benjai

Thinking of Barbados in March for a bit of winter sun - the dark british winter is soooooooo depressing.

Anyone been or got any inside knowledge, places to avoid, ways of getting it cheap???

Just thought I'd ask on the off chance....

Thanks in advance

miss*scoobygav555*

I went a couple of years ago and yeah the sea, beaches and the sun was great but theres some dodgy places and some of the people are weird! I was constantly getting bothered of the local men, bit scary. Didn't feel safe walking outside the hotel complex at night at all! When you drive from the airport to your hotel, its not as pretty as you would think!? But the hotels are fab, the beaches are amazing and there is some beautiful places there,the weather is great too!

Carla..

Wish

iTrader: (2)

I go every year. St James (West coast) is the area to stay. I stay at the Royal Pavillion 5 star and a great hotel. They have never let me down.


Ive been to the other caribean islands, and would never go back to any of the others. Barbados is great

dpb

West coast is tourist trap - although youll have to pop into the nightowl........If dont see the rest of the island youll have missed out imo bit like devon but hotter obviously -youll see what i mean if you go there (middle).+east coast- altantic rollers......

Gav

I lived and worked there for three months. It's a beautiful place, the beaches on the west and the ruggedness of the east coast. Stunning. I never once had any trouble, even in "black" bars, areas etc etc. Maybe because i was with black friends who lived there and would maybe be different if i wasnt but i dont know. I would be carefull though. You have to go on the yellow busses, you will never see anything like it in your life I can see why women feel "threatened" there as the guy's do tend to lurch on women and wont let go.

I would definatley recommend going, it's a fabulous place and somewhere i would go back to in the future.

Gav..

Deep Singh

Not quite sure what Carla has experienced. Its one of the safest islands in the Carib. Downside is its a bit commercialised, but thats what some want. Also quite expensive.

ScoobyDoo555

I was in Jamaica for 6 months as part of my "work"

Was just up from Ocho Rios and before "Firefly Mountain" - where Noel Coward's house and Bob Marley's old recording studio

Areas can be quite rough (saw a man dragged into a ditch and have his throat slit in Kingston - policeman drove passed and didn't bat an eyelid!!! )
Most of the justice is "self-governing" - remember that most of the Carribbean, whilst being stunningly beautiful, is still classed as 3rd world.....

I loved it there and wouldn't hesitate to go back. Have got some great memories.

Dan

miss*scoobygav555*

Don't get me wrong its a beautiful place and you should give it a try!!
Our hotel was amazing, having our own private beach was pretty cool, I just didn't feel safe outside our complex!! I didn't like the local men grabbing me and touching me and that was when my dad was with me. I just felt very unsafe being a women and so did my mum. I'm sure its different for you men..

Definately give it a go though!!

Carla..

jaytc2003

iTrader: (1)

been mexico that was stunning I thought.
getting married in the dominican on in may this year, has anyone been there? I know there have been food poisoning scares and stuff but you get that everywhere

gingerboy

Yes we went their for our honeymoon, stayed in Puerto Plata in the Hotel victoria Resort. Can highly recommend the hotel especially if you like golf, stunning views, great people / staff, watch out for the usual beach sellers with wooden arty objects, friendship bands etc although that said they don't hassle you and have to be licenced to enter the resort and hotel staff will move them on if they are a pain.

Beaches are superb and some of the trips available are superb, highly recommend doing some diving out their, quad bikes etc, once you get on the quads and get into the countryside the views and wildlife is amazing!!!

You probably already know but the Jurassic Park films were made their so you get an idea of how rugged and lush the island is. If you do go their are loads of shops selling Amber - watch you don't get ripped off as whilst it appears a good deal they will try and stitch you up especially for pieces containing insects / bugs, if you are going to buy amber jewellry for your other half do your home work first before you go and get an idea of the going rate for attractive pieces.

Food wise never had a problem - although watch your intake of fresh fruit as it is completely different to the fruit we buy in the UK i.e. no chemicals, not GM etc etc so it may make you run to the loo if you gorge yourself on pineapple or other acidic fruits.

Watch out for "151" white rum, the locals run their bikes on it, fom memory I think it was 90% proof and the bar staff used to do a drink called "ready to go" which was very potent and usually resulted in you going to bed after a few hence the "ready to go?" name!!

Flight wise you are looking at 12-13 hrs going out and approx 10 hrs return due to the trade winds. If you can upgrade to premier class - do it, it makes a huge difference to the journey and only costs about £80 - £100 extra per person, believe me it sounds a lot bu it is worth the money!!

Basically I love the place and would go back tomorrow, we met some great people out their and had a really good time.

GB

TonyFlow

I could thoroughly recommend Cuba, went to Varadero (the touristy white beaches part) in Nov/Dec, and it was amazing! Very safe for tourists, people are superb! We WILL be going back sooner rather than later, there is also a LOT to do which is great, as I couldnt spend and entire 2 weeks on a beach!

richardg

been to puerto plata and cuba before.
was in cuba this time last year on my honeymoon - havanna and varadero. we'd go back to both places. in the dr people were very friendly and helpful (not everyone is trying to scam you!) and it was pretty safe everywhere we went. havanna was very, very safe. we were asked for money by a couple of people (not threatened in any way), but other than that it was as relaxed as the dr.
friends of mine have been to jamaica and would not go back. personally i think they ended up in an "english" hotel (ie pints, beer, english food, etc etc) and didn't experience the real jamaica. i could be wrong of course.
my parents went to barbados and loved it. i also know a banker who has been working there for three or four years now. if he wasn;t happy there, he'd come straight home and work in london again

GaryK

Been to dominican twice now, both times in puerto plata once at the playa naco nice hotel and once at the victoria not as nice but really friend barstaff had a great time on both visits would recommend it fully. One thing if you are going all-inc do your homework on the hotel because if your staying all-inc then you will be there alot of the time. Went to cancun and stayed in a $hit hotel and spolit the holiday really, cancun was massively over-priced too, that was one bad holiday!

Gary

scoobylav

been to Dominican Republic about 10 years ago - Hated it.

Went to St Lucia last year for honeymoon - fantastic best holiday ever.

Mungo

Barbados is fab - the south end of the west coast (Oistins) is lovely and a bit cheaper than the five-star area of north of Bridgetown. It's very relaxed, great weather, lovely food, etc.

Mexico offers stunning beaches in the area south of Cancun - Playa del Carmen etc. However not sure how it's recovered from the recent hurricanes.

W 12 X T C

i went to barbados last year for my honeymoon. i can not recommed it enough. there is not a day that passes that i dont think about it.
you wont belive the cars they drive out there for a 3rd world country. the first car i saw when i got off the plane was an sti.
its all subaru evo and toyota. the busses are class. crome wheels decals its like something from need for speed underground.
i stayed in a hotel called the sea breeze in maxwell. a 5 min walk from oistins (you must go there on friday night).
i found the locals very freindly. pro british.
i was walking to the local shop once and some taxi drivers called me over and insisted i have a smoke with them.
i am going back as soon as i can.

i would recomend going all inclusive if you can.

apples24

iTrader: (1)

ive been to barbados, dominica, st lucia, st kits, antigua, mayru (spelling), st marten, tortola, tobago, grenada, isla margerita

do a cruise you get to see it all m8

Apparition

Went to Grand Cayman once...didn't like it, people unfreindly
Yve