barbados in june? aruba? where?
 

We're planning a last minute trip.
We don't live close enough to return at a more favorable time, but have always wanted to sightsee in Barbados and we're curious:

1. If it is hurricane season, will it rain everyday or just a chance of a storm?

2. How long does it take to drive around the island? Is it so big that we should plan on moving accommodations as we circle around?

3. If Barbados is not going to be dry, would Aruba be a better choice that time of year?

4. Any small Barbados hotel on a beach you suggest- we cannot see spending $400 a night for the Fairmont, but don't want spartan. Maybe $250 a night?

Many thanks.

It is not hurricane season in June in the eastern Caribbean. Barbados is a wonderful island, and will not be too wet at that time. Rain comes in brief showers and will not interfere with your day. Stay in one place and drive to the sightseeing. It will take 2-3 days of driving around to do the island justice, so head in a different direction each day. A really special small (only 29 or 30 roooms) hotel is Treasure Beach on the calm water west coast north of Bridgetown. Spring for at least pool view suite to avoid traffic noise. They are $320 (incl taxes) before any discounts. Treasure Beach is on a fine stretch of beach, has a fine restaurant, and has been one of the Caribbean's hidden gems for many years. See www.barbados.org and www.treasurebeachhotel.com

I actually have a question for xkenx. Which are the rooms that you would NOT get at treasure beach? Does the beach there have soft white sand and calm water? Is it VERY crowded? Does the room price include anything extra (e.g., breakfast).

Oops! I forgot one thing. I hear that a lot of couples like the Bucuti in Aruba. http://www.bucuti.com/ We would go there in July but I am going in January with my mom. So i want to try another island. I also hear that people like the amsterdam in aruba. http://www.amsterdammanor.com/ I dont think it is that expensive but a im not sure. The bucuti is supposed to have a perfect beach. GOod luck! Let us know how your trip goes! I dont know much about barbados otherwise I could give you advice on where to go there.

Hi
I am back, after a successful interaction with United, we found FF seats to Barbados on our dates and we're going there. So thanks for the weather info.

Now, onto hotels.

I found a few that look appealing.

1. The Colony Club
2. The House (very high, but I wonder if we would try it for one night).
3.Almond Beach Village
4. The Crane
5. The Hilton- least expensive (!)

Since we are only going to stay 6 nights, the cost is much less of a factor now. Any comments on these appreciated. I read a few bad reviews of Treasure Beach, but I'll check just the same.

Thank you.

Also, sorry, maybe this should be a separate post. If you think so, I'll post separately. Car the whole time?

Thank you again. Will check back in later!

Hi

As usual I asked before researching and I now see from a previous post by kenx that Hilton is poorly situated.

Why did some people write that the beach at Colony Club is no good. I am drawn to the idea of a smaller place with a big pool. We are beach sitters and dippers, but not too active. I think this seems right. Am I wrong?

Thanks. Sorry if I am being "one of those people." I promise a full report!

knor0177, you'd have to check with Treasure Beach whether BK is included.
The rooms are in a horseshoe around the pool. The garden view rooms are at the closed end and are close to the road behind the hotel. If you are very noise sensitive at nite, go for pool view or ocean view. The rooms are the same, sleeping room, living room, covered balcony or patio. The beach does have soft white sand (actually tinged with pink from the coral), and calm water. The hotel grounds are small, as is the beach directly in front, but the beach is walkable for long distances in both directions. Payne's Bay is one of the best beaches on the island. There are small reefs just offshore with snorkeling.

Leavingsoon, We have stayed at Treasure Beach twice; very nice place, if you like small and intimate. Reviews are mostly positive. Of the others you mentioned, Hilton is in a bad location, not very pretty area, with industrial sites nearby, Crane is very remote on a rough water beach, the House is a sexed-up section of Tamarind Cove Hotel, a fairly ordinary hotel. Almond Beach is all-inclusive, favored by mass-market travel agents, seriously overpriced for an ordinary place with a tiny overcrowded beach. Colony Club shares a beach with Coral Reef Club, the class act on the island. Colony is nice, and has a string of pools, with some rooms spilling onto the pools. If you have the money for Coral Reef Club, or could kill for the money, it's a no-brainer--one of the classiest places in the Caribbean, plantation-style, gorgeous grounds, family-owned for 50+ years, and it shows. See www.coralreefbarbados.com

Thank you again, kenx.

I really appreciate your insight and advice, not knowing anything at all about the island, except that it has enough historical places to keep us busy touring.

Any and all further suggestions on places to eat/what to see welcome as I start to officially research I will likely post more.

Burning the midnight oil here.

Alas- the Coral Reef website show they are closed form June 3 through to mid-July.

Definitely looked worth "biting the bullet."

Some interesting places on Barbados:
Flower Forest and Andromeda Gardens, two of the most gorgeous tropical gardens anywhere; Francia Plantation & Sunbury House which are restored old sugar plantation great houses, the Nature Preserve, Mt. Gay rum factory,
Codrington College, east coast road (like outer Cape Cod), and a number of government and historical sites in Bridgetown.

Thank you again!

You're welcome! We love to see people discover Barbados--it is a special place.

Lois Swanson is an expert on Barbados. Put Lois Swanson in search area and write her. She will send you 2007 tip sheet on Barbados. I had her tip sheet when I went to Barbados in 2005. I did some of things she suggested. It was great.

Hi, just returned from Barbados for the second time. Lovely island. Seems tourists either love it or hate it, nothing in between. My children 12,9, & hubby, loved it again. Try Sandy Lane Resort, on western coast, beautiful resort, and it's not only for golfers. I think it's the top resort of the island. Let me know what you think. Google, Sandy Lane resort Barbados.

Leavingsoon-
I just wanted to put in my 2 cents so that you get an effective picture from another perspective. We were in Barbados in February and stayed at the Hilton,which is a top end hotel and is only a couple of years old. Both of our balconies had the most beautiful views of the ocean. Gorgeous white sand beaches and the hotel is on a stunning peninsula. To say the Hilton is in a bad location would need to be defined. It may not be close to tons of restaurants, but that is not a big deal. Our previous stay before this hotel was at a Four Seasons, so trust me when I say this Hilton was nice. Don't pass it up because it's not within walking distance to much!

I would consider staying at The Sandpiper. It's a sister resort (run by the same family) as Coral Reef Club, but it's beach is currently much better. We've stayed both places and while we loved Coral Reef, the beach there was totally eroded. We walked down to look at it last fall when we stayed at The Sandpiper. Its beach is the best it has been in 5 years.

Write me direct for more information:
[email protected]

I can send you along my detailed Barbados Insider Tips (no charge).

Lois

Thank you. I did look into the Sandpiper and sent them an email two days ago, but no reply.

I am very concerned about the beach erosion situation. There are some grim photos of the Colony Club on Trip Advisor and it looks bad.

Apart from the unreachable Sandy Lane (price wise), is there any other resort you suggest apart from Sandpiper, which I am attempting to reach?

Thank you.

You might try calling Sandpiper directly. If you don't want the stiff phone charge, they have a US rep in Los Angeles, Ralph Locke Islands @
800.223.1108

Thanks for that advice. As for Sandpiper, it's a time zone thing and I shall try that 800 number.

I do have another question, but am unsure whether to post here or separately:

If we land at 1 pm and want to stop for lunch on our way to the West Coast, is there somewhere en route or in Bridgetown that you suggest? Nothing fancy, just delicious. Views not important.

I want to eat at Oistins, do they do lunch there? I would also like to see the pretty old buildings in Bridgetown at some point, and instead of a separate trip, I was thinking lunch and a stroll around would be a great way to recover from our long flight.

If we do this, would our things be safe in the covered trunk of our car? Is there anywhere to pull in and park for a fee that might be more secure, or is it not even a concern?

Thanks. I am too excited!