Expert: Cathrin Mueller - 10/7/2005

Question
We are thinking of spending a week in Barbados this coming February.  Only spent a few hours on the island a couple of years ago while on a cruise.  Questions concern the best hotels (quality & price), is the island safe, people friendly, best restaurants, quality of beaches, things to do and know about the island.  Thank you.

Answer
Hi!

A VERY big question.

I know most Caribbean islands somewhat and have visited just about all of them in the past years.  And yet Barbados is my favourite for all the best reasons.  

What you saw for those few hours is next to naadaa.  The island has an enormous amount to offer.

They call it 'Little England in the Caribbean' so it has a certain amount of structure.  It has a democracy.  It has the higest gross national product of any island and an extremely stable economy.  The Barbados Dollar is linked to the US Dollar at a constant rate of 1.98 to 1.  They also have mandatory schooling until grade 12 resulting in a very low crime rate.  An incredible public transportation system and the best hospitals in the area round off a well-run country.

It has the most luxurios (and expensive) hotel in the entire Caribbean (Sandy Lane - Tiger Woods married there last year), lots of 5* hotels and restaurants, the best golf courses (Royal Westmorland, Sand Lane, Rockley Golf Club & the Barbados Golf Club) in the entire Caribbean.  

On to those things that I know more about..... the people are super friendly, polite and gracious.  The island has superb beaches as it is a coral island not one evolved from volcanic activity (as most others).  The west coast has golden beaches with fine sand.  But better yet, the south coast has peachy pink beaches.  

Another BIG plus is that Barbados has the best drinking water being a coral self-filtering island.  You can drink it right from the tap so no hassle with expensice bottled water.  Because of this, they make the finest rum in the world in the oldest rum distillery (1703) at Mount Gay.  Their own Banks beer is pretty fine as well.

They have a policy of not depending upon other nations for their products so high duties are placed on incoming goods.  Go to the supermarkets and 'Buy Bajan'.  Forget Hellman's mayo.... but buy Aunt Mabels instead.  If your trip is only complete having a McDonald's to visit, this is not the place for you.  They have their own Chefette which is just as good but uses local products.

'Island in the Sun' was filmed there.  Minnie Driver, Eddie Grant and Cuba Gooding, Jr. call it home.  Mick Jagger, Sarah Ferguson, Richard Branson and the owner of tetrapak all own estates there.  If you are interested in hob-knobbing with the rich and famous you might just get lucky.  

Intersting tid-bit and mostly unknown fact.........  the Concord used to land at Grantly Adams Int'l airport weekly during the winter months from Heathrow.  Barbados is a tax haven.  Lots of british businessmen would buzz down in three hours to make a deposit and return straight away.

You need a passport to enter not just a birth certificate but that is standard.  

Buy yourself a good guide from APA or DuMont and rent a car and go for it.  Tons to see from caves, botanical gardens, plantation homes, great houses, distilleries, etc....  Clubbing is good, too.  Lots of local talent at open air clubs (Ship Inn, Boatyard, Harborlights, Carib Beach Bar).

I could quite obviously blather on for pages.  I will be returning for trip #19 on the 3rd of November for three weeks.  Most people who visit, return.  It is a good choice but a week is way too short!

Cheers,
Cathrin
Berlin, Germany