Enjoy a self-indulgent holiday to the divine island of Barbados

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by: frankschultz
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Word Count: 527
Date: Sun, 23 Jan 2011 Time: 3:50 PM
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The gorgeous island of Barbados, contrary to what most people think, is not situated in the middle of the Caribbean. It is situated in the island group called the Lesser Antilles which are about 65 miles east of the Caribbean Sea. The island is roughly 432km north east of the South American nation Venezuela. The island has a land mass of about 168 square miles and has close to 300,000 nationals. The population size varies according to the time of year and tourist season. One of the key attractions of this island is that it is situated outside the hurricane belt and has some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world.

Because of its ideal location Barbados offers a pleasant tropical climate. The reason for this is that the island is exposed to the trade winds which blow through the area. The Islands get a fair amount of rain (between 50 and 90 in) but most of it falls during the rainy season which is between June and November. Because of all these reasons and more Barbados is well known to be a tropical paradise. For people coming form the U.S it is very easy to go there. There are international flights connecting to several major U.S cities such as Chicago, New York, Dallas etc from its airport at Bridge Town.

Enjoying the beach and soaking in the sun is not the only activity that is possible on this beautiful island. If you would like a break from that then there are fun options such as boat trips, scuba diving and land tours. This island has world famous golf courses and cricket grounds. The boat trips include tours to neighboring islands and if you go scuba diving you will be able to see a wide variety of marine life including leather back turtles going for a swim. If at any point of time you would like to do any other activity other than beach related, then there is plenty of sightseeing on land to do.

One of the favorite sights to see is the Sunbury Plantation house. This is an old house built 300 years ago and it is situated on Sunbury plantation. It is a throwback to old colonial times when Barbados was used for sugar plantations. This house is steeped with history and the rooms are available to see. Another popular spot is Broad Street a major thoroughfare in Bridgetown. This street is teeming with tax free stores and restaurants. It is also a major banking center. Swan Street is nearby and boasts of many cheap clothing outlets. The next big attraction is a place called Harrison's cave. This is a big under ground tunnel and attracts people by the thousands.

If you are into alcohol then a trip to Barbados would not be complete without visiting Mount Gay rum distillery and Banks beer tour. At these spots you will be able to taste some fine West Indian rum and beer. Even with all of these activities available Barbados is still all about the sea. The 3 most popular beaches are Payne's bay, Fresh water bay, Brighton beach and Brandon beach.

About the Author

Frank Schultz has lived on Barbados for many years and loves to talk about his adopted country. For more information on Hilton Barbados or The Palms Resort he highly recommends http://barbadosholidays.org.uk as a great guide to the island and its attractions.