Following a big family Christmas in Naples, Florida, we took 5 month old Colby on an island adventure to Barbados! My husband was fortunate enough to be able to take a paternity leave, and we knew that we had to use this opportunity to travel. Given the weather in New Jersey that’s typical in January, we wanted warmth, sun, and surf.
Island Layout
Barbados is an interestingly shaped island. Each area has its own vibe. With that being said, everything was still within 30 minutes.
The west coast, St. James Parish and St. Michael Parish, are home to almost all of the resorts, hotels, and vacation rentals. The waters are calm and clear (and great for snorkeling), there are tons of restaurants, and it has no shortage of spots to watch the sunset. St. Michael Parish is where Bridgetown, the capital, is located too. There’s lot of sightseeing and historic sight-seeing here.
The north coast, St. Lucy Parish and St. Peter Parish, are more low key and less developed. It’s home to Speightstown, the second largest city, but otherwise basic and beautiful.
St. Philip Parish and Christ Church Parish are found on the southern coast. The airport can be found here, and lots of beaches and surf. Most importantly, the southern coast is home to St. Lawrence Gap, the nightlife capital of the island.
The east coast, St. Andrew Parish, St. Joseph Parish, and St. John Parish, is pure, rugged nature. There are forests, plantations, and breathtaking cliffs. You can still find numerous points of interest here too.
Finally, central Barbados isn’t home to any beaches, but you can find rolling hills, expansive plantations, and bustling markets.
Accommodation
We chose to stay on the east coast, in Bathsheba, at the Atlantis Historic Inn. You can find their website here. It’s a family-owned historic inn located right on the Atlantic coast. For us, it really was the perfect spot: our spacious room opened up to spanning ocean views, there’s a beautiful pool, and it’s within walking distance of a world class surf break, soup bowls. With a 5 month old, I wanted to stay in an actual hotel with other people around. We historically had always staying in vacation rentals, but I knew that Ryan would be surfing and I wanted to be at a place with lots of amenities on-site for Colby and I. Pro Tip: Bring a universal stroller net to cover the crib; mosquitos can be brutal! As a bonus, the hotel had a famous Sunday brunch buffet with live entertainment. On top of it all, they could not have had a better staff. They are accommodating, thorough, and loved Colby.
Kid Friendly Points of Interest
- Animal Flower Cave – Located at the northern tip of the island, this is a must see for everyone. Steps lead down into the cave, where you can spot sea creatures on the way. Once there, you can swim in the water and look through to the sea. There’s also a restaurant there on the water.
- St. Nicholas Abbey – St. Nicholas Abbey is a plantation house, museum and rum distillery. There’s also a steam train on property as well as lots of animal friends roaming the grounds!
- Barbados Wildlife Reserve – Here, you’re greeted by monkeys at the ticket counter! A must see while on the island, the reserve is home to mostly monkeys and tortoises that you can spot while walking the pathways.
- Mount Gay Rum Distillery – Right in Bridgetown, the distillery is still a stop for everyone. They have indoor and outdoor space, a shop, bar and restaurant.
- Bridgetown Boardwalk & Waterfront – A mix of bajan and modern culture, it’s perfect for a stroll. Stop at the market and street vendors for a snack or keepsake.
- Carlisle Bay – A FREE beach in town that’s home to clear waters, turtles, and great snorkeling.
Tips
- Bring lots of bug spray and sunscreen! The mosquitos were brutal, especially for our 5 month old at night.
- If you’re bringing a stroller, a jogging stroller is best. There were lots of different types of paths/roads. We used the Bob stroller, and it was perfect. on the beach, nature reserve pathways, and distilleries.
- When not in the stroller, I had Colby in a carrier. It was super convenient and he always loved looking front to check out the sites.
- Make a rental car reservation early, and then make a second back up one. A week before our departure date, the rental car agency canceled our reservation. I called every agency and could not find a single available vehicle. We got lucky and rented with a local startup business that delivered the car to our hotel our second day there.
- Speaking of rental cars, be smart about your valuables. Rental cars in Barbados have a different license plate so they are targets for petty thieves.
- Download offline maps! Google maps is great for this. We used the international feature on our American cell service plan, and the service was extremely unreliable. Many roads, especially those that cut across the country, are unmarked.
- Looking for travel gear? Check out my Amazon lists here for all of our must have items.
Travel Support
Need more than inspiration and suggestions? Contact me for customized travel support and planning!
Platt Family Passport 