Discover why Barbados is a perfect family holiday destination

When it comes to family holidays, your destination has to tick a lot of boxes and please a lot of people. There are bustling cities promising the best kind of culture shock, and rugged retreats offering the wildest of adventures. But, when you’ve got kids in tow, many are a stress-headache waiting to happen.

Thankfully, Barbados is that rarest of things – a place which caters for all ages. You’ve got abundant sun, sea and sand; brilliant Bajan cuisine; handsome towns to explore and hotels which put families at the forefront. Plus, it’s the perfect base for Caribbean island hopping. Here’s more of what to look forward to on a luxury family holiday to Barbados.

Bountiful beaches

The Caribbean is famous for its beaches, and Barbados is no exception. It’s just the place to pad about and play on soft white sands.

Surrounded by the Atlantic, this island nation has close to 100 kilometres of coastline and more than 60 beaches to enjoy – all open to the public. Crane Beach, regarded as one of the top 10 beaches in the world, is a lovely place for lounging in the sun or boogie boarding in the sea, as is firm favourite Accra Beach. For calmer waters perfect for young ones to paddle in, we recommend Batts Rock and Paynes Bay Beach.

Colourful cuisine

Barbadian (or Bajan) cuisine is a flavourful fusion of influences, mixing African, British, Indian and Creole traditions. You’ll find everything from exotic fare to fast-food favourites, and many restaurants cater for more niche dietary requirements, so there should be something for the whole family.

Local recipes typically feature marinated meat or fish, with a side such as hot rice and peas. We highly recommend sampling the national dish of Barbados – fried flying fish with cou-cou and gravy.

Water sports

With all that beautiful blue ocean on your doorstep, a family holiday to Barbados wouldn’t be complete without getting wet. Children and adults seeking thrills and spills are spoilt for choice; there are plenty of places perfect for surfing, windsurfing, paddleboarding, boogieboarding and more, especially along the south coast. Many of the most popular spots have equipment hire available, so you needn’t lug your own around. Whether you’re a family of beginners, dab hands or a mix of the two, there’s sure to be a spot on the shoreline to suit.

Wonderful wildlife

A family holiday can be an opportunity to get away from glowing screens and see nature at its best. Barbados is fringed by coral reefs teeming with technicoloured fish, and many areas – such as Folkestone Marine Park – are shallow enough for a family snorkelling excursion. The more adventurous amongst you may want to dive deeper; wreck diving is popular around the Carlisle Bay Marine Park, where six sunken ships have become a home for fish, ray, sea horse, sea turtle and other sea creatures.

Whilst marine wildlife is the major draw, on dry land there’s more to see. Parks and nature trails abound, and the Barbados Wildlife Reserve gives you an opportunity to see green monkey, mara, tortoise, iguana and more.

Family-friendly hotels 

As one of the Caribbean’s most popular tourist destinations, Barbados has a well-developed portfolio of luxury family-friendly accommodation.

Situated in Holetown, Sandy Lane offers two-bedroom suites ideal for smaller families, as well as villas perfect for large get-togethers of up to 14. The property is an elegant retreat beside the sea, with something for everyone; the Treehouse Club and Den will keep kids of all ages happy, whilst adults can unwind in the spa or putt their way around the golf course.

Nearby property Tamarind is a contemporary and affordable alternative. There are 104 rooms available, including interconnecting junior suites – ideal for families. The Flying Fish Kids’ Club provides excursions such as cave tours and horse riding, whilst Club Tamarind offers teenagers plenty to do, with games consoles, a pool table, flat-screen TVs, table tennis and more.

Ready to plan your perfect family holiday to Barbados? Our beach specialists are on hand to help you visit in style. Speak to our team today.