What would you do? Barbados luxury or mid price?

[jojosmaman]

Ok, me, dp and ds have been invited on a holiday to Barbados for a week in Jan, flights and accommodation paid for () by IL's. We decided to extend it to 10 days as seemed like we might need that time to get over the 8 hour flight with a nearly 2 year old and so are looking to book in to a hotel for three nights but can't decide whether to a) stay in a mid priced 1 bed apt and do the three days for a reasonable price so in effect whole holiday would cost us about £750 or b) stay in a luxurious ocean view 2 bed apartment right on the beach for a few hundred (ok £600 ) more?

Normally we would not even entertain spending this amount of money per night but then we are not having to pay for flights or 7 days accommodation so thought shall we just push the boat out? But then dp brought me back down to earth and reminded me about la crunch de la credit..

What would you wise mumsnetters do??

Well I would take the chance to experience a bit of luxury ..you'll have great memories of it.

Thanks ggirl, that's my thought but dp has his sensible head on at the mo!

Go for the luxury option every time. Mid range in the caribbean can be REALLY grotty and if it doesn't say ocean view then it will be overlooking the kitchen bins or staff car park, teeming with stray dogs and cats.

And if la crunch de la credit hits you in Feb then you'll be the ones with the suntan in the queue at the bank to withdraw your life savings.

From Our Own Correspondent in Trinidad

Be aware that eating out over there is really pricey. You have been warned!

Ohh, you can go to The Cliff (reserve a table before you go), Daphne's, Lone Star, et al...not jealous as off to Barbados ourselves at end of November

But, there are plenty of fab places to choose from in Barbados. Top end, if you can afford it would be brill. Let me know where you're considering & I will see if I know it.

cq I'll be the one with a slight glow covered in bites whereas dp and ds will be a nice shade of golden brown !

Pesto- Yes have heard this, that everything is pretty expensive in the Carribean. Will be staying self catering so hopefully will do some cooking [saying that now but will probably be a lazy cow when it comes to it emoticon].

Also, our holiday in Spain this year was free accomodation (there is a theme here! Freeloaders or what?!!), just paid for the flights so saved a few hundred quid there too.. going to add that one in to the equation when discuss with dp later!

ooh ohh Rindercella, brilliant, can I pick your brains?! Its a place called Little Good Harbour a bit north of Speightstown, have you heard of it? Its not high end luxury like Sandy Lane, I get the impression a bit more off beat/ cool but supposed to have a lovely restaurant there called the Fish pot
{waits for you to dash my dreams and say it is shoddy and you got food poisoning!!}.

I think the IL's are booking one night for us at the Cliff when we have a babysitter! Have heard of Lone Star, does it have rooms as well (just thinking I have prob seen it on one of my hunting down a hotel google sessions!!)

Lovely, lovely, lovely. You will love it! You're right it is slightly more offbeat and the Fish Pot is particularly nice for Sunday lunch.

Lone Star does also have rooms.

You will have a fab time there, I promise. We're staying on the South coast, booked there as my parents were meant to be going at the same time (they have a v small apartment there, which is why I know Barbados pretty well), but unfortunately my father isn't that well so won't be able to travel. Hey ho, we'll still have a great time & probably have lunch at the Fish Pot one day! You have great taste.

Have a great time

Also, I personally feel Sandy Lane is a bit up itself. Little Good Harbour far more chilled.

Rindercella- Yeay, phew!! I have really taken to it, I'm not a fan of big lobby hotels when on holiday, they remind me too much of work (I travel a couple of times as year to the Far East and India) and so tend to go to the other extreme but I do like something a bit special. I can't wait for the trip, I have never been further west than Anglesey! Just to have to work on dp now re Little Good Harbour!

WW- Yes 10 days is great, this will be the first holiday in about 3 years that we have been away for more than a week as dp is self employed but we just thought a week in Barbados wouldnt be long enough! Never been away in winter before so very much looking forward to flying off into the sun

Aw great Jojo. I can tell you there are few things nicer than feeling that Caribbean sun on your skin when you know just how rotten the weather is back home 4000 miles away.

Ooh, I can't wait to go myself now. And I have jusst had a sneaky look at the Fish Pot's menus and we will definitely be going there!

Can endorse the Cliff - fabulous.

Very of you! We try to go every year, but a summer 3 week holiday means this year it's out of our reach