Why Barbados is the Ideal Winter Getaway Destination

If the short days and freezing temperatures leave you yearning for the return of summer, then head to Barbados this winter. With over eleven hours of sunshine every day and average temperatures of around 27°C (daily high 29°C – daily low 23°C) you can swap the woolly hats and chill blains for chilled beaches and warm hospitality. Here’s why Barbados is the ideal winter holiday destination.

Gorgeous beaches

Barbados has a wealth of fabulous beaches, especially along the prestigious Platinum Coast, just a stone’s throw from here at the Royal Westmoreland. This stretch of coastline offers luxuriously soft, white sand lapped by crystal-clear waters; the perfect place for couples and young families to forget the miserable weather back home and to soak up some much-needed sun.

There’s also a lot of fun activities to do on the coast, including swimming with turtles, paddle boarding and kayaking, along with many other beach and water sports.

Great winter festivals

Barbados hosts a range of festivals throughout the year but for those arriving in the winter months, there are some special treats to look out for. In November, there’s the five-day Open Water Festival where open-water swimmers and kayakers flock to the island to take part in races along the west coast. If taking part is not your thing, there are plenty of opportunities to spectate and join in the many beach parties that take place during the festival.

During December, there’s another sporting tradition, the Run Barbados Marathon Weekend. While the more dedicated runners can challenge themselves to the full and half marathon, others are free to sign up for the 5K and 10K run or even the 5K walk. If you have children with you, the family can take part in the Fun Mile Run which ends with a pasta party where you can replenish those carbs.

Perhaps the major winter event is the Holetown Festival. This week-long celebration, held in the middle of February, offers entertainments galore, with nightly concerts, a floodlit tattoo, a festival pageant, street fairs and a variety of carnivalesque parades.

Gourmet delights

Bajan food is an important part of the island’s culture and visitors are in for an absolute treat when they try some of the nation’s favourite recipes. With this being an island, fish is a key ingredient of many signature dishes and there are lots of great street stalls and food shacks where you can sample delicious and uniquely named foods, like cou cou, cutters, pudding and souse and conkies.

The best place to sample the island’s seafood is at the famous Oistins’ Friday Fish Fry. With its party atmosphere, it’s the ideal way to sample the freshly caught and freshly cooked marlin, mahi mahi, kingfish and flying fish available from the street shacks.

If you prefer dining out, the west coast has some exquisite restaurants offering superb fine dining experiences. High on the list and often frequented by some of the island’s more famous guests, is The Cliff. This internationally celebrated restaurant serves up truly tempting creations in a highly stylish setting perched on a cliff with stunning views of the ocean.

Competition is hot though and there are several other restaurants, like Cin Cin, The Tides and The Lone Star, all vying for the top spot. One of the wonderful things about the island’s restaurants is that, together, they offer a truly international menu so that whatever you fancy, Bajan, Asian, French or Fusion, there is something to please everyone’s appetite.

Glorious places

Besides its stunning beaches, visitors to Barbados will be struck by the glorious landscape that is to be found everywhere on the island. One place especially worth a visit is Harrison’s Cave, a jaw-dropping, crystallised cavern that features underground streams, waterfalls, deep pools and some impressive stalactites and stalagmites.

Wildlife lovers should also take a trip to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. This mahogany forest at the north of the island is a fantastic place to see tortoises, iguanas, deer, agouties, green monkeys and the many species of tropical birds living in the hinterland. A far cry from the wintry forests back home, you’ll be astounded by the variety of beautiful orchids growing in the wild.

A very popular destination is Hunte’s Gardens. Created by renowned horticulturist, Anthony Hunte, this is one of the most beautiful spots on the entire island. Located in the heart of the rainforest, this is the Barbadian equivalent of the Chelsea Flower Show, with an array of imaginatively designed miniature gardens to explore.

Summing up

Barbados is the perfect antidote for the cold, miserable weather of winter. It’s a place where you’ll find the hospitality as warm as the sunshine, with gorgeous beaches, great festivals, gourmet delights and glorious places to visit.

If you’re looking to escape to somewhere warm this winter, then consider a holiday here at The Royal Westmoreland. With exquisite villas and apartments set amongst 750 acres of lush greenery and offering some of the most outstanding views of the prestigious west coast, you’ll completely forget that it’s winter at all.