ITTN’s Julia Labedz is in Barbados this week on a FAM trip hosted by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI), Aer Lingus and Travel Trade Representation (TTR). After two packed days of hotel inspections across the island’s west and south coasts, day 3 offered a change of pace, with a focus on local culture, scenery, and the opportunity to experience a more relaxed side of the island.
Joining the trip from Ireland are Roisin Carbery (Tropical Sky), Deepak Jadoun (Click&GO), Sarah Kelly (Best4Travel), and Suzanne Reynolds (Cassidy Travel). From the UK, Julia is accompanied by Caroline Cousins (Oasis Travel), Linda Devlin (Glen Travel), Olivia King (Humming Bird), Rachel Howes (Prestbury Travel) and Erin Docherty (If Only Holidays). The group are led by the wonderful Cedric Lynch from Visit Barbados.
The day began with check-out from the Wyndham Grand Barbados, Sam Lord’s Castle Resort & Spa, the group’s base for the first half of the trip. Located on the island’s quiet southeastern coast, the Wyndham was a very comfortable home during a busy schedule of
Early in the morning, the group met their tour guide Chris and set off on an open-top Bajan bus tour by #1 Bajan Bus, a traditional and highly entertaining way to experience the island from a different perspective. Music was playing, rum punch flowing, and the Atlantic breeze was in full effect! The route covered a remarkable portion of the island, beginning with a stop at Hidden Bay Beach, where the group descended just 68 steps to take in a stunning view framed by coconut trees, cliffs, and clear blue water. From there, the tour continued to Ragged Point Lighthouse, located on the island’s easternmost tip, before heading through countryside roads and stopping at a freshwater spring as the group travelled from the parish of St Philip into St John.
In St John, the focus shifted toward history. The group visited Codrington College, whose construction began in 1714 and was completed in 1743, making it one of the oldest theological colleges in the Western Hemisphere. Nearby was St John’s Parish Church which the group got to go into, followed by drive-bys of Clifton Hall Plantation and Peg Farm, giving the agents a look into the Bajan countryside.
As the tour continued into St Joseph, the landscape became noticeably more hilly, with inland views. Along the way, the group passed the former St Joseph Parish Church, now abandoned due to structural damage caused by frequent landslides, as well as the Cotton Tower Signal Station. The route also took in an area locally known as “Grapefruit City”, where there are loads of grapefruit trees lining the roadside.
One of the most stunning coastal stops was at Bathsheba Beach, where Atlantic waves crash against rock formations, and the remains of the island’s historic railway lie partially reclaimed by the sea. The journey continued through Cattlewash, once used to bring cattle down to the shore to be washed, before following the east coast road with uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean.
A short break at Barclays Park had the group sunbathing on the grass while enjoying a refreshment of rum punch before continuing north. Leaving the parish of St Andrew and heading into St Peter, the group experienced the island’s famous magnetic hill, watching the bus appear to roll uphill on its own.
Further highlights included passing through St Nicholas Parish, the oldest on the island, and stopping at Cherry Tree Hill, where the group got to enjoy a panoramic view across Barbados, with the St Nicholas Abbey railway visible as it was manually turned around by a few tourists and prepared for its return journey. The tour then continued through St Evan’s Parish (also known as Diamond Corner), into St Lucy, the most modern parish on the island, and onward through St Thomas before finishing with a final stop at the hidden Little Bay, where large Atlantic waves put on a pretty good show.
Throughout the tour, Chris shared insights that brought the island’s character to life, including the fact that Barbados is home to approximately 290,000 people and 365 churches, one for each day of the year, and that wherever there is a parish, there is almost always a rum shop close by – a statement that the group has yet to disprove. The atmosphere remained fabulous throughout, with plenty of laughs, photos, and genuine excitement as the group took in the island.
By midday, the tour paused for lunch at The Thirsty Lizard, a local eatery where the group had time to refuel, cool off, and chat about the morning’s highlights (of which there were many!). The group started with fish cake, then some classic Caribbean bites, spicy chicken, fish, pigtail – the options were endless, and whatever agents ordered was shared around. Even the local cat got to try his own share…
All too soon it was time to leave Chris and the beautiful Bajan Bus and head to the second host hotel of the trip – the O2 Beach Club & Spa, a five-star, all-inclusive property located on Dover Beach on the south coast. Freshly renovated, with the newest section opening at the end of 2021, the hotel is super polished and very atmospheric from the get go. While not an adults-only property, O2 offers adults-only areas for guests aged 16+, allowing for a balance of family-friendly flexibility and quieter spaces.
After check-in, the group toured the property with Rotchelle Parris, who showcased the resort’s standout facilities, including the rooftop tapas restaurant, its rooftop pool, multiple dining options, grab-and-go snack stations, and the island’s only hammam, located within the award-winning Acqua Spa.
During the tour, the group viewed a Luxury Oceanfront Suite, while Julia checked into a Luxury Oceanfront One-Bedroom Suite with a kitchenette. The suite features an exceptionally comfortable bed and a bright, spacious living area filled with colour and natural light. The balcony directly faces the beach, with uninterrupted views of palms, waves, and the shoreline.
O2 offers a range of added-value perks as well. Guests staying a minimum of three nights in a Luxury One- or Two-Bedroom Suite receive a US$100 spa credit, while those booked in One- or Two-Bedroom Concierge Suites receive US$125 credit. The resort also provides complimentary checkout facilities, allowing guests to freshen up and enjoy the property even after vacating their room – a thoughtful touch, especially for evening flights.
Dining is a major highlight at O2, particularly Oro, the signature fine dining restaurant included as part of the all-inclusive offering. Oro features a Caribbean-fusion menu and rooftop views of the coastline. Drinks are included, with the option to enhance the experience through specialty wines at an added supplement.
After settling in, the group took some time to enjoy the beach, where the water was wonderfully warm, followed by evening entertainment back at the resort, including steel pan music and fresh coconuts being opened on the spot, with the option to add a splash of rum.
The day concluded with dinner at Oro with Rotchelle Parris, where the group gathered in the lobby before heading upstairs for a delicious evening – Julia enjoyed snow crab cakes as a starter, duck in thai red curry sauce for lunch and a gorgeously fruity pavlova for dessert. This was an absolutely incredible way to end the day which, generally speaking, the group wished would never end…
Overall, day three served everything Bajan and more – ITTN’s Julia Labedz extends continued thanks to BTMI, TTR and Aer Lingus for another fabulously curated day in the Caribbean.
