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I'm searching for a Caribbean vacation destination that wouldn't be over-run with teenagers during Spring Break. Hubby and I both work for public schools and are limited to when we can take more than a few days off. Barbados looks great, but we've never been. Any suggestions on places to stay, etc. in Barbados?

St. Lawrence Gap, Christ Church, is a nice area at the southern end of the island. Good beaches (public), plenty of restaurants, easy access to both Bridgetown and Grantley Adams Airport. I believe Divi Resorts still operates a nice hotel down there (Divi Southwinds, perhaps?).

The west coast of the island is propogated with lots of beautiful beaches, toney resorts, and fine golf courses (and it faces the calm Carribean).

The east side is mostly rocky, with beautiful views of the rough Atlantic; you'll find more villas than hotels, I think. Sam Lord's Castle is one of a few resorts on the east side. It has a beautiful sandy beach (unlike much of the Atlantic coast). Be cautious swimming on the Atlantic side.

The interior of the island is lush and green, with rolling hills and numerous points of interest, like Andromeda Gardens. Rent a Moke and drive (on the left!) around the countryside with a list of a few sights to see. End up at the Mount Gay Rum Distillery (after you turn in your Moke) for a tour and a few cocktails. There's also a booze cruise that departs out of Bridgetown.

The equatorial sun is strong -- use sunsreen at every occasion.

Must do - surf Soupbowls. One of the classic breaks of the world.

Lived there 2 years. God, do we miss our island! Well, it depends on what you have to spend. West Coast is always more expensive than the South Coast. North shore is unsafe, rocky sea caves, East Coast has very good surfing for experienced surfers, long beaches but most not good for surfing.

To do: an Island Safari jeep trip, and/or a day sail up the west coast on one of the dozen large 'cats' that sail out of Bridgetown harbor, which includes all the drinks you can drink, lunch, snorkeling with sea turtles, etc. We went on several, but decided in the end the best is Cool Runnings, because they limit the number of people they take. Has a web site.

Also if you like caves, the center of this coral (not volcanic) island has Harrison's Cave with a waterfall in it... you ride a tram and make several stops, it is really caves. You need to take a cab or tour, unless you are renting a car. Remember, in Barbados, still somewhat British and a fromer British colony, all driving is on the LEFT side.

Beaches are great, esp. south and west coast, powder soft, ultra white sand, never hot, and water the color of a swimming pool. Seasonally there is some easier surfing on the west coast.

Two lovely botanical gardens. Also, Orchid World, which has something like 50,000 orchids in colors you never imagined. Also Graham Hall reserve, similar to J Ding Darling on Sanibel, mangroves, on south coast. YOu used to be able to visit a couple of beautiful old plantation houses, but we understand they have been sold for schools or something now.

West coast, the hotels and resorts around Holetown are where to stay, and a lot of restaurants on 2nd and 3rd streets at the water there. On the south coast, the St. Lawrence Gap is where to go, with several resorts. A number are all-inclusives because the British and Canadian tourists favor that type. Bridgetown is a lovely old colonial city, but is totally quiet at night after business hours, not even locals.

You can sport fish and when you get off the boat, The Waterfront Cafe on the harbor will cook up your catch right away just as you like it.

In winter there is polo to watch. There are 4 locations, and it is usally weekends and sundays. Very egalitarian... you pay a small parking fee of $7-9 (US) and can pull your car right up to the field, put out chairs, take a picnic. Everyone stomps the divots between the chukkas.

There is plenty of golf, 2 9-hole golf courses and 2 full courses at Royal Westmoreland, and 3 at Sandy Lane and another large one on the south coast near the airport. Lots and lots of duty free shopping downtown in the daytime. Tennis is all at hotels or private clubs.

there are lots of good restaurants, 1000 rum bars, the Friday Night Fish Fry at Oistins, a fishing port. Also on the west coast, Friday Nights, the same up at Half Moon Fort. Mostly compared to places like Jamaica or St. Thomas, Barbados is safe. (This does not mean you should walk on beaches at night, or wander into poorer parts of the city, or stop for people apparently hitchiking or trying to wave your car down -- you should use the same caution you would at home. But you pretty much can go anywhere on the islands and some of the islands this isn't so.)

This island has no McDonald's. It is not particularly "white" like St. John or St. Bart's. The people who live there are very well educated and can be reserved, particularly if you are rude, but they are charmingly friendly and LOVE their island and are very gracious if you are pleasant.
They all speak Queen's English, as well as a dialect called Bajan. The money is easy $1 US = $2 Barbados, and it is a rate fixed to the US$.

they call it the authentic Caribbean, and we certainly feel it is less commercialized and americanized than many. It is NOT primitive. You will be able to use your cell, watch Direct TV, buy any commodity you might want, ATMs most everywhere, except the remote East Coast.

The only chain hotel is a very new Hilton, which is near downtown, and very self contained. On the south coast we like Southern Palms in the Gap. On the west coast are several just north of Holetown. They are really growing, building new places everywhere. We were last down there about a year ago, for an anniversary of Jimmy's running group.

Good buys are jewelry, handicrafts (beautiful pottery at Earth Works!! really wonderful, people end up buying whole dining sets of it), such as wood carvings, batiks, etc., duty free leather goods by Land, which is the Coach of the Caribbean, perfumes and of course rum. Not only Mt. Gay eclipse which you may be familiar with, but the Extra Old Mt. Gay, Doorly's rum, Foursquare Spiced rum, Malibu sometimes in flavors not available up north, and then there's the local beer, Banks, which is quite like Budweiser.

Great fish, but watch the starchy side dishes such as macaroni pie which are actually a Brit legacy... go for salad instead. Also the world's largest and best-eating chicken... but they are also out on the road along with women with baskets on their heads, pets, flocks of small Bajan black belly sheep (which look like small soft brown goats with floppy ears, but are actually sheep), the occasional cow or horse tied in the front yard.

Be warned that this upcoming year, Barbados, along with several other islands will be hosting the Cricket WORLD CUP, which may not be much to us Americans, but to worldwide cricket fans, of which there are many, this is major, like soccer, and during the time it is going on, you will not be able to book rooms or get good fares. You can look up the dates under a cricket web site and avoid those times.

It is very close to the equator, 1600 miles south of Miami, so sunset and sunrise are about the same all year, around 6 am and pm, and the sun is intense, I used 45 SPF sunblock the whole time and still ended up tan. Americans are just beginning to discover Barbados. We really miss it!!

Hope that you get to go!

Golly it is to be 29 degrees tonight here in southern Orange County CA! Where did our warm go? Happy holidays!!

Wow! You all are awesome - these are great suggestions!!!!

Still struggling with trying to find decent flights and times - I think they are limited due to Spring Break.

I'm looking at other tropical destinations too, Aruba, Curacaos, Costa Rica, Antigua .....