When someone said “The Caribbean” to me, Barbados never came to mind. Now it’s the first island that comes to mind. I was so excited to be getting out of New England with the dropping temps and looking forward to the warmth of an island. I started my research on the island, as I do before I go anywhere and it didn’t tell me I would be uncovering Barbados as the gem of the Caribbean.
While I break down Barbados, I’ll also be giving you tips on how you’ll get the most out of your vacation and have a true Barbados experience! I was invited by the tourism board and it was perfect timing for the Food & Rum Festival which is in November, so I got to sample a whole bunch of Rum and Food! Barbados is the epicenter of great Caribbean chefs and outstanding cooking with a raw fusion of African, Caribbean, Asian, and European cuisine making Bajan food exquisite and flavorful.
Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island and an independent British Commonwealth nation. You will see the influence of the British all over the island as well as with the Bajans themselves.
Tip: You can use USD for tips and most shopping but exchange some money to have it on hand.
What to bring to Barbados
Let’s get the packing out of the way. Beach wear, sundresses, SUN BLOCK, a light sweater for the nights, a good pair of walking shoes, passport, a water bottle, casual elegant dresses or slacks for evening meals, and DO NOT bring anything camo. Having anything camo is against the law, so if it has camo print on it, leave it home. The government only allows true military or officials to wear it.
Drinking Cocktails in Barbados
Plan on drinking lots of rum and other delicious cocktails but the Bajans (The people of Barbados are called Bajans- [ˈbājən]) know how to drink and can handle their rum with ease. Mount gay Rum flew with us on the plane and we had our first rum flight while in flight. We were also greeted at the airport with rum punch and a cool wash cloth. 
Tip: Grab a white washcloth that you can wet and keep with you during the day to cool off. It’s a thing there!
Tip: DRINK WATER!!! There’s a lot of drinking and Sun in Barbados, and No, people aren’t drunk but if you’re not used to drinking delicious rum drinks you want to make sure you stay hydrated and not have to be carried to your room.
Check-In at The Club Barbados
We arrived at The Club Barbados Resort & Spa, located oceanfront on Barbados’ West Coast. I was greeted with another cool cloth and a rum punch. I was taken to my garden view room and since it was late, I didn’t explore until the morning. My room on the third floor had a living room with a couch and TV with all glass windows and doors that opened to a balcony with chairs and a table! The perfect place to work at night. My large bedroom had a queen bed, dresser, TV and a desk. The bathroom was spacious, my blowdryer was missing but one was brought to me promptly.
**The Club offers Rooms and Suites, including Garden and Ocean View.
Tip: Everything is in Celsius so have your converter on your phone ready so you can adjust the temperature.
Tip: There are no elevators so if you can’t do stairs, ask for a first floor.
The Club, Barbados Resort an Adult-Only and All-Inclusive
Everything is easy to find and I always recommend to talk a walk around the full resort to know where to go when! The resort itself is too large but there is plenty to do to keep busy. You can enjoy three pools, activities, two restaurants, three bars, lounge chairs by the water, and a spa to die for!
The staff understands customer service and will cater to your every need. If you have a question ASK! You will find upper management is at your service as much as the servers, bellman, and receptionists.
You can read more details about The Club, Barbados Resort & Spa here.
Tip: There are water coolers around the resort but before going to your room, be sure to fill your water bottle. There were complimentary water bottles the first night but these aren’t replaced.
Tip: Although it’s all-inclusive, please remember to give tips!!!
The Locals
I have never felt more comfortable walking around local towns and interacting with the locals. The Bajans are very proud, hard workers, and they love to have a good time and enjoy life. I got to explore many towns with my friend Kerwin from PassRider.com. and it was actually great for me because he actually lived there so it was like I had a private tour. He and I got a private taxi and the driver took us everywhere! We stopped to walk down the street and there were fruit stands with so much fruit I’ve never seen before, of course Kerwin was making me try everything. It was scary, exciting, and quite comical as I learned how to open, prepare and eat the amazing fresh fruit.
Tip: Always ask before you take pictures of the locals, most will say yes but even if they don’t take the picture, they will share their story with you.
The food
Barbados is know for flying fish but it was out of season when we were there but I did try many dishes that definitely awakened my taste buds with the spices. You’d be surprised that I liked much of the food. There were some things I passed on but I never went hungry because there was plenty I loved. The locals told us about a popular local spot called Fisherman’s Pub in Speightstown. The locals also talked about Cheffettes which is their version of McDonalds- I didn’t eat there but next time I will!
If you know your fruits, you can walk down the street and actually pick it off the trees. I had fresh peanuts, almonds that I had to smash open with a rock to get to, sweet sop, and a golden apple which was my favorite except for the spikey things in it. You have to learn how to eat the fruits too.
Tip: Try everything and be sure to try the macaroni and cheese (some call it macaroni pie) and the salt bread!
Festivals
I’m not an expert on Barbados but I plan to become one. I would check to see what festivals are happening when you’re going.
We started at Pirates Cove where all the locals go. The bar was on the beach and there were plenty of tables, hammocks, and we were served a buffet. We ate, drank, and got ready for Krave!
The Crop Over Festival is a 3 month long festival of Barbadian music, arts, food, culture and so much more. Barbados ends the festivities with a grand carnival parade know as Kadooment Day. We got to be a part of a KRAVE and have our own carnival parade which was epic.
KRAVE- (was our group or BAND as the Bajans say) which was to walk, dance, jump in the parade as we went through the town to end at the Friday night festival at Pelican Village. We had shirts, hats, lights, feathers, and had our own exotic Krave girls who looked like they could be in Vegas on stage! Their costumes were so extravagant and stunning!
Festive Fridays at Pelican Village: Launched on May 31, Festive Fridays at the Bridgetown Night Market is a new weekly event that showcases the island’s craft, music and food scene. Held from 4pm to midnight, Festive Fridays is the ultimate weekend starter allowing locals and visitors to immerse themselves in Bajan fun. The event features tasty food, cocktails, live entertainment, shopping and even a carnival-style street parade!
Tip: Book for the Crop Over well in advance!
Nightlife
There are plenty of places you can go to enjoy a fun night but if you want to truly go where the locals go, try Pirate’s Cove. This is where we got ready for the crop over. Pirate’s Cove has everything you can want if you’re looking for a night of dancing, singing, hanging on the beach, great food, and a fun time. It’s ocean-front of the Historic Carlisle Bay in Bridgetown …a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They offer food court cuisine and the Pirate’s Burger is a must try. They also make killer rum punch!
Tip: Bajans rum punch is NOT made like a punch here in the USA, it’s amazing- recipe coming soon!
Polo under the Stars at Holder’s Hill
More Food, More Rum! I’ve never been to a Polo match and watching it under the moon was incredible. We had the privilege to enjoy a collection of recipes from the chefs and bartenders of Elegant Hotels Group during the Food & Rum Festival while watching. Here is some of the food I tried:
- Pulled chicken with rum & sorrel infusion
- Crispy Cassava Crusted Fish Fingers
- Chicken, Coconut, & Rum Infusion Soup
- Lobster Linguini Breadsticks
- Pork TacoRum BBQ Sauce
- Breadfruit and Salt Fish Croquettes
And my 2 favorites!
- Rum & Raisin Ice Cream with a shot of rum (I picked out the raisins)
- Deconstructed Chocolate Molasses Tart with Gooseberries! This was the first time I had a gooseberry and they are soooooo delicious!
I drank a “Hired Amaretto Assassin” which was Cockspur Balla, Simple Syrup, Lime Juice, Orange Juice, and Amaretto!
My list of food goes on and on. Everything was beautifully presented and each taste complimented one another. I felt as if I was eating art!
Natural Wonders
Animal Flower Cave, at the very north of Barbados, is one of the oldest Tourist Attractions in Barbados!
There is a natural sea cave under the cliffs with huge windows out to the ocean and deep rock pools where you can swim. We didn’t get to go into the cave but spent some time walking along the majestic cliffs with panoramic views to take your breath away. You’ll be mesmerized watching the water dance in the picturesque bays that gently kisses the stretches of white sandy beaches.
Tip: Plan a day here, bring a book and enjoy lunch at the edge of the cliff.
Tip: Don’t forget your bathing suit and a towel!
The Rum
A little history that is fascinating. Barbados is known for rum, after all, this is where rum was first created. Mount Gay Rum was originally owned by John Sober! YES, how ironic right! He inherited a small distillery at the top of Mount Gilboa in the St. Lucy parish of Barbados, far back in 1703. He hired Sir John Gay Allende and with all his achievements and innovations, the family renamed the distillery after him….. Mount Gay Rum
We took the tour and we had a rum tasting. With the tour and learning the story I was able to put together how rum made it to the shores of the USA.
I’ll have much more coming about Barbados and you will definitely have an amazing vacation. Remember travel is about experiences and Barbados will fulfill this! It was truly an experience I’ll never forget and I can’t wait to go back to experience more!
Book Barbados Today https://egttours.com/!
