Barbados anyone?

[Cinderellas]

Thinking about going to Barbados in January for some winter sun. Never been. Found some reward flights for our dates.

Which side and places are best?. We like a chilled out holiday with nice beaches and restaurants. Thinking about staying in an Airbnb and hiring a car.

Is it safe to drive around and any areas we shouldn’t go?

Any info appreciated as don’t know where to start 😊. Thank you!

[Blue nose]

We went August 2017 and stayed Savannah Beach all Inc with VH.

Absolutely loved it. Both the island and our hotel.

There's loads of threads in general trip planning if you do a search.

Driving is on the left so did look easy. We were going to but didn't bother in the end. Our hotel was walking distance to find things, used the reggae buses of hotels free bus.

[Lu Lu]

We stayed at savannah beach in August 2014 and it was really lovely. I got an excellent deal with club room upgrade and we had a great 2 weeks. The island is beautiful and good to explore too.

[Perfect]

DH and I have been to Barbados the last 2 years in Jan. Great weather, lovely beaches, and wonderful food, especially seafood. We prefer the West Coast and have stayed both times at Beach view Payne’s Beach, good family owned apartments, nice pool, across the road from a small beach, better beach a few minutes walk. Not far from Holetown with good restaurants, shops and bars.

We have hired a car both times and been all over the island, plenty to see, and do, some roads not in great condition, but safe to drive, and mostly friendly people.

Barbados has lots to offer, great snorkelling, catamaran trip, clear water, lots of turtles and flying fish.

Next Jan we are back on Florida’s gulf coast, but intend to return to Barbados in the future.

[THE WIZARD]

Beautiful place, we got married there. We stayed West side of the Island as the East side the sea is rough rather than gentle for swimming. We stayed/got married at the
Colony Club eleganthotels/colony-club in a Lux Pool Suite with our own patio & entrance to the lagoon pool from it, in case thats important to you. Its directly on a lovely beach & I would go back there tomorrow. You dont need a car as taxi's are not expensive & you can get the busses, but if you want to really take in the island its a good idea to have a car for a few days. Lots of things to do (swim with turtles) if you want and its like being/driving in the U.K. Bridgetown is lovely and everyone is so friendly & helpful. Some fantastic Restaurants & the best ones book up very quickly so need reservations well in advance (The Cliff being a fabulous place - Google it, its amazing). PM me if you need more info. Virgin do some good deals flight wise but check out booking hotels yourself might work out better. Oh we were there in February & weather was perfect.

[Lola]

We’ve been to Barbados 5 times and love it.the South Gap area can be very noisy although the Sandals is good but expensive. The west coast is our favourite with the best beaches. We tend to stay around Holetown area for restaurants and beach bars, Zacchios for example. Driving and car hire is straughtforward and there are great places to visit; Bathsheba, Speightstown etc. The Crane Resort is well worth a lunchtime visit for the best view on the island from their terrace at Azure restaurant.

[Mel5678]

We went in January this year. Weather absolutely beautiful.

[lesley1960]

30 degrees every day when we went last jan . West coast is nicest the south coast has had sewage problems
Perfectly safe island to drive round .We had a basic cheap apartment on Paynes Bay much nicer to go self catering then All Inclusive

[anna68]

We went to Antigua for a week this feb for some sun, I was dubious about going long haul for a week but I cannot recommend it enough. We are off to St Lucia next feb.

[Harryfinn]

We stayed at Savannah beach with VH too. We absolutely loved it and are hoping to return again next year.
Make sure you take a trip to browns beach it's beautiful. We also took a trip out on a catamaran (cool runnings) was fab and got to snorkel with sea turtles. You will love it