Admit it: She wore her bathing suit under her clothes on the plane so she didn’t waste a minute before plunging into the warm, clear Caribbean Sea when she arrived in Barbados. You are not the first. Who could blame you?
As soon as it dries up, you may want to orient yourself to your holiday accommodation and the area you chose to stay in Barbados.
If that area is lively St. Lawrence Gap, you’ll have everything you need at your fingertips without renting a car: from quiet beaches to buzzing nightlife and small shops to romantic seaside dining. “The Gap” also offers many different types of accommodation, ranging from “budget” to casually elegant, moderately priced seaside apartments, complete with kitchens.
As a rental agent in Barbados, I am constantly asked the following questions by guests about the 1.3 km long Gap. I answer as a rental agent who is very familiar with the area, but also as a barbadophile with a passion for my island home and its many charms.
1. What does “gap” mean?
Very simply, “street”.
two. Where is the nearest grocery store?
The Gap convenience store, in the heart of Gap. It has the basics: cereal, milk, cheese, sugar, ice cream and rum. The large Big B supermarket is a 15-minute walk or taxi ride from Gap. Big B will take you and your purchases back to your vacation rental on their free shuttle.
3. Where can I get a good breakfast in “the Gap”?
Southern Palms in Dover Beach offers casual beachside alfresco dining. Or try the Full Monty English breakfast at The Flying Fish restaurant. He’s at the Yellow Bird Hotel, at the entrance to St. Lawrence Gap in Little Bay. If you get there early enough (7:30 or so), you’ll see the local fishermen out for the day.
Four. Where can I buy flip flops, a beach sarong and souvenirs?
Head to Chattel House Village, a collection of shops, along the Gap across from Dover Beach. Also, the shop called Best of Barbados at the Southern Palms hotel is a must for all kinds of clever souvenirs, many made by local artisans. They also sell artwork by famed Barbadian artist Jill Walker, whose beautiful village and flower scenes have been silk-screened onto oven mitts, placemats, tea towels and other practical items she can use at home. And don’t miss the street vendors who will delight you with everything from Bob Marley bags to conch shells and local artisan jewelry; street vendors make shopping so much fun.
5. Are there good restaurants for dinner along the St. Lawrence Gap?
“Hmmm, is the water wet?” The Gap is packed with restaurants of all kinds (casual, formal, romantic, seaside, roadside) serving all kinds of food: Bajan specialties, vegetarian, Mexican, Asian, and of course, seafood galore. . Around 8 p.m., food vendors set up big barbecue operations along the street and cook up flying fish, chicken, and all the fixings all night long. Great food is as abundant as our beautiful white sand beaches. Enjoy!
6. What “clean” places do you recommend in “The Gap”?
If you’re throwing around a word like “whitewashed”, you may know more about Barbados than you’re letting on! “To lime” is going to a bar, and there are plenty of options along the Gap. McBride’s is a popular and cute spot for live music and rum punch. The Ship Inn, next door to McBride, is another. Many others dot the length of the Gap; it’s fun to jump from one to another.
But not. Many guests prefer to rent a place facing the sea so that the only music they hear is the gentle rhythm of the waves of the Caribbean Sea. At St. Lawrence Gap, there is something for everyone.
