A Vibrant, Creative Resort in Barbados

I gravitate to resorts that give me a sense of well-being and optimism, that are replete with contemporary art and design, that provide an abundance of learning opportunities, and that are populated by staff members that express a genuine concern for their guests. I found all of this at the new O2 Beach Club and Spa on the southern coast of Barbados. This is my article on this resort for ForbesLife. 

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An Evocative, Luxe Property in Barbados

 It’s certainly difficult to tire of this view of Dover Beach at the O2 Beach Club and Spa in Barbados.

Contemporary art and design details suffuse this five-star, all-inclusive property.

I became infatuated with the abundant creative art and design found at the O2 Beach Club and Spa in Barbados, including in their just-opened spa, Acqua where an ocean theme is ever present.

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A Luxe, All-Inclusive Property in Barbados

 From morning to night, I found plenty of spots to relax at the O2 Beach Club and Spa in Barbados. This luxe all-inclusive sits along Dover Beach on the south coast where it’s a pleasant walk to the myriad restaurants, bars, clubs and informal shopping opportunities along St. Lawrence Gap. 

At the resort, a contemporary design aesthetic is ever present. The Sun Terrace is one of several perfect venues to take in the views and soak up the chill vibe.

Stellar views predominate at this property, whether from one of the rooftop venues or along the beach and pool areas. 

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Barbados Beyond The Beaches

There’s plenty of development on the island of Barbados but unspoiled locales are never far away. Sure, we know all about the swaths of sandy beaches. But this island is actually laced with dozens of trails running through unspoiled wilderness. Were it not for the Barbados National Trust, one wonders how unspoiled these lands would remain. If you want to explore Barbados' wild side, every Sunday, the National Trust offers guided hikes where dozens of locals and tourists show up.

You're initially broken into different groups based on speed, from those taking a breakneck pace ("Grin n' Bear") to the "Stop and Stare" group that takes plenty of time to smell the roses. I chose the latter, not because I couldn't deal with a challenge but because I wanted more time to learn about the area's botany, history, geology and architecture.
On my five-mile trek, we:

-- strolled along a beach where coral and sea grass grew, great food for turtles.

-- encountered a black belly sheep, a tough animal that can go all day without water. I'm told the meat is very lean.

-- gazed from atop a cliff where I found out that this spot is noted for its stiff wine, the longest uninterrupted wind run in the world, 3,000 miles across the ocean.

-- headed through a meadow carpeted with wildflowers.

But the hike is not a walk in the park. Two miles of difficult walking on slick mud, wet rocks, leaves, roots and stems required good balance, a walking stick or help from the locals -- they're skillful at negotiating the steeps.


Offshore, we spotted the remains of the old railway line, which, on the land, was converted to a 24-mile walking path.

We only walked a portion of this trail but our guide provided plenty of narration on why the railroad was doomed from the start: landslides and salt corrosion to name a few issues. As one of the steepest lines in the British empire, the railroad sometimes required passengers to get out and walk.

There's not much of a chance of getting lost on the trail. Since sea grape was used to stabilize the railway line and protect it from the salt, by following the sea grape you can easily follow it.

For me, hiking the trails in Barbados provided a welcome way to get away from the typical tourist attractions while learning about the island's ecology and history.

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