Barbados holidays - where the rum's always flowing, the beaches are always ready to party, and the seafood's always straight-off-the-boat fresh.

Good to Know

🤩 Fun Fact: The birthplace of rum, everyone say, 'thank you, Barbados.'

🏖️ Best Beach: We're talking pink-hued sand, turquoise waters and gentle waves perfect for some water sports - that's what we're talking about.

🍺 Price of a pint: Typically around 10 to 15 Barbadian Dollars - so between €4.60 and €6.90 depending on where you're bagging one.

Highlights

• Beaut white-sand beaches (over 70 miles of them, to be exact!)

• Laidback island vibes - think swaying palms and reggae beats

• A surfing, snorkelling and diving paradise

• THE birthplace of rum - bottom's up!

• Scorchio all year round (we're talking a fabulously toasty 28°C)

Getting Around

🚌 Buses

It seems like a no brainer that hopping on a bus would be the most convenient way to get around Barbados, and with three different types to choose from that vary from a standard government operated service to a privately owned taxi route service, you'll be zipping from A to B in no time. Fares typically come to $3.50 Barbadian Dollars (around €1.27) and are the best way to live like a local and travel to almost any point on the island during your holidays to Barbados. There's always a lively atmosphere with local music playing and plenty of chatter going on, if you're looking for a bit of time to cool off, the private ZR vans usually have air-con and though the buses can fill up, especially during peak times, it's all part of the experience.

🛵 Scooters/Mopeds

If you're looking to get out and explore the island with the freedom of your own wheels, then mopeds are usually the way forward. Cheaper to rent than a car, so you're already on to a winner, getting on two wheels to zoom along the picturesque coastal roads (with safety gear firmly strapped on of course) is one of the best ways to see Barbados. You can make your way to more remote parts of the island, weave through the traffic which usually gets quite busy around areas like Bridgetown and even hunt down some hidden beaches and local food stalls. It's maybe not your go to idea for travel when you're on your jollies, but we reckon when it comes to a Barbados holiday this is one of your top options.

🚶🏼‍➡️Walking

It may seem a bit of an obvious choice, but when your boots are made for walking, then that's just what they'll do. If you're in a more compact area, such as Bridgetown or Speightstown then it's super convenient to mosey around the place without having to stress about driving around. What's better, you'll be saving money on rentals and you'll be able to get immersed in the local culture a tonne more, from wandering by restaurants and bars that might catch your eye, to exploring the more scenic side of the island on your travels.

What are the best beaches in Barbados?

You say Barbados holidays, we think beaches. It's just a reflex at this point, but type 'Barbados' on any search engine and we guarantee it'll pull up a load of white, sandy goodness. It's kind of what the place is known for! If you're ready to beach-hop like your life depends on it (we always are), give these sandy stretches a try:

• Carlisle Bay - think powdery-soft sands, a bay docked with boujee yachts and catamarans, and an underwater marine park with six shipwrecks and a load of colourful marine life. Total Finding Nemo vibes.

• Crane Beach - considered one of the most beaut beaches on the island, this Insta-worthy spot is a fave with honeymooners, and it's a prime spot for bodyboarding!

• Bottom Bay - not to be confused with Bikini Bottom from Spongebob (although it's just as colourful and cool), this wide beach is tucked away along the south coast and is a popular for picnicking and turtle-spotting

• Silver Sands - a blustery beach with little tide pools for the kiddos, and perfect conditions for the windsurfing and kitesurfing crowd

• Mullins Beach - ideal for quiet beach days, this stretch has cool, refreshing waters for all your swimming (and sealife-spotting) needs, along with some great shady spots under the palm trees, and handy facilities like toilets, showers and changing rooms

• Accra Beach - a fave with both tourists and locals, thanks to its tiki bars, craft kiosks, breezy boardwalk and best-of-both-worlds combo of exciting waves and calm swimming conditions

• Bathsheba Beach - windswept and wild, this rugged corner of coast is a bit different to the airbrushed beaches of the west. It's not recommended for swimming, but there are some natural coral pools that serve as mother nature's Jacuzzi if you fancy kicking back with a rum punch

• Brownes Beach - a half-mile stretch of creamy, white sand, watersports galore, shallow waters ideal for paddling kiddos, and beach bars dotted all along the shore

What are the top hotels in Barbados?

Of course the beaches are the star of the show around these parts (as they should be), and we've handpicked some of the top hotels that'll have you going from bed to sand in a jiffy. And, if you go all-inclusive on your holidays to Barbados, you can quite literally have it all. With tropical landscapes, refreshing pools and delish food cooked up right on site, get a load of these hotspots:

• Savannah Beach Club - located right near the beach (obvs), with two pools to dunk into, a kids' club for the youngsters and a delish sushi and noodle bar on site

• Coconut Court Beach - tropical by name, tropical by nature, this beachfront hotel has paddling pools for the kids, Caribbean cocktails for the adults, and activities for everyone

• The Club Barbados - Adult Only - a kid-free, beachfront paradise with pool games galore (who said adults can't have their fun?), a seafront restaurant and nightly entertainment

• Butterfly Beach Hotel - apart from totally winning the prettiest hotel name award (come on?!), this place is serving up a beachfront location, an adults-only pool and entertainment in the form of live music, karaoke nights and rum parties

• Sea Breeze Beach House - a boutique-style hotel overlooking the sea, with three pools to dunk into, a beachfront restaurant, tons of activities, and a café that serves rum-infused coffee

• Dover Beach Hotel - a family-owned hotel right by the beach, with a refreshing pool area, a poolside restaurant and an on-site spa for the ultimate pamper sesh

• Turtle Beach by Elegant Hotels - an all-suite hotel with pools for the whole fam, plenty of sports, a beachfront restaurant and an ice cream parlour for all your sweet cravings

• Time Out Hotel - a chilled hotel with cosy accommodation just a hop away from the beach

Barbados holidays 2024 travel guide

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Things to do in Barbados for families

Those Pinterest-perfect waters along the west side of Barbados are just the ticket for a bit of splish-splashing and paddling with the kiddos, and there are loads of watersports on offer to take your beach day one step further. Hit up Brownes Beach for a boat trip or cheeky snorkelling sesh with the turtles.

If you've got a rowdy bunch, check out Harrison's Cave where you can explore underground caverns and channel your inner pirate on board the Jolly Roger - down to plank-walking and rope-swinging, swashbuckling-style. It'll go down a treat with the kids, and - if we're being honest - probably with you, too!

For something a bit more chill, you can set up camp at one of the fam-friendly beach clubs, like The Boatyard Club in Bridgetown. It's got a bar and restaurant along with volleyball and inflatables to keep the youngsters occupied. Or, pack a picnic and head to Farley Hill National Park for some family downtime with a side of cracking views enough to make even the most cheeky chatterbox speechless.

❤️ Things to do in Barbados for couples

Barefoot strolls along the beach with your bae in Barbados? We're not just alliterating, that really is what's on the menu if you book a couples' holiday to Barbados. The island vibes are the perfect backdrop for romance, and if you fancy getting adventurous, you've got to check out the Animal Flower Cave. It's the ultimate Insta photo op, with vivid waters and gorg views of the horizon. And if you're out and about near the beach at night, why not hit up a sunset boat trip? That's one way to level-up date night (you're welcome).

More laidback than adventurous? Don't worry, there are loads of couples' activities serving up the chilled vibes. First up: rum-tasting. There are distilleries located all over the island, so find your fave, book a tour, and treat yourself to some of the good stuff. Just make sure to book transport home so you're not left staggering all the way back to the hotel... And speaking of chilled vibes, nothing says romance like a couples' massage. Whether you hit up the spa in your hotel or one of the huts at the beach, you're in for a blissful pamper sesh.

🥳 Things to do in Barbados for groups

Whether you're rallying the troops for some stag and hen celebrations, or just getting the gang together for a group summer bash, Barbados has got the goods to make sure you have an epic time. Day trips are your best friend when it comes to group holidays, and nothing screams 'fun' like a boozy boat trip out to sea, with a cheeky bit of snorkelling and swimming along the way. It's the ultimate crowd-pleaser!

To explore the wilder side of Barbados, book yourselves on a jeep safari and buckle up for a day of fun. You can explore all the landscapes, hidden caves and historic sites that the island has to offer, and you'll have some super cool transport to get you there.

And - of course - if you'd rather keep it chill, Barbados' beaches aren't going anywhere. As long as you have a towel, some Factor 50 and a good beach read, you're well sorted.

🍕 Things to do in Barbados for foodies

Foodies, you can't visit Barbados without getting your chops around a flying fish butty, fresh on the beach. It's like Barbados' answer to British fish and chips. And if you'd rather level-up to something a bit more swanky, check out one of the seafront restaurants - like The Cliff in St James, serving up fab views and even better food.

Other staples on the island include macaroni pie, fried breadfruit, and - of course - all the local produce - like coconuts and bananas - as fresh as they come. Speaking of fresh, don't sleep on Oistin’s Friday Night Fish Fry. It's as epic as it sounds, specialising in the freshest fish of the day with a buzzing vibe that can't be missed. You're welcome.

More Caribbean holidays:

• Antigua

• Bahamas

• Cuba

• Dominican Republic

• Jamaica

• St Lucia

• Tobago