Barbados - any 'must see' places or 'must do' things?
Discussion
I'm off to Barbados at the start of July so am doing similar research right now.
Apparently Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday is a must see
Concorde
Hiring (sorry Chartering) a boat for a day
Swin with turtles
Ship wreck snorkle
Hire a 4x4 to go exploring on the dirt tracks
Also found some good looking restaurants (Tides, The Cliff and Waterside are a few that spring to mind)
There is PHer who has a luxury villa near the east coast that is cheap (an PH discount on top) if you are interested. Personally I am staying on the West Coast.
Apparently Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday is a must see
Concorde
Hiring (sorry Chartering) a boat for a day
Swin with turtles
Ship wreck snorkle
Hire a 4x4 to go exploring on the dirt tracks
Also found some good looking restaurants (Tides, The Cliff and Waterside are a few that spring to mind)
There is PHer who has a luxury villa near the east coast that is cheap (an PH discount on top) if you are interested. Personally I am staying on the West Coast.
Yep, they're not the cheapest! I plan a mix and more traditional eating as well as decent restaurants. The apartment we have hired includes a cook so will ask her to make some local dishes. Surprisgly good value as well compared to a hotel.
If you find anything else of interest please update the thread and I will do likewise
When are you off?
If you find anything else of interest please update the thread and I will do likewise
When are you off?
I love Barbados and have a lot of friends there but I wouldn't have it as top of a "seeing and doing" holiday, it's more of a chill out place with carribean levels and speed of service. But anyway.
East coast is the remote side, rougher sea, lots of little coves and beaches to go and explore.
West coast is millionaires paradise, lovely beaches smooth clear sea, nice places to eat. Friend of mine has a house on the west coast just outside Holetown. 10 yards out of his front door you are on the beach and able to go snorkling. If you like fishing, snorkelling, sailing, "sea stuff" in general you will not be disappointed.
Bajans love their motorsport - if you are out there in June you have to attend the Sol Rally Barbados (infact you won't avoid it).
Learn to drink rum - specifically Mount Gay XO (not Eclipse!) It's lovely and extremely cheap (about 30p a single measure).
Learn to play dominos.
If you do both of the above you will make a lot of friends.
If you do want to laze around on the beach then The Boat Bar during the day for rum, dominos, pool, beach. Harborlights nightclub at night for music and the best burgers anywhere on the island.
Wildlife reserve for lots of interesting animals.
Concorde.
Mount Gay distillery tour.
Do a helicopter tour - I can give you the details, friend of mine is the pilot.
Hire a car you can do the island in a day easily. The roads are very very smooth and very slippery. Hire cars have good handbrakes ;-)
There's a sporting club - can't remember the name of it but will find out - basically rock up with your passport, choose a gun from their menu and go and have an hour shooting targets.
Probably some other stuff I can't think of right now but thats the gist of it.
East coast is the remote side, rougher sea, lots of little coves and beaches to go and explore.
West coast is millionaires paradise, lovely beaches smooth clear sea, nice places to eat. Friend of mine has a house on the west coast just outside Holetown. 10 yards out of his front door you are on the beach and able to go snorkling. If you like fishing, snorkelling, sailing, "sea stuff" in general you will not be disappointed.
Bajans love their motorsport - if you are out there in June you have to attend the Sol Rally Barbados (infact you won't avoid it).
Learn to drink rum - specifically Mount Gay XO (not Eclipse!) It's lovely and extremely cheap (about 30p a single measure).
Learn to play dominos.
If you do both of the above you will make a lot of friends.
If you do want to laze around on the beach then The Boat Bar during the day for rum, dominos, pool, beach. Harborlights nightclub at night for music and the best burgers anywhere on the island.
Wildlife reserve for lots of interesting animals.
Concorde.
Mount Gay distillery tour.
Do a helicopter tour - I can give you the details, friend of mine is the pilot.
Hire a car you can do the island in a day easily. The roads are very very smooth and very slippery. Hire cars have good handbrakes ;-)
There's a sporting club - can't remember the name of it but will find out - basically rock up with your passport, choose a gun from their menu and go and have an hour shooting targets.
Probably some other stuff I can't think of right now but thats the gist of it.
[quote=mattdaniels
Do a helicopter tour - I can give you the details, friend of mine is the pilot.
Probably some other stuff I can't think of right now but thats the gist of it.
[/quote]
I'd be interested in the details, especially if they can take you to another Island as part of a day trip tour
Do a helicopter tour - I can give you the details, friend of mine is the pilot.
Probably some other stuff I can't think of right now but thats the gist of it.
[/quote]
I'd be interested in the details, especially if they can take you to another Island as part of a day trip tour
flyingjase said:
I'm off to Barbados at the start of July so am doing similar research right now.
Apparently Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday is a must see
Concorde
Hiring (sorry Chartering) a boat for a day
Swin with turtles
Ship wreck snorkle
Hire a 4x4 to go exploring on the dirt tracks
Also found some good looking restaurants (Tides, The Cliff and Waterside are a few that spring to mind)
There is PHer who has a luxury villa near the east coast that is cheap (an PH discount on top) if you are interested. Personally I am staying on the West Coast.
I wouldnt bother with the fish fry - its just and excuse to fleece tourists. Apparently Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday is a must see
Concorde
Hiring (sorry Chartering) a boat for a day
Swin with turtles
Ship wreck snorkle
Hire a 4x4 to go exploring on the dirt tracks
Also found some good looking restaurants (Tides, The Cliff and Waterside are a few that spring to mind)
There is PHer who has a luxury villa near the east coast that is cheap (an PH discount on top) if you are interested. Personally I am staying on the West Coast.
The other things you've got sound great and similar to what we did when there afew years ago. I'd go on a local turtle dive and wreck snorkle though, not one of the big organised trips. The local guys are just a man and a boat and get you much closer to the turtles.
Car hire is a must even for a few days, although Bajan roads are shocking in a few places. Watch out for the Reggae buses as they don't necesarily stay on their side of the road. Its also worth knowing that locals use the horn to give way and to say thank you. Im also pretty sure that its a no no to flash your headlights in Barbados.
Totally agree with hiring a car and getting out and about. I hired a Mini Moke when last there a few years ago and it was plenty good enough to get out and about with a map and a couple of bottles of cold water. It was also excellent fun driving into some nice restuarant car parks and handing the keys over for valet parking 
Restaurant wise the Cliff was good when we were there and Lone Star (just down the road) was truly excellent in terms of food, service and location - not cheap mind. There was also a family run Italian on the entrance to The Gap which is worth eating in. Traditionally made pasta and excellent salads as well.
Things might have changed a bit but get out and about off the usual tourist locations and you will find some good places to eat and drink where the locals are friendly.
Restaurant wise the Cliff was good when we were there and Lone Star (just down the road) was truly excellent in terms of food, service and location - not cheap mind. There was also a family run Italian on the entrance to The Gap which is worth eating in. Traditionally made pasta and excellent salads as well.
Things might have changed a bit but get out and about off the usual tourist locations and you will find some good places to eat and drink where the locals are friendly.
Love Barbados but haven't been for a few years.
One time, we wanted to catch a taxi from the Bridgetown up to the Northand the cabbie asked if we'd mind taking a free detour as he needed to see a friend at the cricket ground.
We pulled up outside Kensington Oval and he knocked on a back door and one of the groundsmen came out who then invited us in for a tour.
We spend a good hour wandering around the stadium and pitch while the groundsman was telling us stories about the English team on tour (usually the butt of the jokes).
Eventually we got back in the cab and finished our journey an hour or so late but gave a the cabbie a decent tip.
Don't be in a hurry for anything.
One time, we wanted to catch a taxi from the Bridgetown up to the Northand the cabbie asked if we'd mind taking a free detour as he needed to see a friend at the cricket ground.
We pulled up outside Kensington Oval and he knocked on a back door and one of the groundsmen came out who then invited us in for a tour.
We spend a good hour wandering around the stadium and pitch while the groundsman was telling us stories about the English team on tour (usually the butt of the jokes).
Eventually we got back in the cab and finished our journey an hour or so late but gave a the cabbie a decent tip.
Don't be in a hurry for anything.
flyingjase said:
[quote=mattdaniels
Do a helicopter tour - I can give you the details, friend of mine is the pilot.
Probably some other stuff I can't think of right now but thats the gist of it.
I'd be interested in the details, especially if they can take you to another Island as part of a day trip tourDo a helicopter tour - I can give you the details, friend of mine is the pilot.
Probably some other stuff I can't think of right now but thats the gist of it.
The gun/sporting club we went to is Kendal - http://www.go-kendal.com/
Just back, and due to a total non-availability of hire-cars when we were there (left it too late, I guess 
), and the high-price of taxis, we did very little. Which given it was a chill-out week was lovely...but does mean we need an excuse to go back.
Some pointers from what we did do:-
- Snorkeling is merely 'so-so' off a lot of beaches. Folkstone Marine Park is definitely the best we visited - not quite Sharm but still decent. However there's no loungers and not a lot to do there - it's a 'go-to-snorkel' spot. Coral Reef Club, I was told, has a good snorkeling beach, but you try getting on there.
- West coast is supposed to have the least surf / best beaches & snorkeling, but it can still get some proper waves (last morning wanted to go for a final snorkle at Folkstone, only to see red flag and 2ft+ breakers).
- The turtles are almost tame - they've become habituated to humans and associate them with food now. Still a very cool experience, but a little...too easy, IYSWIM? (Becs said it was surreal - you were told you'd see them, then there they are right by the boat, hanging around) Everyone goes to one of the two spots (Paynes Bay, ~central area, or further north offshore from ~Lone Star rest't, or close to there).
- Food can be very good - fine dining level, although still sub-Michelin. Tides (Holetown) was our favourite (didn't go to the Cliff - prices are
) - excellent service, excellent location, very good food, occasionally trying a little 'too hard'. Starters 40-60BBD, Mains mostly 80BBD (just over 3BBD per £). Mangoes by the Sea (Speightstown) was similar prices, almost-as-good food (very close), but a half-step down on service and location. Prices are ~London levels, for what you're getting, I'd say - even 'bar food' is still £25-30 for a 1-course lunch for 2 with drinks.
- Buses are frequent and easy to use - 2BBD each regardless of distance. Don't be afraid of the yellow ones, they're just a little more 'laid-back' than the gov't-run blue ones.
- Expect very brief showers during the afternoons. Not always, but 3 of our 7 days saw them. 2-5 mins of rain, then it passes and the sun comes out again...
- Calabaza catamaran cruise was very good. Small boat, relaxed affair not a more crowded 'party boat' like some of the others (Cool Runnings, Jammin', Tiami...). All go to similar places and do similar things, and in dry season you'll need to pre-book. Can go see the turtles just by going along with a beach-tout though, if that's all you want to do - cheaper too.
- Banks beer is good - similar to San Mig. Rum punches are addictive but stronger than you expect. (Non-alc) fruit punches very good - nearly-smoothies.
), and the high-price of taxis, we did very little. Which given it was a chill-out week was lovely...but does mean we need an excuse to go back.Some pointers from what we did do:-
- Snorkeling is merely 'so-so' off a lot of beaches. Folkstone Marine Park is definitely the best we visited - not quite Sharm but still decent. However there's no loungers and not a lot to do there - it's a 'go-to-snorkel' spot. Coral Reef Club, I was told, has a good snorkeling beach, but you try getting on there.
- West coast is supposed to have the least surf / best beaches & snorkeling, but it can still get some proper waves (last morning wanted to go for a final snorkle at Folkstone, only to see red flag and 2ft+ breakers).
- The turtles are almost tame - they've become habituated to humans and associate them with food now. Still a very cool experience, but a little...too easy, IYSWIM? (Becs said it was surreal - you were told you'd see them, then there they are right by the boat, hanging around) Everyone goes to one of the two spots (Paynes Bay, ~central area, or further north offshore from ~Lone Star rest't, or close to there).
- Food can be very good - fine dining level, although still sub-Michelin. Tides (Holetown) was our favourite (didn't go to the Cliff - prices are
) - excellent service, excellent location, very good food, occasionally trying a little 'too hard'. Starters 40-60BBD, Mains mostly 80BBD (just over 3BBD per £). Mangoes by the Sea (Speightstown) was similar prices, almost-as-good food (very close), but a half-step down on service and location. Prices are ~London levels, for what you're getting, I'd say - even 'bar food' is still £25-30 for a 1-course lunch for 2 with drinks.- Buses are frequent and easy to use - 2BBD each regardless of distance. Don't be afraid of the yellow ones, they're just a little more 'laid-back' than the gov't-run blue ones.
- Expect very brief showers during the afternoons. Not always, but 3 of our 7 days saw them. 2-5 mins of rain, then it passes and the sun comes out again...
- Calabaza catamaran cruise was very good. Small boat, relaxed affair not a more crowded 'party boat' like some of the others (Cool Runnings, Jammin', Tiami...). All go to similar places and do similar things, and in dry season you'll need to pre-book. Can go see the turtles just by going along with a beach-tout though, if that's all you want to do - cheaper too.
- Banks beer is good - similar to San Mig. Rum punches are addictive but stronger than you expect. (Non-alc) fruit punches very good - nearly-smoothies.
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