Live the high life on your Caribbean honeymoon. We've got the scoop on where to save, where to splurge and where to get the absolute best the Caribbean has to offer — no matter your budget!
By: Abbie KozolchykBarbados
Barbados defies visitors to pick a favorite facet: the placid, pink sand beaches on the west coast; the wild, wavy shoreline on the east; the dense sugarcane fields and monkey-filled woodlands that separate the two; or the bastions of Britishness that still stand across the island — almost four centuries after the first English colonists showed up. The good news, of course, is that you don’t actually have to decide: Just have fun trying.
Save
Perched on a cliff with commanding views of pink sand and turquoise sea, The Crane is the oldest Barbadian hotel in continuous operation — or at least the central coral stone building is. Of course, there have been many updates since the property’s 1887 debut, and now you’ll find five restaurants, a spa and quite possibly the best Sunday gospel brunch you’ll ever encounter (room rates start at $227 a night; thecrane.com).
Photo courtesy of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
What to Do: Zip around (and across) the island in a 4x4 on a Congaline Adventure excursion and see things you never would on your own, including the rain-forested, monkey-inhabited Welchman Hall Gully and isolated, ruggedly beautiful bays.
Photo courtesy of Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Where to Eat: A historic warehouse space turned laid-back local eatery, the Waterfront Café serves up views of the old downtown government buildings to accompany your flying fish, fried plantains and cou-cou — an addictive local variation on polenta.
Splurge
The picture of posh privacy, Sandy Lane Hotel and Golf Club is what you’d get if you built a Palladian spread in Beverly Hills but used Caribbean coral stone and placed a stunning, well-staffed beach out back. No wonder, then, that Sandy Lane is a favorite among Hollywood celebs. And while all the facilities are fairly mind-blowing, the spa in particular — in all its rotunda-and-grottoed glory — is not to be missed (room rates start at $1,150 a night; sandylane.com).
Photo courtesy of Sandy Lane Hotel & Golf Club
What to Do: The Caribbean’s prime surf spot, Barbados is a great place to try taking up the sport — or practice hanging 10 if you’ve already dipped your toes (and boards) in the water elsewhere. Book a private surf lesson for any experience level at Zed’s Surfing Adventure Barbados.
Where to Eat: Eat at the aptly named Cliff during the day, and you can watch the resident rays do glide-bys. Dine here after dark and you’ll find the romance quotient is off the charts.
