Results of the trip:
The Crane is a Beautiful resort. If you get a chance go there! The beach is very nice, but if you are going to the beach to snorkel and swim, the waves are fairly big since the resort is on the Atlantic side. Rooms were clean and nice. EVERYONE in Barbados is super nice. Don't know if it is because they have to be because they rely on tourism or if they are all genuinely nice.
We also stayed at the Hilton hotel on the Southwest side of the island (Caribbean side). It was a nice hotel and close to the touristy stuff, but exceptional, no.
The Boatyard is a must for adults and children. $20 per head to get in and that is given back to you as a voucher to use for food and drink. So essentially no cost to get in and they provide beach chairs and water trampoline and other activities. Food and drinks were not out of line for the rest of the island.
Snorkel with the turtles is a must do in Carlisle Bay. You can do it for free and the guys at the Boatyard can tell you where it is at, but it is a little swim from the shore and I would be fearful of being wore out by the time you get there and back swimming. We took Barbados Blue tour and it was great.
Bathsheba was kind of a let down but I would say to go there so you can say you went. Only go in a rented car as a taxi rate would kill you. Bus would take you too, but how long who knows. We rented a car while we were the from Stouts car rental. DEFFINATELY spring for the GPS. I would NOT have wanted to find my way around down there with out it and I own a trucking company.
We didn't make flower cave and the far North end and wish we would have had time.
Sand is soft and white. Flying fish sandwiches are great. Banks beer is probably the best beer I have had. I changed my mind and decided to try to drink them out of Banks instead of Rum. Yeah, that didn't work either :hysterical:
With a 2 for 1 exchange rate, don't fall over at your bar or food bill. I didn't think for a tourist island that prices were too out of line for prepared food. Now the grocery store is another thing. I thought food there was quite expensive but I am a tightwad like that. Don't expect much for US brand names on food there. There will be some, but there will be also quite a bit you haven't heard of. Fish and meat at the store we went to we decided to pass on as it really didn't look that fresh.
Great time and good memories for the family. I would go back in a heart beat.
Kevin