Insider Tips: Barbados

Barbados has long been the epitome of luxury Caribbean holidays - a favourite of celebrities, sports stars and royalty alike. It’s not hard to see why. It may only be 21 miles long and 14 miles wide, but it has something for everyone looking for a special holiday. Some 70 miles of beaches, world class restaurants, a lively social scene and some really superb luxury villas. Here are some ONEE Insider Tips to help you find the right choice for your clients.

Getting to Barbados

Located in the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean, Barbados is well served from the UK, with Virgin and BA offering direct flights. Choose from London, Manchester or Edinburgh airports. The flight time is around 9 hours.

Best Time to Go to Barbados

Barbados offers year-round sunshine and lovely temperatures. The high season runs from December to April, which are the driest, sunniest months. July to November is wetter, when you can expect short downpours or storms, followed by hot, sunny bursts. The most humid months are September and October.

Our Thoughts on Barbados

Whilst it has a reputation for luxury, there is a laid back, welcoming feel to Barbados that lies at the heart of its appeal. As a holiday destination, it has something for everyone, whether they’re a couple wanting to escape from it all for a week, friends wanting a slightly livelier holiday, or a family looking to spend quality time together. Beach wise, it offers the perfect combination of fine white sand beaches and natural coral reefs on its west coast, with a wilder, rocky east coast, where the waves make for ideal surfing conditions. If you can drag yourself away from your pool or beach lounger, there is plenty to keep you busy. Rent a jeep to explore the island, or discover the coast by yacht. Choose from activities such as golf, scuba diving, kite surfing or even caving. As the sun goes down, foodies will be spoilt for choice whether you’re looking for authentic Bajan streetfood or fine dining in world class restaurants.

8 ONEE Top Tips for Making the Most of your Luxury Holiday to Barbados …

1. For fine dining and a special occasion, book a table at one of Island's top restaurants: The Lone Star, The Tides, Daphe's, Fusion Rooftop, or Camelot at Cobblers Cove. For lunch our favourites are Sea Shed (which is openning a new magical sunset lounge for 2022 season) or Fishpot for some delicious seafood.
2. Enjoy a night out in Holetown - where the First and Second Streets are home to lively bars and restaurants. Alternatively, the restaurants, bars and rum shacks of St Lawrence Gap and Oistins’ legendary ‘Fish Friday’ make for fantastic nights out.
3. Barbados was the birthplace of rum - and you can still visit distilleries to sample it in situ, including Mount Gay Distilleries in St Michael, home to the world’s oldest rum.
4. Drive along the rugged east coast, stopping at the dramatic coral boulder beach at Bathsheba, and the ‘Soup Bowl’ surfing hangout.
5. Duty free shopping is still a thing in Barbados, but there are also some lovely local handicrafts, arts and designers to tempt you. The capital, Bridgetown, has some great options, whilst Holetown on the south coast has a range of designer brands.
6. Walk along the boardwalk at Accra along the edge of the ocean at sunset for an evening stroll with a difference.
7. The Barbados Horticultural Society have been winning medals at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for nearly 30 years and the island is home to some fantastic gardens. Try the Andromeda Botanic Gardens with its amazing tropical plants or Hunte’s Gardens set against the backdrop of an old plantation.
8. For wildlife lovers, snorkelling with sea turtles is a truly memorable experience and at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, you can stroll through forested trails with exotic birds, deer and mongoose. Watch out for the Green Monkeys around 2pm, when they visit for feeding time.

Where to stay in Barbados

A villa offers clients the complete freedom to do what they please, when they please. From romantic hideaways, to family-friendly homes and from beachside escapes to some superb larger villas… Take a look at our properties.

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