The Caribbean has lost favour with the rich and the famous recently. They have turned their attention to other regions of the world for R&R, the Indian Ocean for instance. Trends it would appear are turning. In the vein of the catwalk, holiday hotspots go in and out of fashion as quickly as the clothes on the holidaymakers back.
The Caribbean is looking to be this seasons ‘in’ scene. With its perfect waters and white sand beaches, the Caribbean is set for a come back. In today’s Observer there is a special report on some of the Caribbean’s finest holiday retreats.

One island that features heavily in the rankings is the island of Barbados; the island that recently won ‘Best Caribbean Destination’ and ‘Best Caribbean Tourism Board’ at the prestigious World Travel Awards.

Now that Concorde has been decommissioned what better way to spend a windfall then on family and friends? Fly a party of 20 on a privately chartered Airbus 319 to Barbados (so much cooler than Concorde) for a week at Cove Springs, a colonial coral stone beachfront mansion with a perfect terrace for cocktails. It comes with six staff, a pool with adjoining whirlpool, well-equipped gym and screening room with a library of 200 DVDs, seating 20. The most stressed you`ll get is booking a manicure and telling the cook what you all want for dinner; £8,960/£8,530, Azure Collection (01244 322770), writes the Observer.

The Observer continues; Barbados` grande dame hotel Sandy Lane is now `so last year` on an island which operates by catwalk rules. Big question this season is will A-list `oldies` and regulars Caine, Winner, Monkhouse, Cilla and Cliff abandon their glitzy west-coast watering hole to move over to The Crane in the east, the first hotel on the island 125 years ago, now celebrating its renaissance with a major makeover. Most private residences (they don`t call them rooms either) have their own pool, mahogany four-poster and whirlpool bath. All overlook a dreamscape pink sand beach, often voted one of the world`s best; £1,689/£1,087, Caribtours (020 7751 0660).
Barbados certainly is going from strength to strength. With hopes of drawing more business from the US market in the next few years the island wants to ensure that it maintains its crown as the Caribbean’s ‘Leading Destination’.
Related stories on Caribbean Weekly:
(30/09/03) Gap to Barbados bridged by Continental
(18/10/03) Caribbean`s leading destination and Caribbean`s leading tourist and convention bureau titles both go to Barbados

(18/10/03) Barbados reap rewards at 10th annual World Travel Awards

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