If you had mentioned Barbados as a holiday destination just a few years ago, the Sandy Lane seven star hotel with its celebrity visitors and guests would have been the main topic of conversation, especially as the lowest cost room is still over $1,000 a night. If you mention Barbados today the first question will be about Rihanna and her meteoric rise to claim the world’s number one position as a music and celebrity icon.
If you visit the island, you will need to accept a slow pace of life. The waiters in the restaurant will get to you in their own good time. There’s no rush for anything, especially if you are on vacation. The almost non existence of crime and illegal drugs helps maintain a healthy attitude and outlook on the island.
Everyone Will Say ‘Hello’
One of the best parts about arriving in Barbados for a vacation is the friendliness of the people. Everywhere you go people will talk to you (whether you want to engage in conversation is up to you.) The nation is one of the world’s most polite nations and no-one would consider passing a stranger without a quality verbal welcome.
At just 166 square miles (431km2) Barbados punches well above its weight. Listed as the 200th largest of 236 countries in the world, it attracts over half a million tourists who stay on the island and just over 600,000 cruise line passengers each year.
As a tourist, there are just about all the options you could ask for. If you require an all-inclusive hotel you’ll have a good choice. If you prefer a middle of the range hotel so you can choose where to eat, the options are almost endless. If you want to rent a small room on a budget or the largest villa for your celebrity friends, the selections are plentiful.
Eating on the island is a delight in terms of choice and flavor. Almost all of the world’s biggest favorites are on offer, but not from one of the franchises you might see around the world. There are a couple of US franchises, but mostly the locals can make a sandwich or a Chinese meal better than the franchised units, even if you’re not totally taken by the national dish of flying fish and cou cou.
What to See
There is a lot to see on the island. If your wish is for a tasteful museum then the Houses of Parliament and the Barbados Museum will meet with your approval. If you have a need to see how sugar was originally cut and processed, the Sugar Museum will be a favorite stop. You can even take the opportunity to tour Concorde which used to fly here regularly from London, England.
You can visit underground caves, flower forests and experience a pirate ship adventure. The submarine tour is a firm favorite among visitors, who come from all over the world, with the US, Canada, the UK and much of the Caribbean providing the highest numbers of visitors.
If you want to try surfing, then the East coast waves are exactly what you’ll need, but if you desire calm water, the West coast will be your target. The South coast mixes the two with water safe enough to swim in, but not so calm that it’s like a pool.
The South coast is also home to the country’s best variety of places to eat, the country’s only real shopping mall and a drive in theatre.
You can sit and watch a soccer or cricket match with the locals or hire some golf clubs and play on some of the best golf courses in the world.
Rihanna Might Not Be At Home
The islanders will keep it a secret when Robyn Fenty (Rihanna) is home and you’ll see the pictures of where she went just as she leaves the island for another world tour. Nevertheless you can bump into her on the beach, at the local theatres or in the local fast food diner, Chefette (fourteen diners to choose from). On the island, while the people are extremely proud of her, she can go anywhere and do anything and not be disturbed as she rests from her other job as official Honorary Ambassador of youth and culture for Barbados.
You won’t be looking at Norwegian ski deals if you are considering Barbados because the weather is usually very good. Just be aware that the rain falls hard in this sub-tropical climate, but is usually gone without trace a few minutes later.
