It’s no exaggeration to say that a luxury holiday in Barbados in the Caribbean offers visitors a slice of paradise. Here, picturesque palm-tree fringed beaches frame turquoise waters, while casual beachside barbecues and rum shacks sit alongside world-class dining and sleeping options.
Accommodation is plentiful, with most offering sea views, excellent service and locally sourced menus. But if you can leave the hotel, the best of island life can be found in its laid-back inhabitants, local bars, and markets.
Culture vultures will be kept busy; capital city Bridgetown is a UNESCO World Heritage site that’s home to colonial architecture, while the National Trust also runs an Open House’ program that showcases beautifully kept private homes on the island.
Guests can stroll the boardwalk for miles at Accra Beach, then for a dash of local flavour, eat fish sandwiches from Mr. Delicious, a street vendor who makes good on the promise of his name. Alternatively, spend an evening at the fish fry at Oistins Bay Gardens, enjoy the local Bajans’ stories of island life, and catch some local live music.
Indeed, as the sun sets in Barbados, the bars open, and the relaxed vibes turn atmospherically buzzy with beachfront nightclubs and restaurants whose tables benefit from the sounds of lapping waves and pretty panoramas. The St. Lawrence Gap area or first and second avenues in Holetown are good options.
Offshore, there’s just as much to enjoy, with surfing and other watersports on offer. For a less exhaustive option, boat trips off the island offer snorkelling and turtle-spotting, buffets and rum punch.
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