When it comes to planning that amazing romantic getaway for two, there really is only one place your lady will have in mind…BARBADOS! Through the ages it has been world famous as one of the most romantic and beautiful places on earth, with millions of newlyweds going to Barbados for their honeymoons and many actually getting married here.

Barbados is one of the larger islands of the Caribbean spanning a huge 21 miles across, which by English standards is rather small! It is situated in the beautiful Caribbean Sea and lies north-east to its neighbouring islands of Trinidad and Tobago. Originally a Spanish and Portuguese colony, Barbados is now an independent state but its Spanish heritage is still very notable in its architecture, language and national cuisine.

The island is notoriously famous for its superb Rum industry that has made the Caribbean Islands a favourite between pirates and tourist alike throughout all the ages! Barbados is believed to be the actual birthplace of the intoxicating brown and white liquor, with the first batch being distilled over 370 years ago. Natives of Barbados took the sugar canes that are plentiful around the islands and turned it into one of the world’s best loved sprits that is still enjoyed both locally and internationally to this day. Legend has it that English sailors, who acquired quiet a taste for the stuff, required Caribbean Rum as proof of bounty that they had crossed the Atlantic back in the sixteenth century. That’s if they didn’t end up drinking it all before they got back to England that is!

I m sure we are all familiar with the brand of rum named ‘Mount Gay Rum’ that is very popular in most pubs and bars, well this is one of Barbados’ first ever Rums and therefore one of the oldest recipes for Rum in the world! So, on your next Friday night when you’re on your fifth rum and coke of the evening, I hope you remember and appreciate that!

Apart from knocking back a few choice rums and rummed up cocktails, there are a lot of other amazing things to do whilst on this magical island. Why not try something really daring and unique whilst you’re in the magical paradise of Barbados, and go for an Aerial Trek Zip line adventure!

This fantastic experience lets you see this spectacular island from its jungle treetops, through a series of platforms that have been created for you to zip through like a real monkey and see Barbados in a whole new way. The views over Barbados from this height are just simply breath taking, and it truly is an exhilarating opportunity to be so high up whilst a knowledgeable guide tells you all about the different ecosystems of the island.

If this sounds a bit too extreme for you Barbados has a multitude of shops, restaurants, bars, and cafes for you to lazily stroll around in to your heart’s content, if you don’t fancy monkeying around in the jungle tree tops! Barbados really is a perfect, idyllic and beautiful destination that will satisfy your every whim and desire to the maximum!

Maria is a shamless promoter of Orlando Holidays and Barbados Holidays, and works for the undercover Zapatistas !