Why Honeymoon on the West Coast
The sea makes the case. On most days the water off the west coast is calm enough to float in for hours, with excellent visibility for snorkeling. Hawksbill and green turtles feed close to shore. Many boat trips stop to let you swim with them.
The resorts are another draw. Several have been run by the same families or managed in the same gracious style for decades, with attentive staff and rooms just a few steps from the sand. You won't find much in the way of mega-resorts here.
Evenings are the highlight for many couples. Sunsets over the open sea are reliably beautiful. The coast also has some of the island's best restaurants, many set right on the water.
When to Go
The best time is December through May, when the weather is dry, sunny and comfortable, with highs in the mid 80s Fahrenheit. This is high season. The west coast is especially busy around Christmas and New Year, when rates peak and minimum stays often apply.
The Holetown Festival in February celebrates the 1627 arrival of the first English settlers with music, crafts and food stalls.
June through November is the wetter season, with more humidity and short, heavy showers. Rates fall significantly. The sea is usually still calm. Hurricane risk peaks from August to October. Barbados is hit less often than many islands, but travel insurance is a sensible precaution.
Where to Stay
The west coast has some of the best-known resorts in the Caribbean. Sandy Lane, in St. James, is the island's most famous luxury hotel, with a golf club and a large spa. Coral Reef Club in Holetown is a family-run favorite with cottages in landscaped gardens. Cobblers Cove, near Speightstown, is a small Relais and Chateaux hotel with suites facing a quiet beach.
For kid-free stays, The House on Paynes Bay offers a calm, grown-up atmosphere. Fairmont Royal Pavilion is another long-established option with rooms right on the beach.
Villas are also popular, from small cottages to grand estates with staff. Holetown is the most convenient base for restaurants. Speightstown suits couples who want quiet.
Romantic Things to Do
Take a catamaran cruise along the coast, stopping to swim with turtles and snorkel over shipwrecks. Many trips include lunch and an open bar.
Snorkel in the Folkestone Marine Reserve near Holetown, which protects a reef close to shore. Spend an afternoon at Mullins Beach or Paynes Bay, two of the coast's best swimming beaches.
Drive north to St. Nicholas Abbey, a Jacobean plantation house dating to the 1650s that now distills rum. Continue to the Animal Flower Cave at the island's northern tip, where you can look out at the Atlantic from a sea cave.
End the day watching the sun drop into the sea and look for the green flash, a brief green light that can appear just as the sun disappears.
Getting There and Around
Fly to Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI), which has nonstop flights from Miami, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Atlanta, New York JFK, Boston, Newark and Washington Dulles. The drive to Holetown takes 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic; most resorts can arrange transfers.
On the coast, taxis are easy to find but unmetered, so agree on the fare first. Public buses and private minibuses run frequently along the coast road and are a cheap, colorful way to get around.
Renting a car gives you freedom to explore the north and east of the island, but traffic keeps left and roads are narrow and winding. Many couples rent for a day or two rather than the whole stay.
Food and Drink
The west coast is the island's fine-dining hub. The Cliff, set on a coral cliff above the sea near Derricks, is famous for its candlelit terraces. Lone Star, a former garage turned beachfront restaurant, is another long-standing favorite. In the north, The Fish Pot at Little Good Harbour serves seafood right on the water.
For something casual, try a beach bar or a rum shop serving fish cutters, macaroni pie and cold Banks beer.
Don't miss local rum. Many restaurants offer tastings of Mount Gay, Foursquare and St. Nicholas Abbey. A rum punch at sunset, with nutmeg grated on top, is a Barbados ritual.
Honeymoon Tips
Book early for winter, especially Christmas and New Year, when the best resorts and restaurants fill months in advance.
Reserve popular restaurants for sunset tables. Ask for a seat by the water when you book.
Use reef-safe sunscreen and don't touch turtles when snorkeling. Respect local fishermen, especially in Speightstown and Holetown.
Check your bill before tipping. Many restaurants include a 10 percent service charge with VAT added on top.
If you want variety, spend a few nights on the livelier south coast or take a day trip to the east coast. The west coast is calm and refined. A contrast can make the trip even richer.
