BARBADOS. The best places to eat, sleep and play in Barbados this spring and summer

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1 BARBADOS SPRING & SUMMER GUIDE 2011 The best places to eat, sleep and play in Barbados this spring and summer With more than 45 million reviews and opinions, TripAdvisor makes travel planning a snap for the 40 million travelers visiting our site each month. Think before you print. And if you do print, print double-sided.

2 INTRODUCTION TripAdvisor, the most trusted source for where to eat, sleep and play in thousands of destinations around the world, has collected the best insider tips from its 40 million monthly visitors to produce a unique series of travel guides. In addition to the best hotels, restaurants and attractions for every type of traveler, you ll get great advice about what to pack, how to get around and where to find the best views. Be sure to check out the guides at You ll find reviews for more than 474,000 hotels, 100,000 vacation rentals, 135,000 attractions and 675,000 restaurants on TripAdvisor.com. Learn from other travelers what to expect before you make your plans. PACKING TIPS 1. Don t forget your passport even for travel from the United States. It s required for all air and sea border crossings. 2. A collared golf shirt, khakis and boat shoes will be fine for upscale dining. Shorts are not acceptable. TripAdvisor Member, Texas 3. All-inclusive resorts may supply snorkel gear, but expect sub-par equipment. Bring your own if you plan to do a lot of snorkeling. TripAdvisor Member, London, England 4. The Barbados dollar and U.S. dollar are prevalent. Bring along either one of these currencies to avoid waiting in line in a bank. TripAdvisor Member, Barbados 5. You ll be near the equator, so pack a proper hat and sunscreen. TripAdvisor Member, Ontario Inside BARBADOS Beautiful Barbados, the easternmost Caribbean island, boasts a wealth of sights to explore in just 166 square miles. Visit the capital city of Bridgetown, a bustling commercial center, or party it up along the 1.3-kilometer strip of restaurants, hotels and lively bars known as St. Lawrence Gap. Explore Holetown, the island s first settlement. Sample fresh local seafood at the Fish Fry in Oistins or relax in Bathsheba on the rugged east coast. Barbados is a year-round vacation spot, with warm and sunny temperatures throughout the seasons. Steady northeast tradewinds prevent you from overheating and rain, when it comes, usually arrives in brief showers. Major storms are almost unheard of. In a nutshell, the weather is perfect! The abundant activities are as diverse as the towns. While away the days on a white-sand beach. Step into history with tours of Sunbury Plantation and St. Nicholas Abbey. Marvel at the natural beauty of the Barbados Wildlife Reserve, Welchman Hall Gully and Andromeda Gardens. Sporting enthusiasts can tackle the big surf breaks at the Soup Bowl, play a top-rated golf course or dive amid teeming tropical fish in Folkestone Marine Park. Anything is possible in Barbados. tripadvisor.com 2

3 Top VIEWS BARBADOS S BEST VIEWS Farley Hill is a good place for a picnic lunch. Many Bajans picnic all day here on a Saturday or Sunday. It s a peaceful green area with a beautiful overlook that is worth the nominal admission. TripAdvisor Member, Boston, Mass. Farley Hill National Park, St. Peter, Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill is a bit out of the way, but definitely worth a short visit. The view from the hill toward the Atlantic coast below is spectacular. TripAdvisor Member, Fairfax, Va. Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill, St. Andrew Take in the sights from Mount Hillaby, the highest point on the island. The views are spectacular, and it s an interesting drive, taking you through some lovely small villages. TripAdvisor Member, Surrey, U.K. Mount Hillaby, St. Andrew Where to PLAY TOP 10 Attractions 1. St. Nicholas Abbey, Cherry Tree Hill, Highway 1, St. Peter, Hunte s Gardens, Castle Grant, Saint Joseph, Carlisle Bay 4. Andromeda Botanic Gardens, St. Joseph, Bathsheba, Crane Beach 6. Banks Brewery, Collmore Rock Road, Animal Flower Cave, North Point, Harrison s Cave, Welchman Hall Gully, St. Thomas, Bathsheba Beach, Christ Church, Bathsheba 10. Gun Hill Signal Station, Highway 4, FAMILIES Barry s Surf School is great fun for the whole family. The instructor made it so easy! He was very patient, and we all had a great time. TripAdvisor Member, New York, N.Y. Barry s Surf Barbados Surf School, Golf Club Road, Christ Church, Kids won t get bored at The Boatyard beach club. The pier has a rope swing into the ocean, trampolines and other things to play on, or you can snorkel. TripAdvisor Member, Canton, Texas The Boatyard, Bay Street, Bridgetown, Animal Flower Cave takes its name from the resident sea anemones. It s great value for the money. The pools look about two feet deep but are deep enough to swim in, and we did! TripAdvisor Member, Portsmouth, England Animal Flower Cave, North Point, St. Lucy, ROMANCE The Flower Forest s gardens are an oasis of tranquility. The walks are easy to follow, and the views are stunning, with plenty of benches to admire the fantastic surroundings. TripAdvisor Member, Malaga, Spain Flower Forest, Highway 2, Richmond, St. Joseph, an oasis of tranquility Picnic at gorgeous, secluded Bottom Bay. There aren t any shops or restaurants close by, which adds to the beauty and peacefulness of the beach. TripAdvisor Bottom Bay, South Coast Take your main squeeze to the dinner show Bajan Roots & Rhythms. It s a great peek at the local culture and a very fun evening. TripAdvisor Member, Toronto, Ontario Bajan Roots & Rhythms, The Plantation Theatre, St. Lawrence Main Road, Christ Church, tripadvisor.com 3

4 Where to PLAY BUDGET Pelican Craft Center is a good place to buy gifts. The small craft shops hold something for everybody. TripAdvisor Pelican Craft Centre, Princess Alice Highway, Bridgetown, St. Michael, If you are interested in nature or ecology, don t miss the Welchman Hall Gully. You are surrounded by towering tree trunks with foliage far overhead. It s like being in a cathedral. TripAdvisor Member, Calgary, Alberta Welchman Hall Gully, Welchman Hall, St. Thomas, The Synagogue, one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere, is beautiful and compelling. Greed for tourist dollars has not hit this place. TripAdvisor Member, Pasadena, Calif. The Synagogue, Synagogue Lane, Bridgetown, ADVENTURE Serious surfers head to Bathsheba for breaks. Soup Bowl and Parlor are right next to each other. From November to May the waves can be pretty big and powerful. TripAdvisor Member, Barbados Surfing, Soup Bowl and Parlor, Bathsheba Resting in 120 feet of water, the Stavronikita is a fabulous wreck. It s a great experience for more experienced divers. An abundance of tropical fish around the mast get the dive off to a brilliant start. TripAdvisor Member, Sheffield, England Stavronikita, Folkestone Marine Park, St. James It s like being in a cathedral. Every Sunday, The National Trust hosts Hike Barbados. Guides share history and local folklore as walkers enjoy the island off the beaten pathway. TripAdvisor Member Hike Barbados, Barbados National Trust, a fabulous wreck. TripAdvisor members have posted more than 6,000,000 photos on the site. The good, the bad and the very candid. It s almost like being there! EDUCATIONAL/HISTORICAL The tour of Mount Gay details the history of how Mount Gay rum got its name, a sniff test of various rums, a short film, a viewing of the bottling process and most importantly, the sampling of rum. The latter being my favorite. TripAdvisor Mount Gay Rum Refinery, Bridgetown, RELAXATION Just down the beach from the Round House Restaurant is a set of tidal pools. Sitting in them provides a great view of the east coast, the rocks and the huge waves. TripAdvisor Member The Bathsheba Pools, Bathsheba If you are interested in learning about domestic history in Barbados, Sunbury Plantation House makes an excellent excursion. The interior displays antique furniture, prints, clothing, silverware and china. TripAdvisor Member, West Palm Beach, Fla. Sunbury Plantation House, St. Philip, Andromeda Botanic Gardens are lovely. There are lots of nooks and crannies to sit awhile and enjoy the peace. The café provided freshly made sandwiches and delicious limeade. TripAdvisor Member, Cheshire, England Andromeda Botanic Gardens, St. Joseph, Bathsheba, sit awhile and enjoy the peace. St. Nicholas Abbey is a great example of Jacobean style architecture. The grounds contain a small refinery, old sugar mill and other interesting out-buildings. TripAdvisor Member, Ontario St. Nicholas Abbey, Cherry Tree Hill, Highway 1, St. Peter, At Earthworks Pottery, watch beautiful pottery being made, so unlike anything you would find in the U.S. TripAdvisor Member, Mocksville, N.C. Earthworks Pottery, 2 Edgehill Heights, St. Thomas, tripadvisor.com 4

5 What s the TOUR How to Get Around Set sail with Cool Runnings Catamaran Cruises. The crew is wonderful very good with children and any passengers who are not confident snorkeling or swimming. TripAdvisor The drivers at Island Safari Barbados are friendly, funny and informative. You can see a lot of the island, and the off-roading portions made the tour very exciting. TripAdvisor Member, Wilmington, Del. Most hotels are located on the south and west coasts and these routes are wellserviced by the Barbados Transit Board. The buses are blue and yellow. WHERE to eat Want more information on Barbados? TripAdvisor.com offers free weekly updates filled with new deals, reviews and articles for Barbados or any other destination you choose. FAMILIES The Barbados chain Chefette has locations throughout the island, seven with playgrounds. It s local fast food; excellent stuff like pizza, fried chicken and fries. TripAdvisor Member, Barbados Chefette, 14 locations island-wide, plus the airport The Fish Pot is predominantly seafood, but they also have lamb shank and beef tenderloin. They have a children s menu with fries and chicken nuggets, etc., so it is fun for the whole family. TripAdvisor Member, Barbados The Fish Pot, Little Good Harbour, Shermans, St. Peter, We enjoyed a lovely lunch at Mullins Restaurant. The food was very good, and they had a great kids menu. The service was excellent. And the location, right on the beach, could not be beat. TripAdvisor Member, New York Mullins Restaurant, Mullins Bay, St. Peter, ROMANCE Dine waterside at The Tides. They have lights set up so you can see the beautiful waves. The watermelon/tuna tartar appetizer was amazing, and the scallops were done to perfection. TripAdvisor Member, San Francisco, Calif. The Tides Restaurant, Balmore House, Holetown, St. James, BUDGET Friendly staff, delicious local cuisine and the most spectacular view of Bathsheba and the East Coast make Bonito a must. TripAdvisor Member, Toronto, Ontario Bonito Bar & Restaurant, Bathsheba, The Cliff is a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful setting. Schedule some time before or after the meal, and enjoy a drink in the lounge to savor the ambiance. TripAdvisor Member, Edinburgh, Scotland The Cliff, Derricks, St. James, Visit one of the local vendors at the Oistins Fish Fry on Friday and Saturday nights. You just pick which fish you want: flying fish, marlin, kingfish, mahi mahi. The flying fish was delicious! TripAdvisor Member, San Francisco, Calif. Oistins Fish Fry, Oistins, Christ Church a beautiful restaurant in a beautiful setting At Cariba, tables are situated in a quaint, covered terrace area surrounded by tropical plants. The food was good, and the atmosphere relaxed. TripAdvisor Cariba Restaurant and Bar, No. 1 Clarke s Gap, Saint James, Try out Mojo for great food, great service and friendly staff. Don t let the look of the place put you off. TripAdvisor Member, Matlock, England Mojo, Worthing Main Road, Christ Church, tripadvisor.com 5

6 WHERE to eat HEALTH-CONSCIOUS Visit Just Grillin for fresh fish and chicken and grilled vegetables. Ask for a loyalty card, and if you go there enough, you might get a free meal! TripAdvisor Member, Bagshot, England Just Grillin, Quayside Centre, Rockley, Christ Church, Sushi night is on Thursday and Friday at Café Luna. Go for all the crazy rolls and the tuna sashimi. The full menu is also available. TripAdvisor Member, Barbados Café Luna, Little Arches Hotel, Enterprise Coast Road, Christ Church, Harlequin in The Gap has an extensive list of vegetarian dishes. It s very, very good. TripAdvisor Member, Canada The Harlequin Restaurant, Rostrevor Hotel, St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, HIDDEN GEMS Fisherpond Great House is THE place to go for a unique dining experience! The gardens, the plantation house with all of its antiques, and the wonderful Sunday brunch should be savoured by anyone who enjoys history and local charm. TripAdvisor Member, Liverpool, Nova Scotia Fisherpond Great House, St Thomas, Usually someone starts dancing There is a good mixture of locals and tourists at the Sunday BBQ at Crystal Waters beach bar. It includes steak, chicken or pork, macaroni pie, salad and peas and rice. Usually someone starts dancing, so it s definitely lively! TripAdvisor Member, Barbados Sunday BBQ at Crystal Waters, First Avenue Worthing, Christ Church, The Elbow Room offers a novel concept where you cook your own dinner on hot stones. There s a variety of meat, fish and seafood on the menu. It s served raw, with a side dish of either rice or mashed potato and vegetables. You then cook the meat to your liking and enjoy! TripAdvisor Elbow Room Restaurant & Bar, 2nd Street, Holetown, St. James, SPECIAL EVENTS Take the opportunity to learn about Barbadian & Caribbean culture during Bajan Roots & Rhythms. Each performance features a stage show with interactive elements for the audience and an authentic Bajan buffet. (Wednesdays & Fridays Throughout the Summer) Bajan Roots & Rhythms, The Plantation Theatre, St. Lawrence Main Road, Christ Church, , Much of Barbados economy was built by fishing, and nowhere is this more evident than in the town of Oistin, a fishing community on the South Coast of the island. Join the locals in celebrating the bounty of the sea during the Oistins Fish Festival, a month long party featuring live calypso and reggae music, delicious fried fish, fresh beer, and the famous greasy pole competition. (June) Oistins Fish Festival, Various venues, Oistins, Since the 1780s, Barbados has been celebrating the end of the sugar cane season with the Crop Over Festival. Thousands of revelers head to Bridgetown each year to eat, drink, watch the costume competitions and dance to live calypso and tuk music. Don t miss the Grand Kadooment, the exciting carnival parade that ends the festival each year. (July 2 August 1) Crop Over Festival, Various venues, Bridgetown, Every year, Barbados celebrates the abolition of slavery Emancipation Day. Held at the statue of Bussa, the leader of the slave revolt, the day s events include parades, educational awareness displays and more. (August 1) Emancipation Day, Emancipation Roundabout, St. Michael tripadvisor.com 6

7 Where to STAY FAMILIES The central pool complex was beautiful, and the beach was picture-perfect at the Bougainvillea Beach Resort. The kids pool was a major social hub, as was the Kids Club. TripAdvisor Member, Ontario Bougainvillea Beach Resort, Maxwell Coast Road, Christ Church, Enjoy five-star smiles at the Hilton Barbados. It s worth the upgrade to executive rooms for a little extra. It s also good for children; there s a great kids club and nice shops. TripAdvisor Member, Aberdeen, Scotland Hilton Barbados, Needham s Point, St. Michael, Mango Bay Resort has that Caribbean feeling that some bigger hotels lose. The restaurant staff was great, and the quality of the food was excellent. Kids will love the water sports during the day. TripAdvisor Member, Ayrshire, Scotland Mango Bay Resort, Second Street, Holetown, St. James, the beach was picture-perfect Have questions about Barbados? Get insider advice from local experts in our forums. The majority of questions are answered within 24 hours. ROMANCE The touches that make Little Arches Hotel special are executed with genuine friendliness: ice-cold flannels poolside every hour, the offer of free mountain bike use, the gift of a bottle of rum and delicious cake on arrival. TripAdvisor Member, Antigua Little Arches Hotel, Enterprise Coast Road, Christ Church, BUDGET The staff goes out of the way to help at the Southern Surf Beach Apartments. There s a great beach right across the street, and every room has a view of the ocean. TripAdvisor Member, Fayetteville, Ark. Southern Surf Beach Apartments, Rockley Beach, Christ Church, Cobblers Cove is a little corner of paradise. Service was flawless, while not in-yourface fawning, and the afternoon tea was a mini Ritz-like experience every day. TripAdvisor Member, England Cobblers Cove, Roadview, St. Peter, a little corner of paradise. All Seasons Resort Europa is great value. It s clean, well-maintained and has wonderful grounds. Several mornings, the monkeys made a trip through the property and entertained us as we had coffee on our deck. TripAdvisor Member, Toronto, Ontario All Seasons Resort Europa, Palm Avenue, Sunset Crest, St. James, Sorbets, iced water and free water sports during the day, turn down and cookies in the evening and reliable, friendly service throughout make the Sandpiper special. TripAdvisor Sandpiper, Holetown, St. James, The Butterfly Beach Hotel is in a good position, right on the beach and close to Oistins and Bridgetown. Rooms are nicely furnished, and the staff is very friendly and always helpful. TripAdvisor Member, United Kingdom Butterfly Beach Hotel, Maxwell Main Road, Christ Church, LUXURY The Coral Reef Club is run like clock-work. I ve never been to a hotel where I could not complain about something, but this hotel was faultless. The accommodation, service, staff, food, grounds everything was tip-top! TripAdvisor Coral Reef Club, St. James, Rooms at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion are comfortable and cleaned twice a day. Complimentary afternoon high tea includes finger sandwiches and bakery treats, and beach service was spot-on. TripAdvisor Member, Ladera Ranch, Calif. Fairmont Royal Pavilion, Porters, St. James, Sandy Lane Hotel has grin-inducing accommodations that feature all marble with beautiful wood furniture, flat screen TVs and a patio. Everything in the room runs by remote control. TripAdvisor Member, Parkland, Fla. Sandy Lane Hotel, St. James, tripadvisor.com 7

8 Where to STAY HIDDEN GEMS If you want peace and quiet along with a spectacular view, Sea-U! Guest House is the place to stay. The view and breeze from the front porch make it difficult to ever leave. TripAdvisor Member, Centreville, Va. Sea-U! Guest House, Tent Bay, St. Joseph, Bathsheba, Surfer s Point is one of the best places in the world. Perfect waves, amazing view, great people, safe and clean. I loved the chilled atmosphere The owners are always taking care of everything! TripAdvisor Member, Munich, Germany Surfer s Point Guest House, Inch Marlow, Christ Church, At Inchcape Seaside Villas, you have the convenience of being near everything, yet the tranquility of a villa at the end of a small road. The beach is perfect for surfing and windsurfing. TripAdvisor Member, Montreal, Quebec Inchcape Seaside Villas, Silver Sands, Christ Church, About TRIPADVISOR TripAdvisor is the largest travel community in the world with 40 million monthly visitors and featuring more than 45 million reviews and opinions of 609,000 hotels and attractions. TripAdvisor.com is the most trusted source for travel recommendations about where to go, where to stay and how to play for 85,000 destinations around the world. TripAdvisor.com also provides easy access to the major online travel sites to make booking your next vacation, your best vacation, easier than ever. Edited/compiled by LoAnn Halden, Michelle Schwartz and Kris Horton This brochure and its contents are copyright 2011, TripAdvisor, Inc., all rights reserved. TRIPADVISOR, the owl logo and all other marks displayed herein are registered and/or common law trademarks of TripAdvisor and/or third parties. Representations made in this brochure are current as of its publication date. This brochure contains reviews, comments, photographs and other content regarding destinations, accommodations, airlines and other travel products and services submitted by users of tripadvisor.com. Reviews and ratings represent the opinions of such users. TripAdvisor does not sponsor or endorse any user content and therefore is not liable for any statements, representations or other information contained in such user content. Further, reference to any products, services, processes or other information of any third party does not constitute or imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation of or affiliation with, such third party by TripAdvisor. Such third parties are owned and operated by independent retailers or service providers, and TripAdvisor cannot ensure that you will be satisfied with their products, services, business practices or provided information. TripAdvisor recommends that you pursue any and all investigation you feel necessary or appropriate before transacting with any third party. tripadvisor.com 8