Just booked Barbados - first time!

mrsg26

Have just booked Barbados for 1 week going with Virgin on 30thMay. Have never been to Barbados before! Has anyone any advice or recommendations? We are staying all inclusive at Escape at the Gap on Dover Beach. Roll on May!!!!!

Moneybot

mrsg26 wrote: »

Have just booked Barbados for 1 week going with Virgin on 30thMay. Have never been to Barbados before! Has anyone any advice or recommendations? We are staying all inclusive at Escape at the Gap on Dover Beach. Roll on May!!!!!

Lucky you!:)

If Virgin still do the Virgin's ahoy boat trip that was really good even if you don't snorkel. Got to swim with sea turtles.

Enjoyed walking along Welchman's gully and visiting the Wildlife reserve. If you wanted to eat out Gigi's at Christchurch was out of the way but really good food.

I wouldn't bother going into Bridge Town at all it is geared to the cruise ships and is the only place on the island we were hassled by people trying to sell us things.

katieeloise

Take a high sun factor protection cream and you dont need to pack towels ! Mosi repellant for the evenings but no jackets required !
ENJOY !

lady1964

How fab, I've been there 3 times now and love it

Definately go out on a snorkelling trip, we went with Cool Runnings last year and they were brilliant, especially with me as I wasn't very confident due to a bad experience previously in Egypt and the guy led me around and showed me so much, I even went in on my own!

We have also been on the Rythms 'n' Roots show and Harbour Lights, both similar but different. You pay your money and get food & drinks included. R 'n' R gives you the history of Barbados with shows, dancers and sketch type stuff, Harbour Lights is like a beach party with entertainment, fire eater, limbo etc.

Escape at the Gap is in St. Lawrence Gap, lots of bars, some shops, touristy but not very big, and Dover beach is just fab.

Friends we met there hired a car and spent a few days out touring the island. They said the beach at The Crane was superb and apparently the lunch on Sundays is fabulous, additional cost mind you but they said it was worth it. There are some beautiful gardens as well.

I think what you may want to do may depend on your length of stay and your preference on rest and relaxation but hopefully, the info I've given will help.

Have a fab time.

Lady1964

Luckyred

You have chosen well! Barbados is wonderful. I cant really offer any up to date advice because its about five years ago since we were there but I remember that you can travel all over the island cheaply and safely for very little money. Have a great time!

Party_Animal

I've hired a jeep and done the island,well worth doing, also done a lot of it by bus. The reggae bus is an experience. Sunday lunch at Crane Beach is great. Try Oistins at the weekend .

Luckyred

Luckyred wrote: »

You have chosen well! Barbados is wonderful. I cant really offer any up to date advice because its about five years ago since we were there but I remember that you can travel all over the island cheaply and safely for very little money. Have a great time!

I meant to say "by bus" but missed it out.

mrsg26

Thanks for the advice everyone. Definitely on my list is the Catamaran trip with Cool runnings had a look on TA and the reviews r great. We also are going to Ostins on the Friday night and may do harbour lights as well. Even though we are all inclusive we will still eat out a couple of evenings and will no doubt be out in The Gap every night. No point going all the way to Barbados and staying in our hotel the whole time! Any recommendations for restaurants?...definitely not going to be able to afford the Cliff but reckon we will probably eat at Champers one evening as this trip will be to celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary (and our first trip alone in 3 yrs..always had family accompany us - even on honeymoon!!) So really looking forward to it. If anyone else has any other advice please feel free to add. thanks.

nic_santorini

I swam with turtles and it was fabulous - I went on an excursion on my own and felt very included. The marine life is great, much better than Jamaica where there seemed to be none!! Lucky you, enjoy yourself.

mrsg26

nic_santorini wrote: »

I swam with turtles and it was fabulous - I went on an excursion on my own and felt very included. The marine life is great, much better than Jamaica where there seemed to be none!! Lucky you, enjoy yourself.

Can I ask where abouts u snorkled and which company did you use for the excursion?

Nobjocki

First of all congratulations on your choice - Barbados is a wonderful island and the Bajans really friendly people.

As has been mentioned the GAP is quite touristy but not in an unpleasant way - there's a fine English-style pub which serves an excellent breakfast that often coincides with live Premiership matches for any footy fans in your party.

Pisces is the nicest restaurant in the Gap - fabulous location looking out across the bay with great food. Just be aware they tried the old leaving the tip line open on the bill even though service is included trick when I went.

https://www.piscesbarbados.com

But there's also www.josefsinbarbados.com

I would be very tempted to get out of the Gap as often as you can to experience the real Barbados - a reggae bus into Bridgetown is a fun way to get around and I found the capital well worth a mooch around for a day even though you get a small bit of hassle from people selling stuff.

I would definitely hire a car for at least one day if not more to explore the island - it's beautiful. We stopped at small local bars all around the island to chat to the local who were good company.

Bethesda is a great spot but there are sugar plantations and chattel houses dotted all over.

Don't be afraid to enter into the local rum shops or taste the food that you'll sometimes find being cooked outside churches or in the street. Bajan Fishcakes washed down with an ice-cold bottle of Banks is to die for.

And I'm sure you're not into that sort of stuff but Dover Beach is the place to score really top quality and mellow Jamaican ganja.
Fellers in dreadlocks will sort you out.

Enjoy.

http://www.barbadostips.com/Barbados_Tips/Welcome_Barbados_Travel.html

http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/barbados-for-hikes-beaches-and-a-brazilian-boxers-t-shirt/?ref=travel

http://www.barbados.org/map_print.htm?Map=StLawrenceGap

http://www.barbados.org/oistins.htm