Barbados - What a gem! according to Gill Fisher

Immediately on arrival I was struck by the friendly nature of the locals. As policy, you are required to accept the services of a local taxi and our driver took us the scenic route in order to give us an idea of the layout of the island, and did not stop talking about what the island had to offer.

All along the west coast are long stretches of sandy beaches, which house the majority of the holiday resorts. The south coast is home to the imposing Crane Residence Resort, a large luxury resort, and Crane Beach, which is great for surfing and para-sailing enthusiasts. Further along is St Lawrence Gap and similar ‘towns’ that reminded me a little of our south coast resorts back home. The east coast and inland is also dramatic, with the unusual rock formations at Bathsheba particularly worth visiting. The roads are not well maintained, and road signs almost non-existent and requires patience and a good sense of direction which is part of the fun!!

Personally, I didn’t care at all for Bridgetown. The Careenage (the harbour area) was attractive, with bars and cafes along the waterfront, but my general impression was that it’s a neglected town, and would barely survive if it wasn’t for the tourists piling in to visit the numerous Duty-Free outlets. Traffic in and out of Bridgetown is also notorious.

It’s fair to say that it’s not cheap to eat and drink in Barbados, however we did treat ourselves to a truly memorable experience by dining at The Lone Star, located right on the shoreline of the Platinum Coast near Holetown, where the food and service was impeccable.

EXCURSIONS

COOL RUNNINGS: 5-hour excursion on a catamaran (accommodating no more than 36 people at any one time) with a 4-man crew, one of which is the Captain/owner, David Povey. The trip we took was from 10.00 – 3.00 and was probably the highlight of the holiday. The crew were extremely friendly and attentive, providing drinks and a delightful lunch. There were two opportunities for snorkelling. COST: BDS$ (Approx. £42 per person/£ per child)

Advanced booking essential! They also operate a sunset cruise on a smaller catamaran, max. 26 persons. Other cruises offer the fantastic opportunity to swim with the resident turtles.

Other excursions available:

* Atlantis submarine experience * Mount Gay Rum Tour
* Tiami catamaran cruise * The Jolly Roger cruise
* Flower Forest of Barbados * Harrison’s Cave
* Various Plantation houses