Is Barbados a bit rubbish, really?

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I have been nagged to go to Barbados. Is it any good? It's got the word "bar" in the name which is very encouraging. But there again it also has the word "bad" and "do's" in the name as well, which could mean it derives its name from the pubs having lots of horrible dogshit in them, perhaps

I need some pix i think, and perhaps a nice map showing a potential target harbour suitable for a catamaran driven by someone a bit rubbish at parking.
 
I went there about 20 years ago so it may not be quite the same now. I think Bridgetown is the only harbour? though there was another place called Oistins, which had lots of fishing boats on the beach and they had a fish festival while we were there, with lots of, um, fish.

Stayed with a friend who worked for the ODA (as was, I think it's the DFID, now) and he got a hardship allowance while he was posted there, which was nice because it paid for the scuba lessons, the maid, gardener and the rum. Watch out for a big raggy called the Jolly Roger, which is full of pissed Club 18-30 types and which motor sails up and down the coast.

That's about it, really. Oh, and they've got their own oil wells.
 
OK, so I am a lying toad, no worries, I am accustomed to reactions like this!

For pics of Barbados, and some background research, do a Google, and have a look at the various Barbados websites like www.barbados.org , www.funbarbados.com , and links.

If you like, I can send you some pilotage info for Port St Charles (the alternative port of entry to the main commercial harbour in Bridgetown) - it is infinitely preferable to the main harbour. Although it is rather a doddle to enter - just go around the north end of the island, keep a reasonable offing as there are some reefs off Maycocks, and PSC is just past the Harrison Point temporary prison (conspic at night re the powerful lights - the lighthouse packed up years ago, couldnt compete!) and the Arawak Cement Factory (more conspic., and lots more lights) and its sodding big jetty for loading ships.

Have a look at the webcams (in daylight, not now....) on the PSC website at http://www.portstcharles.com/webcams.cfm and one of them will show the the outer breakwater where the Customs dock is located.
 
Re: Is Barbados a bit rubbish, really? No!

Still lots of fishy activities happening at Oistins, on the south end of the island. Lots of little stalls with coal pots do excellent fried fish and chips for about 4 quid a head. But it is getting a bit trendy.... you can get just as good fish from Braddies bar at Six Mens (about 5 mins walk north from PSC) where a bottle of Banks beer costs about 60p, and if you ask for a rum & coke, they plonk a bottle of rum and a bottle of coke on the table in front of you - TCM crew be warned!

Lots of scuba dive shops offering PADI courses, altho I dont think the Mojomo crew will have time for this.....

And the Jolly Roger is still doing her daily rum soaked motor sails along the coast, complete with Megawatts of music, and a 40 gallon barrel of self service rum punch......

Current exchange rate here is around GBP 1 = BDS$ 4.15 - and a half gallon bottle of Mount Gay in the supermarket costs about BDS$ 28......

Oil wells are still pumping, but they only produce about half of the daily requirement - it all gets exported to Trinidad to be refined, and then it is brought back again in the form of fuel oil, diesel and kerosene - the small Tradewinds and GPG product tankers are doing very well on this route!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I have been nagged to go to Barbados. Is it any good?

[/ QUOTE ] Are you going by air or by sea?

Bajan Sailor has if anything been quite conservative in his description.

Please list out what criteria appeals to you in topic form and between us (Bajan Sailor and I) we will try and allay your concerns.

EG Do you want/like
Cheap rum
touring a rum (with samples) factory
visiting underground limestone caves
Not sure if the Concorde is yet available for a visit.
sunshine
sand
SCUBA
snorkelling
swimming
surfing
golf
submarine trips
good dining
jazz music
reggae music
happy hour(s) in bars - ie half price or two for the price of one (deadly)
Cheese cutters
flying fish
<span style="color:red">hot</span> sauce.
etc
 
I went to school with a gal from Barbados. Long lithe legs, pert bum, no waist, tits firmer than coconuts and a mane of long glossy raven hair. Made Lara Croft look like a wimp. Probably worth going just for her.
 
My sister and her family had a holiday at two centres the first Barbados and the second St.Lucia.
When the boatman learned they were going to St. Lucia he said "see you Tuesday then" why? "because you won't like it as much".

I am told he was right and my sister speaks with great affection of Barbados and reckons it's the nicest island she's been to. She wants to return
 
Went there twice in 2006 once was xmas week. Loved every minute of it. ( Second time stayed at hotel with Virgin cabin crew. That made up for hotel, Good xmas).
Tried to think of a different place for this year but was persuaded back by family. So we have booked xmas 2007 over there again.
Have to say it suits us. Nice laid back style after a years long work. Love the regge buses. People great. Prices vary. For example we have booked Cliffe restaurant a month ago and they were already full and we had to take what was available times and dates. Wow and with prices circa £100 per head. They hav an evening with Waterfront cafe. Great music good food and fair prices.
If you go you must do the catamaran boat trip, fantastic swimming with turtles and drinking as much as you want afterwards. Great day out.
Hotels can be a bit iffy, typically carribean. WE have nitten the bullet this time and book the HIlton, cant go wrong with that, also all evening restaurants booked, days out and safari trip, only left to book a first time on a fishing boat. AHHHH cant wait
 
We did have a rum punch fuelled good time on the Jolly Rogerand did seem to get followed around the Island by Egbert the fire eater and a band called the Merryboys and in answer to your implied question they don’t call it Paradise beach for nothing! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Barbados is close to Paradise.....

35 years on, some things dont change..... as noted above, the Jolly Roger is still plying her trade - if you hit on a formula that works well, why change it?
Although she does have competition in the form of numerous (I think about 18) large day charter catamarans (or cattlemarans, re packing the punters in).
While the same company (incongruously called Tall Ships - with not a tall ship in sight....) also has a dedicated parti boat called the Harbourmaster - a large motorised steel multidecked shoebox that can take 600 punters on trips along the coast.

The Merry Boys have grown up and became the Merrymen - they must be all around 70, but they are still going strong, although they only play occasional gigs now.

And as for Paradise Beach, well, there were rumours that it was going to become a Sandals resort, but that never happened - it has now been acquired by the Four Seasons Hotel chain, and they are in the process of building a huge 4S hotel on the property, along with many private houses, all costing large chunks of moolah.
 
Re: Barbados is close to Paradise.....

What about the Regency Cove at Rockley Beach and just up the road from there the Hotel and catering college where you could get a 3 course meal with silver service for a couple of dollars, but only Monday to Thursday. The only American fast food joint was a Pizza Hut, bet that’s changed. Holiday Inn had a private beach which they tried to remove us from until an American honeymoon couple intervened and said we were their guests. All such a long time ago but what a great time, we have often though of going again but would not like to spoil the memories.
 
Re: Barbados is close to Paradise.....

The Regency Cove Hotel is still there, and seems to be operational.
The hotel school is now in a purpose built place called the Hotel Pomarine (where the old Marine Hotel used to be) - and they still do 3 (or more) course dinners for about the cost of a good takeaway - and probably Monday - Saturday at least now, maybe Sunday as well.
The Holiday Inn (now the Grand Barbados Beach Resort - the name is a bit ambitious I think) were trying to pull a fast on you, as even then there were no private beaches allowed in Barbados. Although some folk try very sneaky and devious means to try and make 'their' beach private, it doesnt last very long......
Go on Bigwow, return for another holiday! I think you will just find that everywhere has speeded up and is more developed, same as most other places, but the basic theme of Barbados is still the same.
 
Barbados is fantastic lots of things to do
inland caves
west coast upmarket restaurants (bit dear though)
Mullins cove
Oistins fish market for some culture and some fish
East coast cliffs ,botanical gardens big surf rolls in this side superb views
Lots of cane plantations inland,green monkey sanctuary
Sandy lane where the film stars go £ 10,000 for a villa and you get your own butler
easy to drive around not much traffic
Dont know about ports though this was in my pre boaty days
We went 3 times we liked it so much
Regards
 
Oh dear, poor lad - methinks consult Auntie Suzy for advice as to the best way to make up with her, and then once everything is all ticketyboo again, you two can abscond south for a holiday in low latitudes this winter, and come for a sail with us!
 
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