Spend Christmas and New Year in the Caribbean!

Spend this Christmas in the Caribbean and ditch rainy days and grey skies for bright sun and beautiful beaches! The Caribbean is a great place to visit for Christmas and New Year as for starters, the weather is great. December marks the start of the dry season and the temperature is just perfect. You can expect warm sunny conditions on most days with little need to worry about storms spoiling your stay.

On top of the great weather, the Bajans like to make the most of Christmas. Being a predominantly Christian society, Christmas is an important part of the island calendar. Midnight Mass, Carols by Candlelight and early morning services are all very well attended, and can be found in the numerous churches that are all over the island. It’s also the start of the main tourist season, when houses and businesses all get a spruce up with a lick of paint, and with Christmas lights adorning buildings everywhere. Christmas and Boxing Day are both national holidays and it’s a time for family and friends.

On the day itself, families enjoy the festivities in any number of ways. A popular pastime is Christmas morning in Queens Park in Bridgetown. Dressing up smartly is an important part of this tradition, and being seen in your best outfit whilst taking in the music of Royal Barbados Police Force Band and other performers is all part of the fun!

The morning at Queens Park is then usually followed by a traditional Bajan Christmas lunch. Food is an important part of Christmas in the Caribbean, and typically families get together and enjoy the traditional dishes of baked ham, jug jug and Bajan black cake (see further descriptions below!). You will find many restaurants are actually closed on Christmas Day – so if you are planning to eat out then you will have to plan ahead…

Baked Ham

Generally the ham is baked with a glaze. The addition of spices such as cloves and fruit such as pineapple add to the tropical feel of this dish – which can be enjoyed hot or cold – making it an ideal dish for Christmas in Barbados.

Jug Jug

Jug Jug is a traditional Bajan Christmas dish and is a variation on haggis. It’s a reminder that the Scots played an important role in the history of the island and the ingredients include a type of green pea called pigeon peas, a type of corn called guinea corn, and the addition of herbs and meat.

Bajan Black Cake

This rich fruit cake is also an important tradition of the island. The key to the success of a great Bajan Black Cake is in the preparation. The combination of dried fruit and liquor, plus the time, love and traditional is all what makes this a time honoured Bajan Christmas dish! A shop bought cake just isn’t the same!

The beach is of course a popular place to be visit on Christmas day – especially with visitors to the island. Spending the day in swimwear with bright sunshine and white beaches, and perhaps a Santa hat, is a far cry from the cold Christmases of the northern hemisphere and much appreciated by travellers.

‘Seeing the lights’ is also a fun pastime if you are spending Christmas in Barbados. Homes and businesses go all out with their Christmas lights, with red and green being especially popular colours. Come the evening and Bridgetown, the Chamberlain Bridge, Independence Square and the wharf are all transformed by a mass of colourful lights!

Finally, Boxing Day is another important part of Christmas in the Caribbean and many people use this day to meet up with friends, arrange picnics and exchange presents. Garrison Savannah – the famous Bridgetown horse racing track – holds ‘Boxing Day at the Races’ which is very popular with race goers and families alike.

New Year in the Caribbean

As well as Christmas in the Caribbean, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day are also a great time to visit the islands. In fact New Year’s Eve is called Old Year’s Night throughout the Caribbean. Typically the islands see a huge influx of visitors, including the rich and famous, all seeking a little winter sunshine and the chance to top up their tan.

Generally the celebrations go on well into the night with music, beach parties and fireworks all part of the festivities. Many restaurants and hotels offer set menus which are very popular and need to be booked in advance. The beach bars on the island are all popular haunts and the St Lawrence Gap is also a popular destination for party goers! This year Bridgetown is holding a free ‘Bridgetown Countdown Old Year’s Night Celebration’ with a range of food and entertainment on offer, and culminating with a midnight firework display with the Wharf basin as a stunning backdrop.

It is tradition for some revellers to go on right through the night, and to then drive over to the east coast of the island to view the sunrise and to welcome in the New Year. Some beach bars and restaurants now offer breakfast specials which have become popular with visitors and Bajans alike.

Following the festivities of the night before, a typical New Year’s Day usually involves a relaxed day at the beach and perhaps a picnic. This is a national holiday in Barbados so even the locals enjoy this time with family and friends.

If you are thinking of spending Christmas or New Year in the Caribbean, or even better both, then we have some great Barbados accommodation here at ZenBreak. Perfectly located for making the most of everything the season has to offer.

We do hope you have enjoyed hearing about everything that is going on over the Christmas and New Year break, on our beautiful tropical island. We look forward to seeing you soon.

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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!