Paynes Bay Barbados
Paynes Bay - known among visitors and locals alike as The Platinum Coast - is one of Barbados's most popular tourist hotspots, and a compelling reason for its popularity is that this pristine beach is only minutes away from several of the area's other top-notch attractions.
St James Parish, which is home to Paynes Bay, lies on the island's well-visited west coast, and this temptingly tropical treasure of a bay opens onto clear and calm Caribbean waters. Given the tranquility of the ocean in this area, the Bay is ideal for swimmers - both experts and beginners can easily strike out and swim with the turtles - and also for those who long to experience surf-side activities like windsurfing, snorkeling and jetskiing for the very first time. Diving is also an option - and an extremely popular one at that - and dives at the nearby Dottins Reef and Johnsons sites come highly recommended.
Paynes Bay is one of the fastest developing areas in Barbados, and, with its first-rate restaurants, bustling bistros and enticing eateries, it can cater to visitors that crave Bajan cuisine as well as those that crave long, lazy days in the sun.
The accommodation aspect is, furthermore, totally taken care of by the Bay's many five-star hotels, internationally renowned seaside resorts and premier beach-apartment complexes. Paynes is also just a hop, skip and a jump away from facilities like the Barbados Polo Club, the Sandy Lane Golf Course and the Almond Beach Club & Spa, and visitors can try their luck at these diverse sports secure in the knowledge that they can rest up and recharge their batteries in the spa's hydrotherapy tubs and massage parlours.
As far as beach facilities are concerned, popular Paynes Bay offers the casual visitor plenty of parking as well as catamarans and Hobie cats for hire. Deck chairs and umbrellas can also be rented, but visitors should be aware that unsuspecting tourists are sometimes overcharged for these so-called beach necessities.
Paynes Bay can also become quite crowded during high season as it is truly a lovely area and is, consequently, high on almost everyone's must-visit list.
Paynes Bay has been described as "heaven on earth", and it is perhaps particularly appropriate that this gorgeous beach - where sun-gold sand is set against the verdant green of the tangled Bajan jungle - is situated in a parish named after a saint.
