Overview
** BARBADOS TOURS **
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I enjoyed Barbados the most of all the islands I have visited so far. We stayed at a resort but we explored the island. We took public transportation and the locals were helpful when we got lost. We also explored the caves. We’ve been to caves in several places but this was the only one where we rode through on an electric car. The rum tasting at the distillery was interesting and we learned a lot of history.
I traveled to this gem of an island from February 27-March 2, 2020 and it seemed like the perfect time to visit. The weather was perfect, we were able to enjoy the beach/pools, and it was not overly crowded. Four of my friends and I rented an Airbnb in the Christ Church area (off Hastings Main Road) with the ocean at our backdoor and stores/restaurants/bars within walking distance. Outside of the general area of our Airbnb, getting around the island was not an issue as a cab was only a call and a few minutes away (the trips were between $20-$50 total for 5 people, depending on the location) and we ended up using the same driver throughout the trip, which made commuting much easier for our group.
For our activities, outside of the beaches, we did an excursion with Silver Moon Catamaran Cruises that included bottomless drinks (acholic and non-alcoholic), lunch (buffet), snorkeling, and music (this was the highlight of the trip for me ). Also, we did a walking tour of the island with Karen, a local Bajan, who educated us on the history of the island and its many historical landmarks as well as attended the Oistin’s Friday Fish Fry, where we ate good and celebrated with the locals. Additionally, we took a cooking class on the beach with Chef Creig, celebrity chef of Barbados, cooked up some of Barbados’ traditional dishes and had lunch while learning more about the Barbadian culture. Oh, and of course we partied just about every night of the trip… St. Lawrence Gap was our go-to for club/bar hopping and we also went to Harbor Lights one night and took advantage of their open bar special – it was LIT!
For food, we dined oceanfront at Cin Cin by the Sea and Blakey’s Bar & Restaurant, had food to-go from Chefette, and on the late night, after partying, we would get food from the gas station (don’t sleep, this food slaps)! Overall, the food across the island was well prepared and met our expectations! Be sure to try their fish, it was literally some of the best fish I’ve ever had!
Regarding costs, Barbados was very affordable. Though Barbados has its own currency, the U.S. dollar, Visa, Mastercard, etc. are accepted. But, be mindful when using the U.S. dollar, you will likely receive your change in Barbados currency.
Overall, my trip to Barbados was amazing and it goes down as one of my favorite destinations, to date! I would most definitely return!
As a “Born-Bajan” living in New York, I try to visit Barbados a few times a year and when I do, I am in full tourist mode. Though I grew up on this island, I never experienced it the way I do now. In Barbados, there is much to do, no matter where you stay. However, the most popular parts of the island are the West and South, but I’d choose one or the other based on what my interests are at the time. If I want lots of activities and great night life, I would suggest staying on the South Coast, preferably, closer to St. Lawrence Gap. You not only have great night life, but various types of food both local and traditional dishes can be found within walking distance. However, if you aren’t staying within walking distance, taxi service is usually very affordable, or if you’re feeling adventurous, you may take a bus, which will cost $1 US.
I would advice anyone who stays on the South side of the island, to visit the beaches on the West. Though most of the beaches in Barbados are beautiful, on the West, which is the Caribbean Sea, the water is much calmer, and makes for great swimming experience. Some of the best dining is also found on the West Side, so if you are interested in fine dining, restaurants such as “The Cliff”, “Drift Ocean”, and “Round House” would be perfect for you.
All in all, no matter where you stay on the island, getting from one point to another, should be easy, as the island is only 166.4 square miles. Also, if you don’t mind driving on the left side of the street, maybe renting a car would be ideal. This way you can explore the island, at your leisure.
While in Barbados, we visited some of their many beautiful beaches almost everyday namely Brownes Beach, Pebbles Beach and Brandons Beach. While not at the beaches, we took the Rum Tour and got some history on the rum distillery in Barbados as it was the 1st Rum Distillery in the world. We also got some history on the rum while tasting them. Also went to the Marizayra Sanctuary in St. Philip of the island. This was booked through Instagram as they don’t have a formal website to book. While there we got to see a wide range of animals, both indigenous to the islands and some which weren’t. Another fun part of the trip was a Catamaran cruise which we booked through Tiami Catamaran Cruise website and it came to about $75 USD. We got to cruise the waters of Barbados and swim with turtles and also explore a shipwreck, although i cant swim but they explained a taught you what to do and in the end it was a great time.
Barbados is a small island however there are plenty ways to spend your time. It can be full relaxation at our public beaches, partying at our summer festival – Crop Over or easter reggae festival or even our food and rum festival. There are plenty high-end dining options with seaside views or you can emerge yourself in a more local experience at Oistins Fish Fry on Friday Nights and a must try is our Bajan fast food restaurant Chefette. Barbados has its own local currency. – Barbados dollars. 1 US = 2 BDS. The population is mostly of black origin so you will definitely feel at home.
I was in Barbados for 4 days last month and I’m definitely going back. Barbados has my heart. The people are welcoming, polite, warm, humble. At this time of the year, it is quiet. Quiet also means peaceful, relaxation vibes, quick escape, time to retreat… I went to the Oistins fish fry market on a Friday which is also the best day to go. Good music, amazing food and a great crowd is the ambiance. You can get drinks there for very cheap. In the day time, the white sand beaches and turquoise water are mesmerizing where you can swim with turtles as well…
PS:A festival that you should definitely experience when you go to Barbados is Cropover in August which exactly where I shall be this summer.
We took the Rum tour and discovered Barbados had the 1st rum distillery in the world. They educated us on the types of rum, the process and of course the tasting (my favorite part). My second favorite part had to be the caves or taverns under the island. I appreciated the none touching of their water underground something about its pureness was intriguing to me. Would definitely recommend the tour.
Barbados is a MUST if your cons Considering traveling to the Caribbean the beaches are beautiful the people are very welcome Ming and the food is delicious. You must visit St. Lawrence Gap for food and nightlife you should also visit Oystins on a Friday night it’s popping and if you’re traveling any time in the summer be sure to travel around carnival season.
Okay, first things first you HAVE to come for the Grand Kadooment aka CARNIVAL!! This is my birth country so of course I am going to recommend it. Getting around is super easy. You can ride the entire island on the bus for just $1 USD which is $2 bajan dollars. You MUST MUST MUST eat at Chefette, Lemon Grass, Blue Pineapple, Martin’s bay, and The Mill (just to name a few). Even going for a stroll downtown by the bridge at night is super beautiful.
Barbados is literally heaven on earth!
The people are so friendly and polite, the food is out of this world and there are endless activities to enjoy!
If you’re thinking of going away for a romantic getaway or even a family vacation, Barbados is an island I would highly recommend.
I have to mention how amazing the food is again, especially if you’re into seafood dishes. There is also historic attractions to visit such as the rum distilleries.
When I went there with my partner, we stayed in a beautiful one bedroom suite at The Crane resort with a private beach for the guests and a number of restaurants, servicing international dishes at the resort.
Barbados is a lovely place to visit. I’ve been twice. The first time in 2014 for a study abroad trip we stayed for 4 weeks. The second time a few of us from the group came back for a week in 2016. Both times we went during Crop Over.
2014 – All travel expenses and place to stay was done by the school we just paid and were told where to be and when.
We did the Mount Gay rum tour (Highly recommend), St. Nicholas Abbey Rum Tour, Animal Flower Cave. We also did a history tour that took us around the island and we got to visit Morgan Lewis Windmill. We attended the Calypso Finals as well as dined at Brown Sugar Restaurant (highly recommend, they have a buffet style menu option. Great way to try local foods to figure out what you like!)
For our 2016 trip we booked our flights in Sept 2015 for around $450 each. The longer you wait the more expensive if traveling for Crop Over ($800+ the month before we left). If you are traveling with a group I suggest pooling your money and purchasing all tickets at the same time with the same card. We had 3 different flight changes and one of my friends was separated from the group during travels. On the way back she had to pay to change her flight back to the one we were on (We had to travel back to Richmond from DC once we landed and she would’ve been arriving 5hrs later).
Try ALL of the local foods. My absolute favorite is macaroni pie. The fishcakes are delish, love plantains, pepper pot, red snapper, etc. I personally wasn’t a fan of the saltfish but a few of my friends loved it.
When we weren’t relaxing on the beach we went to Oistin’s on Friday night, St. Lawrence Gap to enjoy the bars, we hit the market on Saturday to explore and we bought spices. Since many items are imported I do not recommend buying foods from the grocery stores as they are very expensive. We got food to cook from local vendors when we weren’t eating out and got small last minute things from the grocery store if we needed to.
The water is safe to drink! And its probably some of the best water you’ll taste. We learned the history of how the water is filtered through the coral limestone make it some of the cleanest tap water to drink.
For Crop Over we attended Foreday Morning Jam (Which is hands down my favorite moment from both visits), what’s more fun than an all night paint party dancing in the streets with Rum in hand! Kadooment Day is also a must.
In addition, we ventured to St. Lucy to stand at the tip of the island. Very beautiful!The waves crashing in are intense. Careful if you take the bus here as we got stranded trying to get back because the bus runs every hour and one hour the bus didn’t come.
If you’re looking to shop for more luxury items Lime Grove is your place
Whether you’re looking for adventure, history or relaxation Barbados has it all. It’s a small island but has everything you need and the locals are very friendly and helpful!
During my travels to the Bajan island I stayed at the all-inclusive Sandals Barbados which is the next door neighbor to the new Sandals Royal Barbados. Although the newer resort is much bigger and luxurious than the original, Sandals Barbados acts a less expensive option that still allows you to enjoy both resorts for the price of one. Some of the perks of the Royal resort include a rooftop pool and sky bar as well as a glass infinity pool just steps away from the beach. The all-inclusive stay featured around a dozen restaurants and bars between the two resorts, and the beach is spacious with calm seas perfect for the also included water sports.
Barbados is a really relax place if you want to be in a really relax unbothered
place this is the country to go to the folks are really laid back there, on our visit we stayed at the Hilton hotel which is very nice and the view is everything and more, drinks was reasonably and the meals a bit pricey
However on certain nights , there would be music and all the chefs set up tables by the bar close to the beach with different types of food and you pay one price, we ventured a out where the locals are and bought meals which is more reasonable and tasty .on friday nights there is a big fish fry in the town with countless amount of vendors on the street with different type of fish and food along with a stage and music and different bars.
We were able to experience a boat ride at sea with captain marana recommended by the hotel which include buffet style lunch on the beach which was delicious.
We also did dirt bike with @offroadfurrybarbados and they have one of the nicest trail and allow you to stop and take photos along with providing refreshments along the way really nice folks.
Wherever you go you have to make the best of it and have fun and we did just that
I went to Barbados at at the start of the year, and it was honestly the best way to start my year!
I flew there from London with a direct Virgin Flight. The weather was beautiful, ranging from about 27-30 degrees with an hour or so rain each day, which was dried up straight after by the sun.
The beaches were a dream with their white sand and clear water, making it a great location for relaxation. There are many beach options to spend your time at, however Brownes beach was my favourite. There are many water activities to do at the beach and if you don’t particularly want to, you have may beach bars to also chill at. Some of the activities I did included; Jet skiing; swimming with turtles; going to look at a ship wreck and lots of beach naps. The water was not the warmest however it was quite refreshing considering how hot the weather was.
Other than beaches, Barbados also has other activities to get involved in. I did a bit of walking around on broad street, looking at their parliament buildings. Went to Harrisons cave for half a day, which was very interesting and quite breathtaking in many ways. Our guide made it even more fun with his witty banter. Went to Barbados museum and George Washington’s house and spent lots of time walking around the streets admiring their beautifully coloured houses.
Food wise, many of the restaurants on the beaches were owned by foreigners, so you might have to look extra hard or ask around for places owned my locals. The places owned by foreigners were very often overpriced, however the places owned by locals provided great value for money with extremely generous portions, just how I like it.
For Nightlife, St Lawrence Gap was the best option. There are a number of clubs and bars all in one place, for you to shake a leg.
The people are sooo friendly! everyone says hey, good morning, and waves at you. They were soo welcoming and I felt right at home.
For my stay, I booked an airbnb because the hotel prices made me want to pass out. My airbnb 1 bedroom apartment for two people cost £300 for 8 nights. It was a 10/15 mins bus ride into town, and our hostess very friendly, going out of her way to ensure we were comfortable.
Airbnb Link: https://www.airbnb.co.uk/rooms/17572963source_impression_id=p3_1560883435_Oe1duWa9oszuG4oC
I LOVED barbados, and would recommend it to anyone who wants a relaxing but fun holiday!
We loved our Barbados Experience!
Things to do:
– Go. To. Crop-over. Enough said.
– Visit Rihanna’s Childhood House
– Take the buses as they are safe and cheap (couple dollars to get up and down the island)
– Attend the Friday night fish fry at Oistins. Live music and great food.
Things to keep in mind:
– They drive on the other side of the road. This can take some getting used to.
– The American dollar didnt stretch as far as I thought it would mostly because Barbados imports a fair amount of their goods.
– Most people speak English so there wasn’t much of a language barrier.
First off one word. AMAZING TRIP! By far one of the best trips I’ve taken. This was a girls trip for my friends birthday. This was our first time to the island. The locals are so friendly and they love black tourists well people in general. The culture is everything. The food is wonderful. We stayed in an Airbnb at Ocean 1. The Airbnb was extremely nice and it had an ocean view that was out of this world. The Airbnb was close to everything in town. We hopped on the local bus everyday to explore the island. The bus was $1 USD/$2 Bajan to ride. We went to ostins on Friday night which is the place to be. Plenty of nightlight at the st Lawrence gap. We went to several beaches. We did the glass bottom boat and swam with stingray’s, fish and turtles. It was a great experience. Let me not forget the best part of it all the weather. The weather was absolutely gorgeous every single day.
Barbados was a really good time! We went for a 3 nights. We could feel our spirits lift when we got there and engaged with the locals. They have a lot of pride in their culture. We went during their Independence day weekend which is November 30th so it was definitely turnt up for the weekend. It was really easy to communicate and every place we went took American money. We stayed at Silver Point hotel and booked through cheapcarribean.com. The hotel was nice but we were a little taken back by the fact that there was no internet in the rooms at first but we quickly got over it since there was wifi in the restaurant area. We decided we needed to disconnect sometimes and the view of the ocean from our balcony was amazing. The food was bajan style and was really good and fresh. This hotel happens to be a kite surfing spot so there were people surfing all day on the beach in front of the hotel which was really an amazing sight. The staff were friendly and helpful. We booked a day trip to snorkel with turtles and it was so much fun! The day trip was suggested by the staff at the hotel and came with lunch on the boat. That night we went to the famous Oistin’s Friday night Fish fry. It was lively with Caribbean music, dancing, and so many little restaurants to choose from. The food was bomb! The next day we wanted to go to Bridgetown (which was about a hour away) to do some shopping but we got rain in the morning so we stayed close to the hotel and relaxed on the beach. Overall we had a really good time. Snorkeling with the sea turtles was the highlight of the trip! Next time we’ll check out Bridgetown so sad we didn’t make it this time around. If you want to see pics and our travel vlog of Barbados check out http://www.loveandluggage.com :).
I spent an amazing 5 days in Barbados on a solo trip in 2018. It’s not what I would consider an affordable destination – everything from the flights there, to lodging and food is above average priced compared to other more frequented destinations. Despite this I definitely recommend it, you can still have fun on a budget if you plan right.
If you like history I recommend checking out the museum in Bridgetown. Over by the harbor there are historical markers which tell you about the history – I took a nice walk down one afternoon.
When it comes to affordability, nothing beats hanging out at the beach. Most of the beaches have chairs and umbrellas for rent and drinks for sale but of course this is optional. I checked out Accra beach and Brown’s beach which were cool. If you want more seclusion Brandon’s beach is farther out, outside of Bridgetown but it was my absolute favorite.
Dining out in Barbados is pricy, even at casual places so be prepared for that. You MUST check out the Fish Fry at Oistins on Friday night. Delicious seafood, cheap drinks, entertainment and just a wonderful vibe all around.
I was able to find a local to escort me to and from the cruise ship while in town for a day. While in town I spent the day on a speed boat just cruising through. It was great and relaxing. While on my way back to the boat I stopped off to get some fish before sailing off. Such a nice time in BGI
If you ever have the chance make sure you visit Browns Beach. The water is so calm and always the perfect temperature. Sorry no beach service there but still my best beach day while on the island.
Girls Trip to Barbados
By Sweetmelanin2x on Instagram.
My group of girls and I went on a Labor weekend getaway trip to Barbados to celebrate our friend’s birthday. While a short getaway, we definitely enjoyed every minute of it.
We stayed at the Crane Resort. Unfortunately, we went during off-season meaning most of the amenities that attracted us to the resort were closed or unavailable which was very frustrating. Apparently, it’s ideal to stay at the resort from winter to late spring. Nonetheless, the resort is gorgeous with beautiful views. Our 2-bedroom suite was nice and aesthetically pleasing with our own private pool.
We used Nakendras_Chauffeur_Services (find him on Instagram) for all of our commuting needs and to tour the entire island. We had such a great time with him. He’s a down-to-earth local, with such a cool vibe and welcoming personality. He was very knowledgeable about the history of the island and customized a tour that fit everything we wanted along with his recommendations on hidden gem locations. On top of that, he hooked us up with all the rum punch we wanted. He made the ride to each location so fun; we even had a spontaneous karaoke-style commute at one point where we showcased our Miami-Style musical abilities (i.e. Trina, Rick Ross, Trick Daddy lol). All and all, he strived to make sure we had an incredible trip. We visited many locations including: Animal Flower Cave, Boatyard; Carlisle Bay, Bathsheba Beach, Speightstown, Rihanna’s childhood home, St. John church, and other popular spots. The Animal Flower Cave was my favorite spot…we took very nice and insta-worthy pics there. His prices are very affordable and better than the rates we saw on other tour company websites. He also dropped us off to the airport on our last day. We would highly recommend him if you’re planning a trip to Barbados.
The food and music was great. We went to Primo restaurant the last night there. The staff was so friendly and fun. The food was so tasty, especially their mac and cheese. The view from the restaurant was beautiful. It’s a must go if you’re in Barbados.
I would highly recommend a trip to Barbados.
Check out Sweetmelanin2x on Instagram for pics of our trip.
Barbados is sooo nice!
I went for Cropover ‘16
I even played mas
I had a time
We stayed in Lawerence Gap (where all the action is)
The sun was hot and the water was beautiful
Barbados is a beautiful place to see! It’s full of rich culture and the people are very friendly. There are ample amount of things to do however getting to some of the adventure spots are kinda tricky if you do not have a rental car but we decided to take a taxi here which was about twenty US dollars one way. Renting a car is also an option but I suggest not to get one if you’ve never driven on the left side!
When I visited Barbados I had a chance to visit the Animal flower cave which was an amazing cave that is on the side of a cliff and the ocean rushes through every second. It was a beautiful place to see!
I went to Barbados my 30th birthday and it was the most hospitable experience ever. Everyone was so nice and loving as if we were family. We stayed at the Marriott in Bridgetown. It’s across the street from the beach so you can access the beach with your hotel keycard. You are sharing the beach with the hotel there but it’s pretty relaxing and quiet. I took a nap there the day we landed. If you want a beach that’s more hype and full of activies, I’d advise going further into the downtown area. I saw more lively beaches from the bus.
This is my second year in a row visiting Barbados during climax of the Crop Over season which is the busiest most expensive time of the year, however it is the best time of year if you really want to get out and party. You definitely need to book in advance if you want to try and save money. My flight both years ranged between $700-800 (Toronto – BIM) and that’s because I booked well in advance (example: I booked December 2017 for Aug. 2018). [Crop Over runs from late June until early August. The climax of Crop Over is Kadooment day which is the first Monday of August and all the best fetes and activities happen 1-2 weeks leading up to Kadooment].
My first year I stayed at a hotel on the beach which was nice but very costly. This year we used airB&B and got an entire house to ourselves! We ended up paying around $450CAD each between the 4 of us in comparison to the hotel which was closer to $1,000USD each for the same length of stay. Barbados is expensive in general but transportation cost can really add up. Try to book your accommodations in the south coast (Christ Church) to cut costs. Most of the tourist spots, beaches, restaurants, parties and club district are all located in the south. A taxi may charge you $30bds to go up the road but if you are in the south you can catch the little $2bds van to get you up and down the coast easily. Save the taxi fare for the fetes that end late when the $2bds vans stop running (11pm).
My top recommendations for visiting Barbados for Crop Over is to *BOOK IN ADVANCE*! Flight and hotel first, followed by fete(party) tickets and costumes for Kadooment day (they are released closer to the actual start of Crop Over). There is always something to do during this time and I mean literally. They have sunrise fetes (which start before sunrise), they have day fetes and then they have fetes that start in the evening and run up until the sun comes out. Aside from the scheduled fetes I would recommend everyone take a ride one the Jolly Roger for one of their regular lunch & snorkel cruises! It was one of the highlights of my trip and I’m sure it will be yours also.
If you are going to Barbados for Crop Over don’t skimp out, PLAY MAS! Jump in a band Kadooment day and get the full Crop Over experience! I personally enjoyed jumping with BajeIntl both years (affordable and organized, enough people to really party but not too many you feel over crowded). Aura is the band Rihanna jumps with when she visits but their costumes are gonna cost you lol. You only live once & you will not regret it! There are multiple instagram pages that will keep you up to date with different fetes, events, and dates happening. My favorites are @BarbadosCropOverHub & @BazodeeMag.
The beaches here were niiiiice! The locals were beyond friendly. They were so chill, hospitable, helpful, and took my friend and I in with open arms. Nothing was overly priced, the weather was perfect and every night I found myself on a hammock vibing with the locals, who I still keep in touch with because they’re that dope. If you’re looking to relax, I would definitely recommend this beautiful island. It was such a great place to visit, I felt right at home. Oh, and for a great late snack, try Chefette! :)
Barbados… one word beautiful.
Barbados is full of life. The St Lawrence Gap is one thing you cannot miss on your visit..The friday night Fish fry also…also check out Paulo’s on the gap…great food..The beaches are lovely in Barbados. Also try to visit Harrison Cave is really lovely..we stayed at Ocen Spray Beach Apartments..really nice place..
Must eat Bajan Foods:
Fishcakes
Macaroni pie
Cou cou and flying fish (national dish)
Sweet bread
Pudding and souse on a Saturday
Chefette- everyone loves chefette rotis or a snackbox
Fish from Oistins
A burger from in st Lawrence gap
Conkies around independence (Nov 30th)
Pepperpot
Bakes
Jug jug around Christmas
Chicken and chips from mapps
Also can’t come bim and not wash down the food with rum punch, mauby, golden apple juice, banks beer or coconut water.
I have been to Barbados a few times (Carnival – Aug and/or Independence – Nov) and I must say, this is a trip that is well worth while. The Island is full of life, rum and soca music.
Accommodations: I have stayed both in Airbnb and hotels. Being that I am not really about being ultra-luxury, a condo rental in the Dover Beach/St Lawrence Gap area is the best. You get the beach area and a great little area at Dover Beach to eat, drink and swim. And The Gap, where there are resto’s, bars and night life. You can enjoy the sweet sounds of soca music while sipping a Mount Gay on the rocks (rum).
The cost of an Airbnb for a week cost around $500-600 CAD. It’s very very reasonable. With a little searching around, you can find a nice place that won’t kill your budget
Transportation:
So it’s a little hard to get around Barbados – they do have dollar buses (but the schedule is unpredictable). There are a lot of cabs around and you can also hire a driver. Mine you will pay to get around will be $20 USD which will get you down town. If you want to go to areas like St James, it will cost you a lot more.
Things to do
1. St Lawrence Gap – Bars and restaurants – great night life. Has a little of everything, live music, dj’s, dancing, strip club – you name it, it’s there. There is usually a cover charge to get in – approx. $5-10 USD. It’s usually hype evenings
2. Dover Beach – great area to relax and enjoy. You can rent beach chairs and enjoy a strong tasty rum punch
3. Animal Cave – now this is drive, however the untouched beauty of where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea is breathtaking. You can go with a tour guide under in caves to take in the beauty. Cost is approx. $20. Then enjoy a lovely dinner overlooking the sea Cost – $$$$
4. Harrison’s Cave – There is a lot you can do there, you can do a walking tour where you get wet and go under in all kinds of caves. This is def. physical, so be prepared to walk a lot and get wet. Proper water shoes are needed. If you are not the adventurous type, the definitely take your time and take the train thru the caves with very knowledgeable staff
5. St James Parish – This is a lovely, more luxury area where the beaches are calm the food is amazing and the rum is even better. Mullins beach is the place to be. It’s pretty lively there day and night. There is a lot of shopping (Chanel, Louis Vuitton etc.) if that is what you are into, great high end restos and bars…. Very touristy
6. Oistins – Fish Fry Fridays is one the best things to do on this island. You can get all the local Bajan cuisine (Fish Cutters, Flying Fish, Macaroni Pie and much more) to dine on for a reasonable price (Large meals usually run around $40). There are many many food options so walk around till one of them calls your name. They also have a market where you can buy local items and some souvenirs. There is lots of music, live performances, dancing etc. Go early (around 6pm) because food does sell out. This is a very local place, so you will find a mix of locals and tourists all having a good time…..
By far, the best time of year to go is Crop Over (Carnival Weekend), which usually takes place during the first weekend of August. This time you will get rum and rhythms all week long, and enjoy the sounds of soca music which you dance in the streets during the night with paint, powder and a music truck pumping all the latest tunes….. To turn around the next morning and don the streets in a traditional Crop Over Costume and dance the day away thru the city streets. It is one of the most fav things in the world to do…. Costumes are for everyone, but costly ($500 USD +). You can sign up online with many different mas camps…… total worth going. After that take a ride on the Cool Runnings catamaran to enjoy a day of snorkeling and soaking up the sun (cost approx. $70 USD +)
Otherwise, Barbados will continue to be one of my most fav islands to visit. Super tourist friendly and lots to do…
Barbados was a really fun & relaxing baecation. We stayed at the Dover Beach Hotel. It wasn’t the most luxurious hotel, but we didn’t mind because it was right on the beach, it wasn’t very expensive & we didn’t plan on being at the room much anyway.
We spent most of our time at the pool & beach. Our hotel had a complimentary happy hour where we ended up meeting cool group of locals & other travelers & ended up hanging out with them a few days. They took us out for good food, & a night club which was so much fun. We didn’t feel safe walking around & leaving the hotel at night alone. So we’d only go out as a group.. & with the locals.
We visited Harrison’s Cave which was sooo cool to see. The tour guides were so knowledgeable of the history.
Food. Is. Bomb!! You have to try the macaroni pie & rum punch. #yum
Barbados is the perfect place to go when you want to have fun, relax and eat great. I must say Barbados is one of my favorite places to visit outside of the US. Bajan folks know how to have FUN!!! If you’re not ready to party until the sun comes up, I suggest you stay in your room and relax. Lol. Everyone there was super nice and welcoming. Food was perfect. Not to mention everything was cheap and affordable. Beaches were very clean and very beautiful. Not one bad thing to say about this place. I’m looking forward to going back!!!
I went to Barbados for my birthday in February for $200 RT on JetBlue from Fort Lauderdale, FL. I stayed in a an Airbnb called “Heart of Rockley Ultra Modern Apartment” in Bridgetown. There is plenty to do in Barbados such as: jet skiing with Peterpan at Pebbles Beach, attending the fish fry in St. Lawrence Gap on Friday night, a catamaran lunch cruise (drinks & buffet included for $75). The cruise was my favorite because of the ambiance, the music was great the whole day, we stopped to snorkel with turtles 3 times, and received a full tour of the west coast of the island. Be sure to check out Bathsheba Beach on the east coast. All transportation on the bus is $1 USD or $2 Barbadian dollars to anywhere on the island. Tapas and Castaways restaurants are both a great place for dinner with a spectacular view, both are feet away from the water.
I visited Barbados while on a Caribbean cruise. I only had half a day BUT the one thing i do know about the Barbados is that they had the most beautiful beaches I have ever seen. The clearest water, whitest sand. Its truly beautiful!
Barbado was just so fantastic!!
I went there for a day through carnival cruise line. My boyfriend and I took a taxi for $5 from the ship to the beach (It was only about 5 minutes). Right at the entrance we paid $60 each for two chairs, snorkelling adventure for two and two jet skiis for 30 minutes. A great price considering that carnival was charging $100-$130 each.I got to see four turtles within arms reach, a ship wreck and too many fish too count. It was amazing.After All the action that and just admired the beach. I also tried what they are known for “flying fish” It wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever had but it went well with the 3 for $5 beer.
Barbados is one of the most breathtaking islands in the Caribbean. The capital is east to get around in and the people are friendly and welcoming. They have must see beaches and the local foods are simply delicious. There are lots of fun activities to do. Do visit Boatyard and Nikki beach you’ll have a grand time
I recently returned from my trip to Barbados and do not have enough good things to say about this place! We diverted our trip from Puerto Rico because of the hurricane, and decided on Barbados even though neither I or my friend had ever been there. My friend and I checked the reviews of Rio Guest House (the hostel we ended up staying in) in St. Lawrence Gap (Just outside of Bridgetown) before we arrived and were worried about a few negative reviews, but Rio was the best for our budget so we decided to do it anyway. We are no frills travelers, just want it to be clean and safe. When we took a taxi from the airport our cab driver told us “I don’t think you will like it there” and my friend and I immediately started to panic. Contrary to all we had heard and read, our hosts were overly accommodating from the moment we walked in. We arrived very late at night and one of the hosts, Dennis, told us it was no worries and that we would figure out payment in the morning. Our room was spacious for 2 people and very clean. The tiles in the bathroom were practically sparkling. The free wifi in the room was very strong and we were easily able to connect. The shared kitchen was neat and organized. We often ate outside on the second floor balcony and were able to meet multiple people who were also staying at Rio. Our hosts were happy to help us figure out where to go to the beach (literally less than a minute walk) and where to go out at night (you are less than a minute walk from some of the best bars in the gap [check out Old Jamm Inn for sure!]) as it was our first time there. We also signed up for an all day boat cruise in Bridgetown which was really fun and included an open bar, lunch, and snorkeling with turtles. The crew were locals and happily filled us in on the best places to hit before we left (and even ran into us at a bar one night!). By the end of our stay we felt like family, but I never felt like our hosts were overbearing or invading our space. I would 100% recommend staying at Rio and visiting Barbados, as the people were welcoming and kind, the culture was laid-back, and the island itself has lots of things to do.
I stopped in Bridgetown for a day last week while on a tour. The water at the beach was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Beware, it’s full of crabs. I took a taxi ride with a native. He took us through the town and gave us a tour along with the history. I highly recommend this. Tours during excursions are okay. However they are no where near as personal and in depth as with a native.
My family and I also went on a submarine ride for $89 (we received a 10% discount for a group of 8) that was pretty cool.
Barbados is amazing! Went in July 2017 with family and it was great! The food was amazing! Went on a boat cruise which had the best drinks and the best people serving us. The house we rented also had the best housekeepers who cooked the best food and we are all still in touch. Went to the beach and was able to ply with a monkey as well as feed him.
I am frequent visitor to Barbados but this last time I went after Carnival in Trinidad & Tobago for some much needed rest and relaxation. I stayed in Boarded Hall, the “country”, which was a great decision.
Fresh air and open space, very quiet. Within 10 minutes of beaches on the south coast which was also perfect. I had the best of both world’s beaches and the countryside. I took a tour to the east coast, Bathsheba area and the views were amazing.
I will definitely return and I suggest to anyone to visit.
We went to Barbados shortly before we got married and was a contender for our destination wedding location. What stopped us was the currency shock. Typically when you travel within the Caribbean you get use to your US dollar going fairly far however Barbados has a very very strong economy and we found out it was extremely expensive to eat and shop in Barbados. Even typical US chains like subway sandwiches was expensive, and the restaurants typically serve everything a la carte. Despite the restaurants and the costs transpiration was actually very affordable and allowed us to travel around quite often on little vans that stop at almost every block and you pay a Bajan dollar to get dropped off. Lots of locals used this mode of transportation and it was so much fun
OMG! Top 5 destination with an overall experience was at the Crane Resort! I proposed to my fiance on the beach as the resort allowed me to set up a picnic area with pillows and rose pedals everywhere. The Cranee Resort and Blue waters are undefeated!!!!