Barbados Gimme 5
We checked into Seabreeze on the South Coast, my host hotel for the next five nights. A small boutique style hotel, with cold towels and a rum punch on arrival. The rooms are fairly basic but adequate. The bathrooms were very clean and functional but could do with a facelift. Three restaurants at this hotel. One A la Carte, one buffet, and another beach restaurant. All food was of excellent quality, I couldn't fault this little hotel at all. The small beach had a watersports centre, although the waves made it difficult to windsurf etc.
The following day I was to see eight hotels.....
The Crane Hotel: lovely location, very rustic, beach with crashing waves. Beautiful accommodation, and restaurants, pools etc. A little bit out on a limb, you would need a car if you stayed here.
Little Arches Hotel: very small boutique hotel, very friendly staff and lovely rooms, all slightly different. The restaurant has won awards for the standard, so good choice if you want to get away from it all, and don't want any entertainment.
Turtle Beach Resort: fantastic all-inclusive property, with good facilities for children. Good standard all-rounder property.
Hilton Barbados: monstrosity of a building, although situated in a good location, with ocean views from every room. Personally I wouldn't want to stay here.
Radisson Aquatica: business style hotel on a nice stretch of beach. Again I wouldn't stay here unless on a business trip to Barbados.
Courtyard By Marriott: corporate hotel, which I feel wouldn't be right for any of my customers.
Blue Orchid/Coral Mist: small apartment style property. Low category, not very clean, but in a great location on the beach. For the budget holiday to Barbados.
Ocean 2: fabulous property on a lovely beach in St Lawrence Gap. Can walk out of property to Bars/Restaurants etc. The accommodation is very contemporary, but a good choice for those who want excellent accommodation in a lively location.
Sunday 15th June: a day of activities!
My day started with a historical tour of Barbados, on an old bus, really informative and interesting including visiting the house George Washington stayed in whilst in Barbados. I then experienced the Atlantis Submarine, where you are taken by boat out to a submarine, you then dive down to see a couple of shipwrecks and marine life. Fantastic experience. Next we were off to see the Mount Gay Rum factory, tour and lunch. Very informative with rum tasting, and a very tasty lunch. Came out with a smile on my face! This was followed by Ariel Trek, Barbados! What can I say, I'm glad I did it, but sure I'm getting too old to swing through the trees 150 metres high! Great fun! And lastly, 4 X 4 Island Adventure. Fantastic laugh, incredibly funny driver, who shook us all up a bit. Again great fun day out for a family.
Monday 16th June: back to the airport to visit the Concorde Experience. The hangar houses the first Concorde which flew into Barbados with the queen on-board. Interesting to walk through, and see the cockpit. Lunch was at the Boat Yard, a private beach club, where you can Jet Ski, trampoline have a lunch of chicken, fish or burgers. Enjoyable couple of hours, followed by a Catamaran Cruise on-board the Tiami Catamaran Cruises. Free bar, load music, and swimming with the Turtles! Fantastic few hours.
Tuesday 17th June. More Hotel Visits.....
Crystal Cove: lovely family friendly all-inclusive property. Quite a few steps around the property. Lovely stretch of beach, with watersports, one main restaurant and a beach bar. Good choice for an all-inclusive Holiday.
The Tamarind: lovely stretch of beach. Good quality property, but I must say the hotel has just been refurbished, I was a little disappointed, that some of the furnishing in the reception looked worn. - Welcome to the Caribbean!
The House: boutique, very up market property, suitable for couples, as very small nowhere to get away from the other guests. Next door to Daphne's restaurant a fabulous french style restaurant on the beach.
Treasure Beach: Small to mid-sized property, with lovely rooms, especially the top floor rooms, which have vaulted ceilings. One restaurant, one bar, but the best rum punch on the island! Loved it for those who do not want to break the bank.
The Club: very Americanized large property, which needs a lot of attention! Next door to Simon Cowell's villa.
Mango Bay: small boutique all-inclusive property in Holetown. Tucked away on a small beach, but in the centre of the town. I felt a little claustrophobic in this hotel, and some balconies could look into other rooms. Not very private.
Coral Reef: beautiful old style property. If you are looking for something special, this would be my choice, understated elegance, with a fantastic spa.
I had a fantastic few days on the friendly island of Barbados. Very lucky to experience another Caribbean Island.