The Caribbean - Do you have any questions - Barbados?

Hey,

I will be heading down to Barbados for 5 days next week and thought it would be nice put an offer out there to my fellow Fters to have me try to answer any questions you may have.

I will have spare time to check out some of your specific requests.

Should you need me to do some research for you, please post your request here.

Will anyone else be in Barbados from 17 - 22 June, 2009?

johannesj,

I was there yesterday and today. Now I am in YYZ on my way back to YOW. I had a very nice meal last night at the Grille (BGI Hilton). It was a bit rushed (my choice) because I had some work to do. If I had had more time available, I probably would have taxi'd over to Bert's to watch the hockey game.

Okay... here's my question...

Is the highway still closed due to road works?
--
13F

PS The airport roof is being expanded! Very soon we won't get wet when checking in for LI, AC, AA, etc.

PPS I must remember to PM you before my next trip to ANU.

Just got back from my BGI trip. Thought I would have received some more questions but guess Barbados isn't a hot destination at this particular time.

Seat13F_AC_CRJ road works continue on the highway to & from the airport. It is amazing how we in the Caribbean work on the road during peak traffic times (no road work under ligths at night).

Hey anyone flying Liat right now, I feel for you.

Pilots taking industrial action against the company - was schedule to leave BGI yesterday at 8:00 am and arrive ANU 8:40 am did not get to ANU until 9:00 pm.

It was a mess and today should be even worse.

Johneessj:

in your post you say return will be on June 22, 2009, I am so confused.

question: please rate the two club lounges at BGI.

ralph

Post is an old one from May 14, 2009. Back in ANU since 22 June.

I don't have any lounge experience at BGI as all my travel out of BGI is on LIAT and I always get there just in time for my flight.

I am sure that Seat13F_AC_CRJ would have more experience here than me.

I will defer this one to him.

Feel free to post any other requests

johannesj -- glad to help out.

Courtesy of my AC Elite status, I was in the shared lounge (Club Caribbean) about five weeks ago prior to my BGI-YYZ flight. It is airside, turn left when you enter the gate area, up the stairs or very slow elevator to the mezzanine level. The room is bright and roomy with a very wide selection of beverages. When I was there, snacks were quite limited, only cocktail sandwiches and Doritos. There are a few magazines and newspapers, plus free internet.

If you need real food before your flight, or to take on your flight, there are 2 or 3 places on the departure gate level.

In my opinion, BGI is one of the best airports in the Eastern Caribbean. POS is bigger and may have more services but the glacial pace of the inbound immigration lines spoils the whole experience for me.
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13F

Any thoughts on biking around the island? We'd like to rent bikes to explore the place, but I've heard many of the roads are not the best for biking.

Biking in Barbados can be very challenging given the busy highways and even busier back roads, but if you rack up the bikes and drive to the more rural areas, especially Cattlewwash/Bathseba are or even the Hills around Harrisons Cave, you should have soon enjoyable biking.

There are also lots of cane fields and trails that you can access but I don't have much information on these.

Any thoughts on biking around the island? We'd like to rent bikes to explore the place, but I've heard many of the roads are not the best for biking.

Most roads are narrow and visibility is limited.i.e.sugar cane fields,bend in road...

I agree with johannesj point of view as east coast hwy is open and airy and Harrisons Cave area is not as densely vegetated(is this a word?) as other areas

Just got back from a weekend in Barbados, luckily with Caribbean not Liat. What is up with LIAT this time? Im off to St Vincent in a couple of weeks and hope they have got their act together by then.
I agree with seat13, BGI is much nicer than POS, even if it does look like an odd tent and isnt the most logical layout.

There is a long going impasse between the pilots and management. Industrial action started the same day this post was started and has been ongoing since then.

Liat Management got an injunction against the pilot's union to prevent further industrial action however the pilots have gone on work to rule... the slightest issue with any aircraft and the pilots can ground the flight.

Though they are trying to be cooperative with Management and be of service to the traveling public, all is still not well.

I wish you luck on your upcoming trip, fingers crossed you will not suffer to long a delay.

Johannesj

Case in point: last night I was on LI 372 GND-BGI and we were nearly 90 mins late departing BGI. We were told it was not weather related (there was heavy rain off and on all day), so perhaps it was related to the on-going industrial action.
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13F

Is there a secret way to get to BGI? Every flight I see leaves in the EARLY morning, making connections near impossible without a night in the connecting city. Until B6 starts their service, I am stuck on AA or Caribbean (no miles or points at all) unless I am missing a cheap better way to get to BGI? I am coming from NYC. AC's flight leaves YYZ at 8:40AM, so a connection to that isn't possible, US only flies to BGI once a week...is there something I am missing? I am traveling for a wedding in mid-aug.

Not all flights leave very early morning. You can depart JFK at 8:40am or 2:30pm; or depart LGA at 10:40am or 1:59pm and arrive same day with one connection on AA. And there is a DL option departing from HPN.

I also found two direct flights from JFK, one each with AA and JM. I searched Thursday August 13th on kayak.com.
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13F

Not all flights leave very early morning. You can depart JFK at 8:40am or 2:30pm; or depart LGA at 10:40am or 1:59pm and arrive same day with one connection on AA. And there is a DL option departing from HPN.

I also found two direct flights from JFK, one each with AA and JM. I searched Thursday August 13th on kayak.com.
--
13F
Odd. That flight from HPN exists on Thurs, but NOT on Friday, which is when I want to go. Its just a VERY VERY expensive place to fly to.

Is there a secret way to get to BGI? Every flight I see leaves in the EARLY morning, making connections near impossible without a night in the connecting city. Until B6 starts their service, I am stuck on AA or Caribbean (no miles or points at all) unless I am missing a cheap better way to get to BGI? I am coming from NYC. AC's flight leaves YYZ at 8:40AM, so a connection to that isn't possible, US only flies to BGI once a week...is there something I am missing? I am traveling for a wedding in mid-aug.

*A has very poor schedules into BGI. You are right, the AC flights (which are the only daily service on *A I believe) don't connect on either end at YYZ. So a double-overnight is probable.

We gave up and traded for some AA miles for our honeymoon next week. And as both of us are UA 1K's, it's really painful to fly with no status, but it's what we opted for!