Warming up the winter in Barbados!

Tropical beaches; tantalizingly warm sun, glistening sea; happy, friendly people; deliciously juicy fruit and fresh local fish – could you dream of a nicer place to escape to on a cold winter day?

 

 

Last December, Julia Butler got the winning call to say she had one a trip of a lifetime to Barbados- the perfect remedy to a cold snowy winter in Devon.
Julia tells us all about it from Barbados…

 

…First week in December, and it feels quite bizarre packing T- shirts and swimming gear as Devon and Cornwall ground to a halt through snow!

 

I still can’t believe we have won a dream holiday in Barbados! I picked up a copy of Superdrug's free Spirit Magazine in January 2005 and entered the competition inside  -  which was part of a holiday article on Barbados  – by popping the answer to a simple question and my name and address on a postcard.

 

Then, when the comp closed in March, I got a call to say I’d won!  We could choose any date that year to take the holiday, and I couldn’t think of a more perfect time than this winter, to get away to an exotic island; out of the snow and into the sun.

 

We’ve had our first glimpse of the island, through the airplane window; the coastline looks amazing: beautiful blue seas, white sands and palms. Feeling that blast of heat as you step down from the plane makes you want to scream, “Yehey! I’m on holiday!”

 

 The taxi from the airport has taken us straight to the door of the hotel – passing by fabulous sugar cane fields, rum bars by the road, coconuts for sale, and little shanty houses sitting between new palatial homes. 

 

The Allamanda Hotel, our home for the week, is gorgeous; fully equipped with a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and our own little patio.  Just beyond the hotel pool is the ocean and a gorgeous, alluring sandy beach.

 

Taking the 80 mile coach trip of the island has given us our bearings for the week. The trip itinerary is great; first stop being for a delicious lunch near Sunbury Plantation House – so you can see both the Caribbean and Atlantic coasts, which are completely different. Plus, you can try some traditional Bajan dishes: breadfruit mash, plantain and flying fish - delicious!

 

A day in Bridgetown, the capital, and Andrew is in his element, eagerly navigating us both through the windy streets to find the local cigar factory (my husband the intrepid!) Mind you, it was me who "stumbled across" the rum factory.  Well it is the national drink and I thought it only fitting to learn about its history, and to sample some!

 

If you’re on holiday in Barbados, go to a Roots and Rhythm evening! What a wonderful night out at - complete with stilt walkers (have you ever seen anyone on stilts do a cartwheel?), fire-eaters, steel pans, fantastic dance and cabaret. It gives you a real feel for the history of the islands’ music and dance culture.

 

 

I’ve fallen in love with this beautiful island. Exploring the local beaches and swimming in the warmest, most blue and clear sea I have seen is paradise. The people are so friendly and helpful; you can why see people come back to the island. Thanks to my "hobby" we are enjoying this wonderful experience. 

 

What a final surprise and the perfect ending to our dream holiday! We’ve been upgraded to BMi’s business class for our flights home. There’s Champagne and a chef to cook our chosen meals, electric fully reclining seats - flying will never be the same!

 

 

“If I’m usually entering between 20 and 30 comps a week and can win a dream prize like this” Julia told me “then let’s see what happens if I enter even more!” Like she says, if she can do it, it could be you next time!