An Agent Abroad: Experience Barbados


Lyndsey Riddell, Manager of Club World Travel in Belfast jetted off to Barbados for some much needed sunshine and R&R...


Champagne, Cool Flannels and a Steel Band I


F you had asked me back in March whether I could see myself on the beach in Barbados before the end of the year, my answer would most certainly have been a no. Having worked relentlessly throughout the pandemic helping move our clients’ holidays, I was ready for eight days of sunshine and a bit of R&R for myself. Working in travel, I was conscious that protocols


and island entry requirements were changing all the time, so I kept an eager eye on both the Gov. uk website and the Visit Barbados Website for any updates and changes. Like many destinations, a negative PCR Covid test was required for entry. Taking into consideration that we had a window of 72 hours between having our test and arriving in Barbados, we booked our tests for the day before we were due to fly to London. Although anxiously waiting for the best part of 24 hours, just as we were about to take off from Dublin Airport, we received our results – both negative. After spending the night in a hotel, my husband


Jamie and I headed to Gatwick’s North Terminal the next morning. The terminal was eerily quiet, so we were checked in in no time. We went through security and were enjoying Duty Free in less than an hour after we arrived. Although I was slightly apprehensive of wearing a mask for the entirety of our journey, after a while I began to forget I was wearing one at all. We knew that everyone would’ve had to have a test, so we were all in the same boat. As we began our decent into Barbados, Jamie and


I had a ‘pinch me moment’. I don’t think either of us has expected to be travelling this year, let alone to the Caribbean. Once we had landed, each row of the aircraft disembarked one by one and we had our temperatures taken and showed our negative PCR test result certificate. Once we were through passport control, we then visited the Ministry of Health desk where we were handed a form, which required us to take our temperature twice a day throughout our stay. Once we were out of the airport, were met by a


white Rolls-Royce transfer. Sandals had really gone all out, we felt like celebrities! On arrival at the resort, we were greeted by the


resort manager in the usual Sandals style, complete with champagne, cool flannels and a steel band. We also met our lovely butlers, who were there to look after us throughout our stay. All the staff were wearing masks, but despite not being able to see their faces, we could really tell how excited they were to be welcoming back guests. Although there were extra measures in place, such as sanitising station and extra cleaning protocols, it was really as if nothing had changed. It felt completely safe and we were just so happy to be there. We were a world away. Our butlers, Archie and Bernard took us to our


room, a lovely Rondoval Suite complete with its own pool, where we asked to open the door to ‘break the seal’ which showed that the room had been deep


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cleaned and no one had entered before our arrival. We felt so safe, it was easier than ever to relax! We could see the staff doing everything possible


to ensure that guests felt relaxed and at ease. They sprayed the sun loungers, which were place two meters apart, throughout the day and once guests had finished using them, as well as cleaning door handles and menus at in the restaurants. As we had our own butler, we decide to have breakfast most mornings at our room, which felt so incredibly luxurious. I completely forgot that Covid existed, which was such a wonderful feeling. The resort had only reopened a couple of days


prior to our arrival so the atmosphere was amazing. Everyone was so just happy and appreciative to be there. We saw the same faces each day, which was really lovely too. All the resort’s facilities were open as usual, as well as all the restaurants and bars. Although we were a little apprehensive before our


trip, we soon realised there was absolutely nothing worry about. We knew that everyone had received a negative test before arriving at the resort, and that everyone’s temperatures were being monitored and recorded twice daily at the nurse’s station throughout their stay. For those thinking about booking a holiday, I would


just do it. Things have changed, but it doesn’t affect your holiday experience in the slightest. If you follow the


Government advice and look at the tourist board website, there will be nothing to worry about. Our holiday was equally, if not more amazing than ever before, an we have learned to appreciate travelling far more.


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