Barbados?

[worthy10]

Flights from Manchester.

Accommodation

Resort?

Thank you

[birch-chorley]

I'm going the Hilton in November for 11 nights, looks decent, never been before but I am expecting big things

 

Flights are £450 each return TC from Manchester

 

Miami is your man for a full breakdown, he's been a few times, be another thread on it somewhere I think

[worthy10]

Thinking of going in January btw?

[Widnes Two Hats]

I was there last January for 2 weeks and there this January for 2 nights

 

Cheapest flights are Thomas Cook or Condor who is who I flew with last year but I think they are Thomas Cook in disguise. If you want to spend a bit more on your flight, I'm told the Virgin flights are very good but I've not flown with them personally

 

Resort has to be St Lawrence Gap purely for bars/eateries/night life

 

And where to stay, just find the cheapest hotel or apartment you can, eat and drink out every night and go and explore the island on the cheap buses. Don't get stuck in an expensive AI hotel or you'll end up spending all your time there and won't get to meet the lovely locals or see the lovely Island

 

The first person I met was Big Al who introduced himself as a giddy giddy man, I asked him what was one of them and he told me it was like a lucky lucky man but the things he was going to sell me would make me giddy instead

Edited April 19, 2017 by Widnes Two Hats

[Marc505]

Barbados was never on my list of places to visit but 3 years ago an all expenses paid week landed in my lap along with about 15 other family members. One of the best weeks of my life.

 

Stayed at Butterfly Beach Hotel, massive all day buffet, great sea views. Shit reception on the telly which only shows NFL or MLS at best.

 

Go to The Boatyard for a day/afternoon, a beach bar with a rope swing at the end of a pier into the wide blue ocean, cheap Banks' beers in the sea... paradise.

 

Oystins Fish Fry on a Friday, its the only place to be on the entire island on a Friday. Look into it, kind of an outdoor club night on a fish market. Better than it sounds!

 

Bridgetown is alright for a day, Carlisle Beach is beautiful... the shacks that sell fish and beers are great but er, don't accidentally look at the conditions in the kitchens (which double as bedroom and bathroom for the occupants...)

 

Enjoy it, jealous!

[buckhurstwhite]

Out of interest is the one legged rasta fella still hangng around St Lawrence Gap flogging his stuff? Fine area and some good bars and eateries. Do explore the Island very lovely 

[miamiwhite]

Out of interest is the one legged rasta fella still hangng around St Lawrence Gap flogging his stuff? Fine area and some good bars and eateries. Do explore the Island very lovely

 

Aye, I told him to hop it last year.

 

There's a kid on The Gap who's from St Helens but has loads of pics from when he visited the Reebok around a decade ago.

[seasoned Traveller]

Been all over that island many times.

 

I've visited places you peasants wouldn't even know about

 

Ate and drunk in dodgy bars the tourists don't even know exist, at a third of the price.

 

As Wham once sang, 'I'm your man'

[Elvis]

Our favourite place. Got wed there and been several times. So Many places to explore and enjoy

 

Could go back again and again

[Biggish Dave]

Now I'm not one for sitting on a beach or round a pool, bores me senseless. Would there be much to see and do if I went for some winter sun? I often go to the canaries in Feb but all that really offers is bars and walks along the front etc but would be a hell of a lot cheaper than Barbados if that only offers similar

[gonzo]

Now I'm not one for sitting on a beach or round a pool, bores me senseless. Would there be much to see and do if I went for some winter sun? I often go to the canaries in Feb but all that really offers is bars and walks along the front etc but would be a hell of a lot cheaper than Barbados if that only offers similar

Can't see there being a giddy goose with bolton flags on the wall.

 

Stick to Tenerife

[worthy10]

Probably looking at self catering, I think?

[marple whites]

Been a couple of times - flown with Virgin - very good.

 

Oystins is a really good night out.

Did the submarine trip from Bridgetown - really worth while.

 

Used to take a few beers from the hotel and go and watch the locals play cricket in the afternoon.  

St Lawrence gap - place to stay.

 

My brother in law has been a few times when England have played cricket - he said you can't beat it.

[Guest]

Thanks to all on here, we have booked in early next year; a week in Barbados followed by a week in St Lucia

[little whitt]

Thanks to all on here, we have booked in early next year; a week in Barbados followed by a week in St Lucia

#thinlyviled  its pissing down Bolton is shit

[Smiley]

We flew with Virgin. Great.

Stayed at the Sandals hotel. Ultra All-Inclusive.

Was amazing.

Still booked a local guy to drive us and another couple all over the island for a full day. Was great. Drank coconuts on the beach. Had a beer or two in some shack in the hills. Ate with the locals. Swam in sea from St. James beach.

Also did the freebie snorkelling with Sandals which took us into Bridgetown.

Had a walk into St. Lawrence Gap a couple of times. Was ok. Not as "exciting" as I first thought it would be. But I think the introduction of AI is starting to affect it.

Had a meal at The Cliff (if you are with your Mrs, worth spending the extra and dining here - expensive as shit, but ticks plenty of boxes). Sharks swimming past, etc.

 

Overall would go again and do as other suggest and try the Room Only option.

[Traf]

We flew with Virgin. Great.

Stayed at the Sandals hotel. Ultra All-Inclusive.

Was amazing.

Still booked a local guy to drive us and another couple all over the island for a full day. Was great. Drank coconuts on the beach. Had a beer or two in some shack in the hills. Ate with the locals. Swam in sea from St. James beach.

Also did the freebie snorkelling with Sandals which took us into Bridgetown.

Had a walk into St. Lawrence Gap a couple of times. Was ok. Not as "exciting" as I first thought it would be. But I think the introduction of AI is starting to affect it.

Had a meal at The Cliff (if you are with your Mrs, worth spending the extra and dining here - expensive as shit, but ticks plenty of boxes). Sharks swimming past, etc.

 

Overall would go again and do as other suggest and try the Room Only option.

 

How much discount did you get and where from?

[stevieb]

How much discount did you get and where from?

Paid full whack but has put a claim in for a full refund because they "got the shits" from the AI.

[Mounts Kipper]

How much discount did you get and where from?

He's mates with top guy from sandals don't you know?

Edited July 28, 2017 by Mounts Kipper

[miamiwhite]

He's mates with top guy from sandals don't you know?

Smiley wears sandals........................................and white socks.

[Smiley]

Smiley wears sandals........................................and white socks.

 

Crocs & socks. Like the rest of my congregation.

[Smiley]

How much discount did you get and where from?

 

haha, the sad thing is. Had we booked it at the time we planned it, we'd have got a great deal. However, my man in the know said he'd get us a superb deal (ie. possibly very cheap accommodation, or at least upgrade to something top whack). On top of that he'd pull strings with his contacts at Virgin for the flights.

 

In my mind we were going for free or very little.

 

The weeks went by, we had no news. Finally, just a few weeks before he tells us that the hotel is over-subscribed and the flights are jam packed full. In the end we were lucky to get seats and lucky to get the basic room type.

 

We did get a cake in our room on arrival.

 

Most folk we met had paid much less for much better rooms.

 

There's a moral somewhere in this story.

Edited July 29, 2017 by Smiley

[miamiwhite]

haha, the sad thing is. Had we booked it at the time we planned it, we'd have got a great deal. However, my man in the know said he'd get us a superb deal (ie. possibly very cheap accommodation, or at least upgrade to something top whack). On top of that he'd pull strings with his contacts at Virgin for the flights.

 

In my mind we were going for free or very little.

 

The weeks went by, we had no news. Finally, just a few weeks before he tells us that the hotel is over-subscribed and the flights are jam packed full. In the end we were lucky to get seats and lucky to get the basic room type.

 

We did get a cake in our room on arrival.

 

Most folk we met had paid much less for much better rooms.

 

There's a moral somewhere in this story.

 

Yes.....Karma.

[Traf]

haha, the sad thing is. Had we booked it at the time we planned it, we'd have got a great deal. However, my man in the know said he'd get us a superb deal (ie. possibly very cheap accommodation, or at least upgrade to something top whack). On top of that he'd pull strings with his contacts at Virgin for the flights.

 

In my mind we were going for free or very little.

 

The weeks went by, we had no news. Finally, just a few weeks before he tells us that the hotel is over-subscribed and the flights are jam packed full. In the end we were lucky to get seats and lucky to get the basic room type.

 

We did get a cake in our room on arrival.

 

Most folk we met had paid much less for much better rooms.

 

There's a moral somewhere in this story.

 

Next time, give me a nudge.

[Smiley]

Next time, give me a nudge.

 

Will do. In fairness the Sandals resort had only been open a week or two when we went. So it was mobbed as they'd waited 20+ years to finally get a foothold on Barbados. Not sure if their 2nd hotel is close to completion up around St. James'. Think it may be a family Beaches resort. Far better location. Found the sea too rough around St. Lawrence.