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Barbados map
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Spas
A number of spas have been built in the hotels in Barbados over the past few years – often set in their own magnificent buildings, which improves the general experience – and so you can find a good variety of body and beauty treatments in Barbados. Spas usually permit outside visitors to come in for the day by appointment, so you are not required to stay a the hotel itself. There are also a couple of independent day spas. Also, there are also plenty of independent practitioners who have space in the gyms and who are happy to come to your villa or hotel room.
Sandy Lane, St James, t 444 2100
The spa at the Sandy Lane Hotel is the largest on the island and it is open to non-residents of the hotel. Set in its own building next to the hotel pool area it has a full range of services in its 14 treatment suites (some with private gardens), ice cave, yoga and meditation studio, hydrotherapy pool, jet blitz room, chakra room, fitness room, personal training room, a John Frieda Hair Salon, and the spa has it’s own restaurant offering a selection of healthy eating dishes.
The Spa, Coral Reef Club, West Coast
The Spa at the Coral Reef Club is set in a walled courtyard with profuse tropical greenery. It has four treatment rooms, each of which has a private garden area, and an open-sided pavilion for couples’ treatments. There is also a hydro pool, a steam room and a beauty salon. Treatments include massage, body wraps and scrubs, with some products by Natura Bisse of Spain and others made from local Barbadian ingredients. The Spa at Coral Reef is open to day visitors as well as hotel guests.
SPAradise, Little Arches Hotel, t 420 4689
At the delightful small hotel Little Arches, on the south coast, a single spa treatment room is tucked away in the pretty gardens at the rear of the property. Massages and beauty treatments are available by in-house therapist and yoga instructor, Estelle Lapatie St John.
Massage Therapy by Paula Jones, t 427 4390
A graduate of the Swedish Massage Institute in New York, and specialising in general body massage and sports massage. Will come to hotel or villa.
Le Spa Salon, St Philip, t 230 0287
Beauty therapist Sonia Stoute trained at the Shaw College for Beauty Therapy in London. Services include Swedish body massage, seaweed body scrubs, aromatherapy, reflexology, facials, waxing, manicures and pedicures. A shuttle service can be provided or by special appointment can visit hotel or villa.
Indulgence Spa, Mullins, St Peter, t 419 4507
Five treatment rooms including the 'Secret Garden' outdoor treatment area, with a waterfall swimming pool and cave whirlpool. The spa offers a range of treatments including their specially choreographed massage treatments which combine Breema, Shiatsu, Thai, Swedish and Indonesian movements. Elemis and local organic products are used. The spa also houses an air-conditioned gym featuring Cybex and Life Fitness equipment. |
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Special Interests
With its broad base of activities, Barbados has plenty to offer travellers with special interests. Please click on the relevant section to reach detailed descriptions of the topic.
The music in Barbados is good. There are a number of clubs in which to see good local bands perform, but there is also a strong tradition of calypso in the island. This is at its most fertile in July, in the run-up to carnival (also in the run-up to Trinidad Carnival in January and February, because many Bajan calypsonians compete there too). But Barbados has more depth than this too. There is jazz and Gospel on the island, even opera. The Barbados Carnival, Crop Over, is held at the beginning of August, and it is fun to watch it if you are on-island, or even to join in. As with many of the former British Caribbean island carnivals, it is generally possible to buy a costume at Crop Over and to join in the street parades.
Barbados has all the Sports and watersports that you would ever want of a Caribbean island, but there are also a number of spectator sports that you generally don't find elsewhere in the islands. These include polo (soon there will be four polo fields on Barbados), and horse racing on the Savannah. Kensington Oval in Bridgetown is also one of the test cricket venues when visiting teams come to play the West Indies in the Caribbean.
The scuba diving in Barbados is not renowned around the Caribbean, but if you have an interest in diving it is well worth going out for a dive, particularly as there are some excellent operators here. Barbados does have exceptional golf, however. There are six courses on the island, several of them championship courses, four on the West Coast and two on the south coast. Barbados is not known for its sailing. It is really too far east of the main island chain to be included in an itinerary. Unlike most other islands, however, it is possible to join certain cruises in Barbados.
Like many islands in the Caribbean, the nature of Barbados is a little limited. There is not much fauna, though you will see many birds while on island. On the other hand, the flora and gardens of Barbados are exceptional, even for this immensely fertile part of the world. There are wonderful hotel and private gardens, and then there are the more formal public gardens to visit. The Barbados Horticultural Society stages an Open Gardens programme in the flowering season at the beginning of the year.
Barbadian Food and Cooking. You can eat out very well now in Barbados. See details of restaurants. There are no cooking courses available in the island at the moment, but for see here general details of Food and Cooking.
Spa Holidays. Barbados now has a few extremely good spas, both in the hotels and outside, in several day spas. Also the island is also more advanced than other islands when it comes to Holistic Activities.
Solo travel. Barbados is one of the better Caribbean islands in the way that it looks after single travellers. Certain hotels have single rates and most will be sensitive to the needs of people travelling alone, particularly women travellers. If you wish to plan a Wedding or Honeymoon, then you will find that with its lovely settings along the West Coast and its fairly sophisticated infrastructure (and the companies behind the scenes that can organise everything smoothly for you), Barbados makes an excellent place to get married. |
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Sports
WATERSPORTS
Please see our information about scuba diving and windsurfing and kitesurfing.
SNORKELLING
Snorkelling is generally best on the West Coast (where the water is calmest), especially around Holetown by the Folkestone Marine Park, which has an underwater trail. Carlisle Bay, just south of Bridgetown, is another popular snorkelling spot, where there are a number of shipwrecks to view. Equipment is available through hotels and watersports shops.
All of the Day Sail cruises offer snorkelling and swimming with turtles as part of their tour, and carry their own equipment.
Folkstone Marine Reserve, Church Point, St James, t 422 2314
Protected snorkelling area with underwater trail, Marine Museum & Visitors Centre, gift shop, locker rentals, snorkel equipment, lifeguard, shower and changing area.
SPORTS FISHING
The waters around Barbados provide some interesting big game fishing with catches including blue marlin, white marlin, dorado (also known as mahi-mahi/dolphin), wahoo, kingfish, sailfish, swordfish, blackfin tuna, bonito, barracuda and yellow fin tuna.
The offshore season is from mid November to May. Fishing tournaments are organized by the Barbados Game Fishing Association, with the highlight of the season being the annual Sagicor/Mount Gay Rum International Tournament held during the 3rd or 4th week in April, t 428 6668. www.barbadosgamefishing.com.
The following cost around Bds$200 per person for a shared charter or Bds$800 for an exclusive charter:
Cannon II, t 424 6107
Big game fishing on a 42’ Hatteras Fiberglass Sports Fisherman. Whole or half day charters or shared charters. Individual rods, tackle & bait provided, complimentary drinks and snacks. You get to keep your own catch.
Fishing Charters Barbados Inc, t 429 2326
www.bluemarlinbarbados.com
Deep sea and barfishing, night and bottom fishing, private or shared charters, including transfers, lunch/snacks, drinks, bait, tackle and snorkelling gear. Operate 3 boats: Blue Marlin 36ft, Idyll Time 42ft and Blue Jay 45ft.
SURFING
Barbados boasts some fairly consistent surf conditions, mainly on its eastern (Atlantic) coast, with the best time of the year for larger swells during October to March. The top surf spot on the island is the Soup Bowl off Bathsheba, which is now recognised by the international surfing world. On the north West Coast, things can get very lively also, especially in the New Year when the area is affected by large swells.
The waves are big enough in many part of the island (particularly the beaches in the southeast) for boogie-boarding and you will find boards for hire on these beaches.
LAND-BASED SPORTS
Please see details about Golf, Hiking and Horse-riding.
CYCLING
Highland Adventure Centre, t 438 8069
Scenic bicycle tours using professional mountain bikes. Allow for 3.5 hours the round trip. Pick-up can be arranged from hotels. The cycle tour itself is 90 minutes hours long and takes in views of the Atlantic Ocean as you descend to the East Coast. It’s an unusual way to experience rugged and untouched parts of Barbados. Suitable for all levels of fitness.
Also try Flex Bicycle Tours and Rentals, Speightstown, t 419 BIKE or 231 1518 or the Dread or Dead surf shop in Hastings, t 228 4785, which also has bikes for hire at Bds$30 with a $100 deposit.
Barbados has a number of road-cyclists who compete at regional and international level. There is a 400m, eight-lane rubberised cycle track at the National Stadium.
FENCING
This is a relatively new sport in Barbados, and is due to become an officially recognised sport by both the Barbados Olympic Association and the National Sports Council with the founding of The Barbados Fencing Federation, by The Barbados Fencing Club, t 423 6601.
HORSE-RACING
The Barbados Turf Club has racing at the Garrison Savannah almost every Saturday during their three seasons across the year, which run from mid January to mid April, early May to mid August and then from mid October to Christmas. The main events in the Barbados racing calendar are the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, which is held on the first Saturday in March and is a huge social occasion in the island, and the Barbados Derby, which is held in early August. There is always a great atmosphere at these events. Facilities at the racetrack include bar, snack bar and restaurant and during big events, there are stalls and rumshops inside the racetrack itself. See here for an article about a trip to the Sandy Lane Gold Cup, 2004.
Turf Club, t 426 3980, barturf@sunbeach.net, www.barbadosturfclub.com.
POLO
Polo has grown in popularity in Barbados over recent years, and the island now has four polo fields where international matches are played. The Barbados Polo Club, founded in 1884, is still based at Holders on the West Coast. The other three grounds are the Clifton Polo Centre in St Thomas, Waterhall Polo Club at Apes Hill, St James, and Lion Castle Polo Estate in St Thomas. Both Apes Hill and Lion Castle have villa developments.
The polo season runs from December to May and international matches normally played on Saturday and Sunday afternoons in January, February and March. Visitors are welcome to go along and watch. All the grounds have a friendly clubhouse with bar, which tend to attract some interesting characters and some lively post match banter.
Barbados Polo Club, Holders Hill, t 432 1802. See www.barbadospoloclub.com for a Polo Season schedule.
RUNNING
Always best in the early morning or evening in order to avoid the heat. Be careful if you are out after sundown because not all roads are well lit and there are few paths or pavements. Apart from the beaches, there is a jogging track at the Garrison Savannah, a popular spot to run in the late afternoons.
Run Barbados Festival, t 427 2623, info@runbarbados.org
An event that has been held in early December since the 1980s and which attracts competitors from around the globe. It includes a Marathon, a Half-Marathon, a 10K race, as well as a Midnight Fun Mile. Please see our Calendar of Events for dates.
Barbados Hash House Harriers, hashmaster@barbadoshash.com
Celebrating their 23rd anniversary in November 2008 and currently with over 100 regular members. Meets are held at different locations on Barbados every Saturday, around 3.30/4pm, for a running or walking Hash (a very social version of Hare and Hounds), followed by a BBQ (bring your own meat) and drinks. Everyone is welcome. Additional meets on Bank Holidays, normally in the morning for beach runs. The Moon Over Barbados Hash House Harriers is an adult hash formed in 2001 with short runs by torchlight every full moon, at around 7pm.
TENNIS
There are many keen tennis players on Barbados who compete regionally, and the island’s headquarters are at the Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex at Wildey, where the top competitions are held. The majority of large hotels and resorts have tennis facilities and there are a couple of private villas with courts also. Otherwise public courts are:
National Tennis Centre, Sir Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, Wildey, St Michael, t 1246 427 5300
The centre has four hard courts, one court with lights, one court with backboard, a canteen, bathrooms and showers for men and women. Court rentals for non-members, BDS$16 per hour day play or BDS$24 per hour for night play. Courts are open Mondays to Fridays, 2.30pm to 9pm, Saturdays 7am to 6pm. Coaching is available for individuals and for groups.
Barbados Lawn Tennis Association, t 427 5300/427 5298, blta@sunbeach.net
www.tennisbarbados.org
Folkstone Marine Park & Museum, St James, t 422 2314
Public tennis and basket ball courts.
West Side Tennis Club, Sunset Crest, St James, t 432 2050
Three courts open for play daily 7am - 9pm. Coaching available.
Ocean View Tennis Club, Needhams Point, St Michael, t 228 4864/2863
A wide range of other sports are played in Barbados, from judo to target sports, track & field to basketball. Barbadian teams compete successfully around the Caribbean and the island is quite a popular destination for visiting clubs on tour.
Squash is played at regional level and welcomes visiting teams, Barbados Squash Club, t 427 7913. Hockey attracts teams from all over for the annual Banks International Hockey Festival end of August, Barbados Hockey Federation, t 423 5442. Football (soccer) is an amateur sport. The Barbados national team is known as The Rockets. The biggest event is the Banks Beer International Masters Football Festival, which is held each year in May, Barbados Football Association, t 228 1707, Banks Masters Football, t 428 1182. Rugby is normally played at the Garrison. It attracts visiting teams, especially during the annual Celtic Festival, Barbados Rugby Football Union, t 437 3838. For Motorsport fans the biggest event of the year is the Barbados Rally Carnival, held in May (please see Calendar of Events), which attracts international drivers and huge crowds, the Barbados Rally Club, t 438 7068. A sport which until recently was unique to Barbados is Road Tennis, a cross between table and lawn tennis and originally only played on roads. Known as 'poor man’s tennis', it is now a recognised national sport on the island. |
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Taxis
Taxis are widely available around Barbados (if you can’t find one just walk into the nearest hotel and they’ll find one for you), with taxi stands located at the airport, Bridgetown Harbour, and Bridgetown at Independence Square Lower, Broad Street and Heroes Square, South Coast at Accra Beach - Hastings Rocks, West Coast at Sunset Crest Shopping Centres 1 and 2.
Taxis are not metered. Instead the fares are fixed. However it is always a good idea to confirm the cost of your journey before setting off.
One way taxi fares (rates in Barbados dollars) between Grantley Adams International Airport and:
Any point North of Speightstown - 83
Speightstown - 73
Bathsheba/Cattlewash - 73
Harrison’s Cave - 53
Gibbs - 64
Sandy Lane/Holetown/Porters - 58
Prospect – 53
Bridgetown Harbour - 46
Heroes Square - 42
Garrison Savannah/Hilton - 37
Crane - 31
Sam Lord's Castle - 34
Long Beach/Silver Sands - 24
Oistins - 24
St Lawrence - 31
Rockley - 34
Between Bridgetown Harbour/City Centre and:
Any point north of Speightstown - 61
Speightstown/Heywoods - 46
Crane - 53
Sam Lord's Castle - 58
Bathsheba/Cattlewash - 58
Welchman Hall Gully/Harrison’s Cave - 46
Sandy Lane/Holetown/Porters - 34
Oistins - 31
Long Beach/Silver Sands - 37
Grantley Adams International - 46
Prospect/Holders/Paynes Bay - 24
St Lawrence - 29
Garrison Savannah/Hilton - 46
Prices valid from 01 March 2008 and are subject to change without notice. |
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Telephone
Barbados has a pretty good telecommunications system and it has been deregulated so that mobile phones from abroad will work (though calls can still be pretty expensive). The networks are LIME (stands for Landline, Internet, Mobile, Entertainment and is the new branding for Cable & Wireless) and Digicel, plus Sunbeach and TeleBarbados for internet access.
The international dialling code for Barbados is +1 246 followed by seven digits. When on-island simply dial the seven digits. If you are staying in a villa do check to see if the phone allows international calls, as some have debars, which will need to be lifted, and for which there is a deposit.
WiFi and internet services are available at most hotels, and some villas, plus a number of internet cafes have now opened. Cellular phones can be rented or a roaming feature can be added to your own mobile.
Overseas phone calls can be made from any phone booth around the island, payment for which is by credit card or a local pre-paid calling card. |
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Time Zone
Barbados is 4 hours behind GMT and so during the winter it is four hours behind Britain and five behind the rest of Europe, and an hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the States. Barbados has no daylight saving time in the summer so the island is then five hours behind British Summer Time (six behind the rest of Europe) and on the same time as the eastern seaboard of the United States. |
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Tour Operators
This section is being developed.
There is a huge number of tour operators (UK and Europe) and wholesalers (US) that offer Barbados in their programmes and the competition between them is fierce. On DefinitiveCaribbean we will be picking out the cream of the bunch for you - operators that are Caribbean specialists and give the best levels of service, in all price ranges. Collectively we will call them 'travel organisers' because whether in the UK, Europe or the States, tour operators and wholesalers are generally speaking the principals. They put the holidays together that may subsequently be sold to the public via travel agents.
In the UK and Europe, all tour operators should be bonded for your financial protection, and sell flight inclusive holidays under licence from government bodies such as the Civil Aviation Authority (UK). Some travel agents also have the required bonding and licences to put together flight inclusive holidays, and there are a few Caribbean specialists among them. These agents may also be included in our listings.
We are beginning to look at the best travel organisers offering holidays to Barbados and the list that follows will be developed as we make progress.
Message to Tour Operators, Wholesalers and specialist travel agents:
We invite any travel organiser working as a Caribbean specialist with a programme to Barbados to contact us if we are not already in communication with you. Initially please email us for further details.
The list of travel organisers to Barbados will appear below as we populate the section:
| | CaribtoursA lovely company that has not diluted its high standards of personal service for the sake of profit; excellent brochure; fairly priced holidays. Strong following of repeat clients, some famous, some infamous and others simply seeking consistently reliable service and value for money. | | CV TravelA long established villa holiday specialist with an extensive Caribbean programme. CV Travel offers a broad range of Caribbean villas of all sizes and prices in twelve islands, ranging from simple beachfront homes to substantial staffed villas, estates, even private islands. Also a selection of the region’s finest villa resorts and characterful hotels and inns. | | Tropic BreezeA small and knowledgeable UK tour operator with a good depth of accommodation, particularly in the mid to upper price range, in twelve islands in the Eastern Caribbean, from the BVI down to Tobago. Tropic Breeze is friendly and offers tailor-made advice from long-time Caribbean specialists |
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Tourist Information
There are Barbados Tourism Authority information offices at the airport, between the arrivals hall before Immigration and the Departure Lounge, t 428 0937; at the Deep Water Harbour (where the cruise ships come in), t 426 1718; and at the BTA’s main office on Harbour Road, Bridgetown, t 427 2623.
Outside Barbados you will find BTA offices in the following places:
Britain: 263 Tottenham Court Road, London W1 P 7LA, t 020 7299 7175, btauk@barbados.org
Canada: 105 Adelaide St West, Suite 1010, Toronto, Ontario M5H 1P9, t (416) 214 9880, toll free 1800 268 9122, btapublic@globalserve.net
USA: 800 Second Ave, New York NY 10017, t (212) 986 6516, btany@worldnet.att.net; 3440 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1215, Los Angeles, CA 90010, t (213) 380 2198, btala@worldnet.att.net; 150 Alhambra Circle Suite 1000, Coral Gables, Florida 33134, t (305) 442 7471, btamiami@barbados.org
Please see below for a promotional video of Barbados.
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Tours of Barbados
There are plenty of options if you would like a guided tour of Barbados or, if you are visiting on a cruise ship, there are several good Barbados shore excursions.
For an exclusive island tour or shore excursion contact St James Travel & Tours (click on name to get more excursion examples), who will tailor make a trip with one of their well-informed drivers, in the comfort of an air-conditioned private taxi or Mercedes. Prices from Bds$240 to $320 for 4 hours. Special rates apply for larger groups.
Adventureland 4 x 4 Tours, t 429 3687, www.adventurelandbarbados.com
Go off the beaten track to see the rugged natural beauty of Barbados. Adventureland offers a clutch of exiting and interesting tours to enable you to appreciate the diversity of Barbados, which has much packed into its 166 sq miles. Using specially equipped Land Rovers which have Bob Cat seats and seat belts, The Congaline Adventure includes a walk through Welchman Hall Gully or a hike to Mt Hillaby, lunch on the East Coast, drinks throughout the day, and jeep trail to Chalky Mount Potteries, Chubb Bay, Bath, Codrington College, St John’s Church, Andrews Sugar Factory and Gun Hill. If you prefer to have a private outing you can opt to Rent-A-Rover which gives you a jeep along with a driver for the day, where you dictate when and where to go, and provide your own food & beverage, or take the Los Barbados Private Adventure. Here you get a jeep with driver to yourselves for the day along with lunch and drinks, a swim stop and can decide when to stop and go. The Mini Buggy Safari puts you in control of an all terrain, roll-caged, two seater buggy, where you go off-road and cover trails through an untamed area on the north east side of the island, before heading over to the west by coach for a short swim. For information on their water based adventure, see under Day Sails.
Bajan Helicopters, t 431 0069
Take to the skies for a bird’s eye view of the island. Prices from Bds$195.
Island Safari, t 429 5337
A choice of five jeep tours which include a Land & Sea Safari with a morning tour by jeep, followed by swimming, sailing and lunch on Tiami, or a kayak safari with a BBQ lunch. Tailor made safaris available. |
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Water
Most of the water in Barbados is artesian water, rainwater that has soaked into the limestone structure of the land. Generally it is drinkable from the tap and tastes good, but in restaurants you will be offered a choice of bottled or local water. However, with so much pressure on existing groundwater supplies in recent years, a desalination (the largest in the Caribbean) facility is now in operation, which provides water for 20% of the island’s population, currently within the Spring Garden Highway area where the plant is located. Sandy Lane Hotel also has a desalination system.
Piped water was introduced to Bridgetown in 1861, and to commemorate the event an ornamental fountain, made in Britain, was erected in 1865 in what is now Heroes Square. |
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Weather
Barbados boasts that it has 3000 hours of sunshine each year. Certainly even within the Caribbean it has an excellent climate. Temperatures vary by just a few degrees across the year and because it is surrounded by sea the island rarely gets too hot, except occasionally in summer, particularly if it still. Generally though, there is a breeze to take the edge off the heat. The best time to visit is in the winter, when the northern hemisphere is at its coldest in February, though this is of course the high season and the most expensive time.
The rainiest time of year is over the late summer months between August and late October. Often the sun comes back out after a shower, but occasionally a blanket of cloud will spin off a weather system in the northern hemisphere and may cover the island with cloud for a few days.
Barbados lies just on the edge of the hurricane belt, but has not been seriously affected in recent years. |
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Weddings
Barbados is well set up for weddings or the renewal of wedding vows. Ceremonies can be tailor made according to your requirements. We have found consistently that the best wedding organiser is St James Travel & Tours, which has a dedicated wedding department and will cope well with small or large events.
In order to ensure that everything is just as you would wish it to be and runs smoothly, you should include your wedding plans at the same time as you plan your holiday. If you are booking via a tour operator or travel organiser, discuss your requirements with them before booking, and if you are making your own arrangements, again, make sure that you contact your hotel, villa agent or a local wedding co-ordinator such as St James Travel & Tours for advice.
Most hotels offer wedding packages, and some have dedicated wedding co-ordinators. For villa weddings, you will need to check that the villa of your choice will accommodate your wedding requests (a large wedding reception, or live band may not be possible). You will also find that villa agencies and owners will require that their local manager and/or St James Travel & Tours are retained to organise and oversee the event.
See here for sample WEDDING PLANS St James Travel & Tours can also arrange Renewal of Vows Blessings, and will arrange receptions, wedding dinners etc.
As an alternative to marrying at your hotel, you might consider a variety of other venues such as: Sunbury Plantation House with decorated arch, at lunch or dinner. A private home called The Rock, a modern plantation home with views of the West Coast where you can have a ceremony followed by a cocktail reception around the pool. Flower Forest, Orchid World or Andromeda Gardens are all delightful settings. Perhaps consider a yacht or catamaran cruise and ceremony. Or try a catamaran sunset cruise for a reception before being dropped off (conditions permitting) for a wedding dinner at a beachfront restaurant. You can even marry underwater on the Atlantis Submarine, which involves a 50 minute underwater trip during which the wedding march is played in the decorated submarine. Or you can simply get married on a beach or in church, and then be swept away in a limousine, with a picnic hamper and champagne to sustain you on your way to meet up with a photographer at a chosen spot like the Crane, for some special shots for your wedding album.
Barbados does not have a residence period before a wedding is permitted to take place. You can simply go to the Ministry of Legal Affairs and obtain a Marriage Licence (which takes about half an hour) and you may then get married that same day.
Church Weddings may require special documents. In the case of Roman Catholics, for instance, a letter from your priest at home is required to prove that you have had counselling. Divorced Anglicans can get married in church as long as they complete an application for Remarriage of Divorced Persons from the Diocese of Barbados.
See here for LEGAL REQUIREMENTS for marrying on Barbados.
Listed below are the best accommodation choices for weddings on Barbados: | Cobblers Cove
One of the most exquisite of Caribbean hotels, small, low key and extremely elegant, 40 suites hiding in enviable tropical gardens at the northern end of Barbados’s West Coast. | Belair
A stylish, 6 bedroom Barbados villa home on Mullins Beach - one of the best locations on the West Coast of the island – with a wide beachfront terrace for outdoor living. Excellent for small Caribbean weddings. | Little Seascape
A charming one-bedroom apartment set upstairs in a cottage on Gibbs Beach on Barbados’s prestigious West Coast. Little Seascape is stylishly decorated and has an open plan living/dining area, a furnished sun terrace and a private path to the beach. It is ideal for honeymooners or for a couple looking for an intimate beach retreat. | Colony Club
A large and gracious beach hotel set on the famous West Coast of Barbados. Colony Club takes the best of elegant and classic Barbadian style to create a very comfortable, modern beachfront resort. Leisurely, social atmosphere, good facilities on property, plenty of activity nearby. | The House
A small and stylish hotel set on Paynes Bay on the prestigious West Coast of Barbados. The House is striking for its sleek, minimal style – all polished wood with white and deep blue decor – which gives it a calm and cool atmosphere right on an excellent stretch of beach. | Bohemia
A must have villa for the VIP Caribbean traveller – 5 en suite bedrooms, opulent, custom made luxury with Versace trimmings, impressive entertainment areas, lots of toys including a Weinbach piano, set in 1.5 acres on Sandy Lane Estate. Perfect for corporate entertaining or a special wedding. | Shangri-La (Croeso)
A 4 bed/3 bath villa giving an elegant mix of English country manor and plantation great house opposite the Barbados Polo Club, wonderful swimming pool setting, views to the Caribbean Sea. Perfect for weddings and more mature guests seeking some refinement and formality. | Crystal Springs
A magical 8-bedroom seafront home bearing the hallmarks of Oliver Messel who transformed it from a beach house in the 60s. Highly sought after for family get-togethers, celebrations and weddings. | Fustic House Private Estate
A captivating 7 bedroom/7 bathroom hideaway, heavily accented with Oliver Messel’s flair, set in 11 acres, part Garden of Eden botanical gardens, surrounded by cane fields and farmland overlooking the NW Coast. An exotic setting amongst nature and magical for weddings. | Harmony House
Ever popular 3 bed/3 bath villa offering swish beachfront living, open plan living areas merge into outdoor terrace and delightful garden straight onto fabulous Gibbs Beach. Good for alfresco entertaining and small weddings. | Little Arches Hotel
A delightful small and stylish hotel, tucked away on the South Coast just across the road from the excellent Enterprise Beach; family run. Excellent dining room. Child-free zone. Romantic and good for weddings. | Mullins Mill
There’s a real sense of sampling a piece of Barbados history when staying at this wonderful eight acre tropical hideaway - its romantic 17th Century sugar mill provides a focal point and houses 2 of the 6 bedrooms. Splendid ‘botanical’ garden with tennis court, large swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. Excellent spot for weddings and entertaining. Indoor and outdoor dining options. Private beach cabana on Gibbs Beach. | Little Good Harbour
Delightful, easy-going hideaway on Barbados's West Coast but a world away from the glitz and hype, excellent restaurant, good for weddings. | Treasure Beach
Trusty, small hotel on the West Coast of Barbados, 35 suites in a horseshoe around the pool and gardens leading straight onto a good beach. | Nelson Gay
A 6/7 bedroom gracious Barbados villa with a timeless quality and bags of old world charm and a massive shady garden fronting a lovely stretch of beach on the Barbados West Coast. Superb for entertaining, weddings, adult groups and families. | Reeds House
Contemporary, luxurious beachfront living, typical of Barbados, in well appointed 1-4 bedroom apartments at Reeds Bay with private spa pools and direct views to the Caribbean Sea. Best for professional singles, honeymooners and discerning couples. | Senderlea
An elegant 2 bedroom beachfront villa retreat that should have you reaching for the bubbly, with jasmine scented gardens and glorious views to the Caribbean Sea. Picture perfect beach – a honeymoon idyll and a truly magical setting for an intimate wedding or anniversary treat. | Milord
An extremely stylish and popular 3 bedroom Spanish-style beachfront villa on a stunning white sand beach with good swimming on the West Coast of Barbados. Elegantly furnished with a sophisticated yet charming ambiance. Great for couples, especially honeymooners or a family with older children wanting direct beach access. | Leamington Pavilion
One of the finest properties available for rental in the Caribbean; 4 bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. Impressive without being over-formal, with excellent staff. Befits those with a taste for the finer things in life. | Leamington Cottage
A very private, prettily furnished one bedroom Barbados villa - a seafront retreat with a large sun terrace, tucked away behind clever planting on the Leamington Estate. | Sandy Lane
The Caribbean’s most famous hotel, glitzy in season with large, elegant rooms on stunning Paynes Bay, at the heart of Barbados’s prestigious West Coast. | Klairan
A super villa with splendid pool area, beautifully landscaped gardens with coastal views, an elegant dining room, romantic gazebo, fish pond, with 3 of the 4 bedrooms located in romantic garden cottages. Excellent for entertaining. | Emerald Beach
Charming cluster of six individually furnished, semi-detached 3 bedroom, 2 storey villas with private terraces and balconies, set back from fantastic Gibbs Beach in a tropical garden oasis brimming with colourful shrubs. Excellent choice for small groups of friends or wedding parties. | High Constantia
A delightful, cosy, 2 bedroom cottage in a countryside setting with expansive lawns and lovely coastal views. Well-priced, and popular with honeymoon couples. | Landmark Cottage
A charming, 2 bedroom bleached timber, tree house style cottage with Demerara shutters and lattice wood work to the wrap around upper gallery. Within short stroll of Sandy Lane beach. | Settlers Beach Villa Hotel
A long-standing favourite Barbados 'villa hotel', 22 attractive two-bedroom villas set in well tended gardens on a lovely stretch of beach on Barbados’s famous West Coast. Good choice for families and weddings. | Azzurro
Stylish, ground floor apartment within the exclusive Old Trees Bay beachfront development, with two bedrooms, located on a glorious stretch of white sandy beach. Best for couples looking for a bit of beachfront sophistication. | Treasure Beach Hotel
Treasure Beach is a small but leading hotel in Barbados set at the heart of the action on the West Coast, 35 suites overlooking restaurant, pool and pretty gardens giving onto a good beach. |
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What to Pack
Consider the following items when packing for a trip to Barbados:
Adequate sun protection, high factor sun cream, sunglasses, hat/cap and a lightweight beach-shirt/blouse/t-shirt; suitable beach and walking shoes; mosquito repellent containing DEET suitable for use all day; cream for insect bites. Also consider and adapter plug, film and batteries for camera; toiletries; beach mat/towel; preferred brand of coffee/tea; small torch.
Clothes - lightweight cotton clothing, with elegant/casual attire for evenings. Note that most good restaurants and top hotels require that men wear long trousers and shirts in the evenings, not shorts, flip-flops or t-shirts. During the festive season people tend to dress up and a few of the more exclusive establishments may request jacket and tie. Women may wish to pack a lightweight wrap or jacket during the winter months, as the evenings (Jan/Feb) sometimes feel cool after the heat of the day.
You should be aware that it is an offence for anyone, including children, to dress in camouflage clothing in Barbados. It is also an offence to bring in meat products from the UK.
Any prescription medication should be carried in your hand luggage, in their original packaging for identification by Customs.
Don’t forget your passport, driving licence and insurance (medical and travel) documents. |
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Windsurfing/Kitesurfing
The best conditions and winds for windsurfing and kitesurfing are on the south coast, with the season starting in November and running to late June, early July and at its best between December and March.
Instruction courses are available for advanced windsurfers at Silver Sands, which is the home of windsurfing, and the most southerly point on the island.
The face of windsurfing in Barbados is Brian “Irie Man” Talma, who represented Barbados in the Seoul Olympics in 1988 and again in 1992 in Barcelona. He also toured the world circuit as a professional and is an official ambassador for Barbados. The Waterman Festival which focuses on windsurfing, kitesurfing, boogie-boarding and surfing is the brainchild of Brian Talma, and also incorporates general “Bajan beach culture” into the festivities.
Over the last few years kitesurfing has emerged as a popular sport on the island. As with windsurfing, the best conditions are around the southern point of the island and so it takes place mostly at Silver Sands. |
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Yoga/Holistic Activities
There are very good opportunities for holistic activities on Barbados, but they are generally designed to serve the local and resident communities as opposed to visitors. Pilates, yoga, T'ai Chi are available at a few of the hotels - Sandy Lane being a notable example - and there are also a few complementary health practitioners who will come to your hotel or villa. We have found one yoga/pilates instructor that will visit if you are in villa accommodation. Yoga and Pilates centres include -
The Pilates Studio, Morecambe House, Worthing, Christ Church, t 228 8426/232 7948, pilatesbarbados@hotmail.com
Founder Moira Mulvey Walters (a qualified osteopath, see under Complementary Health) is a certified Pilates instructor and offers morning and afternoon Pilates classes. Will do private villa sessions by arrangement.
Surfside Wellness Centre, Needham’s Point, St Michael, t 436 1024 www.surfsidewellness.com
Pilates every Monday 8am and 7.30pm and Wednesdays at 10am. Non members US$12.50 per class. Yoga classes held Monday 4.30pm, Tuesday 7.30pm, Friday 9am and Saturday 8am, and you will need to join the gym for US$30 per week.
The Sanctuary, Chimborazo, t 433 1787
Set in a former plantation house, the Sanctuary offers regular open days, special workshops with visiting tutors, yoga days and private consultations. Classes include meditation, yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi. Private consultations on Past Life Regression, tarot reading, aromatherapy, Reiki healing, iridology, Shiatsu, Indian head massage, ear candling, reflexology and kinesiology available.
For private sessions contact:
Pamela Harris, t 424 4557
Yoga sessions at Calabaza restaurant on Saturdays from 9am.
If you would like Reiki, try:
Verity Dawson, Reiki Master, who will also teach Reiki in private classes if there are a few of you and you set it up before your arrival. Please email Verity.
Janet Cools, t 422 4994
Massage and reflexology which generally also includes 15 minutes of Reiki. Prices from US$75-100 for one hour.
Trevor Davis, t 438 4805
Trevor is a therapist that looks at the whole person and has wonderful healing hands. Reiki and Lomé Lomé (Hawaiian massage) from US$50 to $65 for one hour.
At hotels -
Sandy Lane, St James, t 444 2100
The spa at the Sandy Lane Hotel is the largest on the island and it is open to non-residents of the hotel. Set in its own building next to the hotel pool area it has a full range of services in its 14 treatment suites (some of which have private gardens), including yoga, an ice cave and a meditation studio, a hydrotherapy pool, jet blitz room, chakra room, fitness room, personal training room. There is also a John Frieda Hair Salon and the spa has it’s own restaurant which offers a selection of healthy eating dishes.
Some villas such as Fustic House make excellent retreats for holistic activities. You can create your own group and bring your practitioners with you for a week or two without work permit problems. Alternatively local practitioners and therapists can be booked to come to the villa. The best agency to use for villa retreats would be Bajan Services.
PHOTOGRAPHY
DefinitiveCaribbean is most grateful for the photographic contributions we received for the Barbados Guide. Contributions were made by Orchid World, Cobblers Cove Hotel, Little Arches, Little Good Harbour, The Sandpiper, Coral Reef Club, The Lone Star, The Barbados Children's Trust, The Bajan Club, www.barbados.org, Bajan Services Limited, Realtors Limited and Stoutes Car Rentals, Deana Bellamy and James Henderson. We thank everyone for their contributions.
Picture Editors, Alexander Gray & Will Orr |
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