My husband and I travelled to Barbados recently. It was our first trip to the Caribbean and we loved it! The people were all very friendly and helpful, the beaches were fantastic, excellent restaurants and some of the best service I’ve received anywhere.
We stayed in a villa we found on VRBO, near Mullins Beach. The location was great – quiet, 5 min walk to nice beach and a couple restaurants, 30 minute walk to Speightown, which has a grocery store, and several nice shops and beach front restaurants. The beaches all along this coast are beautiful.
Getting Around
We were in Barbados for 2 weeks and found lots to do! The small buses run frequently- they are privately owned, so expect loud music, fast driving, and crowds, but they are lots of fun. Just flag one down whenever you need one! There are also large buses which are a little more sedate, but you will need to be at a bus stop to catch one of those. The large buses do not give change so you have to make sure you have the right amount. Both types of buses were 3.50 barbados dollars ($1.75 US). We decided not to rent a car since we are not use to driving on the left side, and because the driving is pretty crazy!
Things to do
Hole Town – by bus. The chattel shops in Holetown are fun if you like to shop for nice clothes (and pay the price!). I did find one second-hand clothing shop there though, and grabbed a cute colourful top to wear as a cover-up. A good restaurant in the middle of the shops is Cafe Karizma. There is also a large outdoor mall in Holetown called Limegrove Lifestyle Center, with some great cafes and a beautiful courtyard. It is worth walking into even if you don’t like to shop!
Bridgetown – by bus. This is the capital of Barbados. We found this walking tour online and followed it. Some interesting historical buildings and inexpensive shops. This is where the locals shop!
St Nicholas Abby – by taxi. This is worth a visit. Period furnished house, rum tasting, interesting video, and you can walk around the grounds.
Harrison’s Cave – by taxi. This attraction is a little pricy, but worth it. You watch a couple videos and then ride a train through the caves with a guide. I have been in caves before, and this one was by far the best.
Catamaran and Snorkeling – There are a number of companies that offer this, but we chose El Tigre – a 5 hour turtle and shipwreck with lunch option. This was really good value. A driver picked us up near our accomodation in a spotless van and the staff on board the catamaran were excellent – super friendly but knew their jobs well. Two stops for snorkelling and swimming, with all equipment provided, plus a fabulous lunch. The boat was beautiful – it was one of my favorite days on Barbados.
