Barbados - The Wonder of the Windies
- Work To Wonders
- Aug 1
- 2 min read
Once known as an island to which prisoners were sent, and then for industrial slavery on its sugar plantations, these days this tropical beauty is now better known as the birth place of the pop star Rihanna, stunning white sand beaches and superlative diving. We had the opportunity to see turtles swimming over a shipwreck here, which was one of the best travel experiences we have ever had.
Barbados has a complex history, but it's a lot more than a holiday and financial hideaway. Its brightly-coloured historical towns, beautiful nature and stunning waters make this a most inviting place to visit. It's not just the preserve of the wealthy and well-to-do either. Barbados is a place that can easily be visited on a Caribbean cruise, like we did.
As you walk along the sand, take great pleasure in the beautiful surf and enjoy sublime temperatures, you will feel the cares of disappear.
And for those of you who are so inclined, there's also cricket.
How to get there
Barbados' one international airport is situated to the south of the island, relatively close to its capital Bridgetown. Flights are mostly to other Caribbean nations or to North America. However, there are some holiday flights to and from the UK - mostly London.
The favoured way of getting to this beautiful island seems to be by cruise ship.
How we did it
We visited in 2018, as part of a two-week cruise on the Celebrity Eclipse from Miami. It was an incredible voyage, among the very best cruises we have done so far. Celebrity are mostly taking cruises there from Fort Lauderdale and San Juan at the moment - see this link to find out if other routes become available.
Our top tips
Cruise tours are not required here and are, to be honest, quite over-priced. There are plenty of local providers and you can see plenty of this island on your own.
Don't take large amounts of money ashore with you. Tour vendors will try to bargain with you as you stroll along the beach. Don't accept the first deal you are offered and use your lack of cash to haggle down the price. That's what we did - we got the tour for less than half price.
All the beaches here are public, unlike other Caribbean nations, even those in front of expensive hotels. You can enjoy exploring the beaches knowing that you will never be chased away by a hotel security guard. That's a major plus.
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