Barbados

I’ve never been to Barbados but often hear of its beauty. The beaches, excellent surfing, and local entertainment are just a few reasons to visit. And don’t forget that rum was invented in Barbados…

American visitors to Barbados needn't worry about the weak dollar: the Barbadian dollar is pegged to it ($1 is worth two Barbadian dollars). Holding onto your cash, however, is another matter. The resort-packed Gold Coast — or, as some call it, the Platinum Coast — more than lives up to its name. But if you head off to the rugged, less-populated east coast of this pear-shaped island, and choose carefully in the overdeveloped south, you can see a more authentic side of Barbados and still have a few bucks left over for a bottle of rum.

Source: New York Times
Photo : Dan Schofield for the New York Times