Beach - Plum Travel

Dreaming of Barbados? Sun, Sea and So much more

6 May, 2025

First visit to the Caribbean?

Barbados is a great island for first time visitors to the Caribbean as it’s just what most people imagine a Caribbean island to be – clear azure waters, beautiful sandy beaches, glorious sunsets on the west coast, delicious food and rum punches galore (other cocktails are available!)

The Caribbean islands each offer a unique vibe and Barbados truly lives up to it’s reputation as a friendly, warm and relaxed island with a laid-back atmosphere and echoes of it’s British colonial history.

Most visitors head to the West coast where the beaches are gentle, calm and relaxed and much of the time the sea is like swimming in a bath, as it’s so lovely and warm. The East coast has a much more rugged, wild feel as it’s faces the Atlantic Ocean. This also means there’s more of a breeze there so it’s slightly cooler, which can be a relief when the humidity is high.

Of course, Barbados is the perfect place to unwind on a beach, but that’s not all it’s got going for it. It’s very family friendly so when we went as a multi-generational group everyone was happy and there’s lots to do if you want to explore beyond the sand.

What to see & do

We happened to be there during their Crop Over festival which was originally to celebrate the sugar harvest and culminates at Grand Kadooment Day when up to 20,000 revellers take over the streets for a parade interspersed with floats pumping out loud music. It’s worth a visit just to see the dancers in fantastic carnival costumes and elaborate head-dresses. It being late July / early August it does get very hot, so I’d recommend taking lots of water, wearing a hat and finding a shaded spot from time to time to cool down a bit.

Another unforgettable experience, and Barbados institution, is Friday fish fry at Oistins – a large market with street food stalls and communal seating where the food is of course fried but delicious, and the atmosphere lively.

Our boat trip included a fantastic experience swimming with turtles, which I’d highly recommend provided you choose a responsible operator to see them in their natural habitat. A trip inland gave us a glimpse of it’s green interior and the Barbados Wildlife Reserve has a walk-through aviary, lots of reptiles, deer and Barbados Green Monkeys to see.

Where to eat, drink and stay

Obviously while on Barbados it’d be rude not to try the rum! You can visit a distillery – Mount Gay being the most well-known – or just sample them on your own. You’re never far from a rum punch!

On the island, the restaurants vary widely from the expensive, high-end, internationally-renowned to more local Bajan restaurants. Our family got a particular kick out of a restaurant called ‘Pig on de Rock’ which was a local barbecue joint – simple but very tasty. Of the high end restaurants my favourites were The Cliff and the Fish Pot where the food is delicious but also the settings are beautiful right, on the waterfront.

The hotels also range from the ultra high-end or small boutique hotels, to all inclusive resorts and which is best for you will depend on your personal preference. All inclusive makes a lot of sense if you’re going to stay on resort and enjoy the restaurants and activities there. As a larger family group, the Tamarind worked brilliantly for us as watersports are included, which is great if you’re travelling with children and being able to snorkle straight off the beach is a real treat too. They also run boats up and down the coast to their other resorts if you’re fancying a change of scenery.

Couples might prefer the hideaway feel of the Coral Reef Club – perhaps indulging in a suite with a plunge pool or if you really want to splash out, how about staying at the world-famous Sandy Lane which offers activities galore such as tennis courts, padel courts, water-skiing and three golf courses!

And Breathe….

If you’re in need of a calming Bajan beach vibe, have a look at this West Coast webcam and imagine yourself stepping into the crystal waters – I defy your shoulders not to drop a little.

Especially perfect for a bit of winter sun and warmth, Barbados is definitely one of those places that will leave you with fond memories and after you’ve been once, you’ll want to return again and again.

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Thailand truly is the land of smiles…

27 May, 2018

I finally made it to a country I have been wanting to visit for over 20 years and it really didn’t disappoint. As I expected the people were incredibly warm and welcoming, the scenery awesome, the food delicious and the sense of adventure alive and well. I have heard, as I am sure many have, that it has changed a great deal in the last couple of decades. However, although I have no point of reference for the comparison, it is most definitely still the land of smiles and inspired awe in all members of my family on our holiday to Thailand.

Culture and wonder in Chiang Mai

As it was our children’s first trip to Asia, we wanted to combine some exploring with some down time, so after recovering from the long flight in Bangkok for a night we travelled to Chiang Mai to do some exploring. Chiang Mai has quite a different feel to Bangkok and although it’s a bustling city with many travellers, it felt quite traditional and authentic. While there we packed in several activities. We have some friends who live in Chiang Mai so arranged to join them for our first excursion and we went out of the city to try white water rafting. Well with a 10 and 12 year old in tow I was a little concerned about safety, but the Thai instructors were consummate professionals and not only provided a thorough safety briefing, but also pulled over to the bank of the river at one tricky patch of rapids, so I could walk down river past the danger with the kids. It was still exhilarating and we even saw some elephants strolling by towards the end of the trip.

The next day we had an early start to get up into the hills for one of the highlights of our whole trip – a visit an elephant sanctuary. They hope to encourage the mahouts to offer tourist experiences without rides or any other activities that cause harm to the elephants. When we arrived at the village, the excellent guide introduced our small group (approx 10 of us) to 3 elephants. We fed them – wow can they eat; it was like feeding huge Labradors – if you paused there would soon be a nudge to get on with it!!! Next we took a walk in the forest with them while the guide told us more about how they are cared for, answered our questions and even told us a bit about their characters. After a while (during which they ate some more), we followed them down to a mud pit where they could have a good roll in the mud and we were invited to help by rubbing the mud into their skin. Finally, we all walked together down to the river where the elephants got in, followed by us and we all splashed around together to clean the mud off and cool down. What an experience!!!!

While in Chiang Mai we also visited the night market and had a Thai cookery class which included visiting a local market. The teacher was excellent, very patient with us and the children and the food was, of course, delicious.

Beach relaxation in Phuket

We decided to have our R & R in the middle of the holiday so flew to Phuket next where we stayed at the lovely Surin hotel. It is located on its own beach, but also close enough to the village so you can walk out to explore and have a meal if you choose. We didn’t venture out of the hotel too much, but did have a couple of Thai massages as well as a lesson in how to give them in the hotel. The focus of the hotel is around the unusual black bottomed swimming pool and beach front. It particularly appealed to us as there are cottages all around the property which have 2 bedrooms linked by a bathroom which fit a family of four very well.

Vibrant and mythical Bangkok

To finish our Thai adventure, we went back to Bangkok. It’s a great city – much as you would expect with the hustle and bustle of everyday life going on around you. Highlights for me included visiting the temples (including having a Thai foot massage to escape an August downpour, walking the city streets and taking the Skytrain as well as a trip on a longtail boat along the Chao Phraya River and its canals / Khlongs. We had a tour on one which included visits to temples and a small floating market, feeding fish, seeing monitor lizards and learning some of the history of Bangkok, Thailand and its Royal family. On our last night in Thailand we even managed to visit one of the iconic rooftop bars which have the amazing views of the city all lit up. All in all, a brilliant trip that we’ll remember for a very long time.