Traveling to Barbados was an unbelievable, once in a lifetime trip. It was so enjoyable that I plan on putting a Barbados vacation on my list of yearly excursions. Yes, you read that right: a once-in-a-lifetime trip — every year. And since traveling abroad for the first time can be daunting, I'd like to share what I learned from my journey, along with some incredible experiences that make Barbados a great vacation spot. 

   

Traveling to Barbados

Everyone is asking me about how we planned our flights to Barbados. As Iowa residents, we flew to the East Coast and stayed the night. Of course, we stayed at a Hilton hotel, using Hilton Honors™ Points, making it essentially free. The next day we hopped on a plane and arrived five hours later. 

Insider tip: Put your breakfast credit to use. I used my breakfast credit at the hotel coffee shop and had snacks for the early morning flight.

Arriving in Paradise

As it was our first time in Barbados, we didn't know what to expect. Anything could happen! We got off the plane and took a two-minute ride to customs. As we exited the bus, a gentleman named Chad held a sign that said "Laurie L."  

We were happy to accept any extra help navigating the process. Chad was not only our greeter; he also streamlined our customs process. 

The Crane, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club can set up this process for a nominal fee to guide you through customs. Most importantly, this service gets you to the front of every line. Imagine being brought to the front of a line of about 100 people.

Chad reviewed our documentation, including our passport, and walked us through everything. The couple that traveled with us was impressed — as was I. It was truly stress-free, and we were smiling the whole time. 

Yes, smiling through customs. If you've never been to Barbados with vacation membership, request this service through The Crane. You won't regret it — plus, Chad made us feel special.

Customized Service to The Resort

   

In addition to Chad fast-tracking us through customs, I coordinated with the resort to send a driver to escort us from the airport to The Crane. Considering that this service isn't any more expensive than a taxi, it was a no-brainer. Having someone there waiting for us in a foreign country was perfect. 

We simply let him know how large our party was, and he arrived to pick us up in a 10-person van, which was more than enough room. David was our driver, and we got to know him very well, as he offered to drive us around the island during our stay. The price he quoted was low, and it would be just our travel group; we had to say yes. 

Since I'm always thinking about how to maximize my Hilton Honors Points and my credit card, I asked if we could charge it to our room. The answer? Of course, we could.

Insider tip: Consider skipping a rental car. If you're concerned about driving in a foreign country due to being on the opposite side of the road, as we were, hiring a driver through the resort is an excellent alternative to renting a car. We didn't regret it one bit. 

Exceptional Hospitality at The Crane, a Hilton Grand Vacations Club

Check-in was fun. For starters, I'd heard rumors that the rum punch they served during check-in was legendary. It was, based on reports from my fellow travelers — I opted for the delicious fruit punch. 

   

We stayed in Barbados for a week, and we wanted to make the most of our time. Since there are five wonderful restaurants in the resort, finding something great to eat was never a problem, especially on days we wanted to stay in. 

For example, we decided to brunch at one of the restaurants on our first day there. The following day, the general manager reached out to us just to say hi and see if we had any questions.

He explained that the Caribbean had an unusual amount of seaweed, and they couldn't keep up with the removal. So the resort was offering a free daily shuttle drop-off and pickup from the best beaches on the island.

The beach at The Crane is gorgeous, and the free chairs and umbrellas are a bonus. However, we had just flown in from snowy Iowa, so all the beaches looked amazing to us, prompting us to take advantage of The Crane’s free shuttle service.

Things To Do in Barbados

We had the driver drop us off at Carlisle Bay, and boy, we weren't disappointed. Locals came up and offered us beach chairs and umbrellas to rent, and even though we were just going to be there a few hours, we went for it.

It was the best beach ever. With warm, crystal-clear water and smooth sand, it was a gorgeous beach for swimming and walking. There were places to buy drinks and food nearby, and the pickup location had showers and restrooms. The pickup process was easy. We told the driver the time we preferred to head back to The Crane, and he made it happen. Nothing stressful about that.

So Much To Do, Such Little Time

   

Did I mention that there was a birthday girl in our group? The team at The Crane found out and arranged a special cake delivery to our Suite. They included a bottle of wine, making it even more special. The cake was so big that we enjoyed it throughout our stay. 

For us, every day was an adventure. When visiting the island, remember that no Barbados vacation is complete without trying the Oistins’ Friday Night Fish Fry. Our driver dropped us off and picked us up at the times we requested, and he was never late. And each time a driver took us somewhere, they intentionally drove back a different way so we could see more beautiful island sites. 

We eventually had to go home. We felt like royalty. It was hard to leave such a wonderful trip — we'll be back. 

Read “Top Reasons Why I’m Ready To Go Back to Italy After My Tuscany Vacation With Hilton Grand Vacations” for more tips on traveling internationally with Hilton Grand Vacations.

Barbados Key Takeaways

Before you plan a Barbados vacation of your own, here are a few facts to know that will make your trip less stressful: 

• English is widely spoken on the island, so communication with friendly locals is easy.
• The country has its own currency, but most businesses take the United States dollar. We didn't find one establishment that wouldn't take United States currency. Most businesses also accept credit cards.
• Be sure to check the conversion rate. For example, most items at the resort reflect the Barbadian dollar price, but prices aren't as high as they seem once you factor in the conversion rate. 
• Don't forget about your Points. Anything associated with the resort, including transportation and tours, can be charged to the room, including any additional tips. It's nice using a Hilton credit card to pay for almost everything as a room charge, and The Crane made this extremely easy.