Barbados holidays

When it comes to Barbados’ beach scene, it’s a case of the Atlantic-facing east coast vs the Caribbean-facing west coast. The latter is known as the Platinum Coast, because of the luxury hotels and million-pound villas that line the calm waters. They’re perfect for snorkelling in – keep an eye out for turtles if you’re there. Over on the Atlantic Coast, beaches are wilder and more windswept, making them ideal for watersports, like surfing in the so-called ‘soup bowl’ of Bathsheba.

Crane Beach is known as one of the best in the world. It’s got that classic East Coast scenery – cue pink-tinged sands backed by palm trees and dramatic cliffs. The consistent, powerful waves that crash against the rocks make it a popular spot for boogie boarding, too.

Batts Rock Beach, in St James, is a prime spot to watch a West Coast sunset. It’s one of the island’s quieter coves, with calm waters, honey-coloured sand, and plenty of trees for shaded swimming and snorkelling.

What Barbados lacks in terms of malls, it makes up for in abundance with craft shops. Head to the Chattel Village in Hole Town, St James, or Pelican Village on the outskirts of Bridgetown, and you’ll be able to pick up handmade souvenirs crafted by local artisans, like jewellery, clothing, pottery and woodwork.

Rum flows like water in Barbados, and the best place to pick up a bottle here is in a rum shop. These duty-free places aren’t just off-licences, they’re bars as well, so you can try before you buy. The shops at the entrance to St Lawrence Gap and near the oval cricket ground in Bridgetown come highly recommended. Or, cut out the middleman and buy straight from the Mount Gay Rum Distillery. If you’re not a drinker, other top picks to grab while you’re in Barbados include Bajan seasoning – a green, herb-based marinade – and hot sauce made with spicy peppers.

Shopping in Barbados is duty-free, so if you’ve been eyeing up pieces from luxury brands, you could save on tax by buying them while you’re here. Broad Street in Bridgetown is the best place for price. It’s home to three department stores, including Cave Shepherd, the largest on the island. Or, rummage around the shops in Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Hole Town, which is home to more than 100 fashion brands.

For Bajan food at its best, head to Oistins. This fishing village is less than 10 miles east of Bridgetown and every Friday and Saturday night it hosts Oistins Fish Fry. Picnic benches are set up in the village’s main car park and tonnes of stalls serve grilled fish and rice and peas to go. For a finer dining experience, head out on one of the sunset cocktail cruises from Careenage Harbour in Bridgetown, or road-test the restaurants around Maxwell Coast Road. For pre or post-dinner tipples, there are plenty of beach bars to choose from in both towns, some of which host live steel pan music.

Bay Street in Bridgetown wears the crown as far as nightlife is concerned. The clubs here offer everything from fire shows and reggae to mainstream DJ sets. St Lawrence Gap nightlife is equally as lively. The seaside strip, between Dover Beach and St Lawrence Bay, has got open-air clubs and reggae bars, live music venues and karaoke joints.

Flying fish is a national symbol of Barbados, and a Friday night fish fry staple. The traditional way to prepare the dish is to soak the fish in lime and salt, batter it with breadcrumbs and egg, and then fry it. Or, it can be steamed and stewed into a gravy with Bajan seasoning. You can have it as a main meal – traditionally served with cou cou, a combination of cornmeal and okra – or as part of a sandwich for lunch.

Cornmeal and okra are combined with boiling water to make a mash-like paste called cou cou – a Barbados staple. This polenta-style savoury side dish is served alongside spicy gravy as part of a traditional Sunday lunch. It’s traditionally cooked using a special cou cou stick, which is shaped like a miniature cricket bat and makes it easier to stir the mixture.

Cutters are the Bajan version of the humble sandwich. They’re made with a crusty salt bread roll, the recipe for which is a secret of Area 51 proportions in Bajan households. Flying fish cutter is the most popular, but you can also get other fillings, like beef stew, ham or cheese. They’re served as snacks in rum shops, to soak up the fire water. Plus, they make a great addition to a beach picnic.

Pumpkin fritters are a classic Bajan comfort food, blurring the line between sweet and savoury. The traditional recipe for the deep-fried pumpkin dough includes a mix of egg, flour, cinnamon and sugar, all moulded into the shape of a doughnut before being dipped in hot oil. They’re normally served as a side dish alongside rice and peas and Bajan stews, but can also be eaten as a dessert.

Barbados is hailed as the birthplace of rum, thanks to the island’s production of the oldest rum in the world, Mount Gay. You can drink it neat, on the rocks, or mixed into a rum punch cocktail to sip on the beach. Rum shop culture is big here, so you won’t be far from a bar whenever you fancy a tipple.