Relaxing in the Bajan sun comes easy at the Almond Beach Resorts.

here is not just something special at Almond Beach Resorts, there is a lot that's special, starting with the location! Barbados really understands hospitality; the island has been welcoming guests since 1732, when George Washington visited the island on his only trip out of the United States.

Local flavour
The Caribbean's lovely island in the sun has been a holiday playground ever since. Royals and celebrities keep dropping in; many of them stay at either the Almond Beach Club & Spa or the Almond Beach Village. Visitors are perfectly safe wandering the streets of Barbados to join Bajans at play; they need not hide behind resort walls and armed guards. Both the Club and the Village take full advantage of this easy atmosphere by offering their all-inclusive guests a dine-around program that showcases local restaurants. Return transportation is provided by the hotels on these evenings out on the town.

Ralph Taylor, the managing director of the two Almond Beach properties, explains the program this way: "The complaint we hear from guests staying at some all-inclusive resorts is that it is too confining. We're proud of our sophisticated island and we want to incorporate its culture and local flavour into our guests' visits."

And to further encourage guests to savour the flavour of the culture, both resorts offer classes at Enid's Cooking School. Classes are conducted at Enid's, the authentic Bajan restaurant located at each property. And to complement the lessons, the resorts' gift shops offer Enid's Cookbook which features a collection of Bajan and Caribbean cuisine recipes served at the restaurants.

All Ages Welcome
The kids’ program at Almond Beach Village is another winner that's always a hit with parents. The kids aren't just parked; parents have total peace of mind thanks to the extensive supervised children's program, The Kid's Club, where they have facilities and staff to care for infants as well.

In keeping with the Almond Beach policy of encouraging guests to explore Barbados, the kids' off-site trips are a big hit. Activities include snorkelling over a shipwreck, a glass-bottom boat trip over a reef, a visit to a wildlife reserve, and a themed Bajan Day which explores island culture.

The kids' program gives Mom and Dad total peace of mind.

Kids and their parents have a section of their own at Almond Beach Village, complete with shallow kids' pools, children's activity centres and a beachside family restaurant that specializes in kid-pleasing food. More than a few kids and adults take advantage of the free Bajan hair-braiding that's available and few miss the weekly beach picnic.

For big kids, the par-three, nine-hole executive golf course is right there on the property. One guest was overheard to say: "I can sneak off to practise a bit, and sneak back into the pool in half an hour, and they never know I'm gone."

Adults only
For those who left the kids at home, there are two adults-only swimming pools in the nine-pool, 33 landscaped acres, not to mention a mile of beach. Every time I've visited, part of the entertainment has been watching the parade of weddings — a minimum of one per day. A favourite memory is of a British film crew on a wedding gown shoot, taking photos of a model in a $10,000 wedding gown and $2.99 plastic sandals on her feet. On another visit, I enjoyed watching a bride whose bouquet was bigger than her white bikini.

Many of the couples getting married are Canadian, due to the resort's 'free honeymoon policy' for Canadian guests. It includes eight special goodies.

The Almond Beach Club and Spa is an adults-only resort, with an intimate, fun-filled atmosphere. Situated on a pretty beach spread over four acres of tropical gardens, this smaller resort features 161 rooms and a great spa. However, guests at both Almond Beach properties can take a complimentary shuttle service to indulge in spa treatments, to play at the complimentary par-three golf course and to access the bars, dining rooms and entertainment offered at both resorts — and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Barbados is a five-hour non-stop flight from Toronto with convenient connections from other Canadian gateways. Airlines serving the island include Air Canada and Royal Airlines. Packages to Almond Beach Resorts are available through Signature Vacations, AlbaTours, Sunquest Vacations, Air Canada Vacations and World of Vacations. The language is English and Canadian currency is easily exchanged on the island. For information, call the Barbados Tourist Board at (416) 214-9880 or (800) 268-9122.

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