Barbados

Any personal experiences, reccomendations, suggestions for Barbados?

My flights back from Europe this summer actually connect thru there, and I can have a stopover there for no extra charge. So, I'm looking at www.visitbarbados.org, and other sites, & thought I'd see if anyone's been there with ideas to share from first-hand experience. THANKS!!

I like it ... I'm going to be there next week. I'll let you know if it's the same as I remember.

There are a few neat things.

Sam Lord's castle
Harrison's cave
West end of the island is the upscale side w/calm beaches
Surfers stay on the East coast near Bathsheba
We're going to rent a minimoke and cruise around

Haven't been there in a long time, but the Beigan people are fun and great. Bridgetown is cool and those locals play some mean rugby....

Also, this is where I learned to play SLAMMIN' dominoes.

Is it true that several celebrities flock here? I'm concerned about the number of people during this season. Is it advisable to go to Barbados, at this time of year?

Just got back from Barbados. A little different from the last time I was there. Summer months are the slow season, so no need to make dinner reservations, and a lot of places were offering buy one, get one 50% off deals.

The 'Best of Barbados' is an official tourism board sponsored discount program, and a lot of hotels and tour operators give deals.

The island is a famous destination for Europeans, less so for Americans. West Coast of the island is the more upscale, and the South/East ends are more 'local' if you like...

Barbados currency is the dollar - pegged to the US at 1 USD = 1.95 BBDs when we were there. British pound traded at 1:3.96 BBDS

St. Lawrence Gap is the nightlife area, just southeast of Bridgetown, the capital, and meals there can run from about 70USD for two, to whatever you want to spend.

A few big malls across the island, but there's a lot of traffic congestion on the major road to/from Bridgetown.

We had fun, but our expectation are based on renting a little mini-moke and exploring, rather than the all-inclusive resort vacation.

Common attracations are sugar cane plantation and rum distillery tours, to old colonial gun stations and local downtown shopping. Beaches and snorkeling/catamaran cruises are big too.

My recommendation would be find a good deal on airfare, and then spend your disposable income on a hotel on the west coast. Expect travel from November onwards to cost at least 2x a june-Aug vacation.

quote:

Originally posted by Itchyf33t: My recommendation would be find a good deal on airfare, and then spend your disposable income on a hotel on the west coast.

Thanks!!! The "airfare" is already settled: I'm using FF miles for a trip to europe/the mid-east this summer. In returning to the US, about the only "connection" from Europe, across the Atlantic, with mileage award seat availability was London/Barbados/US...with all the usual return routes taken. So, I figured instead of just having a short layover at the airport, might as well get out & about the island.

So, sounds like I need to start scoping out west coast hotels....

Just got back--
Went reef & wreck diving for a few days, and rented a car & explored the east coast for a couple of days as well. Def. would not return to the west coast again (just my preference) as I found the east coast a LOT more scenic, and lot more "off the beaten path", more local, etc.

Hello this is islandmon again, Chris I hope you don't mind me posting again but I have been to Barbados only a couple time, and I fell in love with it. The people were great being from the USA you could feel the british influence which is different. The water is clear there also went on a snorkeling trip where you could see some sunken ship in the harbor. Then islandmon just free dive down to get a closer look,alot of fun, sorry Chris no picture of this one.

Then there is night life and the gap is the place to be.

Islandmon

I was there a couple of years ago, we spent one half day on a catamaran around the west coast swimming with turtles, seeing a wreck and swimming in the bluest waters you will come across.

The half day costs us about $50 US back then and there is a few companies that run these tours from the harbour in Bridgetown. The 4-5 hour trip includes a good lunch, and as much as you can consume rum. Most of the companies are similar but good to check with the tourist office, or even get your hotel to suggest one.

Also, grab a spot on the netting at the front of the Catamaran and and watch the flying fish pass by, its a spectacular sight!.