Barbados offers natural beauty, rich history and a warm welcome.

When discussing the virtues of Barbados, most travel agents return persistently to the openness and friendliness of the people. “It’s an island where everyone can feel safe and even welcome when they leave their resorts,” says Elaine Goldhill, president of New York-based Goldhill Travel Consultants. “The people are more than willing to help you out. Bridgetown is a city you can feel comfortable in and it’s a lot of fun,” she adds.

For many visitors, the feeling of being locked into the resort is an uncomfortable one, and Bajan friendliness is certainly at the top of the list when you sell this destination. Some of the other points you should make in distinguishing the island from other Caribbean islands in order to close the sale are its historic significance; the international nature of the country’s visitors; the island’s beaches and physical beauty; its exceptional hotels; and Bajan culture and nightlife.
 
When it comes to the island’s historical role, the first thing to understand is that it was never an outpost colony in the British Empire. At one point, at its sugar-producing peak, Barbados accounted for more than one third of the empire’s colonial income. It was where the brightest of Britain’s entrepreneurs went to make their names: As Hong Kong was to the Far East; Barbados was to the New World. Several governors of our own 13 colonies hailed from Barbados. It was such a model of agricultural efficiency and high society that in 1751, the 19-year-old George Washington visited there, his only journey outside of the U.S. You can visit the home he stayed in -- now a museum -- as part of a broader exploration of the island’s many heritage sites, including plantation homes and slave quarters.
 
Of the approximately 550,000 overnight visitors to Barbados, 131,000 of them are American, which is second only to British visitors. This gives the island an international tourism culture that appeals to the kind of client who enjoys travel in Europe. That sophistication is heightened by the Barbadians themselves, who are among the most educated population in the Caribbean. The cosmopolitan style of visitor and islander alike has engendered some of the finest food in the Caribbean, both from the highly regarded chefs in the top restaurants; and the Bajan cuisine that is a hybrid of American, European and Asian cooking using the local catch of fresh fish and native grown produce.
 
And be sure to stress the island’s natural beauty. As one of the Lesser Antilles it has a distinct Atlantic side with decidedly more dramatic seashores, as well as a more tranquil Caribbean side characterized by long beaches and picturesque bays. On the dramatic shores to the east and the north, hikers can explore such areas as Turners Hall Woods, home to a diverse selection of birds and green monkeys. This part of Barbados is also dotted with small interesting villages. Harrison's Cave offers a day trip out of all that sun and into the realm of stalactites, stalagmites and underground waterfalls.
 
The top end of the hotel inventory includes such properties as Sandy Lane, The Crane, the Hilton Barbados, the Fairmont Royal Pavilion, Cobblers Cove, the Coral Reef Club, the Sandpiper and The House. Those notable hotels will soon be joined by a Four Seasons and a Banyan Tree. Recently there’s been an enormous growth in guest houses of between 10 and 25 rooms, offering an affordable, more intimate option for the traveler looking to connect with culture. “There’s a very wide range of hotels,” says Curtis. “You can sell luxury-end properties to the rich and famous, or more modest choices to other travelers. The hotels have something for everybody.”
 
About 90 percent of the people in Barbados have African roots, stemming from the island’s history as a major player in the sugar cane, rum and slavery cycle. The highlight on the cultural calendar for these roots is the two-week midsummer Crop-Over Carnival that runs from late July through early August. In the musical divide that crosses the Caribbean, count Barbados in the Calypso/Reggae school as opposed to the Salsa/Merengue school. In January there’s an annual Jazz Festival as well. The tourism culture is also influenced by the island’s quality golf courses and the horseracing at Garrison Savannah. “It’s not a very well known island,” says Curtis, “and it maintains a real, untouched Caribbean spirit.”
 
Air Jamaica’s recent launch of scheduled nonstop service to Barbados from New York (with beyond-service to St. Lucia four days per week and Grenada three days) has put the island within easy reach of the Caribbean’s richest market, the U.S. northeast. One of the Windward Isles of the Lesser Antilles, the island is also serviced by American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, US Airways and Continental.