10 Steps to Planning the Perfect Family Vacation to Barbados.
Barbados is a vibrant island with many exciting adventures just waiting for you and your family. Avoid any inconveniences and hassles with this informative list on how to have the most easy-going, smooth sailing family vacation that will have your friends wondering how you did it!
Step 1 – Family Friendly Accommodation
Staying in a small, single room hotel can feel a bit cramped when travelling with your kids. We recommend looking into a villa. Villas are great for extra space and added privacy. Look for a villa that is located on a beach, so that entertainment is just a few footsteps away at all times. When the kids get bored or need to burn off some energy, they can build sandcastles or go for a dip in the ocean.
Craggy Nook’s Hawksbill Villa is perfect for families. It is located at the beach level on the stunning Hastings beach and sleeps up to 6 people in 3 bedrooms. The private balcony opens onto a secured, fenced beached area. Craggy Nook provides beach toys, paddleboards, reef shoes and more to keep your kids entertained. Unlike other villas, Craggy Nook offers access to a full concierge who will recommend activities and book your tours ahead of time. You can rest peacefully knowing that there is a security guard on premise all night. The villas are also fully equipped with Amazon Prime TV, Netflix, cable TV and more.
Step 2 – Plan the Flights
They say “It’s about the journey, not the destination” but when travelling with kids sometimes we rather teleport than deal with airports. Book direct flights to Barbados, if possible. Barbados has direct flights from over 15 major cities globally. We recommend booking flights 4 months in advance for better rates and to lock in your seats in order to sit all together.
Step 3 – Book a car rental in Barbados
We highly recommend renting a car for your visit to Barbados for added convenience and safety. Public transport in Barbados is not as family-friendly as it could be and some areas around Barbados lack sidewalks. Uber, Lyft and other ride-sharing programs are not available in Barbados as yet.
Car rentals are roughly $50 USD / day so may work out to be more economical for families or groups. Don’t forget to request a booster seat for your kids and to arrange airport pick up and drop off.
Tip: Craggy Nook guests get 10% off their booking with Stoutes Car Rental
Step 4 – Get the Family Involved
Let the excitement begin. Getting your kids involved with the planning leads to higher rates of involvement on the vacation. No parent wants to plan a day full of fun to have their kid wake up grumpy and wanting to stay home and sulk (parents, we all know this too well). Ask your kids what tours they want to do and what new foods they want to try. Show them YouTube videos on Barbados and hype it up! This will help get them excited and prepared to be involved in the upcoming fun activities that they helped to choose.
Step 5 – Book your Tours
The list of family-friendly things to do in Barbados is endless. Some of our favourites include:
- Catamaran Cruise – snorkelling with sea turtles and shipwrecks
- Atlantis Submarine – Dive into the Caribbean Sea to explore the underwater world
- Harrisons Cave – Explore the stunning limestone caves beneath Barbados
- Boatyard – A fun beach day with water trampolines, rope swings, turtles and more.
- Concorde – Explore & learn about the jet that used to fly from Barbados to London in 4 hours
- St. Nicolas Abbey – A historic plantation house tour and train ride.
For our recommend 7-day family-friendly day-by-day itinerary click here.
Tip: Craggy Nook guests may book their tours through our concierge service by emailing reservations@craggynook.com
Step 6 – Plan your meals
Barbados has many family-friendly restaurants with kids’ menus and kid specials. One popular special is at Lucky Horse Shoe where kids under 7 eat for free when an adult dines and spends over $12 USD. Look for nearby restaurants like Buzo, across the road from Craggy Nook, great for take-out pizza or Art Splash Cafe which has an open-air play park for customers. Chefette, the local fast food joint is also a must for families with young kids.
Plan to make a few meals in your villa after a visit to the local supermarket chain, Massy Supermarkets. We recommend bringing your children’s favourite snacks with you to Barbados. Barbadian supermarkets have mostly local snacks or imported snacks at a much higher cost due to import duties.
Tip: A favourite Bajan kids menu dish is the flying fish fingers and chips – healthy and tasty!
Step 7 – Packing
Pack smart and pack light to avoid lugging around extra suitcases. Preplan your kids’ daily outfits and roll them up together before packing. Not only does this save space in your suitcase but it saves time when getting your kids ready each morning. When travelling to Barbados you will want to pack sunblock, bug spray, sun hats plus and your other travel essentials.
Step 8 – Travel Day Tips
Check-in online 24 hours in advance to choose your seats together for no additional cost (on most airlines). Leave for the airport ahead of planned to avoid any unnecessary stress that may come with unplanned delays. Talk to your kids about staying close to you at all times. Give them a small bag of their toys so they have something to take care of and keep them occupied.
Pack a carry-on bag with your kids favourite snacks, toys, entertainment like tablets or colouring books and more. This will be a lifesaver during your flight to Barbados. Once on board, use the time to talk to your kids about upcoming activities in Barbados to get them excited.
Step 9 – Create a Happy First Impression
Your kids will be tired after a day of travelling. Plan to have a relaxing first day exploring your new home away from home. Before bedtime, talk to your kids about all the exciting things they did that day and chat about all they have to look forward to the next day. Keeping excitement levels high, tummies filled and sticking to nap time is a way to ensure family vacation success.
Step 10 – Make Memories
You are in Barbados! With your family! On the vacation that you have spent months planning! Enjoy it all! Take photos, make memories, soak up the laughter and smiles.
Have a question on Barbados or interested in booking your stay? Email us at reservations@craggynook.com for more.
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