Family of three wondering about a trip to Barbados next March. Love to windsurf, sail, hike, bike, snorkel - not crazy about lying on the beach but love the water. Any help on a reasonable place to stay (we're Canucks and our $ doesn't go as far as we'd like!)on the west coast would be most appreciated. Not into AI or big resorts. Thanks for any help!

Hi Barb,<BR><BR>Do you realize you are going in the "high" season when prices are at their peak -- they remain high until 15 April. West Coast is the most expensive area, so if your dollar does not go very far, you'd be much better off considering something on the South Coast.<BR><BR>Check the Tourism Board website under accommodations -- they even show price ranges somewhere within that area.<BR><BR>The Tourism Board site is:<BR>http://www.barbados.org<BR><BR>After you've reviewed that if you'd like my opinion on possibilities, I'd be glad to help. Lois

Hi Lois,<BR>Many thanks for the info. I'll check out the site and see what I can find. Appreciate your feedback. We're stuck with March due to school break time unfortunately. Not sure what the differences are between the west and south coasts. I was under the impression the west was less populated and chances of finding a smaller place would be better. I better do some more research!

If windsurfing is your thing then it is the east coast you are looking for. The east will also be a lot cheaper and you should find smaller accomodation. Can't help with accomodation as , although we have stayed in the east coast, we went AI.Lois has given you the site to check. Be aware that if you want nightlife you won't really get on the east but car hire is easy.<BR>After rereading your post I am more convinced than ever that you should try the east. It is perfect for hiking( and it has stunning scenery- little Scotland for example) and also for biking. Not really for snorkelling but a "must" on your holiday anyway is the Tiami cattamaran. Hope this helps a little!

Oops! Should have checked my answer for spelling before posting it!

If you do look at the east coast DO NOT stay at the Edgewater Inn.It is in a dreadful condition. The view from the hotel is breathtaking though so its worth stopping off for a drink.

Thank you fellow travellers! I hadn't considered the east coast because I had heard that the water is colder than the west but, it sounds intriguing. Any feedback on this appreciated and thanks for the heads up re: Edgewater!

Barb: I'm not sure that the East Coast will meet all of your requirements. I agree that the scenery is great and there are good opportunities for hiking. However the Edgewater Hotel - 'rustic' would be a polite description - is actually the best of a handful of old hotels on that coast. There is no mass tourism there but a main reason for this is that there are treacherous currents and rocks that make swimming impossible except in certain areas. Therefore if you do stay there you will still have to travel to a safe beach. You might want to consider the South Coast where you still get surf but it is safe. Also the accommodation is plentiful and cheaper, and if you stay in the St Lawrence Gap area you can walk to restaurants avoiding the high taxi fares. You can still go to the East Coast for walks by bus or car.

I hesitate to suggest this since it is about as far from the West Coast as you can get. That said, you might want to consider the Atlantis Hotel in Bathsheba for its access to wonderful scenery, windsurfing, etc. This is a real get-away spot, way up the east coast. I haven't stayed there under the new management but the rates still seem reasonable for Barbados. The website is www.atlantisbarbados.com. The Sunday buffet lunch is a big family tradition for many Bajans and visitors. Post a report if you go !

Thanks all for the input. One more question to do with getting around the island - we think we'll hire a car and therefore will be free to explore. Not sure how the driving is in Barbados ie. how long it takes to get from west coast to east. If difficult then we would maybe consider staying at one coast for a few nights and then the other. Any thoughts/feedback?

Driving (on the left)is easy and the roads are good. There is a highway that links the northwest to the southeast but it is much more interesting to avoid this and use the smaller roads. You could drive from the west coast to the east in an hour or so but we tended to explore different parts of the island by taking circular routes and making a half day or day of it. The rental companies will deliver the car to your hotel/apartment. Rental is expensive so I don't advise having a car from day 1 of your stay unless you plan to use it every day.

One comment on East Coast locations -- while spectacular scenery, most of the water has strong currents and undertows in many areas. I honestly think a family would enjoy an accommodation on the South Coast where you get a combination of waves and calm waters.<BR><BR>Check out Bougainvillea Beach -- great resort with nice beach. A less expensive resort would be Sandy Beach Island resort - -again, a great beach and a variety of room choices available.<BR><BR>On the South Coast you can windsurf and do all sorts of water activities. The drive from here to the West Coast where you will get great restaurant choices is about 25-30 minutes.<BR><BR>If you stay at Sandy Beach Island Resort you are within easy walking distance of "The Gap" area where there are also lots of eating choices.<BR><BR>If you have specific questions, please feel free to write me directly. We've traveled there a lot and I hope I might be able to be helpful.