Beautiful Barbados

Brightly coloured rum shops, carefree calypso rhythms and fragrant Bajan cuisine – sunny Barbados is every bit luxurious with a deliciously eclectic flavour. Revered for its polished resorts, coral sand beaches and silky sweet rum, this welcoming island in the Caribbean archipelago may be small in size, it only takes an hour to drive from north to south, yet it’s undoubtedly large in character. As the island’s capital, historic Bridgetown enthrals with its upmarket boutiques and colonial architecture, whilst some of the finest hotels and villas in Barbados, including the star-studded Sandy Lane resort, grace the aptly named Platinum Coast. Historic sites and points of interest are nestled amongst the rolling pastures and sugarcane fields further inland; explore the depths of Harrison’s Cave by tram to see the majestic stalactites and stalagmites first hand. Relax on deck on a catamaran cruise, spot the green monkeys at play in Flower Forest or hire a car and relish getting lost on this remarkable island; Barbados is a place to enjoy all year round. Barbadian cuisine is renowned for its diversity, variety, and freshness. Home to a sunny climate, fertile land, and fresh ocean waters, Barbados has created an exciting blend of flavours that are a big part of its culture. If you love food and drink, then Barbados needs to be on your list. While Barbados boasts incredible food trucks for a quick bite to eat, the island is also not short of world-class fine dining. Options include the Cliffside Restaurant, which is located on the upmarket west coast, Daphne’s Restaurant, which serves up classic Italian cuisine, The Tides, which specialises in stunningly crafted seafood dishes and “Cin Cin” by The Sea, which combines fine dining with amazing sea views! Famed for its warm welcome and its party spirit, this iconic island in the West Indies offers everything from blissed-out beach lounging to active pursuits including swimming near turtles, surfing and cave exploration. Visit the Flower Forest Botanical Garden on a former sugar plantation, with a trail of colourful plants and trees, plus a café serving flying-fish sandwiches and home-made rum punch, submarine tours to view a shipwreck and dazzling reef life and enjoy the sunsets from the Barbados Boardwalk. Above all, Barbados is a sociable, party-loving destination known for its friendly people and its hospitality, and there are a whole host of events that visitors can join in with throughout the year, mixing with locals to get a true taste of island life. I’ve picked out some of our favourites for the year ahead. Dates for your diary for Barbados Holetown Festival: 12 February-19th February 2023 This festival celebrates the anniversary of the first English settlement in Holetown on 17th February 1627. The week-long celebration showcases the culture and traditions of Barbados with events including folk singing, dancing, sports, street parades and food stalls offering traditional Bajan cuisine. Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup: 4th March 2023 One of the most prestigious events in the Caribbean horse-racing calendar as well as one of Barbados’ biggest sporting events attracts visitors from all around the globe. Run over a turf course at 1,800m (8.95 furlongs), it’s open to horses aged three years and up, who are ridden by local, regional and international jockeys. The setting is the atmospheric Garrison Savannah within the Garrison Historic Area with its military barracks and other historic buildings, close to the capital Bridgetown – home to Bajan horse racing since as far back as 1845. Oistins Fish Festival: Late March Oistins Fish Fry is an iconic weekly event in the pretty fishing village of Oistins in the parish of Christ Church in the south of the island, combining seafood shacks with dancing to a mix of back-in-time hits (Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Jamaican ska and old country and western) and calypso, including current Crop Over favourites. Each spring it becomes even bigger and better, expanding into the island's largest community festival complete with activities for the entire family, including arts & crafts events and the likes of a greasy pole climbing competition. Stalls sell fish cakes and other seafood, souse (pickled pork with a ‘pudding’ of steamed sweet potato), and beer. Barbados Reggae Festival, 28 April-1 May 2023 Begun in 2005, one of the world’s leading reggae festivals attracts locals and visitors alike to see vibrant performances by home-grown and global artistes in an array of venues around the island. Past headliners have included the legendary Jimmy Cliff. Don’t miss the Reggae Beach Party with cabanas for hire. Crop Over and Grand Kadooment: 7–14 August 2023 Celebrating a 200-year-old tradition honouring the end of the sugar cane season, the six-week Crop Over Festival celebrates everything Bajan with dusk-to-dawn parties, street food, and arts & crafts markets. Its culmination is Grand Kadooment Day, a carnival parade through the streets of St Michael, with masquerade bands, sequinned and feathered revellers and mobile bars. Food and Rum Festival: late October 2023 This four-day event brings the island’s most famous rum producers, wine experts, mixologists, chefs and other food and drink personalities together to showcase their talents. Come along and enjoy VIP evenings, a food truck mash-up (bringing together the best of Bajan mobile culinary experiences in one place), breakfast on the beach, rum tours, community pop-ups and plenty more besides. I hope you get to visit this beautiful island one day ! No man needs a vacation so much as the person who has just had one – Elbert Hubbard