A family-friendly travel guide to Barbados

With a bit of research and planning, the perfect vacation can be a snap! At ZenBreak, we know every inch of Barbados, and we’re sharing some local tips and our family-friendly travel guide to Barbados, below!

Many travelers have discovered that there is a world of young smiles beyond the miles of white sand beaches. This Caribbean island boasts of a vast amount of things to do with the kids. From wildlife reserves to caves, and nature hikes to museums you can expect a warm family-friendly environment in more ways than just one!

Before we begin, let’s talk about the size of Barbados

Barbados is 439 sq km (166 sq miles) on the south-eastern part of the Caribbean Sea and takes about 5 hrs to fly from New York and 4 hrs from Miami. It is the 13th smallest country in the world, and getting around is pretty easy! This makes options plentiful and drivetime negligible. With such ease in commute time, it means you can do more in a day while hearing a lot less of ‘Mom, how long till we get there?’. On that note, let’s dig into the top activities ZenBreak recommends for your next family holidays!

The top family-friendly things to do in Barbados

Visit the Barbados Wildlife Reserve

An adorable wild baby Green Monkey in the Barbados Wildlife Reserve

The wildlife reserve at Barbados is a perfect place to spend a warm afternoon and enjoy close-up encounters with rare wildlife. The reserve hosts tortoises, iguanas, parrots, peacocks, and a rare species of green monkeys. Your kids will have a great time strolling down paths decorated with beautiful artifacts while learning about unique animals and ecosystems. You can find more information about the Barbados Wildlife Reserve and its reviews on Trip Advisor.

Explore the Barbados Museum and its Historical Society

The Barbados Museum is recommended for everybody – but it’s especially great for a family trying to beat the mid-afternoon heat!. The museum features a state-of-the-art gallery while introducing children and adults alike to Barbados’ natural and colonial history, as well current environmental initiatives and the flora and fauna that call it home. For the kids, they get to play fun and interactive games that keep them active and learning. It’s a win-win activity!

Enjoy a Tram Adventure in Harrison’s Cave

Inside Harrison’s Cave in Barbados.

Harrison’s Cave offers one of the most impressive things to do in Barbados and is one of the only places where you can travel on a tram through this crystallized, limestone cave. Harrison’s Cave was discovered in the 1830s and opened for exploration in the early 1970s.

In 1981, it was finally opened for public access, allowing families to enjoy the experience of traveling through stunning limestone, stalactites, and stalagmites formations. It is a must-see sight when you visit Barbados for vacation or travel.

Swimming With Turtles in Carlisle Bay

A turtle swimming in Carlisle Bay, Barbados

Anyone can gloss over Carlisle Bay as an area filled with beach bars and action. However, its crystal clear waters, white-sand beaches, shipwrecks, and gentle tides are perfect for families that want the best of both worlds.

The bay showcases thriving marine life and is visible from glass-bottomed boats without the need for scuba diving. Swimming next to gentle green turtles is also experience teenagers won’t want to miss. If you are lucky you may also see some manta rays swimming by.

Take a Hike to Rejuvenate Your Energy

Hike Barbados explores Barbados’ distinctive geological and social structure by taking you through cane fields, gullies, tropical forests, and seaside settlements. Along the way, you’ll make new friends, get some good exercise, and witness the delicate balance of Barbados’ unique legacy and ecology.

The organised treks are free, however, donations to the Barbados National Trust are appreciated, in turn preserving our built and natural environment for generations to come.

The best beaches for your family-friendly Barbados vacation

If you are in Barbados for its beaches, there are things to know. Not all beaches are truly family-friendly. Here are our top 3 spots to bring the kids for some sun and fun!

Rockley or Accra Beach

Beautiful Accra Beach is on the south coast of Barbados

Rockley Beach, also known as Accra Beach, is a favorite spot for families. It boasts calmer and more predictable waves, soft white sand, and unique scenery, characterized by sea-grape trees and casuarina. The beach is also known for kid-friendly water sports like body surfing and kneeboarding. Add to this a nearby pool, with a lifeguard, and smaller children and toddlers can have a safe way to enjoy the water, too!

Brandon’s Beach

Brandon’s Beach is within walking distance from the cruise terminal, and a popular tourist attraction with a waterpark and watersports options. That said, this picturesque beach has a large car park, picnic benches, a lifeguard and stretches almost 2 miles. You can take long walks or relax with your family and watch all the action at sea.

Worthing Beach

Worthing Beach is a top-rated beach on the South Coast of Barbados. The area is best known for its sparkling white sand, coral reefs, and schools of tropical fish. The water is calm, and the region doesn’t often experience rough waters. Outer coral reefs have sheltered the beach and limited the sea animals to smaller kinds. There are several restaurants nearby that can quench any hunger or thirst!

Barbados truly is a destination for everyone, and your kids will love it! We hope you enjoyed our family-friendly travel guide. Don’t forget to check out our helpful Barbados travel guide before you arrive; and if you need a place to stay in Barbados, we’ve got you and your family covered!

< Older Post Newer Post >

15 WAYS TO ENJOY A MORE FULFILLING VACATION

By Spotzer Spotzer • September 25, 2025

With over 25 years experience in luxury travel industry, we have seen it all. To help you enjoy your next trip to the fullest, the ZenBreak’s team has compiled the best and worst travel experiences and extracted the lessons we learned from the past. Our recommendations applies to business trip, short weekend get away or long escape on the beach. If you like staying in luxury hotels or are planning to go backpacking for a while, any of the following will apply. BOOK AHEAD Yes, there are tons of flight comparison websites, and you’ve just spent the last hour looking for the best deal possible. However you’re not the only one searching and those internet cookies leave crumbs behind. Next time you go back online, the probabilities are that the price you loved today will be higher. Time flies! Book that trip before the price goes up or you might regret it. DON’T BE FLASHY Never underestimate the eyes of pickpockets. Wearing a fancy watch, or even an unnoticeable bracelet might not seem like something to think about when you travel. However, you never know who’s watching you. Being discreet is the best way to avoid embarrassing or unfortunate situations. Don’t show off and remain anonymous. KEEP A JOURNAL Met someone special? Had an interesting or unusual chat? Writing down how you were affected by certain experiences creates a better platform for reflection at a later date. Souvenirs may not always be photos, words carry your emotions much better sometimes. Remember that by writing what you experienced, you drastically increase the probability of remembering what you lived in the future. WRITE THINGS DOWN Just had directions explained to you in a strong hard-to-understand accent? Not sure you’ll remember the details of which way to go? Just write it down. Take that extra minute to recap and make sure you don’t miss the essentials. It may save you, valuable time later on. MORE TIME, FEWER PLACES Would you rather know a limited amount of information about many different places, or really experience and immerse yourself in a few areas? The world is huge and it’s just impossible to go everywhere. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you can only remember how clean or dirty airports or trains were. Try dedicating a full week to explore a large city. I was once forced to increase my stay in Bangkok from 2 days to 7 due to the SARS virus in Hong Kong. It turns out to be one of the best experiences I ever had. ALWAYS ASK HOW MUCH ($) You’ve just got in a cab, and you’re asking yourself if you’ve got enough cash? Don’t put yourself in a situation where you don’t know how much something costs, and don’t be afraid to ask for the price before committing. If it’s too much, feel free to find another option. This applies to taxi, but also to excursions, restaurants, bars and hotels. Many unscrupulous institutions will inflate their prices when a foreigner show up at their door. Be sure not to be the sucker they all remember. If you feel the pressure to commit, just walk out. LEARN SOME BASIC LANGUAGE Hallo! Ciao! Hej! Namaste! Bonjour! xin chào! It may not be the best, but at least you’re making an effort. It may sound rude only speaking your own language, show you are considerate and learn a few simple words on the way to a foreign country. There are no better ways to make friends. PUT YOUR MOBILE PHONE AWAY Why would you travel thousands of miles to stay hooked on your phone? Forget about social media and various apps during your stay and enjoy a little more of the world around you. Rediscover what it is to live disconnected. You may realize you don’t miss your phone at all! TRY THE STREET FOOD Restaurants are nice, but street food is the real deal. Nobody ever died from eating skewers or local specialties from street vendors. Cheap, fast and authentic, eating outside can only do you good. They will leave you with unbelievable memories. DON’T COMMUTE TOO MUCH Yes, you may feel like there is so much to do! And no, unfortunately your holidays won’t last forever. But is it really worth trying to reach every single town of a country you are only just discovering? Take the time to really explore the town you’re in, you can always come back for a future vacation. ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU! Politeness is universal and enjoyed by all. Don’t be rude, even with the insistent seller at the market, culture varies from one place to the other, what may seem like an aggressive sale pitch may just be the norm where you are. Show appreciation to locals, and earn their respect. This may lead to more chances to say thank you! REMEMBER TO CARRY WATER Don’t risk getting ill from tap water because you forgot to pack a bottle in your bag. A little flask is your best friend for hydration. Don’t forget to wash your hand regularly, or if no fresh water is available, to use alcohol-based hand sanitisers. LEAVE REVIEWS Try to leave a short review on commonly used platforms such as TripAdvisor or Google My Business. Do it, whether your experience was incredible, average or poor? Statistics show that those platforms are the number driver when you pick a service or a restaurant. If we don’t leave negative comments to avoid hurting someone, the owner may not find out that you were unsatisfied and the next traveller will not be informed of your experience. On the other end, if your experience really exceeded your expectations, don’t hesitate to mention the individual who provided outstanding service. They may get rewarded. SLOW DOWN, STOP AND OBSERVE Do you feel that you rush around too much in your everyday life? Take the time to look at all the interesting and different things around you. If you enjoy taking pictures, you are sure to find many things to shoot if you slow down a little. Discover the local day-to-day life, this is where the true beauty hides. GET UP EARLY The early bird catches the worm. Rising early gives you more time for exploring, miles traveled and a better overall experience. Early birds enjoy their time off even more! …and finally, to get the best vacation possible, nothing better than saving some money, enjoy the best price guaranteed on your vacation rental with ZenBeak.com

ACCEPT DOGS IN YOUR HOLIDAY HOME ANDINCREASE YOUR BOOKINGS.

By Spotzer Spotzer • September 25, 2025

Did you know that on Airbnb, ‘pet-friendly’ is the fourth most popular request when looking for an apartment or a villa? The top three in order are: Free parking A full kitchen Pool Being dog friendly ranks even higher than wifi. Accepting dogs in your vacation rental will increase your income. For many, dogs aren’t seen as pets but as family members. They are often our best friends, they bring joy wherever they go. No home feels quite right without your pet, so why not bring them with you? 48% of American families own a dog. The number of guests traveling with dogs is increasing every year. According to a TripAdvisor survey, 53% of pet owners take their furry friends on the road with them. However, less than 25% of vacation properties welcome pets with their owners.This ratio plays a big role in favour of those who open their holiday home to dogs. With so many potential customers looking for pet-friendly properties, offering this service is likely to increase your bookings and will allow you to increase your stay costs. Being pet-friendly when renting out your home or villa means that your potential clientele will increase greatly, resulting in a higher occupancy rate. After analyzing the statistics of our partners, such as Airbnb and Homeaway, we found that pet-friendly vacation rentals generated higher rental income and occupancy than those that did not accept dogs – between 10% and 20% more. Accepting dogs will generate repeat rentals from the customers. Paying someone to feed, walk and watch your dog every day can be very expensive for the owner, not to mention the anxiety and stress of separation for both parties. By providing dog-friendly accommodations, you allow patrons to create memories with the whole family, which is likely to generate a return for your visitors in the years to come. Man’s best friend will also allow you to increase the length of the stays of the travelers. When a traveler wants to relocate for a long time, it becomes essential for them to find a property that will accept their faithful companion. Asking their friends and families to keep Fido for a week or two, can work, but when the stay stretches over 3 weeks or more, family and friends become scarce and the cost of institutional care becomes prohibitive. Do not worry about the condition of your property. Worried about the damage that Fido could cause you to your rental property during his visit? Statistics show that tenants of short term rentals that accommodate dogs and those who refuse them show the same cleanliness score and the same house conditions when the visitors leave. Dog or no dog, you won’t tell a difference. You will increase the off-season rental occupation. Looking to fill slow rental periods? Opening your doors to pets will increase rentals during times of low traffic. We found that occupancy rates were much higher in dog-friendly houses during the slow season. Note that guests book more last-minute trips out of season. With a small window between the reservation and the stay, it can be difficult to find a place to keep the dog. Competition for dog-friendly homes is lower at this time of year, guests can both book the perfect accommodation and be accompanied by their dog. In conclusion Open your doors to pets, especially dogs. By accepting dogs in your holiday home, you will increase bookings throughout the year and you will also see increased returns from past clients. The risk of damage is far outweighed by the increase in income, which in addition will not prevent you from increasing cleaning costs when a client reserves with a pet, a practice widely accepted by dog owners. So, make the right decision and increase your income, say: Good boy Fido, good boy!