If youre loved up, into food, fun and spending time in the sun, its probably time you booked a holiday to Barbados – because theres a holiday that ticks all those boxes waiting for you there.
Sandals, the couples-only resort, is launching their Rumantic Culinary Retreat in November this year.
Curated by rum legend Ian Burrell and modern Caribbean chef Shivi Ramoutar, the seven-day break is packed with cooking masterclasses, trips to the local food market and, of course, a whole lot of rum.
I should know – I went earlier this year to see whether this really was the perfect couple getaway. And, well, aside from losing my phone by running into the sea in excitement, I wasnt disappointed.
As soon as we got there, we were warmly welcomed with a cocktail reception – thats before even being shown to our beautiful suite.
From there, it was onto a heavenly few days of relaxation, in between diving into authentic Caribbean cuisine and learning to make an array of delicious cocktails.
Advertisement
Advertisement
One of our hosts for the week was Shivi Ramoutar, a former contestant on MasterChef and author of a celebrated Caribbean cookbook.
We had a cooking masterclass with her, where we learnt how to make an incredible Bajan dish – foil-baked jerk snapper coupled with breadfruit chips.
Its one of Shivis signature dishes and I can tell you, its one youll definitely want to recreate at home.
As part of the package, we also got the chance to visit the local food markets with Shivi.
It was a chance to source fresh, local produce and dive into the true culture of Barbados, which was incredibly vibrant.
There were bustling streets lined with food and drink stalls and even in the local fish market, there were workers who were listening to music and dancing while they worked.
If you only do one thing at the market, find a vendor that sells doubles. These are fried flat breads that are filled with chickpeas cooked in onions, garlic, curry powder and cumin. It is incredibly flavoursome and really cheap.
Barbados is a pretty magical island.
On the way to and from different spots on the island, youll spot people selling melon and fresh coconut on the side-walk.
There are even people playing cricket, and all under the gorgeous sun.
Making things a whole lot merrier is the islands rum scene – and thats where our other host comes in.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Worlds leading rum ambassador Ian Burrell, whos a bit of a legend in the drinks industry, took us on an excursion to the local rum distillery at the palatial St Nicholas Abbey.
Its a beautiful house in the northern parish of St Peter that dates back to the 1600s.
We get a 2-hour tour with Ian, who has so many rum stories to tell. Somehow, we also squeeze in enough time to learn about how rum is made from start to finish.
Of course, no rum tour would be complete without the tasting.
We got to taste a few different styles from the distillery, including their standard white rum up to their aged 18-year-old rum.
A lot of work goes into producing these spirits, and the result is delicious. But honestly, your favourite will depend on what your palate prefers.
Back at the resort, we learnt how to put our new rum knowledge to good use – by shaking up some rum cocktails.
Theres something about making rum cocktails in the tropics that makes the whole experience that much more exotic.
While the food and drink experiences with Shivi and Ian are a big part of the Rumantic Culinary package, there is plenty to enjoy at the resort outside of the curated activities.
There are 11 different restaurants at the resort, offering everything from your classic steakhouse to sushi to curry.
My favourite was Butchs Chophouse where you could order different cuts of beef or go surf n turf.
Advertisement
Even better, at the nearby Sandals Royal Barbados, there are six more restaurants to try.
The one thing I would say is that it can be hard to find vegan food at the resort. Its possible, but they usually suggest you call ahead before you go.
There are also seven different bars across the resort, ensuring that youre never thirsty.
Like other luxury all-inclusive resorts, all the food and drink is included but there are upgrades and you can, for example, purchase premium wines.
Sandals Barbados offers different activities across the resort as well.
You can try bowling, watch live acts on stage or simply chill in the infinity pool with a cocktail in hand.
There are also organised excursions outside of the resort, including boat parties where youre taken out to sea to snorkel and swim with turtles.
This has to be my favourite part of the trip.
Back in the UK, its certainly hard to imagine going out on a lively party boat and then setting anchor somewhere so we could swim with turtles – but thats exactly what we did.
In fact, this was when I lost my phone – because I was so busy getting into the water that I forgot all about emptying my pockets.
Its hard to complain when I got to spend the rest of the day drinking rum and having great food on board after seeing all the tropical sea life while snorkeling.
Advertisement
Back at the resort, a treatment at the spa definitely helped as well. It was expensive though – expect to pay a couple of hundred of US dollars – but made me feel better.
I finished the day by drinking champagne in the hot tub in my room before heading out to enjoy the resorts many restaurants.
As you can imagine, after a few days, it was pretty hard to leave. Im not embarrassed to say I shed a tear as the taxi whisked me to the airport.
Fortunately, the Rumantic Culinary Retreat returns in November and I, for one, cant wait to go again.
Where to stay in Barbados and how to get there:
I stayed at Sandals Barbados for a taster of their Rumantic Culinary Retreat package.
Prices start from £1,875 per person, and includes seven nights all-inclusive accommodation at Sandals Barbados in a Caribbean Village Grande Luxe level room from November 17 to 24, 2018.
The package includes two cooking and rum masterclasses with rum ambassador Ian Burrell and chef Shivi Ramoutar, as well as a visit to a local distillery and food market.
The price also includes return Virgin Atlantic flights from London Gatwick, transfers, a welcome cocktail reception and a farewell gala dinner.
(Top picture: Picture: Myles Goode)
MORE: Why Nusa Penida is becoming the most Instagrammed island in Bali
MORE: Camels, dune bashing and star gazing: How to get the most out of Abu Dhabis desert
MORE: Why a cruise around the Caribbean is the perfect holiday for anyone with a chronic illness
Advertisement
Advertisement