I'm currently looking forward to Valentines in Paris (who's a lucky girl? Me apparently), March in South East Asia, and May in Marrakech for my friend Harriet's wedding (It's going to be like SATC2 in Abu Dhabi - fashion-wise, not erm jilting wise. Ahem). I could not be any more excited. With that in mind, it's time to write up my Barbados trip from last year. I've been saving this post for January because it's now officially high season there, the sun is baking hot, the clubs are open, the piñas are flowing and there are still some cheap flights in the BA and Virgin January sales.
Barbados is a great couples get away - when I say couples I mean you and your mum, your bestie or your partner in love. I say this because having been all around the island, I wouldn't go back to stay anywhere other than the West Coast, which even in the high season remains quiet. Think sandy coves, palm trees, tropical breezes, beach bars on stilts. Relaxation is the order of every day. It's generally too hot to do anything else in high season, but on the West Coast I doubt that you'll want to.
We stayed in The Little Good Harbour Hotel, which we found and booked through my trusted favourite Mr & Mrs Smith. Visiting their website alone is a treat for the eyes. Having forayed into the world of travel advertising I'm well aware that this sensation is achieved through a wonderfully manipulative blend of great copywriting and design but I'm a self-confessed sucker and I'm hooked. They also have never let me down. I know a lot of you might have done a little bit of eye rolling just then because as we all know luxury comes at a price, but you may not know that Mr & Mrs Smith have added a 'Budget Boutique' collection to their offering, where rooms start in the £50s... don't say I don't treat you well.
The East and Southern Coasts are a little more windswept and 'surfier' so this can be fun to visit. We spent some time on The Crane Beach playing in the waves and jumping off the rocks. The best way to access the beach is through The Crane Hotel, which is a beautiful 1890s build though a little run down. You can pay $20 dollars to go in and use the pool for the day but that's redeemable against food and drinks so you're not really paying
For a special night out.
It's a toss up as to whether The Cliff or L'Acajou at The Sandy Lane Hotel were better - so naturally I'd recommend blowing your budget and going to both. The Cliff has incredible views out over the sea and you eat just inside the cliff edge, surrounded in candle light so it feels very special. The Sandy Lane provides old-school British Colonial grandeur - think grand pianos and marble ball rooms. The food is French nouveau cuisine with a Bajan twist. The Fois Gras with caramelised rhubarb was one of the best things I've ever eaten in my life.
For a pre-party bite
For a pre-party bite
I'd head to Tapas near Hole Town. The fish is fresh, the menu diverse and they have a great selection of crisp French Chablis to send you on your way. Oddly enough the Bajans seem to be obsessed with Chablis - it's one of my favourite wines so I wasn't complaining but I've never seen so much of it on menus anywhere before or since.
Things to do:
Take a trip on the Jammin' catamaran. Run by the friends and family of Rhianna so you can't go wrong. When we went, we partied with Cover Drive who were topping the global charts at the time. The rum flows all day and the food is totally incredible - mini patties, jerk chicken, sweet and savoury breakfasts. They take you on guided snorkels of different reefs and introduce you to the friendly giant turtles, which you can stroke as they feed them.
Night life:
Harbour Lights - go on a Wednesday for party time, it's open bar with a sea view. Be prepared to get down and dirty to an incredible mix of ragga and hip hop. People don't dress up much for this early evening - there will be shorts and flip flops around, but later on the Bajan ladies come down in their stilettos and hair done, nails done, everything did so you can basically wear what you please.
Hole town - this is a little town with 2 night-life streets 1st street and 2nd street that are both worth a wander down. There are lots of good restaurants there, serving whatever you're in the mood for. The best club there is probably Priva - but you should go on the weekend not a week night unless it's properly high season, in which case any night should do.
For a watering hole before Priva, Lime Grove restaurant and Lime Bar are the places to be - this is a thai restaurant and bar in a little courtyard in Hole Town. It's really good, upmarket and incredible value - more of a luxe local hang out than a tourist place as set back from the road so much better than the other bars.
Get booking as soon as you can to make the most of January flights and if you want to know any more then get in touch and I'll try to help.
