Bajan Sunset
Written: Apr 10 '01 (Updated Apr 10 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful, peaceful vacation spot
Cons: Can get a little expensive
The Bottom Line: An exhillerating experience, relaxing get-away and tropical adventure all in one.
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| bought_it_all's Full Review: Barbados |
I went to Barbados last December, and it was the most relaxing vacation I've ever taken. It stays around 80-85 degrees in December, which is a welcome change from the 40 degrees in New York upon departure.
The cab ride from the airport to the resort took about 30 minutes, and the roads are horrible. Don't rent a car. The roads are covered on all sides by sugarcane, and two bicycles can barely pass in the street, let alone cars. I don't know how anyone navigates those roads (mostly by honking to make their approach known.) Throw into the mix that the Island is a former colony of the UK, and you've got left-side driving in effect. Oh, and the reverse turn rotaries ("Look kids, Big Ben, Parliment!") are enough to make you mad. The cab ride from Grantley Adams to St. Peter costs about $40.00 American.
We stayed at the Almond Beach Resorts in the parish of Saint Peter. There are two options when staying at this resort - the Village or the Club. They bill the Village as being for "younger people and families" and the Club as "adult." I went to the Village, as did many people who were originally booked at the Club. It seems that the Club is for older, retired and inactive people. That's fine, but not really what was advertised.
The Village has 11 pools, 2 pool-side bars and miles of beach. It also has 4 restaurants and a night club. There's duty-free shopping and nightly entertainment, without ever leaving the resort grounds. The restaurants usually book quickly, so it's best to make your reservations on the first day for the entire length of stay. There are Italian, Bajan, seafood and mixed-themed food. And don't forget about the little bar in the center of the complex - quaint Island atmosphere, and a ping-pong table. Beach-side entrepreneurs will try to sell you anything from driftwood carvings to hair braiding to jet ski rides. We did it all, and especially loved the jet ski. There just wasn't enough time to do it all.
This resort is all-inclusive, so all of the food, drinks and entertainment are at no additional cost. And the rum punch is amazing. After a long flight, you're knocked on your butt by the second glass.
If you leave the complex (and you should explore), take the tours. We went swimming with wild sea turtles off the Carribean coast (an incredible experience, but watch your fingers.) They are massive creatures which swim all around you if you choose to go into the water. Truly awesome. We also went to the Harrison Caves, another miracle of nature. A tram takes you into the 500-foot deep cavern, and at certain points you can get off to look around. Just touch nothing! It's all protected, and there are actually guards posted to keep you from touching the water. We also went to the tropical flower forest, and it was beautiful. But you have to walk a great deal, so don't go if you can't navigate the path.
For dining, we only went to one off-resort restaurant. We made some rich friends (incredibly interesting and wonderful people) from England and California, and they took us to Baku. It was the most extravagent and expensive dinner I've ever had. The atmosphere was wonderful, as was the food and drink. I think the bill for the 7 of us came to about $1,000.00 American, excluding the tip. Bajan currency is about $0.50 to the dollar.
Barbados is a wonderful place to experience new things and meet fascinating people (mostly from the UK.) Don't miss a single opportunity to take part in the festivities. The only down side to the trip was the fact that nearly all indiginous people live in near-to-total poverty, which you will see on your cab ride and if you venture off of the property. This is true of most Carribean Islands, but it is always upsetting to see.
The cost of the trip which I've noted here includes airfare for two from New York, which totaled about $1,200.00. The cost of the resort for the week was another $1,200.00 total.
Visit Barbados, see the sites and enjoy the culture. I'm already planning my next trip back.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Dec - Feb
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Epinions.com ID:
bought_it_all
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Location: Wilton, CT, USA
Reviews written: 82
Trusted by: 9 members
About Me:
A decent guy with opinions to spare.
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