Barbados, with its fantastic tropical ambiance, is one of the top Caribbean
holiday destinations with a large percentage of repeat visitors . Visitors
almost unanimously praise the beautiful beaches with their powdery white coral
sands and turquoise waters, the friendly and intelligent people, and the modern
amenities on the island.
Whether you are looking for a holiday to just relax and keep busy doing nothing
but lounging or planning an action packed holiday in the sun, Barbados can
deliver. For those of you planning a quiet holiday there are plenty of hotels
and apartment away from the traditional tourist areas where you can spend hours
laying on the beach or go for a walk in lush tropical gardens, then there are
the hotels situated in the heart of the tourist areas which are packed with
restaurants, bars, waters sports centres, shopping and so much more.
Accommodation in Barbados is so varied, in price, size and type of accommodation that you are sure to find what you are looking for, these include bed & breakfast inns, apartments, resorts and hotels. There are also many all-inclusive hotels available on the island, both on the south and west coasts of the island. While there are always exceptions to the rule, the west coast of the island is where you will find most of the luxury hotels and resorts (leading the way is The Sandy Lane Hotel, which won top hotel in the world for 2007) and is well known as the playground of the rich and famous. The west coast also boasts some of the most beautiful villas and luxury homes on the island, which rival any featured on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and are available for holiday rental.
The south coast of the island is where you will find the more affordable accommodation although this is where you will find the top rated luxury Crane Beach Hotel, which is situated on the famous Crane Beach, consistently rated as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Water sports activities available in Barbados are also numerous and include surfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, windsurfing, kite surfing, water skiing sailing and parasailing among others. Most hotels either have there own water sports activities centre or are located near one, although it would be advisable to pre - book some activities with an online travel guide who can advise you of the best and most affordable activities available. You can also learn to surf, wind surf, kite surf and scuba dive while on the island. `Of course there is also plenty to do on land as well including tours, biking, hikes, historical sites, parks, gardens, caves, Golf, tennis, horseback riding and the list goes on, in fact there is so much to do and see in Barbados that you will not be able to do it all.
Nightlife in Barbados is also very busy and you can choose from restaurants, bars, nightclubs, dinner cruises, floor shows, movies (including a Drive-In). Restaurants on the island range from fast food to diamond rated with some of the finest chefs and ambiance to be found anywhere in the world. The nightlife in Barbados, unlike many places in the world, are patronized by an almost equal blend of visitors and locals eliminating the tourist trap feeling that you can feel in many tourist oriented countries.
The beaches on the island range from the breathtaking beauty of the hilly, less populated eastern and northern coasts with their lush, tropical vegetation and huge Atlantic waves crashing against the coastline to the ultra calm waters of the west coast and the relatively calm waters of the southern coastline.
While on vacation, shopping is a must and Barbados has many duty-free stores where you can save considerably on a wide variety of items ranging from top brands in perfume and clothing to Liquor and electronics.
Submitted by: Melinda Layson
The Author was born in Barbados and has worked in the tourism industry for over twenty years. For more information on Barbados visit http://www.barbadostravelholidays.com
