Barbados / Special Interests / Family
Barbados is a vibrant and entertaining island for family holidays though it’s best to have a healthy budget. Many hotels offer kids clubs and babysitting, but its worth noting that some of the smarter hotels only offer these facilities during school holiday time and have age restrictions at certain times of the year, especially during February and March. Some luxury properties are actively chasing the family market by offering VIP status for kids and teens. Villas, usually staffed, are another smart option for families and especially extended families and friends travelling together.
Apart from frolicking in the sea and building sand castles, there are number child friendly activities available on island. The Barbados Museum has a dedicated children’s gallery with an exhibition called ‘yesterdays children’ in the Kidd Gallery. Folkstone Marine Park, a recreational underwater park near Holetown, has a snorkelling trail, an interpretive centre and museum with marine displays and a saltwater aquarium. There is also a picnic area, tennis and basketball courts and a playground. The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is popular with children for the animals on view, as is Atlantis Submarine and Harrison’s Cave. There is a Drive-in Cinema near the Sheraton Mall, which also has an indoor cinema. Farley Hill National Park has a picnic and play area.
For sports, the Barbados Sports Camp runs annually (7-31 August 2012 to be confirmed) and is aimed at 9-17 year olds. Kids play their favourite sports whilst being coached by sports stars such as Mark Bright and Raymond Parlour. Best of all, it’s free.
Over recent years polo has become a popular family outing, especially during big matches. Additional entertainment is often arranged, along with afternoon tea and sometimes dinner (normally a barbecue buffet). Activities will vary depending on the sponsor but for children there might be clowns, face painting and games, and for the adults fashion shows and live music. At Lion Castle they even switch on the floodlights after matches, so that children can continue to play on the polo field while parents socialise in the club house. For fun-filled days by the sea, Adventure Beach at The Boatyard has kayaks, pedal boats, glass bottom boats, ocean trampolines, a floating rock climbing ice-berg, beach volley ball and snorkelling. Accra Beach in the Rockley area is another popular beach spot, which is good for boogie boarding (boards are for hire). Batts Rock on the West Coast has good swimming and snorkelling, plus a small children’s playground with slides, swings and see-saws.
There are quite a few playground on Barbados. Seven of the popular Chefette fast food outlets have dedicated children’s playgrounds, and they are happy to cater for parties. In 2010 they opened a new outlet at Batts Rock, which boasts a three-storey MEGA Playground and is the largest on island, followed by another large air-conditioned one at Rockley. Each playground has slides, cars and rides. Some of the beaches with public facilities, including Silver Sands and Rockley, also have enclosed play areas with climbing frames, slides and swings.
Recommended accommodation view more
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Crystal Cove All-Inclusive
A buzzing 88-room resort hotel, popular with families, set on the West Coast of Barbados. Its brightly coloured are on levels around lagoon pools, leading to the beach. Well priced - on an all-inclusive plan – with good facilities including a kids’ club and a teens’ club. Read more
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Bluff House Villas & Villa Living
This airy six-bedroom Barbados villa oozes low key elegance. Offering privacy, it is yards from Sandy Lane beach, with the West Coast scene in reach. Sleeps 12. Read more
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Buttsbury House Villas & Villa Living
This roomy five-bedroom house wraps around stunning central courtyard and pool, tucked away within immaculate gardens opposite Barbados’ famous Holders Polo Club, with sea views. Sleeps 10. Read more
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Calliaqua - Sugar Hill Villas & Villa Living
The fabulous views from its verandas, big living space and gardens and the facilities at Sugar Hill Resort Community make Calliaqua a great choice. Sleeps 10, with guest cottage. Read more
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Tamarind Hotels & Resorts
An excellent all-round 104-room Barbados beach resort which has been a feature of the famous West Coast for several decades. In pretty gardens set back from excellent sand, Tamarind is a lively and upbeat hotel set at the heart of the Barbados action. Read more
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Emerald Beach Villas & Villa Living
On a superb beach, a collection of six, three-bedroom villas set in lush gardens. A stylish, comfortable and practical choice. Sleeps 6. Read more
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Turtle Beach All-Inclusive
A large 161-room all-inclusive resort set on a pretty stretch of sand on the South Coast of Barbados. It has extensive facilities including a kids’ club. Read more
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Glitter Bay Suites Condos, Penthouses & Suites
A luxury residential beachfront development set in delightful gardens on the West Coast of Barbados. Glitter Bay Estate is a gated resort with a series of one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments, each individually furnished to a high standard and set around a pool with snack bar and tennis court. Read more
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Grendon House Villas & Villa Living
A grand five-bedroom villa with Italianate and plantation design overlooking Sandy Lane’s Old Nine golf course on the West Coast of Barbados. Excellent for entertaining. Sleeps 10. Read more
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Klairan Villas & Villa Living
Elegance permeates this first class villa on the Sandy Lane Estate. Three of the four bedrooms are in romantic garden cottages. Good spot for golfers. Sleeps 8. Read more
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Landmark House & Cottage Villas & Villa Living
Flooded with natural light, this beautiful four-bedroom luxury villa is directly on the famous Sandy Lane beach. Pretty grounds include a two-bedroom cottage. Sleeps 12. Read more
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Mon Caprice Villas & Villa Living
Tropical grandeur and elegance are in abundance at this well-equipped, formal five-bedroom villa by Sandy Lane beach. Perfectly positioned for the West Coast social scene. Sleeps 10. Read more
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Moon Reach Villas & Villa Living
This villa has a special allure with an impressive avenue of royal palms leading guests to a gracious five-bedroom, beachfront property with swimming pool. Sleeps 10. Read more
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Point of View Villas & Villa Living
The name’s a giveaway: this well-furnished, luxurious four-bedroom Sandy Lane villa with a one-bedroom cottage and lovely gardens has stunning views to the Caribbean sea. Sleeps 10 Read more
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San Flamingo Villas & Villa Living
Enchanting adobe-style, five-bedroom villa in more than three acres of lawns and gardens at Polo Ridge above the West Coast. Own floodlit tennis court. Sleeps 10. Read more
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Sandalwood House Villas & Villa Living
Whether you want golf, relaxing gardens, iPod stations, kids’ toys, a great pool or simply a luxurious villa, Sandalwood House is a crowd pleaser. Sleeps 12. Read more
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Settlers' Beach Boutique/Small Hotels & Inns
A long-standing favourite 'villa hotel', 22 attractive two bedroom villas set in well-tended gardens on a lovely stretch of beach on Barbados’s famous West Coast. It has a nice sense of community and tranquillity. Read more
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Solandra Villas & Villa Living
A homely, relaxed three-bedroom villa set among lawns and mahogany trees on Sandy Lane Estate. Pool, cabana at Sandy Lane Beach, convenient for golf. Sleeps 6. Read more
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Sunwatch - Sugar Hill Villas & Villa Living
An exceptionally stylish four-bedroom villa with wow-factor: breath-taking views, sumptuous furnishings and excellent facilities for all ages. Sleeps 12, with two-bedroom cottage. Read more
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Sweet Enough - Sugar Hill Villas & Villa Living
Classic, well-appointed and luxuriously furnished, colonial-baroque style, five-bedroom villa with sea views set in a 50-acre gated villa and tennis community. Suits families. Sleeps 10. Read more
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West Shore Villas & Villa Living
Anyone who finds the clear blue Caribbean sea irresistible will find the four-bedroom West Shore the perfect spot for swimming and snorkelling. Practical and well-appointed. Sleeps 8. Read more
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Colony Club Hotels & Resorts
A large and gracious beach hotel set on the famous West Coast of Barbados. Colony Club takes the best of elegant and traditional Barbadian style to create a comfortable, modern 96-room and suite beachfront resort. Read more
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Royal Westmoreland Villa & Condo Resorts
An elegant, exclusive, gated villa community set in 500 acres with sweeping views of the West Coast and outstanding golfing facilities. Spa, children’s club and tennis centre, with beach club facilities at Mullins. Read more
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The Condominiums at Palm Beach Condos, Penthouses & Suites
Prime South Coast beachfront property in Hastings, within walking distance the Garrison Savannah for horse racing and numerous restaurants, bars and shops. A number of 2-3 bedroom condominiums available for rental - 59 residences. Read more
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Looking for inspiration?
- Ride the waves at kitesurfing mecca Silver Point
- Drive along the breathtakingly beautiful East Coast
- Go underground at Harrison's Cave
- Hobnob with the stars watching a polo match
- Step back in time at the impressive Jacobean plantation house - St Nicholas Abbey
