bit bougie - tips for Barbados for Feb half term ? Booked in 2019 !

[TrevorOptions]

Going this year thanks to the covid. Seems crazy now honestly. The kids are 12 and 15 and lazy as sin.

I have heard that some things have closed down since covid. We're staying half board in a nice hotel near Bridgetown on the beach. I get the impression that there's not much night life if not in a hotel complex. We can chill at our hotel as have a small apartment.

Anyone been recently and can suggest things I must do. So far ....

snorkelling - is it worth buy a decathlon mask each?
Hunter's Gardens
Ossin fish fry tho patchy reviews.
Cricket museum for dh.

We can all swim but haven't done proper swimming for years, though the kids think they can. No scuba.

Not sure how much engagement I will get out of the kids, but I want to make sure I have a great time at least.

I get the impression that there's not much night life if not in a hotel complex

This isn't true- there is a great live music scene in Barbados, get out and explore! Having a car is a very good idea.

My teens loved when we got the reggae busses to get about. Bridgetown is nice to wander. Catamaran snorkelling over the wrecks is amazing. Most things in Barbados since covid are £££ though. Food was a right eye opener, the supermarket prices are insane and so are activities like the caves. Oistins on a Friday night is brilliant, live music & amazing vibe.

We were there last summer, used to be regulars (Bajan family).
Harrison’s cave has had a glow up and you can zip wire there now as well as take the train down to the cave - it’s a (not cheap) morning out.
Carlisle Bay’s beach is lovely and you can hire a cheap glass bottom boat there. They provide snorkels and masks, though some of us used our decathlon style snorkels masks (Amazon sell them about a third cheaper).
Chefette is delicious and their KFC kicks ours into the dust.
In the supermarket, try Bajan\US brands to save money. Save water and drink Banks beer.
We did an island safari, booked it through a taxi driver we used one day and gave him an itinerary of what we wanted to see. Actually, we palled up with a couple of taxi drivers (we were a big group) so that we could always get where we needed to go (it off the bus route) in one vehicle at an agreed price rather than some inflated price.
Use the ZR mini vans rather than the government buses. Same price and they will drop exactly where you ask them to along the route rather than at a bus stop (or even slightly off the route if you’re really lucky!) with great tunes to accompany the ride.
Holetown on the west coast does a great karaoke night, think it’s on a Friday.
St Lawrence Gap used to be a blast during the evening but it’s quietened down somewhat.

Agree with what pp suggested. Have a fab time, I’ve been in February and it’s a fabulous time of year!

Thank you ! I am doing dry Jan and cannot wait to drink a lot of Banks beers. I bet they are served super cold too.

If you take your own scuba mask, please don't buy a full face version. We were told on our honeymoon to a different island a few years ago that they can lead to a build up of carbon dioxide in the mask and can be really dangerous.

Sorry, not scuba mask, i meant snorkel mask

I loved the Mount Gay tour - got to sample lots of rum and found it really interesting!

Oistins on a Friday is a must.

super loving these tips. YY to mount Gay tour.

Interesting about the scuba mask, not heard that before. I will read up.

I really like the idea of the busses they sound fab !

DO I need to get lots of $1 and $5 Barbadian dollars before I go?

Deffo get own snorkel gear to take!

Oistins fish fry is amazing. It's a bit like a fair but with fish stalls. You must try the Bajan salt fish cakes (balls). My kids also enjoyed the caves, the rainforest walk, seeing monkeys, and the boat trips.

We just got cash out the atm at the airport and as we needed at an atm.

I took US dollars - on lots of recommendations from friends - but that was 9 years ago!

If you take UK currency with you, you can change it into Bds dollars in a local bank to get the best rate.
Also crisps etc are amazingly expensive to buy there so maybe bring some with you.

Yeah ! I was on the Barbados for travellers FB page and it was like ‘being mozzie spray’ and ‘bring Pringles’! In your hand luggage ?!?

took US dollars - on lots of recommendations from friends - but that was 9 years ago!

You will get things cheaper if you pay in local currency, especially street sellers.

Local garages don't charge as much for snacks.

Soooo my guide booked arrived - retro I know.

has anyone done the submarine? Sounds fun.

and thank you for tips re cash and garage snacks.

we were going to go full board at the hotel but a few recent bad reviews has put me off. I think we could easily eat at local places on the boardwalk + chefette + pre booked more fancy places

Yes to the submarine.

The submarine trip was great. Also, the jeep safari of the island is a good day out.

OK getting to the nitty gritty - submarine trip day trip or night trip? They make night trip sound alluring but maybe it would be rubbish

I'd do the jeep safari but the rest of the family are allergic to tours.

Jeep safari isn't just a tour though - it's off-roading, making it more exciting!

We did the submarine during the day, so can't say what it would be like at night, I'm afraid.

No everything’s more expensive if you pay in USD.

boat trip - we did an excellent boat trip - was just us and we negotiated the price down over a couple of days. We used same beach quite a bit. The kids loved swimming with turtles and we went early so got there before any other boats. We snorkelled and they used the slide. Awesome day out and was cheap.

Barbados is amazing! Lots of good suggestions already, but to add a few….

For the Catamaran, I’d recommend Calypso Cruises - it’s a smaller boat and it’s great fun but not as crazy as the biggest boats. calypsocruisesbarbados.com

St Nicholas Abbey (rum tour) is great and also now has a small steam railway www.stnicholasabbey.com

George Washington House is interesting and there are also tours of the tunnels underneath the island which were used by soldiers at the nearby Garrison. www.visitbarbados.org/george-washington-house-museum

horse racing - the garrison has horse racing which is good fun and not expensive to go to. Check if there is any races on while you are there.

Same with Polo - they may have some games on And they are fun to watch.

If you are by Carlisle bay, consider getting up early one weekend morning to see the horses having a sea bath. It’s very early like 5/6am (depending on the sunrise) but it’s a very beautiful thing to see.

thanks @Roundthebend45 and @somewhereovertherain which boat trip. / slide did you use?