"To confess truly, of all the islands that I have seen

unto this day, not any pleaseth me so well."

So said one of the first visitors to Barbados, the Englishman Sir Henry Colt, who arrived in 1631. We definitely agree. This place has everything from hip nightclubs to miles of pristine white sand beaches.

Barbados is called the "singular island," perhaps because it's a bit off the beaten track, 100 miles to the east of the Caribbean chain, somewhat separated from its neighbors. The island is coral rather than volcanic, and relatively flat.

Despite the island's dense population (275,000 people live in a space just 14 miles wide and 21 miles long), Barbadians have one of the highest per capita incomes in the Caribbean and a proud tradition of stable, democratic government.

Barbados is a land of contrasts, where the old and the new coexist. International accounting firms sit beside ramshakle "rum shops." The average temperature is 80 Degrees (F) with cooling trade winds and 3,000 hours of sunshine yearly.

Come in January for the Barbados Jazz festival or July for our Crop Over Festival. Unlike most other Caribbean islands there is much more to see and do and you can be assured that there will be lots of keep you busy if you would like to explore Barbados while on vacation. Of course, if you just want to chill out and relax we have some of the finest beaches anywhere in the world where you can play in the sun.

               Barbados + Gemini House = A Great Vacation!