GUIDE TO Barbadosmediaserver.travelcounsellors.co.uk/DestinationGuides/Barbados... · If you’re looking for not only excellent food but also a memorable experience then look no

Destination Guide – BARBADOS 1

BarbadosG U I D E T O

INSIDER GUIDE TO BARBADOS

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Barbados Population: 285,000

Capital: Bridgetown

Motto: “Pride and Industry”

Languages: Bajan, English

Currency: Barbadian dollar(BBD)

Time zones: AST

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Picture Barbados. Are you sinking into bright white sand on the Platinum Coast, headed for those twinkling turquoise waters? Cheering on the cricketers as the glorious sunshine beams down on Kensington Oval? Wandering amongst the exquisite colonial architecture in historic Bridgetown? Wherever your mind wanders to when you picture Barbados, welcome to our mini destination guide to this charismatic island paradise. Oozing laidback Caribbean charm, Barbados is a delightful combination of spectacular coastlines for sun-worshippers, brilliant green landscapes for the adventurous, and heritage spots for culture fiends.

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Bridgetown

Speightstown

Holetown

Bathsheba

Oistins

Spring Hall

Mount Gay Rum Distillery

AndromedaBotanic Gardens

SunburyPlantation House

Kensington oval

Harrison’sCave

Bathsheba BeachMullins Beach

BarbadosWildlife Reserve

Bottom Bay Beach

Morgan Lewis windmill

Historic Bridgetownand its Garrison

Greenidge Hope

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Interesting facts...

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

AVERAGE MONTHLY WEATHER GUIDE

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Barbados is 166 square miles and divided into 11 parishes

Barbados is hailed as “The land of the flying fish”. Flying fish jump out of the

water and can glide for 30 to 50 metres!

It’s thought that there are 1,500 rum shops across the island, which is not bad going when you consider the size of the island!

The national flower is the Pride of Barbados or Caesalpinia pulcherrima, which grows all over the island and can be seen in yellow, orange, or red

Both Bridgetown and its Garrison is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

It has over 3000 hours of sunshine a year

Folk tales suggest ‘Barbados’ was originally ‘Los Barbados’, Portuguese for “the bearded ones”, and derived from the ‘bearded fig trees (Ficus citrifolia) once found in abundance on the island. From afar, the trees

looked like they had beards, and the country was thus named by the Portuguese explorer Pedro Campos.

Barbados is now the most developed island country in the Caribbean. This scenic island also enjoys the distinction of

being the third most developed country in the Western hemisphere, after the United States of America and Canada.

The official language of Barbados is English but you will hear some Bajan dialect on your travels around the island. This dialect is a combination of British English and a variety of West African languages.

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Our 5 favourite

Historic Bridgetown and its GarrisonBridgetown might be bustling but wander among the exquisite colonial buildings in the historic area and you could almost be transported back to the 1800s. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, the area features beautifully ornate, imposing buildings ordered by British colonialists in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Spend an afternoon here and learn about Barbados’ complex history as a major port since its settlement by the English almost 400 years ago.

Sunbury Plantation HouseWith its spectacular façade and carefully tended grounds, this delightful plantation house gives you a taste of life as the owner of a sugar plantation in the 18th and 19th centuries. Built around 1660 by one of the first settlers on the island, Matthew Chapman, and developed by subsequent owners, the house is filled with period furniture and antique prints. When you’ve toured the house, stop off for a spot of afternoon tea in the Courtyard Restaurant!

Mount Gay Distilleries LtdA trip to Barbados wouldn’t be complete without a little tasting of what is perhaps their most famous export, rum!

Head to Mount Gay Rum - established in 1703, making it the oldest rum distillery in the world - and learn all about how rum is made, from sugar cane to the coral-filtered water that’s native to Barbados.

Once you’ve discovered the heritage and craftsmanship that goes into making rum, step into the garden, enjoy a traditional Bajan lunch or try a cocktail mixing session!

Andromeda Botanic GardensCreated in 1954 by renowned horticulturist Iris Bannochie as a private family garden, this wonderful 6-acre garden started life as farmland and was created entirely from scratch. Bequeathed to the Barbados National Trust in 1988, many of the plants were collected by Iris as she travelled across the globe. There are over 600 plant specimens to discover, as well as streams and ponds.

There’s also a delightful café here so you can tuck into lunch while spotting hummingbirds, monkeys and dragonflies!

Bathsheba BeachThe wild east coast might not be suitable for swimming - the water’s too rough - but the rugged beaches along this stretch are mesmerising. This is Barbados’ top surfers beach so expect pounding waves and pro surfers as you walk along miles of untouched sand and giant rock formations.

Heading to Barbados in November? Watch pro surfers at Bathsheba Soup Bowl, the international surfing competition held here.

Top Picks

sights

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Making the very bestmemories

We love seeing what our customers get up to in Barbados and finding out the places they recommend!

We caught up with Travel Counsellor Marie and her customers, Tracy Puttock & Stephen Mellor, to find out some of the things to add to that Barbados ‘must-see’ list…

To share your special holiday memories, please upload your images to your social media account using #TCexperience

“This year, we visited the races and did the rum tour; last time, we went to a cricket match and did a tour

of the island. Before that, we did a boat trip and swam with turtles!”

“We’d recommend a tour of the island to see

what the other coastlines are like – and a trip to

the Mount Gay rum factory is a must but make

sure you do the cocktail making!”

“Barbados is our favourite holiday destination

– we love that in bars, restaurants and beaches,

locals and tourists mix together. People are so

friendly wherever you go.”

“Savannah Beach hotel is our favourite

hotel so far – close enough to visit the

town but with bars and restaurants close

by and its own bar right on the beach,

and also within a stone’s throw of the local

heritage and the Garrison racecourse.”

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Try somethingdifferent...

Hike with the Barbados National TrustBarbados’ landscape is utterly spectacular, and it’s a wonderful mix of brilliant green plants, heady floral scents and gentle hills. Head into the interior of the island and discover fields filled with sugar canes, tropical flora and fauna, and rolling hills overlooking that glistening sand and turquoise sea.

The Barbados National Trust offer free, 3-hour hikes year-round, with distances ranging from 6 miles (“Stop ‘n’ Stare”) to 12 miles (“Grin ‘n’ Bear”). Hikes take place in the morning at 6am or in the afternoon at 3.30pm, and there are also moonlight hikes, which leave at 5.30pm.

Catch a cricket match at Kensington OvalEstablished in 1882 and the host of the Cricket World Cup in 2007, Kensington Oval is Barbados’ oldest cricket ground. The picturesque, 4-acre grounds started life as part of the Kensington Plantation, before being developed into the ground you see today. Keep aspiring cricketers amused with a trip to see a test match.

Teams from the West Indies, England, Australia, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and South Africa all play here.

Journey underground to Harrison’s CavePop on your adventurer’s hat and explore underground with a three hour cave tour! Step into the crystallised limestone cave and travel by tram to the entrance used by early explorers, and learn all about this spectacular natural wonder. There are streams running through the cave, astounding pools of crystal clear water, and glistening speleothems (stalactites and stalagmites) all waiting to be discovered!

Grand Kadooment, 1st AugustBooming calypso and soca music, spectacular carnival masquerades and a street parade are all part of this enthralling, energetic festival. “Kadooment” is a Bajan term for a grand occasion filled with fun, and this exuberant carnival is a must-visit if you’re in Barbados on 1st August. Celebrating the end of the Crop Over Festival (Barbados’ summer festival) Grand Kadooment is a stunning visual display of music and dancing and ends in a fantastic fireworks display.

Insider

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7 Contact your Travel Counsellor today!

Discover St Nicholas

Abbey. Explore this

tranquil plantation

house and watch its fascinating

movie from the 1930s depicting

life in Barbados at that time.

Rum is still produced here;

for a real treat and a fantastic

souvenir take home a beautiful

personally engraved bottle.

2 Mingle at a fish

fry. Oistins is a

well-known fish

fry, popular on a Friday with

both locals and tourists.

For a more authentic

experience head for lunch

in Martin’s Bay on the East

Coast (Thursdays only).

4

Barbados’ capital city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With close to 400 years of rich history, take a

walk through the charming city that is home to the oldest synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, the third oldest parliament in the Commonwealth and visit the home where US President George Washington stayed on his only trip outside of the US.

5Sail on a catamaran. Swim with turtles, snorkel over shipwrecks and enjoy a delicious buffet lunch with rum punch on your tour of the beautiful West Coast. Look out for flying fish!

1

Visit the East Coast. Most visitors don’t make it to this undeveloped, peaceful and stunning pocket of paradise. Head to Bathsheba and you can watch the professional surfers catching a wave.

3

TOP TIPDon’t forget to use a high factor SPF suncream. Spent a little too much time in the sun?

Use Aloe Vera

Josie gives us the low-down on

BarbadosTC insider

after living there for five years

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TasteOur Travel Counsellors’ top recommendations for your five must-try places to eatLocal culture for many of us means food! And gathering with loved ones in beautiful surroundings sharing delicious food is a perfect way to make lasting memories. Why not be experimental and try out some new spices, a locally caught fish or tasty West Indian curry? It’s all part of the delicious Caribbean cuisine you can find in Barbados. Here is a small snapshot into some of the most vibrant and popular hotspots for stunning Bajan cuisine, which come recommended by travellers and locals alike.

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Café BlissWhere? St Lawrence Gap, Christ ChurchThis family-owned hidden gem will give you an authentic and homely culinary experience making you feel like you’re part of the community. The homemade waffles, omelettes and paninis come highly recommended and are served by happy and loving people who welcome you with open arms.

Nishi RestaurantWhere? 2nd Street Holetown, St JamesThis larger establishment still holds the same friendly and relaxed atmosphere whilst offering guests culinary treats of huge proportions! Booking your table here is essential but this place is a must for those who love sushi. Nishi also offers a huge range of delectable Asian and Caribbean dishes to cater to those who don’t love sushi! This brilliant west coast restaurant encompasses traditional Bajan culture by remaining a warm and friendly hub of fantastic food and company.

The TidesWhere? Holetown, St JamesIf you’re looking for not only excellent food but also a memorable experience then look no further than The Tides Restaurant on the water’s edge of Barbados’ west coast. The culinary works of art here complement the breath-taking surroundings allowing you to enjoy a truly remarkable dining experience. The Tides is well-known for its fish dishes, superb service and ambience so why not indulge in some rich flavours and find out just how blue the Caribbean Sea is at the same time?

The Castaways Bar & GrillWhere? St Lawrence Gap, Worthing, Christ Church Indulge in views across the picturesque St. Lawrence Bay and lose yourself in a magical sunset whilst enjoying a delicious meal with your loved ones. Happy hour is between 5pm and 6.30pm so you can enjoy the unique sunset views with a drink – bliss! Offering classic and inventive cocktails this chic and laid-back setting is perfect for night owls looking for a relaxing place to enjoy a drink or two.

Lobster AliveWhere? Wesley House, Bay Street, BridgetownArt Taylor, the owner of Lobster Alive, has a small single engine Cherokee aircraft which he flies to the holding tank on Bequia Island. He returns to Barbados with the lobsters dry, just in time, to a huge distribution tank at the restaurant – a very impressive sight! Enjoy fresh lobster, great jazz music and a warm atmosphere at Lobster Alive, a highly recommended restaurant to add to your list. Not forgetting the stunning south coast views across the beach; the perfect scenery to go with your sensational Caribbean cuisine.

Bon appetit!

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Spending moneyWondering what the necessities cost in Barbados? To help you plan how much money to take with you, here is a rough guide to the cost in Barbadian dollars of some of the things you might be buying whilst there.

$4

$150

$2

$40

$2.75

Domestic beer in a restaurant

(0.5 litre draught)

Meal for 2 people, (mid- range restaurant,

three courses)

One way ticket(local transport)

Bottle of wine(mid-range)

Cola in a restaurant

(0.33 litre bottle)

In June 2016, one Barbadian Dollar equals £0.38 sterling

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Discover Barbados with

You’ve decided when you are going to visit the beautiful island of Barbados, now you need fantastic flights to match up to the rest of your holiday. Discover the best of Barbados with direct flights to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) from British Airways. With more flights than any other UK carrier – up to twelve per week! – you can choose when to experience the tropical paradise and Bajan hospitality.

With eight and a half hours on your flight from London, you have time to enjoy the world of entertainment which awaits on board. The latest films, documentaries, TV, music, audio books and games are on your flat screen so you can put in your headphones and enjoy the quintessentially British hospitality with freshly prepared, locally sourced food and drinks included too.

British Airways offer everything from great-value economy services and premium economy options to the more enhanced in-flight experience of First Class.

EconomyWhen you choose the great-value economy services you’ll find everything included in the price, with no hidden surprises. It all adds up to a smoother, more pleasant experience.

Premium EconomyEnjoy a more enhanced in-flight experience with World Traveller Plus, the premium economy cabin, offering more privacy, space and comfort in a smaller, secluded cabin.

First ClassTravel in comfort and style with your own private bed, a spacious suite, delicious and indulgent dining and access to luxurious lounges and spa treatments.

British Airways

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Thanks!

Here, we’ve chosen a few of the things we think you should see, do and eat while you’re in Barbados. We hope it inspires you to journey to Barbados time and time again and taste a little of Bajan life. Get in touch to build a bespoke itinerary, tailor-made just for you!

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