Platinum Coast beaches, duty-free shopping in Bridgetown and the world’s oldest rum distillery are just a few activities to keep couples busy while on the island of Barbados. Combine those with afternoon tea and a round of golf (remnants of when it was a British colony), plus the Caribbean’s finest cuisine and near perfect weather, and you’ve got a recipe for an action-packed honeymoon or romantic getaway.
Wedding Requirements Apply for a license at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Bridgetown. Necessary documents include valid identification and, if either party has been married, a divorce decree, plus a fee of $75 and $12 for a stamp. No advance notice is required so depending on how quickly the license can be secured, it might be possible to actually marry the same day of your arrival.
What to Do
Swimming and Snorkeling The west side of Barbados, often called the Platinum Coast, is known for its gentle surf and turquoise waters, such as you’d find at Paynes and Mullins beaches, ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Stick around until early evening and order a frosty Banks beer from a casual beach bar to catch the sunset. It’s the opposite on the island’s wild eastern coast where the Atlantic Ocean pounds against coral rocks, making the surf more rugged and the waves much bigger. There’s great surfing at Bathsheba Beach in the winter months; you cant swim here so bring a blanket and watch the action from shore.
Restaurants Barbados is known for its dining scene -- in fact, it’s the Caribbean’s only Zagat-rated island. Holetown is chock-a-block with restaurants including Elbow Room, where you can cook shrimp or steak on a hot lava stone at your table, and the Mews, set in a historic chattel house with a European menu. Nearby is the celebrity hangout The Cliff, where elegant seafood dishes are served on a torch-lit terrace on a water-facing bluff. On Friday nights, join the outdoor party at the down-home fish fry in the village of Oistens, where a few dollars buys you a plate of grilled flying fish, rice and pigeon peas, and the DJ’s play all night.
Rum Sugarcane was once the island’s main crop so the history of rum-making runs deep. The Mount Gay Rum Factory, dating from 1703, is said to be the world’s oldest distillery. Learn about how the molasses-based spirit is made and barreled on a tour, then try a few free samples. You can also visit a rum shop. These local bars are no more tin-roofed wooden cottages with a few tables but this is where Bajans come to socialize. There’s more rum to be had during the Food & Wine and Rum festival that takes places each November.
Off the Beaten Path
Hiking The Barbados National Trust, a non-profit organization dedicated preserving the island’s archeological and ecological treasures, offers several guided walking tours to areas not usually visited by tourists. The hikes, which last three hours, take place on Sundays are free of charge (donations are welcome) and might include the lush interior around Little Scotland, so-called because of its emerald green rolling hills and windswept panoramas. — Jill Fergus
