Beautiful Barbados
The journey was very straight forward and comfortable. Ours was a direct flight from Gatwick which took around 8 hours. On arrival we transferred to Turtle Beach on the South West of the island for our all-inclusive stay.
The South West of the island is really stunning with its white sand beaches and turquoise waters. The views are simply spectacular. The popular St Lawrence Gap is only around 5 minutes away on foot and this is where a lot of the night time entertainment takes place. Just 10 minutes by car in the opposite direction will get you to a place called Oistins. This is popular for its Friday night fish market which I had the opportunity to experience – it is well worth a visit. I was surprised to see so many locals out enjoying a regular Friday night. They were so friendly and allowed us to join in and mix with them. They make you feel really welcome and don’t bother you or treat you like tourists.
Besides visiting a whole range of hotels across the island we also had the opportunity to do an afternoon catamaran cruise and swim with turtles. As soon as I jumped into the sea and put my face in the water there were 2 enormous turtles swimming alongside me. Being able to get so close to these creatures in the wild is absolutely amazing and a once in a lifetime experience. I would highly recommend doing this trip whist in Barbados.
One of the many carnivals took place whilst we were there and we had the opportunity to join in and follow the procession through the St Lawrence Gap. A great time was had by all, in a fun party atmosphere, with calypso music beating out and street entertainers keeping everyone in the party mood.
Another exciting day was spent taking part in a funfari. This is a jeep safari and a treasure hunt all rolled into one. In Barbados they drive on left like in the UK, which makes it easy. The island is quite small and you can get around quite effortlessly.
The contrast between East and West is quite diverse with the Atlantic Ocean beating the rugged East coast and the calm Caribbean Sea caressing the West. The countryside inland reminded me of England and the names of the towns and parishes all sound familiar. It’s like a small piece of England in the Caribbean.
If you are interested in aeroplanes then the Concorde Experience is a must. One of the decommissioned Concords is on show in a hanger next to the airport. Here you not only see one of the iconic aircraft that carried the rich and famous to Barbados, but you can also go inside the plane to view it.
Barbados is not just about sun and sea, but is a complete destination for everyone to enjoy. It’s perfect for couples, honeymooners and family holidays alike. It is not the cheapest place to go in the Caribbean and this helps to give Barbados a certain ambiance. It is not affected as much with hurricanes as other places in the Caribbean and is the closest Caribbean island to us. I saw a whole range of hotels from 3 star to 5 star so if you are thinking of going and want to discuss options give me a call – I’d love to hear from you.