Apr 21, 2015

Barbados

A Barbados villa holiday will never dissapoint.  Barbados often called ‘Little England’, is a long-time favourite for the rich and famous and the most popular Caribbean getaway for the British, with daily direct flights and comfortable 8 hours of flying time.

The island, although only 166 square miles (about the size of the Isle of Wight) is incredibly diverse in nature. The beautifully rugged northern and eastern coasts are fringed by the Atlantic and popular with surfers and hikers, whilst the centre of the island is largely covered with the lush green vegetation of sugar cane.

The southern and western coasts are framed by the Caribbean Sea, a much calmer sister to the Atlantic, and this is where the majority of tourism development has taken place. Barbados is blessed with stunning beaches on all coasts and there are no private beaches, so explore and enjoy!

There is a huge variety of things to see and do. If you can tear yourself away from the beach or your private villa in Barbados, there are world heritage sites, museums, gardens, caves, shopping, rum tours, and even zip-lining for the adrenaline junkies!

Barbados is home to more than 12 golf courses, an abundance of tennis courts, diving and water sports. Enjoy a catamaran cruise where you will swim with turtles, or take a trip on a submarine and explore the underwater world.

If you didn’t get the chance to fly on Concorde, you can visit the one Barbados was gifted in the fantastic Concorde Experience located next to the airport, a brilliant opportunity for adults and children alike.

Duty-free shopping is available island-wide with high-end jewellery and designer stores located in Bridgetown and the newly opened Limegrove Mall in Holetown.

One of our Directors has been fortunate to have lived and worked in Barbados, so we consider this Gem of the Caribbean our second home with first hand experience of the best villa rental in Barbados.

DINING, BARS AND NIGHTLIFE

Barbados is a diner’s delight! For a small island, it packs a massive punch with regards to the variety of cuisine available and pretty much any food can be found here.

From à la carte oceanfront restaurants, casual beach bars, and fresh street food, and even the fast food is excellent.

The west coast is dotted with some fabulous fine dining options, and be sure to  check out first and second street in Holetown which has a variety of restaurants.

The south coast is no exception, albeit somewhat more casual, our favourites include Champers, Tapas and the causal Harlequin in St Lawrence gap.

Top Tip! Seafood and chicken are Barbadian staples and sourced locally, whereas most red meats would be imported.

So for a fresh, local option try out mahi mahi (also locally called ‘dolphin’), snapper, kingfish and of course the Barbadian national dish, flying fish!

For nightlife, the second street in Holetown is the West Coast spot or the popular St Lawrence Gap on the South, Barbados has some fantastic musical talent so be sure to take in a local live band.

Along the way, stop in a beach bar or rum shop for a rum punch, a cold local beer or a cocktail!