We’ve been lucky enough to have been coming to Barbados for many years so it’s hard to narrow it
down to our top five things to do. So we cheated, and we’ve given you our advice from a male,
female and kid’s point of view!
Jon’s top picks
- Enjoying a cold Banks: pretty much anywhere! But the favourite spot is at Surfside for
sundowner drinks and enjoying happy hour. It’s chilled and relaxed which just sums up
Barbados! - Snorkelling – Give Jon some goggles and he can disappear into the sea for hours looking for
turtles, tropical fish and beautiful coral. It’s worth heading down to the Royal Pavilion after
lunch and heading out on a tour with the guys there as they normally know exactly where to
find the turtles. - Jerk chicken cooked on the oil drum – Island Grill chicken. Say no more!
- Cocktails at the Lone Star before dinner – a must for every visit. Worth going to just for some
drinks at the bar but if you’ve booked a table for dinner make sure you go down there early
for a Caprikosa! - Random drives – one of the best things to do is just go a drive with no real agenda and
discover new places. Heading towards the north of the island you’ll reach Animal Caves and
see the rugged cliffs and choppy waters below. Head to the East Coast for a totally different
experience. At the end of the day the island is small and it’s pretty difficult to get lost!
Lianne’s top picks
- Cocktails at The Cliff – Heaven and a mojito, I say no more.
- Watching the polo – if we’re lucky enough and there is a game while we’re on the island
then it’s a must for me. There are a few places to watch it but Apes Hill is lovely. You can
grab a glass of wine and take part in a spot of people watching! - BBQ on the rooftop terrace – yes there are some amazing restaurants to try in Barbados,
getting some fresh fish from the market and cooking a BBQ on the roof terrace is still one of
my favourite things to do. - The Atlantis – over on the East side of the island, the sister restaurant to The Fish Pot (also a
favourite of mine!) is lovely and it’s nice to see the other side of the island which is a total
contrast to the West coast. - Street party! – We haven’t visited this in a while as it’s not quite what you would call ‘kid’
friendly but head down to the street party on First and Second Street in Holetown on a
Sunday night for a fabulous Bajan style party! Grab a rum punch and give the karaoke a go!
Buddy’s top picks
- Swimming –It’s hard to choose from the swimming pools at Sugar Hill but both are a great
spot for kids. If you are in need of a caffeine fix, head to the Clubhouse pool and grab a
coffee at Carizma on the Hill. They also do a lovely ‘Cocktail and Cake’ deal if you’re after
something stronger! - The friendly locals – Pretty much everywhere in Barbados is child-friendly and they are really
accommodating for the smaller guests – children’s meals, high chairs, etc. The supermarkets
are also well stocked with everything you might need – nappies, wet wipes, baby food, etc. - Building sandcastles – The beach facility at the Royal Pavilion has enough shady spots for
kids to play out in and makes the perfect spot for some sandcastle building. There should be
a bucket and spade at the apartment! - Exciting new food to try – Buddy loves trying the local food – Bajan fish cakes, rice and peas,
jerk chicken, fresh mango… - Seeing the baby Monkeys at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve – This is actually my favourite
thing to do but Buddy will grow to love it too! If you can time it right, head down to the
Wildlife Reserve for feeding time. You’ll find lots of monkeys and baby monkeys hanging
around the entrance so you don’t even need to go in the Reserve if you don’t want to!
Our top 5 rainy day activity suggestions
Although we don’t like to think about rain in the Caribbean, it does happen from time to time!
Mostly you’ll just experience a short downpour which will quickly dry up when the sun comes out.
But sometimes it might mean that a day by the pool or beach is out of the question, so what do you
do? We’ve compiled a list of our favourite things to do when the clouds come over:-
Concorde Experience – You might not be able to fly Concorde to Barbados anymore, but situated
next door to the airport you will find the Concorde Experience. Your chance to learn more about
this impressive aircraft and an opportunity to take a seat in the first-class cabin or even up in the
cockpit. A good day out for all the family.
Mount Gay Rum Distillery – Found close to the port in Bridgetown, the distillery is home to one of
the oldest rums in the world. Mount Gay has been on the island for over 300 years and even if rum
isn’t your thing, it’s well worth a visit to the visitor’s centre which takes you through the history of
the distillery and how life in Barbados has changed over the centuries. The tour probably lasts
around 60 minutes and you can enjoy a cocktail or two in the bar afterwards.
Harrisons Cave – Rain can actually enhance your experience at Harrisons Cave! Found 160ft under
the island, the waterfalls and streams that flow through the cave are even more spectacular during a
downpour. When we first started coming to Barbados over twenty years ago, you had to climb into a
bucket style trolley for your tour. Nowadays the experience has benefited from huge investment
and the tours are conducted on much more modern, comfortable trams which is a bit of an adventure in itself! Take a cardigan or a jumper though as it does get a bit chilly down there!
Limegrove – If you’re in the mood for a spot of retail therapy, take yourself down to Limegrove
shopping mall in Holetown. There are plenty of different shops and boutiques to take a browse
around from Ralph Lauren, Mac and Michael Kors. When you need to take a pit stop, lunch and
coffee at Relish is the perfect place, or indulge a bit at The Green Monkey Chocolatiers. If a G&T is more your style, the Lime Bar is a great shout.
Limegrove Cinema – Not normally one to advocate a trip to the cinema when you’re on holiday, but
catching a movie when you’re in the Caribbean is quite a unique experience. In a quirky old-
fashioned way, the usher will escort you to your seats, where you can order your drinks and snacks
from the menu, including a cold Banks beer, and have them delivered direct to your seat during the
movie.
