Carlisle Bay located in a natural harbor is well suited for beginners since many of the wrecks sit in only 25 to 60 feet of water. Seven ships including the Berwyn, Eilon, C-Trek and Fox have been submerged here and divers can expect to see frogfish, seahorses and eels in addition to old cannonballs and anchors.

Maycocks Bay offers visibility of more than 100 feet at this wonderful dive location that has large coral reefs divided by stretches of white sand with rays and barracudas as frequent visitors.

Stavronikita is a 365-foot Greek freighter sunk to form an artificial reef. Lying under roughly 120 feet of water, butterfly fish and tropical corals abound and it is possible to fully explore this huge ship.

Bell Buoy reef lying 20 to 60 feet under the water is a great spot for novice and intermediate divers. The dome-shaped reef is home to brown coral tree forests and angelfish, blue chromis and parrot fish. The shallow depth allows plenty of light to filter down, making it an excellent choice for underwater photography.

Dottins Reef is located off the coast from Holetown and with a dive depth of 40 to 60 feet it is a terrific spot to find many varieties of tropical marine life, including barracudas and turtles.

Silver Bank is a 60 to 80 foot dive appropriate for intermediate to advanced divers. The coral reef attracts beautiful tropical fish and sea fans.

Many dive operators operate in Barbados including West Side Scuba Centre, Dive Shop, Ltd, and Hightide Watersports offering a variety of exciting adventures, night diving and experts to help the novice diver.

Alamo, Auto Jardim, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Thrifty, Hertz and Sixt offer car hire services in Barbados.

Accra Beach is the biggest on the south coast and features public changing facilities and a parking lot; snorkeling equipment and beach umbrellas are available for rent.

Bathsheba Soup Bowl along Barbados’s Atlantic coast is a terrific spot for surfing and each November the Independence Classic Surfing Championship is held here.

Bottom Bay is isolated coves surrounded by high cliffs, making the white sand beach feel like an idyllic hideaway with swaying palms and aquamarine water.

Casuarina Beach offers some of the best windsurfing on the island, thanks to steady, gentle breezes. You can get refreshments and rent chairs, umbrellas, body boards and snorkeling equipment.

Paynes Bay offers a soft, sandy beach on this calm bay, a great spot for swimmers and snorkeling enthusiasts alike.

Silver Sands Beach is a windsurfer’s dream with stiff breezes providing a challenging environment for intermediate to advanced enthusiasts while sun worshippers can be content soaking up rays on the soft, white-sand beach.

Brighton Beach extremely popular with the local crowd is a huge, unbroken stretch of beach that offers public parking and changing facilities.

Mullins Beach has something for everyone; swimmers will appreciate the calm, lapping waters, while snorkeling enthusiasts will enjoy exploring the area’s coral formations. Water skiing and jet skiing are also available.

Barclays Park has lovely picnic areas and tide pools in which you can wade and look for sea creatures though many feel the surf at this beach is too dangerous for serious swimming.

Car hire options in Barbados include Alamo, Auto Jardim, Avis, Budget, Europcar, Thrifty, Hertz and Sixt.

Welcome to the Almond Resorts in Barbados!!!

If you are in Barbados and visiting the best sites of the land with your hired car, then do not give a miss for a fantastic experience at the wonderful Almond Resorts.

Almond Resorts, situated a mere 4 miles from the capital city, on the white sands of the Dover Beach, is a world renowned Caribbean Resort all inclusive of properties like Almond Beach Village, Almond Beach Club and Spa, Almond Casuarina Beach, Almond Morgan Bay and Almond Smugglers Cove.

If you are seeking for a personalized vacation, then it is the island of paradise without any rules and worries.

Almond Beach Village set on 32 acres of Barbados’ Platinum coast, offers a wonderful vacation for an entire family with exciting activities along with a good quality and comfortable accommodation. You can dip yourself in the fresh water swimming pools with 2 Jacuzzi’s and can take a part in many exciting activities like water and land sports, waterskiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, and lots more.

Kids can indulge themselves in recreational activities at the Kids Club, ranging from beach and pool activities, music and dance lessons, computers and video games, and teens can have a blast at the disco night, movies and water sports. And there are the Golf Family Clinics, The Great Village Hunt, a fun family treasure hunt and the adults only Almond Club and Spa to relax and rejuvenate.

Wine and Dine at the Almond Beach Village offers you a fine dining experience with the Reef, beside the Caribbean, featuring an elegant dining and the other restaurants at the resort, offering with more of the informal family dishes, besides serving up with the authentic tastes of Bajan fare, fresh from the sea.

You, at the Barbados Airport, can choose the car hires from the major companies like Avis, Alamo, Thrifty, Dollar, Budget and Europcar.

Barbados is a small nation island of the Lesser Antilles, 34kms in length and 23kms in width. Once a Portuguese territory, later a British Colony, Barbados today is an independent nation with Bridgetown as its capital and largest city.

Caribbean’s leading tourist destinations, Barbados is one of the most developed islands in the region.

A coral island formed by volcanic activity with beaches of fine white sand lapped by a blue green sea with coral reefs make Barbados ideal for snorkeling and Scuba Diving.

An island beauty Barbados also is steeped with lots of art, activities, night life, music, history and restaurants to satisfy the most critical gourmet.

Tourism accounts for nearly half the nation’s economy and world class accommodation including time share can be found on the island.

Historical places of interest include Arlington House Museum, Barbados Museum, Blackmans Bridge, Bridgetown Jewish Synagogue, Codrington College, Fisherpond House, George Washington House, Government House, Grenade Hall Forest & Signal Station, Gun Hill Signal Station & Lion, Heron Bay, Holetown, Illaro Court, Main Guard House at Garrison Savannah, Military Cemetery, Morgan Lewis Mill, Oistins, Parliament Buildings, Ragged Point, Sam Lords Castle, Sir Frank Hutson Sugar Museum, South Point Lighthouse, Speightstown, St. James Parish Church            St. Nicholas Abbey, Sunbury Plantation House, Tyrol Cot and Wildey House.

Beaches are everywhere in Barbados. From the wide windblown beaches on the East coast to the calm and fine sandy beaches of the South and West coasts, to the coral and sand stone cliffs and the hidden coves of the North.

Sports & Recreation is plentiful making it a paradise. Watersports enthusiasts will find everything they desire here, Fishing, Kayaking, Kite surfing, Parasailing, Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, Sailing, Surfing, Swim with the Turtles, Jet skis and Windsurfing. For the one who prefers ground beneath his feet Barbados offers Cricket, cycling, golf, horse riding, tennis, polo and much more.

Dining at an abundance of fine restaurants on the island that offer local cuisine, seafood and continental cuisine ensures that there is something to suit every taste and budget.

Shopping at Broad Street in the capital city, Bridgetown you will find several large department stores and duty free shops. Local handicrafts including straw bags, wall hangings, batik, paintings, rum cakes and much more can found at Pelican Village, on the outskirts of Bridgetown.

Nightlife is mostly concentrated in the many nightclubs at St Lawrence Gap and along Bay Street filled with calypso and reggae.

Barbados is best explored by driving your own car or you could rent a car from one of over 25 car rental agencies on the island.

Whether you are up for a party jam on the streets or a romantic night, a Sunday party or a quiet night with your lover or friend that will not ruin your budget, Barbados has something in store for everyone. It is the only Zagat-rated status in the Carribean and rightfully, Barbados rank among the best in the world of fine dining.

• Get To Know The Finest

Hiring a car is a fun and easy way to explore the sights in the island, particularly the classy restaurants and its lively nights. Before you actually dine in one of these places, you can check them out first on venue and events listings. 3D tours are among the many ways to do so.

Videos  hotspots in Barbados are accessible on Youtube and Google. It also helps to see tourist reviews on these places to have an idea on what they cater. Some websites also feature some of the best places in Barbados, highlighting their best offers. Barbados Chefs are also credited for their achievements. A Chef of the Month is usually named in upscale Barbados restos. This can help you in finding the restaurant that serves the best dishes for your taste.

• Some Do,  Some Don’t

While reservations are relatively uncommon, asking the restaurant first whether they require reservations or not is recommended. Some popular restaurants can be fully booked as early as months ahead especially on holidays and winter. Some restaurants close down during slow summers for vacations and improvement of facilities.

Others are open all weekend but close on Mondays and Tuesdays. Most restaurants charge 10 percent of the bill for service. If the service you get is superb, feel free to tip more. It will be appreciated. Calling ahead is the best heads-up a tourist can have.

Once you have picked the right spot for the night, get to the place on time with your hired car. Hiring a car is the most convenient way to travel around the island and getting to the restaurant of your own choice. GP

Beaches aside, hiring a car is a great way of going to the best sites of the land. Touring on a car is ideal when checking the remote parts of the country.  While on the move, some Bajans might offer their guiding services. It is good to have them with you as there are some aspects of the land that might not readily be recognized by tourists. The locals will point them out for you.  Here are a few of the things that you can do as you tour around with your hired car.

• Down Under Or Up Yonder

You can drop off to Bridgetown and have a 45-minute ride on a submarine. It coral reef and shipwreck filled underwater world is one amazing experience you don’t want to miss. You can also fly off on a helicopter and literally see the country’s prettiest spots on a bird’s eye view.

Setting foot again on the ground, move along with your hired car for a full day’s leisurely ride. With the help of the Barbados National Trust, discover the colorful cultural and historical side of the country. With your hired car, cruise down to the island’s famous plantation homes, ecological sites and many others.

• Car Hire: Going To Places, Your Style

Touring on a hired car to specific sites are great for a whole day’s excursion. Some more places to check out in Barbados are its Parliament buildings, the Mount Ga Visitors Centre near Deep Water Harbour. Don’t miss out the tram ride inside the Harrison’s cave at the St. Thomas parish. It is a cavern full of stalactites and stalagmites and a 40 feet high waterfall.

Whether you are going for the country’s history, basking in the sun-kissed beaches or experience the country’s luxurious ambience in its villa pride, hiring a car is indispensable way to get by one or all of them during your stay in this island paradise. GP