Barbados Holidays
The west coast of Barbados, also known as the Platinum Coast, offers gently lapping turquoise waters which are ideal for swimming and snorkelling. The pace of life is relaxed and the fine dining available is exquisite. The South Coast of Barbados is livelier, the seas are still gentle but are slightly wavy, perfect for water sports and offer some of the best conditions for windsurfing in the world. St Lawrence Gap on the south coast is an ideal place to savour the nightlife and is abundant with excellent restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Barbados also has plenty to explore including tropical gardens, hidden caves, colonial plantation houses and the bustling capital of Bridgetown, full of colonial architecture and lively markets. You can climb the amazing Mount Hilaby where you’ll get dramatic views of the island. Visit Bridgetown which has become a vibrant shopping area or if sports are more your thing, Barbados has a huge range of sports including some of the best golf courses in the Caribbean.

With its excellent year round climate and warm Caribbean breeze, it makes Barbados the ideal choice for the perfect beach holiday. So soak up the sun, the local flavour and reggae rhythms on Barbados, the sun drenched tropical paradise.

Weather
Barbados is sunny all year round with the temperature ranging between 26C and 31C. There is a gentle north easterly breeze, keeping you cool through the day. The dry season lasts from January to June with only the occasional short showers. Barbados is very rarely affected by hurricanes. By Day
Barbados has activities to cater for everyone’s taste; you could take one of the many island tours, like the Barbados Heritage Tour or one of the eco and nature tours. There are a wide range of sports, including everything from cricket and golf to kayaking and polo. With plenty of water sports, excellent snorkelling conditions and some amazing dive sites there is definitely enough to keep you busy. Why not try something a little different and go swimming with the turtles!By Night
Most hotels will have their own entertainment programme but there is quite a lot to do away from your hotel and that can be as lively or as relaxed as you want it to be. Whether you choose to visit one of the many exquisite restaurants followed by a few relaxed drinks or party the night away in one of the many bars and clubs at St Lawrence Gap, there is something for everyone.Top Attractions
• Bridgetown – Visit the parliament buildings and National Hero’s Square (formally Trafalgar) and sees The Lord Nelson Statue.
• Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill - The oldest and largest mill on the island and one of the only 2 in the Caribbean restored to its former glory, the other being in Antigua.
• Animal Flower Cave – Twenty-seven deep steps lead down to this underground cave.
• Andromeda Gardens – World-renowned for its exotic species of plants.
• Barbados Museum – The history of Barbadian culture.
• Bridgetown Synagogue (Bridgetown) – Built in 1654 it’s one of the oldest Synagogues in the world
• Grenade Hall & Wildflower Reserve – Located in a natural forest full of wildlife, this restored historic signal station offers magnificent views of the island.
• Gun Hill Signal Station – This also offers captivating views and is the finest in a series of signal stations built in 1818. Also you can see the statue of a lion, carved from a single piece of rock.
• Holetown –The initial docking ground for the first Englishman to arrive at Barbados.
• Garrison Savannah – An interesting collection of 19th century buildings, old barracks and ruins.
Events
Jazz Festival (January), Holetown Festival (February), Cricket World Cup (Mar - April), Over Festival – 5wks (July/Aug). Local Flavours
The hotels and restaurants in Barbados offer a wide choice of food, from fast food to fine dining, from local Bajan delicacies to international cuisine. Whatever your tastes desire, Barbados is proud to please. If you are looking to visit some of the world-renowned restaurants on the west coast, we would recommend booking a table early as they do get booked up, some guests even book weeks before they arrive in Barbados. When it comes to shopping in Barbados you’ll find many shopping areas with various interesting crafts and souvenirs. In terms of duty free shopping, jewellery, clothes, electronic items and of course Caribbean rum are all good purchases.Barbados
The British arrived on Barbados in the 1620s and found the island to be uninhabited. Though it is now believed, through archaeological discoveries that Amerindian settlements were on the island dating back to 1623 BC and were followed by the Caribs in 1200AD. The Portuguese visited Barbados in 1492 and named the island Los Barbados but did not settle there. In 1625 the first English ship touched the island and Barbados was claimed on behalf of King James I and in 1627 Captain Henry Powell landed on the island bringing with him settlers and slaves. A House of Assembly was established in 1639, the third parliamentary democracy in the world. During the 1630s production of sugar, tobacco and cotton thrived but after many natural disasters in the late 1600s Barbados was no longer a dominant force. In 1834 Slavery was abolished and in 1961 Barbados gained full independence.Size & Location
Barbados is the most easterly of the Caribbean islands and is situated about 200 miles North East of Trinidad and about 100 miles South East of St. Lucia, it’s about 21 miles in length by 14 miles in width, with an area of 166 sq miles. The coastline runs for 60 miles and the highest point is Mount Hillaby. Population 280,000