When I Went: June 13-19, 2011
Was That the Best Time of Year to Go? June was a perfect time to visit Barbados. A favorite among East Coast residents, Barbados has its high season during the winter months. June is typically a dry month and precedes hurricane season. Access to restaurants and attractions never presented a problem. Average daytime highs were in the mid 80s.
Why I Went There: We needed a relaxing beach vacation away from computers and cell phones, and we wanted the kids to experience another culture and topography, unlike most U.S. beaches. And American Airlines operates direct service to Barbados from DFW Airport.
Who Went With Me? My wife our two sons, ages 13 and 10.
We Stayed Here: The Crane Residential Resort in St. Philip on Crane Beach.
You Won’t Want to Miss: Visit as much of the island as possible. Each coast offers a dramatically different experience and an opportunity for a truly unique day at the beach. The east coast, while not suitable for swimming, offers some of the most memorable views. Engage with people. You’ll find the Bajan people among the friendliest and most congenial around. Encountering brusque Americans arriving home was truly shocking after our time in Barbados.
[mapimage url=”http%3A%2F%2Fmaps.google.com%2Fmaps%2Fapi%2Fstaticmap%3Fsize%3D200x200%26sensor%3Dfalse%26markers%3DBarbados%26zoom%3D6″]Eat Here: On the east coast, you can’t beat Round House Restaurant at the Round House Inn for food, vibe, and views. On the west coast, we really loved Mullins restaurant. It has spectacular beach views. On Friday nights, catch the community fish fry at Oistins. For delicatessen-style light bites and food to go, and some of the island’s best rum punch, don’t miss Cutters.
Play Here: Adults and kids alike enjoyed Accra or Rockley Beach. Throughout the day, the water migrated from glassy calm to boogie-board-perfect waves. Vendors at the beach village and in the parking area sold food, snow cones, beach gear, and plentiful Barbados rum punch.
If I Went Again: On another visit, we will skip the Atlantis Submarine Tour. Visibility was limited, and the vibe was too touristy. Instead, we might try surf lessons with Zed’s Surfing Adventures. Locals say that among the surf instructors, Zed is by far the best. Also on the list, swimming with turtles got rave reviews from fellow travelers. We missed the Sunday night buffet at Brown Sugar Restaurant and want to hit that next time for an endless variety of local cuisine.
How Did You Get There From Dallas? American Airlines direct from DFW Airport (although our outbound flight was cancelled and we were routed through New York City, giving my youngest his first overnight in the Big Apple.)
Other Tips For Fellow Travelers: Important: Get GPS for your rental vehicle. Barbados’ roads are circuitous and poorly marked. A GPS unit ensured we never missed a thing. Top Car Rentals was a great car rental experience beginning to end.
