Beaches and Business in the Eastern Caribbean
Written: Feb 18 '09 (Updated Feb 19 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Good mix of sand, surf, tourist attractions, and action.
Cons: More crowded than other resort islands; bad traffic and confusing roads.
The Bottom Line: Good year round destination for singles, couples, or families. Great mix of attractions and activities, lacking only desert-island isolation.
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| kbvespa's Full Review: Barbados |
I have a business connection to Barbados, and have been there 2 to 4 times a year over the last ten years. So, I thought I'd write a travel review from my perspective as a frequent visitor, but not really a tourist.
The Island
Barbados is a small, vaguely triangular island, roughly 11 by 20 miles. It stands out to the east of the main Lesser Antilles chain. It's a flat coral island, not a mountainous one; the highest point is only 1100 feet. At 13 degrees north, the climate is obviously going to be tropical; you'll get burning sun and sudden downpours pretty much any time of year, and it's always hot during the day (and night!). On the plus side, Barbados is east and south away from the normal hurricane track, so tropical storms only hit rarely.
Since Barbados is so close to the equator, there's little seasonal variation in the weather. Fall is maybe a little wetter, and nights are maybe a little cooler in February, that's about it. Also, you have the sudden tropical nightfall. Barbados doesn't have "evening", the sun goes down around 6 PM and by 6:30 it's as dark as midnight. This can take a little getting used to.
Barbados is densely populated for its size, compared to some other islands, and this definitely affects the tourist experience. Barbados has a lot going on; if you're looking for a place to get away from it all and commune with nature, Barbados might not be ideal. If you want a little partying with your beach time, this is the place.
Getting There and Around
You'll probably fly. Grantley Adams airport (BGI) is a nice facility, with an open-air terminal and a runway long enough for 747's and even Concordes. (In fact, a Concorde is on display at a museum near the airport.) Customs and immigration are no better and no worse than anywhere else. Once on the island, I can't recommend driving unless you are really covering the island; traffic is awful, the roads are incredibly numerous and confusing, signage is non-existant, and it's really hard to find a good map. You can get around via taxi, ZR, or either of two bus systems. (The ZR, "zed r", is a route taxi system with privately owned and operated minivans; riding in one can be more of a thrill than you really want.) Driving is on the left.
By the way, Barbados no longer charges a separate departure tax at the airport. It's now included in your ticket taxes and fees.
East, West, South
Barbados can be divided into Bridgetown, the capital city in the southwest; the east, west, and south coastal areas; and the interior.
Bridgetown is a very "happening" place, especially in comparison to some of the other islands. There's lots of shipping, finance, and commerce. For tourists, there is some shopping, although it's not really set up as a tourist trap.
The south coast has a good mix of nice beaches, good but not overwhelming surf, and midrange hotels and resorts. It's where most visitors will want to stay if they aren't rich. Most of the touristy stuff is in the St Lawrence Gap area, which is stuffed with hotels, restaurants, and street merchants. Worthing, Rockley, and Hastings to the west also have lots of hotels and resorts. To the east, the resorts thin out a good bit.
The east (and north) coast is open to the main Atlantic, and it's a good bit wilder than the others. East coast beaches can be a lot less crowded than the others; and the water can be a lot more dangerous.
The west coast has the quietest waters and the sunsets, so it has become the playground for the rich. You can find reasonable accomodations, if you look hard, but high end resorts rule the west.
The interior tends to be a place to visit, rather than a place to stay. I suppose you could find a B&B or something, I haven't looked.
Seeing and Doing
See Graeme Hall nature sanctuary (south), the Wildlife Reserve, or Farley Hill national park (north). Flower Forest, Andromeda Gardens, and Orchid World are in the interior. Harrison's Cave and Animal Flower cave are interesting. For history types, there's lots to see in Bridgetown. The Mount Gay rum distillery runs tours, as does the Banks Beer brewery. The Concorde used to fly a regular run to Barbados, and it's worth seeing if you are an aviation or history buff.
Eat at one of the Gap restaurants, or the Oistins fish fry. (I like Josef's or Pisces, but you can hardly go wrong with any of them.) Or, try Champer's in Rockley. There's lots of places to party, with Harbor Lights being maybe the best known. Try a sunday brunch at the Atlantis in Bathsheba, east coast. Don't leave Barbados without sampling a roti (the chicken potato rotis are my favorite). You can get a decent roti at Chefette's if you can't find a roti stand or shop.
There are several catamaran cruise operators, and I highly recommend doing a cat cruise. These generally include lunch, sea turtle viewing, snorkeling, and rum punch. (Careful with mixing the latter two.) There is a hiking club (Hike Barbados) that runs free or paid hiking, which is a great way to see the less often visited parts of the island. If you visit during the Crop Over festivals in July to early August, there are any number of events and competitions. Barbados is mad for cricket and it shouldn't be hard to find a game to watch, if you're into cricket. There's also a surprising (to me) amount of horsey stuff going on, especially at the Garrison just outside of Bridgetown.
Overall, Barbados is a nice place for a vacation. Prices are a little high since everything is shipped in. There are plenty of great beaches, and lots of non-beach stuff to do. The people are friendly, and while there is the usual petty crime, it's quite safe overall.
Updated 2/19: fix typos, add Concorde note.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
kbvespa
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Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Reviews written: 14
Trusted by: 0 members
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