Travel Advice

Most cruises from the UK to Barbados will sail from Southampton, and a cruise ship will seldom - if ever - sail to only one Caribbean destination.

The average UK/Caribbean cruise will last for approximately 2 weeks, and, although, guests will get to cross the mighty Atlantic in their state-of-the-art cruise ship, which comes with all the modern conveniences and then some, they will usually fly back home.

Those thinking of making Barbados the place to be for their next holiday have, basically, two choices when it comes to stylish accommodation: opulent hotels-cum-seaside resorts and luxury self-catering villas.

Although there is absolutely nothing wrong with the larger resorts, which are extremely well appointed and which usually have more complex infrastructures than most small countries, there is much to be said for relaxing in the privacy, peace and quiet of one's own premier self-catering apartment.

Most tourists arrive in Barbados after enjoying either a Caribbean cruise or a fairly lengthy flight that will set them down at the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport, which lies just east of the Bajan capital, Bridgetown. From there on out, they have several choices as to how to get around the island including using buses or taxis and - in order to get that extra bit of independence - renting a car.

Shopping may not be the first thing that pops into one's head when planning a visit to Barbados, but, given the exciting Bajan shopping experiences that are up for grabs, perhaps it should be.

On top of the canny tourist's to-buy list must surely be those items that are most associated with the captivating Caribbean paradise that is the island of Barbados: rum cakes (and bottles of rum!), gorgeous jewellery, leatherwork and artwork.

One of the great things about taking a holiday on a tropical island is the weather - being tropical, it is warm and sunny all year round, perfect for enjoying the beautiful white sandy beaches that surround the island.

In January average temperatures range from 21-28 C while in July it is slightly hotter, ranging between 23 and 30C. Rather than having four seasons as we do in England, there are just two annual seasons, wet and dry - but unlike England even in the rainy season there is still plenty of sun and warm weather, and the rain though heavy normally passes after an hour or two.