Why Barbados is Perfect for Christmas and New Year Holidays

With autumn upon us and the nights drawing in, now’s the time to start thinking of your winter holiday. If you’re looking to swap the cold and damp for much-needed sunshine, there’s no better place than Barbados, an island as seasonally festive as anywhere else but with the added advantage of sun-kissed beaches, aquamarine seas and a Santa’s sack full of things to do and places to go. Here’s why Barbados is perfect for Christmas and New Year holidays.

Ditch the thermals for beachwear

With average temperatures over the Christmas season of 27°C, a winter holiday in Barbados is the ideal way to banish the chilblains. You’ll find long, glorious days of sunshine followed by warm, balmy evenings and, as this is the start of our dry season, there’ll be lots of blue skies and only the occasional chance of a quick shower.

Plenty of Christmas cheer

Just because you’re going abroad for your winter break doesn’t mean you have to miss out on a traditional Christmas. As a predominantly Christian country, Christmas is just as big an occasion in Barbados as it is back home. Wherever you go, you’ll find people getting in the festive mood and there will be Christmas trees, decorations, window displays and streetlights, as well as plenty of seasonal festivities.

Christmas and New Year dining

Barbados is home to many excellent restaurants, each offering the finest of dining experiences. As you would expect, when it comes to Christmas, they go the extra mile to make your celebrations even more special and memorable. You can expect a veritable feast of gourmet delights, ranging from traditional turkey roasts to exotic and experimental fusion cuisine and even five-course dinners. Or, perhaps, you’d like to sample a Bajan Christmas dinner which includes dishes like Jug-Jug, a pudding containing minced pork, salt meat, pigeon peas, onions, corn and herbs, and which is usually followed by a rich slice of Great Cake, a delicious Bajan Christmas pudding doused in Barbadian rum.

Of course, the celebrations go on all the way to the New Year and you’ll have many options when it comes to welcoming in 2021, with most restaurants offering special New Year’s menus together with firework displays, champagne and entertainment. With social distancing limiting the number of tables restaurants can cater for this year, we suggest you book your reservation early.

A truly seasonal shopping experience

You won’t need to use up your baggage allowance bringing your Christmas gifts with you: when it comes to shopping, Barbados has everything you need. From unique, handmade arts and crafts from galleries and street stalls to top brand goods from high-end outlets, there’s choice galore for finding that perfect present – and possibly at duty-free prices.

Of particular note is the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre in Holetown where you’ll discover the island’s finest stores, decked out in their festive finery, selling world-famous brands. Whether you’re looking for jewellery, watches, the latest electronics, designer clothing or something extra special for the kids, this is the place on the island to find it. It might be the best place to find Santa on the island too.

An island to explore

While pristine paradise beaches and transparent seas are the first things people imagine when they think about Barbados, our little island has so much more to offer. We are renowned for our hospitality with some of the finest cuisine, rum cocktails and entertainment anywhere in the Caribbean. Barbados is also an island rich in history, culture and sport and has many wonderful places to explore and activities to experience. So, whether you want to spend your Christmas holiday visiting shipwrecks on a submarine tour, sampling the world’s oldest rum or simply basking in the sunshine, Barbados has it covered.

Safe destination

Barbados is one of the safest holiday destinations to visit. Incidents of coronavirus have been consistently low and it remains on the UK government’s list of places exempt from advice against all non-essential travel*. Like everywhere, social distancing, hygiene and other protocols are in place across the island and this includes, from September 19, mandatory testing, prior to travelling, for visitors from medium risk countries, such as the UK.

Finding your winter wonderland

If you are looking for a truly wonderful winter holiday, Royal Westmoreland is a resort that puts your safety first and offers you the warmest of winter welcomes, complete with festive decorations. Our private, 750-acre gated estate puts you right in the heart of Barbados’ premier west coast, close to the island’s most beautiful beaches, best restaurants and first-class amenities.

Our luxury accommodation includes everything from seven-bedroom villas, penthouses and townhouses to two-bedroomed apartments and golf cottages – all beautifully designed and equipped to the highest standards. Additionally, we provide exceptional personal service, including housekeeper and concierge, and world-class facilities, such as on-site dining, beach club and championship-class golf course.

*At time of publication