Where to go: Barbados

Flight time: 8 hours

Temperatures: Hover at 80F

Why Go:
When it comes to going on winter holiday we could do worse than follow Sir Cliff Richard’s lead to Barbados because for winter sun, this tiny island is a classic! The hurricane season ends in November after which the island is showered in sunshine for 10 whole hours a day. And this winter, you won’t find bluer skies, balmier days or more beautiful beaches at such good value as is currently available.

For the young at heart St Lawrence Gap is the place to party. Nightclubs, reggae clubs and discos throb along this strip into the wee hours. The Ship Inn is a favourite among the locals looking for some RnB.  The nearby capital city of Bridgetown through pretty bland during the day, buzzes with energy after sundown.

For a more serene sojourn head for the West Coast where a sleepy ambience combines with heady sunny days and the moist Caribbean air to offer a rejuvenating holiday.

Barbados may be tropical, lush and holiday manna, but there are things you may find familiar. They drive on the left, enjoy horse racing, speak English and they don’t like cricket – they love it!

Where to Eat

Probably the best eaterie on the west coast is The Cliff, a favourite of Tony Blair. The restaurant is so refined you would feel out of place if you didn’t dress for the occasion. Set on a cliff-top, you can hear the waves kissing the sand and feast your eyes on a superb coastal vista while you enjoy your meal.

The Fish pot located opposite the Little Good Harbour hotel is a rustic fish restaurant famed for the freshness of its catch. To get there you’ll have to catch a boat that drops you just offshore and then wade through shallow water to get to the restaurant.

Where to stay:
You will find the best hotels and beaches at the West Coast of the island known at the Platinum Coast in the Parish of St James just north of Bridgetown .

The glamourous Sandy Lane , much loved by Michael Winner and Simon Cowell on the island tends to trip off the tongue easily when considering luxurious accommodation, but others such as Coral Reef Club and the genteel Cobblers Cove are also top picks. The newer Royal Westmoreland is hot on their heels for popularity and offers air conditioned villas – some owned by celebrities like the Rooneys.

Beyond Sandy lane is the more intimate Little Good Harbour, a clutch of 21 away-from-it-all cottage-style suites surrounded by lush tropical gardens.

 
Getting There;
Airfares are attractive, too: British Airways and Virgin are pinning their hopes on a bumper Caribbean season, has increased frequencies to meaning there are more seats available. Returns to Barbados are currently on sale from  £359 with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic

Hotel and flight from £635 with Expedia

SEE ALSO

Places to visit in Barbados

Quick guide to Barbados

2 September 2009