Cricket & Calypso In The Caribbean

Recognised around the world as a tropical paradise, the Island of Barbados enjoys a year-round temperature averaging between 28c and 30c, making it an ideal location for both summer and winter holidays. While Barbados offers a wealth of amenities and activities to families and groups in search of sunshine and a laid-back holiday, those seeking to escape the bleak UK winter can combine sun-worshipping duties with spectator sports by following the England Cricket team on their eleven-week West Indies tour, starting January 2009, and whose itinerary includes Antigua, Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados.

The tour sees England play a series of matches across the Caribbean, including two One-Day Internationals, a Twenty20 International and a full Test Match series. Barbados' Kensington Oval ground will play host to the 3rd Test match in the series, as well as two One-Day internationals. The island will also serve as the England team's base at the start of the tour, where they will also play a 3-day practice match and a 3-day First Class match to start the tour in earnest.

While it undoubtedly makes for an exciting time for all Cricket fans, Barbados also offers plenty to keep visitors occupied away from the happenings of the Crease, and the island is steeped in history, having been subject to British Colonial rule for over three-hundred years. The island serves an interesting and diverse array of cultural and historic attractions, and boasts an impressive assortment of old great houses and sugarcane plantations, some of which can be traced back to the 17th century, as well as a collection of old churches, monuments and caves, which provide ample opportunities for exploration.

Holidaymakers looking to experience sports outside of Cricket can take advantage of Barbados' excellent sporting reputation, and while Cricket may the sport of choice for most Barbadians, sporting activities of all persuasions are catered for. Barbados' golf courses, for example, rank amongst the finest in the world and golfers of all abilities will find something to challenge them on Barbados' excellent fairways. Meanwhile, water-sports enthusiasts can enjoy plentiful surfing and water-skiing activities, as well as scuba diving and snorkelling in Barbados' crystal clear waters. For those looking to indulge in a spot of fishing, charter companies offer deep-sea fishing excursions.

Barbados hosts many festivals, and the Holetown Festival is a week-long celebration of the arrival of Barbados' first permanent settlers. Situated to the north of Bridgetown, the festival is held on the third week of February, providing visitors with an eclectic mix of old and new music, combined with folk and gospel singing. At night, the Royal and Mounted Police forces perform the floodlit Tattoo and night-time marches for the torch-lit audience.

Barbados' Jazz festival brings together the top names in Jazz from across the globe, as well as the best of Barbadian jazz musicians. The festival is held in the second week of January across various venues on the island and has seen performances from such jazz luminaries as Anita Baker, Poncho Sanchez and Dionne Warwick.

When the sun sets, Barbados really comes alive! Barbados has possibly the most vibrant nightlife of all the Caribbean holiday islands and offers a huge choice of bars and clubs, floorshows, theatre and cinemas in which to either wind down after a long day, or party until the small hours. Music choice is diverse, from Calypso and Jazz to Soca and R&B and with bars ranging from typical street affairs to beachfront shacks, every evening is sure to be a great experience.

With so much to see and do, and an ideal year-round climate, it seems then that Barbados really has only one season: summer; and it lasts all-year, making Barbados holidays an ideal escape from the dreary weather of the United Kingdom. So even if rain does stop play, there's sure to be something happening to while away the time.