Barbados?

[Kingfisher101]

Ummm no we've been lots of time ( lived in NJ for a few months) and it's hardly an R&R holiday in the sun. The US is extremely expensive these days apparently (not just hotels), when were you last there?
We're not going cattle class and we will fly direct from LHR.

(Un)fortunately we're both quite widely travelled!

I was last there about 13 years ago. I've been twice. Theres Long Island and the Hamptons?

 

[vickster]

I was last there about 13 years ago. I've been twice.

It's got much more expensive! Especially as they now add 20-25% service on restaurant bills!!
I'd only again if someone else was paying

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Been to Florida many times...Been to Keys, a pain to get to and you have to fly to Miami...no thanks! Again accommodation very costly and it'll be getting humid by late May

St Lucia, Barbados or Bahamas favourite I reckon then.

 

[vickster]

St Lucia, Barbados or Bahamas favourite I reckon then.

Looks like it's a short flight between Barbados & St Lucia so could feasibly do both if we can use the flight voucher that way (not sure)

 

[Bonefish Blues]

Looks like it's a short flight between Barbados & St Lucia so could feasibly do both if we can use the flight voucher that way (not sure)

That's make a nice 2-centre - they're very different.

 

[Dayvo]

I’ve been 4 times to Barbados (‘89-‘92) and LOVED it!
Stayed at Dover Beach in St. Lawrence Gap, just south of Bridgetown.
Great weather (36° more or less all the time), great food, beer and rum, and fantastic people.
Lovely island with lots to see and do.
I daresay I wouldnt recognise the place now, but that’s no reason why you shouldn’t like it.

 

[Gillstay]

I've never been disclaimer...

How about Bermuda as a leftfield option?

I worked in Bermuda for a few months and boy it was boring. Used to get so you went down to the airport to watch the lucky people leaving and curse them.

 

[Maker of Stuff]

I had a fortnights holiday in April this year. Stayed at Treasure Beach hotel which is on the western side of the island. It's an entirely 'all inclusive' hotel, which included some water sport facilities.
Food was very good and varied, also, most evenings there was either a small band or a singer as entertainment.
We used local busses several times and found the locals very friendly.
We did a snorkeling excursion around a wreck and swam with rays and huge torpens .
Another excursion that we enjoyed, was a trip to Mount Gay rum distillery which included quite a bit of product sampling. On the return journey we also had even more rum at a local run shack.
Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday but the flight time of eight hours was very tiring.

 

[vickster]

I had a fortnights holiday in April this year. Stayed at Treasure Beach hotel which is on the western side of the island. It's an entirely 'all inclusive' hotel, which included some water sport facilities.
Food was very good and varied, also, most evenings there was either a small band or a singer as entertainment.
We used local busses several times and found the locals very friendly.
We did a snorkeling excursion around a wreck and swam with rays and huge torpens .
Another excursion that we enjoyed, was a trip to Mount Gay rum distillery which included quite a bit of product sampling. On the return journey we also had even more rum at a local run shack.
Thoroughly enjoyed the holiday but the flight time of eight hours was very tiring.

Thanks, but that hotel at $4000+ for 9 nights is way out of budget even if food is expensive!
8 hour flights are ok as long as not in economy!

 

[The Central Scrutinizer]

St Lucia, Barbados or Bahamas favourite I reckon then.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Grenada?
Beautiful island and not touristy.
You can go on trips to visit the nutmeg factories,cocoa plantations,rum distilleries and the rain forests with their waterfalls.We got friendly with one of the local taxi drivers and he just took us around in a minibus.
We used to stay at a hotel called the Rex Grenada which was literally five minutes away from the airport but because of the direction the planes took off and came in you never heard any noise.Sadly the place was bought out by an american company called royalton who renovated it and the prices went up threefold.

 

[TheDoctor]

Its totally extortionate if you eat out so if you go then the best advice I can give is go all inclusive in the hotel. Do not go self catering like we did, we nearly starved as there wasn't anything much in the supermarkets that could be cooked on 2 electric rings. Yes there's places like Oistens fish market that does cheaper food but eating out for one at restaurant would be around £80 plus for a simple dish. It was unbelievable!
There are two prices for things one for tourists and the other for locals. The people are totally lovely and the beaches are fantastic. The holiday was spoilt by being hungry and the search for affordable food. I'm not kidding either. Its noted for it.

It's not that bad!
https://www.tidesbarbados.com/menus - £66 for a 3 course meal in one of the nicer restaurants in Holetown.
https://www.pepenerobb.com/menu - £15 for a pizza
https://www.lemongrassbarbados.com/menu/ - Thai chicken curry with rice £16
That's a few minutes on google. I've been to Barbados, and to spend £80 on a simple dish, well, you could go to Sandy Lane for a 14oz T-bone, which is that kind of price there.

 

[Jameshow]

I slept in my Typically Tropical T-shirt, and woke up in Barbados.

My brother works for Barbados working with young people in the Welsh valleys!!🤣🤣

 

[Kingfisher101]

It's not that bad!
https://www.tidesbarbados.com/menus - £66 for a 3 course meal in one of the nicer restaurants in Holetown.
https://www.pepenerobb.com/menu - £15 for a pizza
https://www.lemongrassbarbados.com/menu/ - Thai chicken curry with rice £16
That's a few minutes on google. I've been to Barbados, and to spend £80 on a simple dish, well, you could go to Sandy Lane for a 14oz T-bone, which is that kind of price there.

It really was when I went but it was well over 10 years ago now. Things must have improved and we went out of season as well. I also dont eat fish or meat at all and there was very little for vegetarians then apart from fries. It was all chicken and fish dishes.

 

[TheDoctor]

I'm not questioning your experience, just surprised it was so different to what I remember. Admittedly, it was nearly 20 years ago I went, but the menus I found upthread are current.

 

[vickster]

That's make a nice 2-centre - they're very different.

This is the latest plan, 5/6 nights in each. Fly into Barbados, back from St Lucia if we can wangle with Avios/vouchers.
Then need to book flight between the two and choose hotels ⛱️😎