“We really liked Barbados. What kind of place is it? The eastern coastline is quite exposed, and you basically can't swim there, but because of the strong, steady winds it’s good for surfing,, and the scenery is also very attractive. We visited many wonderful sandy beaches on the western and southern coastlines. The sea water on these coasts is calm, and the bottom shelves are gradual. A real Caribbean sight.
We went on an organized rainforest tour in the interior of the island, which we’d highly recommend There are many sugarcane plantations, some of which can be visited. You can see how the famous Barbados rum is made. You can also see pottery makers in small villages. It's quite touristy and artificial, but you can chat with the locals, and that's an experience in itself. We had already visited the Dominican Republic, and in comparison, Barbados is more picturesque, more peaceful, and not so touristy. It’s best to rent a car because it’s nice to be able to explore the small island on your own. There are some tourist places that are a bit of a joke, such as the ‘Flower Forest’, where they offer a small experience for a big ticket price. The capital, Bridgetown, is pleasant but not exactly spectacular.
The local people are friendlier than those of the few Caribbean islands we have visited so far. They are very helpful, and not pushy. They have not been spoiled by mass tourism in the same way that Cubans, Dominicans, and Jamaicans have. Still, almost all the locals here live from tourism. I liked their patience. Of course, in Barbados, as it is a former British colony, the traffic drives on the left, which is a problem for those not used to it. My partner Karcsi was almost paralyzed at the beginning, but thankfully the other motorists, by which I mean the locals, didn't shout or shake their fists impatiently, they just smiled understandingly. There are potholes in many places on the roads and they don't put much effort into putting up traffic signs, but overall there was no serious problem with driving.
We ate well. Whenever we didn't want to sit in a restaurant, we ate a fish or meatloaf sandwich on the street, very cheaply just about 30 US cents each). It is more expensive to eat in restaurants, and they charge a surprising amount for fresh fish. The breakfast in the hotel was English, and in many ways, you can feel that it was a British colony before the sixties. Barbados is largely peaceful and well-ordered, and we had no problems with public safety.
Our top experiences: the beaches, the catamaran trip (Good Times), the rest, the relaxation, and the peaceful, relaxed Caribbean feeling. Two of our favorite beaches: are Crane Beach and Bottom Bay. The beaches are comprised of blindingly white, powdery sand, and the color of the sea is turquoise blue. It's like a dream. One day we walked for miles along the wonderful coastline and looked at the magnificent villas and the abandoned, dilapidated beach huts. I can’t imagine a more stress-free activity.” (2018)
