9 minute read
BARBADOS
BARBADOS BARBADOS
A bucket-list destination for those seeking endless days of sun, sea and sand, it’s safe to say that holidays spent in Barbados are ones of pure bliss.
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WHY WE LOVE BARBADOS?
From the rum-swilling buccaneers and sugar barons of old to the modern-day jet-set, Barbados has long enticed adventurers and pleasure seekers to its platinum sands. With daily airlift year-round, stunning beaches, contrasting coastlines and a rich history, today Barbados endures as the most popular island for Brits travelling to the Caribbean. There’s plenty to see and do here, from stunning tropical gardens to quaint fishing villages and relaxing at the local rum shop - you can do as much as you want to.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO?
The west coast beaches are known as the Platinum coast and with good reason, the pristine white sands are some of the best we know. Over on the east coast, the calm seas give way to a wilder side and make for a great day trip, or a twin-centre holiday. The charming villages, historic churches and cricket pitches are reminiscent of home, albeit with the occasional monkey in the trees to remind you that you’re in the tropics. The impressive Harrison’s Cave is also worth visiting, plus the beautiful Andromeda Botanical Gardens which, spread over six acres, is one of the largest collections of tropical plants in the Caribbean.
It’s easy to get around in Barbados hop on the local reggae bus to get into the island spirit, or hire a car and explore at your own pace. Dining out in Barbados can be smart or barefoot, although we would certainly suggest making advance reservations in the high season. We highly recommend contemporary Lonestar and The Fish Pot, which is set right on the waters edge. Oistins Fish Fry is a local institution and takes place each Friday in a lively fishing village on the south coast. Here, enjoy catch of the day, fresh salads and a large helping of the Bajan staple, macaroni pie.
THE ATLANTIS
Set on the picturesque Atlantic coast of the island, this charming luxury guest house is a great spot for escapism. Built in 1883 as the first hotel on the island’s rugged east coast, the property has a long and fascinating history and today is a delightfully chic boutique hotel boasting dramatic views of the rolling waves below. The Atlantis hotel has an intimate, friendly atmosphere with nine ocean facing suites and cottages. Set within beautifully landscaped gardens with a lagoon shaped swimming pool, the property has an excellent restaurant serving excellent Bajan cuisine, as well as their famous West Indian buffet lunches every second and last Sunday of the month. The unique location of the property makes it a great twin-centre option with the calmer waters of the west coast.
LITTLE GOOD HARBOUR
A little piece of real Barbados, Little Good Harbour is set in a quiet fishing village on the north-west coast of the island. This haven of tranquillity conjures up images of the old Barbados. The individual cottages have a real home away from home feel, accommodation sizes run from the One Bedroom Garden Suites to three bedroom suites with fully equipped kitchens. Part of its unique charm comes from its beautiful 18th century fort, and the equally beautiful gardens, along with two serene pools. Spa treatments can be arranged in the privacy of your suite. This hotel’s handy spot near Speightstown gives you plenty of options for dinners out – but many guests and locals choose to dine at Little Good Harbour itself and to feast at the famous The Fish Pot restaurant. Here, you can experience the best of both worlds – enjoy the friendly service and amenities of a boutique hotel as well as the home comforts, exclusivity and privacy of a villa.
7 nights from £1,649 per person on room only.
BAYFIELD HOUSE
This plantation-style house offers the very best of English hospitality in a lovely tropical setting. Trevor and Pam Ramsay, an English/Barbadian couple, have converted their home into a superb, upmarket guesthouse. The ten en-suite bedrooms, spread over the ground and first floors, are comfortable and tastefully furnished. Most open on to the house’s lovely jalousie-shuttered, wrap-around verandahs, which have comfy chairs in which to sit and relax. Guests also have the use of a good-sized, oval swimming pool.
LITTLE ARCHES
This chic, 10-bedroom hotel, is an intimate, exceptionally pretty, adults-only hideaway. Each room is individually designed with handmade ceramic bowls as sinks in bathrooms and local artwork. Guests can chill out on the first-floor terrace around the triangular-shaped swimming pool and on sofas and hammocks. One floor up, on the roof terrace, is Cafe Luna, it’s acclaimed Barbados restaurant serving a combination of Caribbean, Asian and Mediterranean dishes, and lovely made-to-order breakfasts. In the evening it is a charming and perfectly romantic place to dine.
CORAL REEF CLUB
This luxury resort fully deserves its place as one of the most treasured luxury resorts in the Caribbean. You can expect the warmest of welcomes and great hospitality from your hosts, the O’Hara family, who have owned the hotel for over 70 years. The luxurious 88 rooms, cottages and suites are set within 12 acres of tropical gardens bordering a lovely stretch of white-sand beach. The cottages here are all named after the flowers, fruits and trees that can be found in the hotel’s beautiful gardens. The hotel’s elegant restaurant offers al fresco fine dining overlooking the Caribbean Sea. A sumptuous buffet is offered every Monday night, whilst Thursdays play host to the extravagant weekly barbecue.
THE SANDPIPER
Sister hotel to Coral Reef Club, this family-run, luxurious hotel has a wonderfully friendly atmosphere and is managed by Karen and Wayne Capaldi, part of the O’Hara family. Surrounded by seven acres of peaceful gardens there are 50 rooms and suites. This beautiful property boasts excellent facilities and fine attention to detail. But you could be forgiven for simply coming here to eat, as The Sandpiper is renowned for its cuisine and has an award-winning restaurant beside the romantic torch-lit pool where an eclectic à la carte dinner menu is served five nights per week, with decadent buffets and barbecues offered on Wednesdays and Sundays. The bay in front of the hotel is excellent for swimming and there is a wide array of watersports available; plus, there are two swimming pools and the legendary Harold’s Bar, perfect for enjoying the sunset.
COLONY CLUB BY ELEGANT HOTELS
Founded as a private club in the 1940s, this award-winning hotel is built from coral stone with a plantation home style and plenty of Bajan charm. Matching contemporary luxury with a traditional style, it offers a taste of elegance that makes it one of Barbados’s leading hotels. The interiors exude a classic luxury atmosphere with trademark white-washed wooden ceilings and coral stone walls, and the gardens lead right onto the white-sand beach. There are 96 rooms and suites. Best of the bunch are the ground-floor Luxury Swim Up Poolside Rooms, whose terraces lead directly in to one of the swimming pools, and the Ocean View Suites, directly behind the beach. Dining at the open-air Laguna restaurant is what the Caribbean is all about - a warm gentle breeze, great cocktails, wonderful cuisine and sunsets that will live with you forever.
BEACH VIEW
A short stroll over the road from the famous Paynes Bay, this west coast property is a fantastic choice for quiet escapes and fun getaways. Run by the Walcott family, the décor is smart without being flashy and there’s four enticing poolscapes including two infinity-edge pools and a shallow pool for little ones. This 50 unit hotel is spread across five acres of landscaped gardens and includes well-appointed hotel rooms with kitchenettes; as well as classic suites, luxury suites and villas, featuring fully equipped kitchens. While Beach View is great for self-catering, it also features an open air cafe serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, including special buffet evenings, and happy hours! Other conveniences like a 24-hour fitness centre, salon and spa, and a knowledgeable concierge team on site, will further ensure that your holiday is as memorable as possible.
7 nights from £1,475 per person on room only.
EAST MEETS WEST EAST MEETS WEST
Aspecial two-centre Barbados one week package combining sister hotels, The Atlantis Historic Inn in the east and Little Good Harbour in the west.
Days 1-3: • On arrival into Barbados, our local representatives will meet you and escort you to your private transfer. Relax and enjoy the journey to your first hotel, The Atlantis over the beautiful, unspoilt east coast. This will take around 45 minutes. • You’ll spend your first 3 nights staying here, perched on the rugged Atlantic coastline overlooking the ocean. This historic hotel was the first built on this area back in 1883 and has been lovingly and immaculately restored by its current owners to the beach-chic hotel it is today. • The popular restaurant serves delicious food, with a great choice of wines. Time your stay right and we highly recommend you book in for one of their famous West Indian buffet lunches. • During your stay, we suggest you make the 10-minute walk up hill to the Andromeda Botanic
Gardens, and walk along the coast to the stunning
Bathsheba Beach.
Days 4-7: • You will then be transferred over to the gorgeous west coast for your 4-night stay at Little Good
Harbour, located on a beautiful beach, the sunsets from here are spectacular. • Casual yet sophisticated, this little gem is a wellkept secret, apart from its restaurant, The Fish Pot, which is widely acclaimed. • From here, relax on the beach and explore the area. Nearby, in Speightstown there’s some fantastic new beachfront restaurants and stores.
7 nights from £2,425 per person including 3 nights at Atlantis Historic Inn on Half Board + 4 nights at Little Good Harbour on Half Board.
