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Here is where we feature more about what makes our island Barbados so special.  From what’s happening in St. Lawrences Gap and the surrounding areas, to upcoming events.  Sign up for our Blue Sky newsletter if you enjoy learning more about our little island in the sun.

Barbados Beckons: Tropical Island Paradise

Barbados abounds with beautiful beaches, authentic "island" experiences, and a variety of adventures to suit every taste. For history buffs this small island boasts wonderful museums, historic plantation homes open to visitors and the Capital Bridgetown and its Garrison has been classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Boston Herald recently focused on the historic connection between Boston and Barbados highlighting why a visit to our island is so special. Dover Beach, St. Lawrence Gap and Oistins Fish Fry are absolute musts.

"For a vibrant atmosphere, head to Dover Beach in St. Lawrence Gap. Popular and busy in a fun way, this long stretch of sandy beach backs up to hotels and restaurants."

"There are must-dos for a Barbados adventure. Topping the list: Oistins Fish Fry. Oistins is a fishing community on the south coast."

Sapphire Beach Condominiums is located on Dover Beach in St. Lawrence Gap just a short drive from Oistins fishing village. In case you want to tick all of the Boston Heralds recommendations off your list it is in a great central locations with easy access to the island's array of activities.

Read the full Boston Herald by clicking here.

A Beach For Every Mood

The most obvious perk of island life is beautiful beaches, and the beaches in Barbados are everything - sandy coves, craggy cliffs, glassy waters, sassy waves - everything. Not to mention the fact that the island is small enough for you to explore every single beach option during one holiday!

The stunning Dover Beach which borders Sapphire Beach Condominiums is perfect for those who can’t decide whether they prefer a lazy beach day or a bit of adventure.  This south coast beach at Dover is the best of both worlds. Come with your beach towels, rent a lounger and lay the day away beachside, or even consider tying the knot with this beauty in the background. Or, capitalize on all the rentals and activities on the water, including snorkeling, boogie boarding and jet skiing - and even windsurfing at certain times of the year! One other perk of this beach is its location within the popular St. Lawrence Gap, which has several amazing options for shopping and dining for the whole family.

For information on some of or other favorite beaches check out A Beach For All Reasons.

St. Lawrence Gap

Families stroll to the beach after a lovely lunch. Daredevils suit up for their maiden surf lesson. Karaoke music emanates to the bustling street where late diners and partygoers cross paths. All this happens in St. Lawrence Gap. From sunrise to sunrise, St. Lawrence Gap changes its facade, offering vastly different experiences within the almost mile-long street. Located along the south coast of the island, within close proximity to Bridgetown, The Gap, as it is affectionately known, brings a combination of daytime adventures and nighttime delights including beaches, shopping, restaurants, hideaways and nightclubs - catering to every imaginable need and requirement. In addition to its international persona, the strip is one of convenience, and each stop is within walking distance of the other. Lounge on the sandy shores inches away from your holiday home, and head straight out of the water and take a leisurely stroll to your favourite restaurant for a scrumptious lunch!

Beaches & Watersports

The south coast of Barbados is iconic for its varying options of watersports. The south west is known for its quieter shores and sandy coves dotted with beach chairs and towels. But where the sand trails off into rocky coastline, recreational fisherman and surfboards complete the picture of costal life. St. Lawrence Gap is blessed with a mixed shoreline, offering leisurely beach days and challenging swells for those willing to take up the challenge of jet skiing, windsurfing, surfing or even a day of paddle boarding. But rest assured that besides its amazing surf breaks and other coastal action spots, the area also offers the best surf and dive shops such as Barry’s Surf School, which is under the tutelage of local seasoned veterans turned professional tutors.

Dining

Barbados boasts so many dining options that it is widely known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. St. Lawrence is the hub of the Barbadian culinary experience, offering a blend of fine dining across all stars to the roadside grassroots fare that is typically Barbadian. Whether you’re on the hunt for breakfast after a long night on the town, a casual lunch, a full-course dinner or tapas and bar nibbles, the restaurants of The Gap are sure to satiate! Taking the natural path from the start of the Gap, Brazil and Mexico are popularly represented and sure hits with locals and visitors alike. The Irish Pub is further in, and brings an atmosphere of fun and friendship. On the iconic corner on the lower end of The Gap is the fun, stylish Cocktail Kitchen, and the more chic, fine dining options such as the tempting Primo are strewn along the waterside. But, for a more rustic experience, the hideaway bars such as Castaways await, as well as several staple roadside vendors that offer a quick bite before you wrap up - or begin - the night in St. Lawrence Gap! But if the preference is to dine in, a personal chef can cater to your food fancy at Sapphire, creating a truly unique St. Lawrence Gap food experience!

Nightlife

Nighttime in St. Lawrence Gap never disappoints. Bars and restaurants are fully awake and beaming with life as drinks flow freely and laughter fills the air. But although the bar and dining scene is a lively one after dark, it may very well be the prelude to a more energetic nighttime experience in the Gap. Tucked away behind colourful signs and neat doorways are some of the island’s most popular nightclubs with all ages of partygoers. Music pulsates, and the beats of reggae, calypso, salsa and live music complete the mood of each spot - a mood which its regulars just can’t have enough of! But, for the first timers, you may dress your best or keep it casually comfortable as you enjoy the island’s best DJ selections, or groove to the strings and melodies of the live bands and night-scene talent brining sets of music from across the world!

Shopping

Besides its beaches, food and nightlife, Barbados is also well-known as a duty-free shopping haven. St. Lawrence Gap and its surrounding areas are home to several shopping options for those seeking a bit of retail therapy or tangible trinkets to remember their stay on the island. In the heart of The Gap, there is a small chattel village of shops as well as an abundance of roadside and beachside vendors plying their trade in handmade jewelry, ornaments, beachwear and other Barbados-themed souvenirs. And for the daily-living necessities, there are two main convenience stores that are strategically positioned at the opposing ends of The Gap for easy accessibility. In addition to these stand-alone shopping options, the hotels along the strip also offer shopping options in the form of fine jewelry stores and clothing boutiques. As for the surrounding area, petrol stations, a major shopping mall and several supermarket chains are all within a 10-minute drive from The Gap. So, whether you are looking for trinkets, souvenirs or necessities, you won’t have to venture too far to find them all. 

The City, The Village and The Gap

We share a peek into life in our island’s Capital Bridgetown, the fanfair of Oistins Fishing Village and the fun of St. Lawrence Gap. 

Bridgetown

The island’s capital. Home of third oldest parliament in the Americas. The centre of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Bridgetown really needs no introduction. But, for the sake of this article, we will force ourselves to do it justice in words. The city of Bridgetown is located in the most populous of Barbados’ 11 parishes, and with a history steeped in merchants and commerce, the town entertains the notion that its streets form part of a rite of passage for Barbadians and visitors alike. The modern interpretation of the city is not too dissimilar to its original, offering duty-free shopping at department stores and malls along with an authentic Barbadian experience in its vegetable and fish markets. But the city is also on show, and welcomes everyone to visit its beautifully restored Jewish Synagogue; pristine beaches; aromatic cafes and restaurants; and, its Garrison. Now, the feather in the city’s hat is its UNESCO designation, something which holds great value to Barbadians at home and abroad. The city and its Garrison are historic architectural marvels, with their deftly preserved Britishness, unique serpentine layouts and colonial buildings that span three centuries of the British’s empirical rule. And whilst the town is a bustling bazaar of the island’s best, the Garrison is a show window offering a look into the island’s past: its defunct cannons line the savannah; its fort and other buildings reminiscent of a militant era; the preserved home of President George Washington; and, the authority on Barbados’ rich history - the island’s National Museum.

Oistins Fishing Village

The fourth and final town as the story moves south is Oistins - the epitome of an island town, thriving on the bounties of the sea. Although the origins of its name amounts to most speculation than fact, certainty lies in the fact that Oistins and its residents always have the sea on their minds. In this tradition, the town has now transformed its Friday and Saturday nights into a carnival of sights, sounds and flavours to behold, with the ever popular Fish Fry that brings locals and visitors together under the night skies.

The Gap

The true night experience in Barbados lies in St. Lawrence Gap - an area renowned for its varying eateries, night spots and music. A trip to St. Lawrence Gap will result in the discovery of a blend of hotels, restaurants and bars that cover countless themes and concepts in one small space. During the day, it transforms into pockets of breathtaking sea views, surf lessons and other beachside activities.