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Garfield Richmond
Citizen
Username: Reybee
Post Number: 2
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 4:38 pm: | 
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Hi Neighbors---
we're thinking of going to Barbados soon. our initial research shows the island is a british colony, and the atmosphere is a little 'stuffy'. has anyone been to this island? what was your experience... would really like to know, and our decision to go there would be greatly influenced by your input. Thanks.
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Miss L Toe
Citizen
Username: Miss_l_toe
Post Number: 21
Registered: 10-2003
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 5:42 pm: |
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I don't think it's stuffy (but then again I'm a Brit!). However, it seems to have sadly been overdeveloped in my opinion with urban sprawl all around the capital Bridgetown and all up the west coast where most vacationers stay. There is barely any space between each developed plot. I was there briefly last year but it had changed a lot since I'd been there on my honeymoon 15 years before. We had a week in St. Lucia, then a week in Barbados for our honeymoon and went back to both islands last year. The West Coast in Barbados has all the upmarket hotels (the most famous is the 'Sandy Lane') which is probably why you think the island is stuffy. I actually preferred the Atlantic coast with the brisk tides at Bathsheba on the East Coast. The people are friendly and you can rent a car and see all the old plantations or go on a 'jeep safari' around the island.
Personally, I would rather have a vacation in nearby St.Lucia than Barbados (in colonial times it was French then British) and the locals speak in a 'patois' dialect in addition to English. It is far more 'lush', beautiful and green as it is volcanic - the famous 'Pitons' (mountains) rise dramatically out of the sea. It is a larger island than Barbados. You need to get out and about to see the beauty of the island, there is a market in the capital Soufriere and the rainforest and botanical gardens to discover. A highlight is to take a boat/catamaran trip along the coast to the little town with the harbour near the Pitons and to sail into the lovely 'Marigot Bay' where Dr. Doolittle was filmed. The boat drips anchor at one of the beaches and you can swim - we had dolphins following us! It would be such a shame to stay at an all-inclusive resort such as 'Sandals' or 'Beaches' and stay in the hotel confines all the time...and therefore putting little into the local economy.
A great place to find trip reviews for most places around the world is at http://www.tripadvisor.com It has reviews posted by the general public who have actually stayed there, not just travel writers from Frommers, Fodors etc. so you see the 'warts and all'. I don't know if there are reviews for the Caribbean islands but it's worth a look.
Made In England
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mommydee
Citizen
Username: Mommydee
Post Number: 81
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 9:10 pm: |
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I have been to Barbados twice and loved it. However, I have not been there since 96 so I do not know how much new development is there now. I have traveled to quite a few different islands and I found the people in Barbados to be the friendliest out of anywhere! The food was great and you get a good exhange. When I was there last it was 2 Bajan dollars to one American dollar. both times I stayed in the St Lawrence gap area and it was beautiful. |
peteglider
Citizen
Username: Peteglider
Post Number: 486
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Monday, March 1, 2004 - 9:38 pm: |
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If you're going for the ocean to swim, snorkle, etc., don't stay on the Atlantic side.
Barbados has marvelous beaches, but I'd say Antigua or Cayman have nicer beaches.
You'll have a nice time which ever you choose.
Pete
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