Barbados has always been thought of as a luxury holiday destination for the rich and famous, with celebrities such as Rihanna endorsing it and Simon Cowell having a holiday home there. But in recent years, the resorts of Barbados have become more affordable with holiday companies such as Sunshine.co.uk offering cheaper holidays to one of the most beautiful of the Caribbean islands.
- Holiday in BarbadosTarikB / Beach Photos / CC BY-NC
The island is renowned for having warm weather and sunshine year round. While the busiest season is usually during the summer months when the kids are on holiday, Barbados still has plenty going on during the winter when temperatures are a little cooler and more comfortable for those not used to the warmer climes.
Despite being a pretty tiny island, only 21 miles long and 14 miles, there are plenty of things to keep holidaymakers occupied. The number one thing to do for tourists is spend some time soaking up the sun on one of Barbados’ beaches. Barbados definitely lives up to its reputation as a typical tropical island paradise with white sands lined with palm trees and warm waters. Make sure to hire some snorkelling kit or try out scuba diving to explore the reefs that surround the island, or just relax in the sun with a cocktail.
If you’re up for doing something a bit more active, Barbados has plenty of places to explore. Every Sunday, there are a number of free hikes around the island made available by the Barbados National Trust. Or if you want to wander on your own, head to the Welchman Hall Gully or the aptly named Flower Forest.
If you want to learn a little about Barbados’ history, you won’t be short of things to do: the island is covered in old plantations. One of the most famous and interesting is St Nicholas Abbey, an old Jacobean mansion situated in the centre of the island. There are daily tours of the house and grounds as well as old film clips of life on the plantation in the 1930s.
You can’t visit the island without sampling a little of the traditional tipple, rum. There are more than 1500 rum shops dotted across the tiny island. Find one that the locals use and settle yourself down for a drink. Many of the locals will spend an hour or two in these shops, so indulge yourself with a little music and friendly conversation. To experience a little more Barbados culture, get down to Oistins in the parish of Christ Church on a Friday evening for the weekly fish fry and a bit of dancing.
