Cars and transportation and history: Although car hire is easily available - a car is NOT a necessity as the shopping centre and boutiques are a five minute walk away and there are at least 20 restaurants and bars within walking distance!Some guests choose to hire a car for just a couple of days just to take an island tour or to visit some particular attraction. The buses are plentiful and both locals and tourists travel on them By previous arrangement with the owner - airport pick up can be arranged - cost at time of writing $70 Barbados. Basic groceries can be put in the fridge with prior arrangement with the owner - to be paid for on arrival
For those folks who’d like a side of history and culture , Barbados is your island. For starters, you’ll find a British-style National Trust, where highlights include a small gem of a museum, several magnificent 17th and 18th century plantation houses, an old sugar mill and a coral pink synagogue, the oldest in the western hemisphere. The parish chuch St. James, built in 1629 has a bell cast by the same foundry as the original Liberty Bell.
Golf and tennis and sports and culture: There are 5 golf courses - two at Sandy Lane, one at Royal West Moreland (both on the West Coast) and Rockley on the South coast. Tennis available at Discovery Bay hotel, an 80 yard walk along the beach from our condo, also available at Folkstone Park a 10 minute walk - where the courts are free.Horseback riding on the beach is available, along with all varieties of water sports. There are trips out to sea to view and swim with the endangered turtles. Fishing both onshore and deep sea, also available. Snorkelling and scuba diving are excellent at Folkstone Marine Park. The sea is normally calm and tranquil, suitable for children. Other spectator sports include polo, horse racing, cricket, and sports bars showing TV football, rugby, and hockey matches!
Holders Performing Arts Festival (late March-early April), take your picnic dinners and eat paté and baguettes and drink wine under the trees.”If you think that classical music, jazz and Shakespeare are absent from the Caribbean, don’t tell the Holders folks. They sell out their high-end stage performances year after year.Holders lasts two weeks and offers a cultural cornucopia.
Shopping & restaurants: There's an air conditioned shopping centre a few minutes away,and duty free shopping is available at the local department store. The upmarket new Lime Grove Mall is 3 mins. away has a dine-in cinema,restaurants, upscale shops, and easy parking. There are at least 20 restaurants,ranging from pubs and fast food to bistros and gourmet dining - all within walking distance, plus a piano bar,nightclub, and bars. There's also a gourmet take away a 2 minute walk away - specializing in gourmet dishes, home baked bread and croissants! A bus into the city will take 20 minutes - and Bridgetown is full of historic buildings as well as restaurants and shops Taxis are plentiful. There are numerous tourist attractions, lots of which are ideal for children such as the Wild Life Reserve, and Harrisons Caves, Orchid World, the Jolly Roger, polo. Weather is 80 all year round with sunny blue skies and white puffy clouds - Not too hot or too cold.- Perfect for both time on the beach and 'outings'
