St. Lucia and Barbados

General Info

Day 1: Sunday

We landed in St. Lucia around 2 PM and quickly realized that the Caribbean pace is quite different from New York. After collecting our luggage, we met our driver outside the airport and began our journey across the island to our villa.

We stopped at the Dennery Lookout for our first breathtaking view of the Caribbean Sea and the beaches below.

Dennery Lookout

Once we arrived at the villa, we unpacked and dove straight into the pool for a refreshing swim. We capped off the day by grilling and enjoying a beautiful Caribbean sunset.

Day 2: Monday

After a leisurely morning, we stocked up on essentials at Massy Stores in Rodney Bay.

We then met our boat captains and set out for an adventure at sea. Our captains pointed out various points of interest, including the iconic Pitons, and took us to a private beach where we swam and snorkeled with gear they provided.

View of the Pitons

After witnessing a stunning sunset on the water, we returned to the bay and headed home.

Day 3: Tuesday

After a refreshing morning swim, we visited nearby Pigeon Island. We explored the picturesque park, marveling at the stark differences between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea just a few feet apart.

Pigeon Island

We found a quiet spot on Pigeon Island Causeway Beach, splashing in the water and building sandcastles.

Pigeon Island Causeway Beach

Day 4: Wednesday

We started the day by walking past the neighboring resort and down to a small sandy beach with rocks to climb on. Next, we headed to Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and Mineral Baths.

Botanical Gardens

The drive was quite winding, and we enjoyed scenic views of the Caribbean Sea and the Pitons along the way. Our driver stopped at a lookout point, allowing us to breathe in the fresh air and take in the stunning views. At the gardens, we took our time exploring the exotic vegetation and colorful flowers, although we chose not to enter the mineral baths.

Diamond Falls

Day 5: Thursday

After a quick swim, we headed to the airport for our flight home. Unfortunately, we experienced a delay due to technical issues, leading us to disembark and return to the terminal. The airline booked us a room at the stunning Coconut Bay resort near the airport on the Atlantic coast.

Coconut Bay

Once settled, we toured the resort, soaking in the beautiful nighttime views of the starry sky over the ocean. We were then informed of further flight delays, which complicated our plans for Shabbos. After extensive research, we contacted the Chabad shluchim in Barbados and booked the last three seats on Liat Air for a 6:00 AM flight the following day, along with a hotel room near Chabad.

Day 6: Friday

We boarded our flight to Barbados at 6:00 AM. After a quick 30-minute flight, we arrived at Barbados International Airport.

After dropping our bags off at the resort, we searched for kosher food and settled for dry cereal, granola bars, and nuts—better than nothing! The hotel informed us our room was ready a little later, so we unpacked and rested after our exhausting travel

We then enjoyed some fun in the sun at the resort playground and then the pool and beach before heading to Chabad to light Shabbos candles.

Day 7: Shabbos

Shabbos with Rabbi Eli and Rebitzin Shterna Chaikin at Chabad was unforgettable. They welcomed us warmly and went above and beyond to ensure we were comfortable and cared for throughout the entire Shabbos.

Day 8: Sunday

We spent the day strolling along the local boardwalk, taking in the magnificent views of the Caribbean Sea.

We will definitely return to explore more of what Barbados has to offer!