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Holidays

Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

ooh, I'm going to Barbados, ooh, to the sunny Caribbean sea!

27 replies

mckenzie · 31/07/2009 15:39

Should I take US$ or Barbadian $ please?

Any tips from anyone who has been there gratefully received. We're staying at Almond Beach Village which I have just been reading on here is perhaps not the best we could have chosen but hey, too late now!

Will it be dressy in the evening? Is it worth my while taking nice frocks and my high heels? (We went to Lykia World the last two years and it was much too hot in the evening to ever think about putting my glad rags on! It was always just cotton sundress and flip flops!)

TIA

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Floopy21 · 31/07/2009 16:30

I stayed there years ago, it was lovely. If memory serves, it was no shorts for men / baseball caps / no tummies on show for women / no jeans / for dinner, but that may have all changed now... generally the dress code is as smart as you want to make it, I loved being able to wear pretty frocks that I usually don't get a chance to crack open in the UK! (couldn't be faffed with heels though)

Defo US$

Sunblock!! (you need factor 50, otherwise your skin goes leathery according to my dermatologist friend)

Hope you have a wonderful time, you lucky thing!

Rindercella · 31/07/2009 16:52

Have a brilliant time - I love Barbados. I don't know much about Almond Beach, as I have also gone s/c there - is it on the West or South coast? I would definitely pack a nice frocks & heels for the evening. It can be a dressy place (esp the West coast) and I reckon there's no better excuse to dress up than being in Barbados .

It really doesn't matter whether you take Bds or US $, both are accepted just about everywhere. You're likely to get any change back in Bds $ though.

I am assuming you're going with DC. They should love Ocean Park, we really enjoyed it when we were there (Dec 08).

Other than that, take lots of sun block, some anti-mozzie spray & lots of $ (whether Bds or US), because it's blardy expensive

Original poster
mckenzie · 31/07/2009 17:19

thanks very much. Off to add Mozzie spray to the shopping list!

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PestoBaskingMonster · 31/07/2009 22:06

Take US dollars. We went to the Almond Beach Village 2 years ago. Twas fine. You will need long trousers for gents and I would definitely dress up in the evenings. Any questions, fire away (might not answer tonight though, as go to get up early in the mornign!)

Original poster
mckenzie · 01/08/2009 12:33

thanks Pesto. Did you go this time of year? Just wondering how warm it will be in the evenings, do we need cardigans etc?
Dh is going to hate having to wear long trousers! Will DS have to wear log trousers too? He's 8.

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PestoPrideMonster · 01/08/2009 12:40

Yes, we went the last week of August/first week of September. It is really hot, you won't need any cardis onc e you're there, but I would suggest you have one to wear on the plane as the airconditioning can be fierce!

You will find it is very hot & humid and you may get the occasional rain (it is the rainy season after all), but they don't usually last very long.

The long trousers rule won't apply to your DS, just your DH.

When you arrive they will allocate you a restaurant to eat your evening meal in, for the first night only. After that you will need to book them up in advance. I would suggest you do this on your first morning, then you won't waste any more of your holiday time.

If you get a chance I would highly recommend the adult only (air-conditioned) restaurant for 1 or 2 of your meals. It is fantastic. Your DS can be left in the kids club. They do really good entertainments there like pyjama parties and movie evenings and will also take your children off for their evening meal if you like. Our DDs never wanted to eat with us in the evenings and much preferred this option, eating with their mates with the kids club ladies.

PestoPrideMonster · 01/08/2009 12:43

Other things my dds particularly enjoyed doing through kids club were banana-boating, waterskiing and beach cricket. The kids club really is very very good. They got their hair braided one afternoon too (all included!) and the kids club taught them different card games and they win prizes there too!

Original poster
mckenzie · 01/08/2009 17:23

thanks again pesto - that's all really helpful.

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Original poster
mckenzie · 01/08/2009 17:24

did you do any of the sports Pesto or use the gym?

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PestoPrideMonster · 01/08/2009 17:33

I didn't use the gym (have enough of that at home ), but I did use the Hobie Cats a lot and also rides on the banana boat which are all included. I would also recommend a trip on a glass bottomed boat. Just get one from the beach, they offer them all the time. Haggle a good price and they take you to see the turtles. Swimming in the water with them was the highlight of our holiday TBH.

PestoPrideMonster · 01/08/2009 17:33

Also, we did tons of snorkling. I mean loads!

PestoPrideMonster · 01/08/2009 17:35

Oh and I would thoroughly recommend the Reef restaurant as the place to go & have your breakfast, as it has the best ever setting right beside the beach & boardwalk. In the evening it is spectacular too, but I won't say why and spoil the surprise.

daffodilli · 01/08/2009 17:44

is all the input I can offer!! Have a fantastic time!

Original poster
mckenzie · 01/08/2009 18:11

thanks Pesto - this is all really helpful What's a Hobie Cat please?

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Original poster
mckenzie · 01/08/2009 18:11

And sorry daffodilli . I'd take you with me if I had room

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BecauseImWorthIt · 01/08/2009 18:16

Very . Barbados is lovely.

You can be as dressy as you want, at the Almond Beach, but you'll find that lots of the other guests have really gone to town with their outfits. Evenings will be very warm, so I doubt you'll need a cardi, unless you happen to be somewhere with airconditioning on.

I could never really be bothered dressing up, and it really doesn't matter.

If you can, and have the cash, try and go for dinner at The Cliff. A truly spectacular setting and lovely, lovely food.

Personally I always found it too hot to even contemplate the gym (although I suppose they will have air conditioning). The only time of day I could ever play tennis was right at the end of the day, when it is a tad cooler. What you'll find is that the sun comes up and it's almost immediately hot - no kind of warming up to it!

PestoPrideMonster · 01/08/2009 20:36

Hobie cat = small catamaran sailing boats

PestoPrideMonster · 01/08/2009 20:41

hobie cat

Original poster
mckenzie · 20/08/2009 19:41

hey Pesto - we're we talking about the same Almond Beach??? We, and just about everyone else we have spoken to, are so disappointed . The beach is lovely and the Hobie Cat is great fun. The italian adult restaurant is good too. But as for everything else....... I wouldn't know where to start. If anyone is thinking of going and would like more information then please say and i'll go into more detail but for now i'll just leave it by saying that we wont ever be coming back. And for the first time ever, I'm counting down the days until we can leave. That's sad huh?

OP posts:
jkklpu · 20/08/2009 19:51

have a wonderful time
make sure you have decent travel insurance in case anyone gets ill while you're away - you don't want massive bills to pay

Cluckadoodledoo · 20/08/2009 19:58

We stayed at Almond Beach Club the over 16's one (we had a week without kids yippee)and liked it.

We visited the Village as it had a larger beach and was livelier at night. It had a good atmosphere and looked fun for the families staying there.

Yes it is a large complex but that means lots to do. The Almond band are excellent.

Dress is how you want it tbh as long as no shorts for men at night. I like to dress up but if I had a busy day I didn't!

Enids at the Beach club is a fab restaurant if you manage a kid free night.

Original poster
mckenzie · 25/08/2009 20:47

well we're at the airport on the way home. Thank goodness for the great people that we met as otherwise the holiday would have been a complete disaster instead of just really really disappointing!

And DS (8) did manage to get up water skiing today after trying really hard all week and that has made my holiday He's so chuffed with himself.

Bye Bye Barbados.....

OP posts:
wotzy · 27/08/2009 10:27

Oh dear, maybe you should do a review on MN longhaul, when you get back to the UK?

Original poster
mckenzie · 27/08/2009 14:51

We're home now so I've just done it. I sound like 'Mrs Angry from England' on it - I'm normally a positive person honestly!

OP posts:
wotzy · 27/08/2009 20:21

Do you know what mckenzie, I would send a letter to who ever you booked with and also copy in the Almond Resorts. It's not compensation material (and I doubt that is what you're intentions are, but the resort do appreciate feedback. Sometimes the TourOps and agents don't pass it on. if you google Almond Resorts Marketing Ltd you'll get a Crawley address. Just send them your travel dates and a little letter and say you would like to bring these matters to their attention, it was a little disappointing and it;s a shame that you wouldn't personally recommend them given your own experiences during your trip. Oh and praise the nice staff, they are always overlooked.

I do think that the kids clubs can vary depending on staff, a bit like your experience with the watersports.