Soaking up the sun on a beach, sipping a rum cocktail and feeling pretty pleased is par for the course in Barbados. However, before sunstroke or a hangover threaten, try any of these alternatives to the sun, sand and sea routine.
Scuba diving
Barbados is literally made of coral, making for excellent diving - there are 10 divable sunken wrecks and sea horses and frog fish regularly on view. Diving is good all year round.
The Wet Shop offers four regularly scheduled dives daily and a wide variety of dive sites. They also feature PADI courses for those new to scuba diving.
Prices start from $45 for one dive, (up to 10 dives available) and PADI courses start at $375.
The Wet Shop, Cavans Lane, Careenage, Bridgetown, Barbados. Tel: 1 (246) 348 377, email: coralis@caribnet.net.
Golf
The Barbados Golf Club, located between the airport and the St Lawrence Gap resort, was the island's first 18-hole course re-opened last year, after a 30-year break. Next year, it hosts the PGA Seniors Tour. Three more courses.
Barbados Golf Club, Durants, Christchurch. Tel: 1 (246) 428 - 8463, email: bgc@caribsurf.com. Green fee (18 holes): from $79.
Cruises
Tall Ships Cruises offers five-hour trips daily for all ages. Three stops give passengers the chance to snorkel at a shallow shipwreck and a reef, and to go swimming with turtles. Floating mattresses and snorkel equipment are provided and the cost includes all drinks and a buffet lunch.
Tall Ships Cruises, The Shallow Draught Harbour, Bridgetown Port, Bridgetown. Tel: 1 (246) 430 0900, email: tallships@sunbeach.net. Cost: $65.
Eating out
Flying fish are the national emblem of Barbados, and they are also found in the restaurants, along with kingfish, snapper and sea eggs. Among the smartest restaurants are: Lone Star, Emerald Palm and La Maison; and for the traveller on a budget, there's the Chefette fast food chain. Eating out in Barbados is not generally cheap, but buffets are good value. Try Sam Lord's Atlantis Hotel in Bathsheba.
For further information, see islandconnoisseur.com.
Night clubs
Barbados' night life starts in St Lawrence Gap (or "The Gap" as it is known locally), a 1.3km stretch of road in Christchurch. There is always some form of entertainment taking place, no matter what day of the week, and very often it is live, often calypso, soca and reggae bands. Street parties, karaoke and live bands are the norm at The Whistling Frog's party nights', whereas Time Out offers some of the best jazz around. The two main nightclubs, Reggae Lounge and After Dark cater to all tastes (reggae, calypso, R&B, live music and DJs).
For further information, see barbados.org/nightlf.htm
