By law, all beaches in Barbados are open to the public from the high-water mark down to the sea. Not a one is off-limits to anyone. This is great if you like to star gaze; Barbados beaches are a favorite getaway for celebrities the world over. Celebrity or not, everyone who visits marvels at Barbados’ pink-white beaches, which are made of coral reefs that have been ground into a very fine powder by the waves of the ocean.

“Favorite beaches” are not automatically those graced by the placid waters of the Caribbean Sea. It’s true that many of us like the “zen” of the calm. But some of us crave the exciting rough and tumble of the Atlantic Ocean.

In its 70 miles of beaches, Barbados offers both. The water lapping the beaches of the west coast, aka our “Platinum Coast,” is the Caribbean Sea, which is as calm as a lake. The Atlantic Ocean on the east coast serves up world-class surfers’ waves; it’s fun to sit on the beach at the “Soup Bowl” in Bathsheba on the east coast and watch surfers risk life and limb for a ride on the perfect wave.

The south coast offers a mixture of Caribbean and Atlantic Ocean waters – these waters are not calm but not tumultuous, either. The lively water and sugar-white sands make the south coast beaches a favorite for many of our visitors.

Any “best” list is a personal effort, and listing Barbados’s best beaches is necessarily even more personal. There are so many to like, there could be any combination in any list. But here’s a stab anyway.

1. Carlisle Bay. We start near the city, on a mile-long stretch of beach running the length of historic Carlisle Bay, from the Hilton at one end (called Needham’s Point) to Bridgetown at the other. Actually, this beach is further divided into local sections like Yacht Club Beach, Burke’s Beach, Browne’s Beach and so on, but it’s one dazzling expanse, beloved by many Barbadians.

2. Brandon’s Beach. On the north side of the city, along the beginnings of the West Coast. Another long stretch of amazing white sand, nestled by calm, warm waters. Brandon’s beach becomes Brighton Beach and then turns back into Brandon’s again. But whatever you call it, it’s a beauty.

3. Sandy Lane Beach. The centre of West Coast opulence. This a good place to hang out and watch the stars from the world-famous Sandy Lane Hotel come to luxuriate in the warm Caribbean Sea. Madonna, Pavarotti, Jagger, Cowell, Tiger Woods (who honeymooned there) – they’ve all been there, and they all come back. And no wonder – the beach is a pristine white, with water so clear you can see your toes wiggle.

4. Cattlewash Beach. Running for several miles along Barbados’ rough east coast, Cattlewash beach absorbs the power of the Atlantic waves’ first landfall after a journey of 3,000 miles. As a result, the surf is magnificent, pounding in day and night. The places to swim are little pools and secluded areas – other spots can be dangerous. Interestingly, the east coast beach is rough, coarse, brown sand.

5. Crane Beach. A marvelous sight from the towering perspective of the Crane Hotel, and a delight to swim at or stroll along. This is the south-east of the island, but the waves are broken by a long barrier reef, so the sea is safe and shallow. Accessible through the hotel property or via public road.

6. Accra Beach. Right in the action area of the South Coast. You’ll often spy the super-star singer Rhianna here. She’s a Barbados native and comes home often. And why wouldn’t she choose Accra Beach? Accra is a half-mile of blazing white beach, with great body-surfing and swimming areas along it.

By now, for anyone who knows Barbados, my list is bound to have its supporters and its detractors. Truth is, there’s probably not a bad beach anywhere on the island. So go ahead – explore them all, and make your own list of favorites!

Jane Shattuck is an American living in Barbados, and takes joy in the island’s many pleasures and idiosyncrasies. Ms. Shattuck handles the rental of reasonably priced luxury villa holiday rentals on the beach in St. Lawrence Gap on the south coast of Barbados. http://www.SouthCoastBarbadosRentals.com

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With a unique blend of Caribbean and British cultures, you’ll find colourful houses, historical monuments as well as luxury hotels in Barbados, all of which complement the tropical landscape and the friendly welcoming atmosphere.

Barbados has boutique hotels dotted across the island, which focus on making your luxury Barbados holiday experience intimate and personal. These operate on a smaller scale with extra attention to the decor and furnishings that give every room a special, homely and luxurious feel. The elegant Cobblers Cove is one example. Its luxury suites and cottages deliver the utmost luxury. The hotel has suites with private pools set on the roof and private balconies to let you settle and relax in your own space. You will be encouraged to enjoy the water sports laid on such as water skiing, windsurfing, sailing and snorkelling, all of which take advantage of the stunning blue sea that surrounds the island.

With its warm Caribbean waters, Barbados offers world class diving and snorkelling where you can encounter colourful and strange tropical fish. Even if you don’t SCUBA dive, you can snorkel directly from the beaches, where there are fish within reach. The beaches for snorkelling are often emptier than many other Caribbean islands so as you relax on your luxury holiday in Barbados, you won’t have to share the view with throngs of other holiday makers.

This principle is reflected in the luxury hotels Barbados offers, many of which are smaller upscale properties with an emphasis on hospitality rather than holding a large number of residents. This is true of Little Arches, one of Barbados’ boutique hotels, where the focus is on quality not quantity, with just ten suites in the hotel. It boasts a top-ranking restaurant and will give your luxury holiday in Barbados a sense of pleasant seclusion that you might miss on the average beach holiday.

Barbados is not all about the beach though; there are also some cultural sites to see on your luxury holiday. Barbados is an island with deep historical ties to Britain and the former Empire. In the capital, Bridgetown, you will see the colonial influence borne out in the streets, squares and the plazas; there’s even a statue of Lord Horatio Nelson in the National Heroes Square. You’ll see monuments that mark the emancipation of the slaves that worked here on the sugar plantations, visit the sugar mills, and of course sample the rum that the Barbados sugar is still used for.

The colonial legacy has the benefit that the Barbadians will all have a firm grasp of English, making communication easy for travellers. And the colonial flavour still shows in some of Barbados’s luxury hotels, too. The Coral Reef Club is a family owned hotel in a building of British West Indian style that provides fine dining, and a delightful setting for a luxury Barbados holiday. The ‘Plantation Suites’ have separate bedrooms and living areas, and include their own private pools for a relaxing luxury experience that will let you enjoy the serenity and beauty of this island.

Rob Santry is a Caribbean holiday expert for key2holidays, an online tour operator that will help you book your luxury Barbados holidays, as well as trips other Caribbean islands, Cuba, Europe, Egypt, the Far East, the Maldives, the Seychelles, Dubai and the Arabian Gulf, Australia and South Africa. key2holidays has a dedicated team of experienced travel consultants to share their knowledge and help you plan and book your holiday.

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Possibly the most romantic hotel on the island of Barbados, can you risk not checking it out before booking your honeymoon getaway.

A Barbados Luxury Hotel is the simplest description, but others call it the most romantic boutique hotel on Barbados. Others say it is the perfect honeymoon resort, the perfect romantic honeymoon getaway. It has also been called the near perfect luxury boutique hotel, and the realisation of what a romantic honeymoon hotel should be.

All of these descriptions fits “The House”. This intimate and very private resort is just an oasis on the busy west coast of Barbados, situated on a glorious stretch of white sand beach.

Totally serene and extremely luxurious, this is a place to relax, it is informal but the sheer understated sophistication and elegance of your surroundings will make you feel special indeed, which of course you should on your honeymoon getaway anyhow.

The accommodation befits a romantic Barbados luxury hotel, in that there are only 34 Junior and one bedroomed suites, the size immediately qualifying The House as a boutique hotel on account of its size. There is a twenty four hour Ambassador Service, and Beach Ambassador Service. Champagne breakfast every day, afternoon tea that quintessentially English custom, and Canapes at sundown, followed by dinner at the renowned Daphne’s Restaurant from London town. This is as close to the perfect honeymoon resort as you can get.

To really enjoy a romantic hotel like “The House” to the full you need to be the kind of person who is looking to be pampered and fussed over by staff who will meet your every need with a smile, and then carry it out quickly and willingly and effectively. That effectively means most people, and if you could cope with a day that begins with a champagne breakfast with your eggs cooked personally for you, then it looks as if “The House” could be perfect for you. Then onto a very comfortable sun bed, and no need to ‘reserve’ one early, because there are plenty. Your morning will be spent relaxing before a satisfying lunch at Daphne’s Restaurant followed by the sunbed interspersed with chilled water, ice cream, and fresh fruit throughout the day. A brief interlude for afternoon tea, and then watching the amazing t sunset armed with a strong cocktail or two.

Out to dinner at a neighbouring restaurant, then back to the hotel for cake and port, then bed in a huge bedroom with a really comfortable bed and lovely crisp white sheets, to hear the sea crashing outside your window, almost so close you feel you could touch it.

You can repeat this exercise, or in this case non exercise for as many days as you choose. It is after all your romantic honeymoon getaway, in a wonderful Barbados luxury boutique hotel called “The House”. The staff will ensure it leaves an indelible memory. It is probably the staff you will remember. Luxury Hotels are luxury hotels, but the staff make them special, and that is why a romantic honeymoon getaway to Barbados staying at The House will have so many fond memories for you.

About the Author: Andrew Watkins is the owner of Barbados Vacation Spots as well as being a contributor on occasions to Worldwide Vacation Spots and he thinks it would be worth your while to check out Caribbean Vacation Spots especially any information you can find about Barbados which is the destination he likes the best.

Source: www.isnare.com

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Barbados is a great destination to visit on your holiday to the Caribbean. Barbados lies in the southern Caribbean, close to the South America continent. The climate is tropical, with mild temperatures kept bearable by the winds off the Atlantic Ocean. The island has the nickname ‘little England’ owing to the stamp that the British left on this former colony. The national obsession is cricket – like many other former British colonies in the Caribbean. This suits the relaxed lifestyle of Barbados.

Barbados is more than just an island in the West Indies. It’s almost a way of life, synonymous with exclusive hotels and fashionable restaurants. Barbados has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Yet what originally made the island so popular – its coral sand beaches, turquoise waters and warm, friendly people – is still very much in evidence. Even the tiny chattel houses retain their positions alongside the luxury West Coast hotels, ensuring that the island’s natural charm is never sacrificed. Barbados’ winter social scene continues to rival London’s, with its stylish collection of West Coast restaurants. There are some good venues to try on the West Coast restaurantstoo, as well as some lively nightspots. This is just one reason why being independently mobile is always a good idea here. Another good reason to hire a car is to explore the island, in particular the East Coast where you’ll find the island’s most dramatic scenery. Alternatively, take a helicopter trip, a VIP escorted tour, a day aboard a luxury yacht, or perhaps an island safari. It would be impossible to describe Barbados without mentioning the game of golf. The design talents of Tom Fazio and Robert Trent Junior have been used to optimal effect on the championship courses at Royal Westmoreland and Sandy Lane.

A holiday to Barbados gives you the best of both worlds… relaxation for those looking to unwind and plenty of activities for the more active.

About the Author: For more information about luxury Caribbean holidays please see http://www.elegantresorts.co.uk

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By Andrew Watkins

Read about one of the top rated Barbados Luxury Hotels that isn’t that well known, before you book yourself into a large impersonal Resort.

A Barbados Luxury Boutique Hotel best describes Little Arches, one of the most charming and distinctive properties on the island of Barbados. It is a well hidden privately owned boutique hotel with great views of Miami Beach on the south coast of Barbados, and in fact used to be a privately owned villa It has been described as a 10 rooms and suites, absolute gem of a hotel, with great Caribbean colours in the rooms and charming blue rustic pottery all over the place, and is one of the top places in the Caribbean for a romantic honeymoon getaway. It is the personal touches that keep it ahead of any rivals. There are wrought iron four poster beds, the rooms are somewhat non standard in shape or size, in fact higgledy-piggledy may well be the best description. Add to this local pottery handbasins in the bathrooms, and double hammocks around the pool, make it perfect for that honeymoon escape. Add to this you’ll not meet anyone you know!!

It lives up to this description, and in fact is a real discovery, absolutely right for people who like personalised hotels with colourful rooms, just perfect for a honeymoon getaway.

There is no doubt at all that family owned hotels offer something that a large resort cannot, and here Little Arches scores hugely. This hotel has a real ‘at home’ feeling to it, and also that touch of exclusivity which sets it apart. The beauty of it is that it is tucked away down a sleepy beachfront road, close to the beach, yet far from the madding crowd, so far as to seem remote, even isolated. There really are views from Little Arches of Miami, or Enterprise Beach, and the incredibly colours of blue in the sea to die for.

The location is superb, being a few steps to the beach and a stroll from Oistins which will give you some action on Fridays after a few days of utter relaxation.

A top class luxury boutique hotel should have a high class restaurant, and Little Arches doesn’t disappoint in this respect either. The Café Luna restaurant offers al fresco dining that is of a far better quality than you will find around the Caribbean, and that includes some supposedly world class establishments. There is no better place in Barbados to dine out under the stars overlooking Oistins Bay. If you love great salads, then you will find them here, or perfectly pan fried shrimp cakes, and in the winter the Saturday night Lobster certainly brings in the crowds.

In fact having stayed at Little Arches, and sampled La Luna it is unlikely you will ever want to stay in a large impersonal hotel again.

It is fair to say that if you are looking for the perfect escape, the total romantic honeymoon getaway, then you will have found it at Little Arches. It is the best of all worlds in that it is totally private, very relaxed, absolutely a personalised experience, and at the same time very stylish and relaxed.

For more information go to http://www.barbados-vacationspots.com/pages/Site-Map.html

About the Author: Andrew Watkins is the owner of Barbados Vacation Spots as well as being a contributor on occasions to Worldwide Vacation Spots and he thinks it would be worth your while to check out Caribbean Vacation Spots especially any information you can find about Barbados which is the destination he likes the best.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=251459&ca=Travel

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