Barbados

Spotzer Spotzer • September 25, 2025
Barbados Properties

What to do in Barbados?

If you are planning a trip to the Caribbean and are making a list of what to do in Barbados when you get there, then you really are spoilt for choice.

Although famed for its fantastic beaches and its enviable climate there is much more to do than just sunbath and swim.

We have put together a list of some of our favourites.

ADVENTURE ACTIVITIES

The beach, sailing and watersports

Over the years the Bajans have come up with an unlimited number of ways to have fun at the beach. Spend any amount of time on one of our stunning beaches and you are likely to see people playing any number of games. 

Perhaps an informal game of cricket or even beach volley ball. In the warm shallow waters you will see people boogie boarding, paddle boarding and snorkeling. If you are feeling a little more adventurous, why not hire a Hobie Cat, a Kayak, a Jet-Ski or even spend the day on a skippered Catamaran! 

There are plenty of small boat trips which take you out to slightly deeper waters and you might even get to swim with the beautiful turtles that inhabit our waters.

Fishing and Deep sea fishing

Barbados is an excellent location for deep sea fishing and the season is best from January through to April. If you want to experience deep sea fishing for yourself why not arrange a fishing charter and try your hand at catching Barracuda, Tuna, Wahoo, Dorado and Blue and White Marlin. Barbados is also perfect for fishing in general with fly fishing, bottom fishing and lure casting all being popular pastimes.

Scuba diving and snorkelling

The scuba diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean is truly amazing and Barbados is no exception. With clear tropical waters, superb coral reefs, and over 200 wrecks to explore there is much to see. The wide variety of marine life in our waters also make scuba diving and snorkeling and exceptional and memorable experience. 

You only need to venture a meter or so from the shore with a pair of goggles and you will start to see all manner of marine life. If you fancy being a bit more adventurous, grab a mask, snorkel and some fins and so long as you follow some golden rules of safety you are sure to have some incredible experiences. 

If scuba diving attracts you then there are plenty of great diving centres around Barbados. Barbados Blue Water Sports, West Side Scuba Centre and Roger’s Scuba Shack all offer a full range of PADI courses, dives and trial dives.

HERITAGE AND HISTORY

Bridgetown – UNESCO World Heritage Site

The historic area of Bridgetown and Garrison were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 2011. The area is a well preserved area of British colonial architecture dating back to the 17th,18th and 19th centuries. Spend the afternoon exploring this fascinating port!

BARBADOS HISTORIC SITES

Barbados has a rich history and has a variety of interesting and historic sites to visit during your stay. If you are wondering what to do in Barbados on a rainy day, some of our favourites include:
Barbados Museum, Parliament Building, Government House, Gun Hill Signal Station, Morgan Lewis Mill, Oistins, Sunbury Plantation House and Tyrol Cot.

NATURE

Caves

Barbados has a unique geology that has resulted in rain water slowly eroding the underground coral beds on which the island is formed. This has resulted in a number of caves on the island, most notably Harrison’s Cave in the centre of the island. There are a number of tours available that take you down through a system of underground tunnels to view magical pools surrounded by stalactites and stalagmites. 

The Animal Flower Cave at the North Point of Barbados is one of the only caves accessible by land and sea.

Please make sure you check the sea conditions and tides before you go.

Tropical gardens

Barbados has a rich horticultural history which makes the most of its fertile soils and warm climate and as such their area number of tropical gardens.

Why not check out Andromeda Botanical Garden, Balls Plantation (home to the Barbados Horticultural Society or BHS) Benthams House, Fisher Pond House, Hunte’s Garden and Nursery.

Turtles

Barbados is fortunate to be home to both hawksbill and leatherback turtles. Once an endangered species these amazing animals are making a comeback due to the Barbados Turtle Project and due to their protection from fishing. There area number of tours on the island which allow you to go out to visit and swim with the turtles.

REST, RELAXATION AND ROMANCE

Tropical spas and Treatments

Barbados is well known for its laid-back vibe and is the perfect place for romance and relaxation. Home to some of the most luxurious wellness and spa centres you will be spoilt for choice when it comes to finding somewhere to de-stress and revitalise!

SPORTS

Cricket

Cricket is the national sport of Barbados and wherever you go on the island you will be reminded of this. From informal games on the beach, to games on the local cricket pitch to the famous Kensington Oval you can always find a game of cricket somewhere on the island. You will even find roads and roundabouts names after island cricket legends!

Horse Racing

Head to the Garrison Savannah Race track and you are guaranteed a great day racing as the Bajans love their horse racing! Located on the Garrison Savannah parade ground the track itself is interesting for its military history.

Polo

Apes Hill and Holders are famous during the winter season for Polo.

Golf

Golf is a popular pastime in Barbados and with the island’s tropical climate the courses are second to none. The most famous course is the Green Monkey course at Sandy Lane, but there are plenty of other great courses such as Rockley, Durants and Apes Hill to enjoy.

Surfing

With its warm tropical climate and geographic location on the east of the Caribbean, Barbados is a great place for surf.

We recommend South Point, Freight’s Bay and Silver Rock for great surfing and Kite Boarding from December to May when you can catch the swells coming in from the Atlantic. 

The Soup Bowl at Bathsheba on the rugged East Coast is consistent all year round.

We think you will agree that Barbados is a fantastic island and are confident you will have an amazing time when you visit. Whether it is adventure or relaxation you are looking for we hope you now have a better idea of what to do in Barbados during your stay.

If you are still looking for somewhere to stay in Barbados, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We offer holiday villas to suit all your accommodation needs during your stay on the island.

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!
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