly rewarding islands in the Caribbean.
