White sand beaches and crystal-clear waters provide the perfect backdrop for couples looking to celebrate a milestone in their relationship. Barbados checks off all the boxes whether it’s a dream honeymoon, last-minute getaway or a celebration for a milestone occasion. The easternmost destination in the Caribbean is quickly reached on direct flights from five U.S. cities and comes well supplied with top-class hotels. Read on for more tips for a romantic vacation in Barbados.
Fairmont Royal Pavilion
BEACH BLISS
Fringed with more than 80 beaches, Barbados makes it easy for couples to snorkel, surf, relax in a rum bar or walk along a wild and deserted shoreline hand in hand. The island’s sun-drenched shores are liveliest on the weekends when Bajan families gather under the casuarina trees in a merry jumble of picnic tables, coolers, sun umbrellas and children scampering around. To join the party, head to crescent shaped Carlisle Bay or Accra Beach, both in the southwest.
For something more relaxed, the west coast is scalloped with inviting, tree-lined spots offering calm waters and colorfully painted bars serving rum cocktails and chilled bottles of local Banks beer. This is where the island’s premium hotels are located, with the Fairmont Royal Pavilion in Alleynes Bay a good pick for anyone who likes to enjoy a pre-breakfast swim on a beach that’s just steps away from their room. By contrast, the east coast, which faces an Atlantic Ocean that stretches all the way to West Africa, has a wild and exhilarating mood. Bathsheba is a renowned surfing spot here, while Walker’s Reserve, a huge former sand quarry turned conservation area, has a quiet, mile-long beach that’s perfect for a hike with a loved one.
Underwater shipwreck at Carlisle Bay
SHARED ADVENTURES
For couples who love adrenaline, Barbados will not disappoint. Romance is certain to flourish at Harrison’s Cave Eco-Adventure Park in Welchman Hall, which is one of the island’s top attractions. Here, visitors can get thrills and conquer their fears of heights and speed by tackling an adrenaline pumping Monkey Zipline suspended over 100 feet high. This can then be combined with a 14-stage Gully Challenge Course, the largest in the Caribbean, which features a devilish combination of rope bridges, swinging logs and balance beams. Another invigorating trip is an off-road jeep tour: guests travel in a convoy of safari-style 4x4 vehicles that explore the island’s rugged east coast — with plenty of rum punch to help fortify the spirits. Top tip: keep those seat belts firmly fastened.
Out on the water, strong and reliable trade winds have made Barbados a hit with surfers and kitesurfers. Beneath the waves, there are substantial wrecks to admire around Carlisle Bay, including the First World War French tugboat Berwyn. Certified divers staying at the island’s two Sandals resorts can head out on daily trips to a variety of sites, from novice to advanced, as part of their all-inclusive package. For snorkelers, a favorite excursion is a half-day catamaran tour that includes the chance to swim with turtles. And of course, no trip to Barbados is complete until visitors have enjoyed a romantic sunset cruise. The options range from lively party boats with a DJ or steel pan band to more intimate sailings that carry no more than 12 passengers.
Sandals Royal Barbados
HERITAGE SITES
Discovering and exploring somewhere new is one of the great pleasures of traveling with a partner — and Barbados is well suited to this with its long and absorbing history. The island has a wealth of heritage sites, including those associated with the difficult era of sugar cultivation and enslavement. First visited by the English in 1625, the island is home to a UNESCO World Heritage site centered on the colonial Garrison area of the capital, Bridgetown, where visitors can spend an afternoon watching (and, if you like, betting on) the races at the Garrison Savannah track, where the horses have been running since 1845. Another worthwhile outing is to St. Nicholas Abbey in St. Peter, a stately mansion built in 1658 with guided tours that include a fascinating home movie of life here in the 1930s.
Barbados is also famous for being the birthplace of rum: learning how the spirit is made, and its many nuances, is an absolute must. For a simple introduction, visitors can take a tour of the Mount Gay Visitor Centre in Bridgetown, which is popular with cruise ship passengers. If you prefer something a bit more exclusive, book a trip to the company’s aromatic distillery in rural St. Lucy, where they’ve been crafting fine rums for more than 300 years.
The Red Lane Spa at Sandals Royal Barbados
GORGEOUS GARDENS
Want some photos for Instagram? There are many talented horticulturalists on Barbados whose skills are reflected in an impressive range of mature gardens that are ideal for a loved-up wander. Established in 1954, Andromeda Botanic Gardens, near Bathsheba, includes a heliconia walk and palm garden that’s not to be missed. It comes with an app so visitors can learn more about curiosities like the mamey apple tree, the fruits of which are adored by the island’s monkeys. Another worthwhile visit is to Hunte’s Gardens at Castle Grant. This is an enchanting sanctuary where the emphasis is on soothing the soul in small, secret spaces where visitors can immerse themselves in nature. Refreshments here include tea, coffee, cake and of course, rum punch. For those seeking long-lasting memories, there’s the opportunity to arrange a professional photo shoot at both venues.
Rockley Beach on Barbados’ South Coast
LET’S DANCE
If there’s one thing Bajans know how to do well, it’s having fun and partying into the early hours. A firm favorite with both locals and visitors is a Friday night at Fish Fry in the southern seaside town of Oistins. It’s a Barbados institution where crowds of revelers gather to enjoy good value fish dishes served from wooden stalls accompanied by plenty of opportunities to drink and dance.
Also open on Fridays, Harbour Lights is a large open-air nightclub in Carlisle Bay that plays regional and international hits with house drinks included. If you want to hop around venues, Saint Lawrence Gap is a dense cluster of tourist-filled bars, restaurants and karaoke spots close to the resorts on the south coast. For visitors staying on the west coast, Haymans Market is a former sugar factory turned retail and entertainment venue that has live music, DJs and salsa classes.
A rib-eye steak with chimichurri sauce
ISLAND FLAVORS
Barbados has plenty of fresh and intriguing tastes to savor. Tropical fruits, available in markets and from roadside vendors, are a delight — look out for ackee, soursop, sugar apples and Bajan cherries. The national dish is cou-cou (cornmeal) with flying fish, but islanders also love rice and peas, spice-rubbed roast pork and breadfruit.
Some local drinks to sample include mauby, a traditional Christmas drink made from tree bark, homemade ginger beer and sorrel. When it comes to cocktails, fruit juice-based rum punch is a welcome drink that’s offered almost everywhere you go, but if that’s too sweet, ask for the “old fashioned” version, made with lime juice, bitters and grated nutmeg. Good souvenir rums include Mount Gay Eclipse, ideal for parties, which you can also pick up from the airport before heading home.
Cabana at Sandals Royal Barbados' Red Lane Spa
TIME TO UNWIND
Many resorts provide complimentary yoga or Pilates classes that are often held on the beach or in their gardens. Plenty also offer activities that couples can enjoy together, including cooking classes, art workshops and expert-led rum tastings. The island isn’t short of luxurious spas either — many of them make the most of locally grown products such as coconut, ginger and lemongrass in their treatments.
The Red Lane Spa at the adults-only Sandals Royal Barbados resort (located in Christ Church on the island’s southwest corner) offers a range of special spa treatments, including the 90-minute Love and Trust Massage Tutorial, which teaches couples how to massage and calm each other, as well as a couples stretching session and a lavender massage that claims to create the sensation of floating on water.
Writer: Nigel Tisdall
