11 Nights in St James, Barbados - Waves Resort & Spa

Barbados Holidays

Holidays to Barbados take you to the heart of the colonial Caribbean. Known for its rum, its spicy Bajan cuisine, and its cricket, the island blends chilled-out beach life with old city exploration.

Best beaches

In total, the island of Barbados boasts more than 92 kilometres of beach. So where’s best? While the beaches of the east coast are rugged and rocky, the west coast beaches are calmer and more quintessentially Caribbean. In fact, the beaches between Holetown and Oistins are so postcard-perfect that the coastline has earned itself the nickname ‘The Platinum Coast’. Kids will love the pink-coloured sands and coconut palms at Crane Beach. And adults will enjoy the underwater sights at Brownes. Pop on your snorkel and you may spot the old Berwyn tugboat.

City scenes

Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados. Centrally located on the Platinum Coast, it’s not far from the luxury beach resorts. It’s just a 20-minute drive from Holetown, and the same from Oistins. A UNESCO World Heritage site, historic Bridgetown has lots to keep you busy. You can take a pleasant stroll along the canal, photograph the colonial buildings, or pick up souvenirs in the main shopping district along Broad Street.

Bajan cuisine

In Barbados, the food and drink is an attraction in itself. Bajan cuisine is both sweet and spicy, with freshly caught fish dominating many local menus. In Oistins, there’s even a Friday night Fish Fry, where you can sample the street food and mix with the locals. Whatever you choose, it all gets washed down with a glass of island rum. The Mount Gay distillery is located here, and Barbados is also known for its tropical-tasting Caribbean coconut rums.