Where to go for a romantic retreat in beautiful Barbados
Arriving in Barbados we have no need to rush — no need to worry. Checking in at The Crane Residential Resort, our bags are whisked away, and we're welcomed with a tropical rum punch elixir to let time … slow … down.
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Beyond the limestone walls that surround the heritage-inspired architecture of the courtyard and carp-filled fountain, is a suite of grandeur. Floor-to-ceiling cedar doors reveal hardwood flooring and mahogany furnishings, including a handcrafted four-poster king-sized bed, and then there's the fully equipped kitchen and Jacuzzi in the marble and coral stone bathroom. Wooden shutters open up to our own private pool and patio with a view of the windswept ocean, frothing the cliffs on which we are perched. So this is why people come here … a romantic seclusion in the most historic hotel in the Caribbean.
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Protected by a coral reef, warm Tiffany-blue waters lather the soft pink sands of the property's cove. Sipping rum with pineapple juice and nutmeg from a freshly cut coconut while sampling today's catch of a meaty grilled, lightly spiced marlin, we're absorbed by the serenity. On this beach, there is no concern about crowds or noise, and we come and go carefree. Going, we weave along cobbled paths through landscaped gardens and cascading pools. Shall we visit the spa? The fitness centre? Play tennis? Or go for a swim? The debate comes to a mellow halt, when all options are trumped by the sweet smell of waffle cones from the village café. Our cool scoop of 'sweet indulgence' is composed of Mount Gay rum, Irish creme, chocolate cake, cheesecake and coffee. Total bliss.
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While we laze in the water snorkelling, enormous turtles approach along side us. It is incredible to feel them as they swim by. Seduced by the aquatic views we go deeper, for a dive with Roger's Scuba Shack. Lead by the most happily relaxed instructor imaginable, we glide along the sea floor through multiple shipwrecks teaming with cosmically coloured fish and coral. Before the drive back through sugar cane fields to the Crane, we tour the oldest rum distillery in the world, Mount Gay Rum, to taste the island's ubiquitous liquor: warm, smooth, blended notes of banana, vanilla, almond and mocha.
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Dining at the Crane features the island's top-rated restaurants showcasing the bounty of the sea. Beginning with a 'gospel breakfast' at L'Azure, we forgo a morning coffee in lieu of this uplifting choral serenade. Poolside lunch at The Carriage House, overlooking the bay, we satisfy our craving for local Bajan Flying Fish in salt bread and a crisp salad. With the ambience of a Venetian piazza, D'Onofrio's offers a snack of individually sized, crunchy Barbadian pizza of salmon, black mussels, calamari and shrimp. Dinner on the veranda at L'Azure, directly above the cliffs, the sun sets over the ocean while we share a salad of tamarind glazed snapper with papaya, pineapple salsa, mixed greens and sprouts in a cumin vinaigrette. Succulent Bajan herb infused pork tenderloin with Four Square spice rum reflects an array of Caribbean flavour, while delicately crusted parrotfish topped with plump, spiced shrimp is a delectable showcase of local warm water fish.
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As the sun dips below the horizon, whistling frogs chime from the bushes ushering in the starry night. Aside from its stunning beauty and elegant design, the warmth of this place is in the subtleties of the hospitality. Live music plays from the saloon-styled Bar 1887, where happy hour seems to know no clock. Here, we have escaped and feel replenished.
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Winnipeg Free Press
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- Winnipeg Free Press
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez to spotlight Venice's artisanal heritage during upcoming nuptials
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Vancouver Sun
15-05-2025
- Vancouver Sun
Your guide to the baffling world of duty-free shopping
Duty-free stores are known for indulgences: alcohol and cigarettes, pricey face serums and chocolate bars that can feed a family of six. But these uncertain times of tariffs could cast the global retail outlets in a new light. No longer just an airport diversion, could they help keep your bathroom vanity, armoire and snack drawer well-stocked? 'People associate them with perfumes, chocolates and alcohol, but there are many other things available in duty free that could be a good deal,' said Becky Blaine, a travel editor with The Points Guy, which in 2019 compared the prices of 13 items in 50 duty-free shops. The first airport duty-free store was a 'gimmick,' said Scott Laird, a travel writer who has covered duty-free shopping. An Irish visionary named Brendan O'Regan hatched an idea to sell tax-free items to passengers stuck at Shannon Airport while their transatlantic planes refuelled. The kiosk, which opened in 1947, sold Irish whiskey and other local souvenirs. Plan your next getaway with Travel Time, featuring travel deals, destinations and gear. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Travel Time will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'They got an exception from the Irish authorities on local taxes on various products,' Laird said. 'So they were able to sell more by offering those products cheaper because they didn't have the local taxes. And that has taken off.' Duty-free retail is now a global juggernaut, worth $86 billion in 2019, according to the most recent publicly available data from the Duty Free World Council, an industry advocacy group. Airport stores around the world, from Detroit to Dubai, stock their shelves with international brands, plus a sprinkling of homegrown companies. Despite their universality, they can still be confusing, especially when you start doing the math. So here's a smart shopper's guide to duty-free stores. Duty-free shops carry products that are exempt from taxes and duties, including local, state and value-added taxes (VAT) and import duties. What you see is what you pay. The stores typically occupy 'stateless' places, such as border areas, airport terminals (post-security) and cruise ships; onboard shops are generally tax- and duty-free in international waters and closed while in port. Travellers can also find a few stand-alone stores, such as the sprawling complex in China's Hainan province. 'When you're leaving the country, you're in this weird nontaxable area,' Laird said. As part of the arrangement, travellers avoid paying taxes on goods in exchange for not consuming them on-site. To ensure the shopper is departing the country, they will have to present a boarding pass and passport at checkout. Their purchases will be sealed and delivered to the boarding gate, reducing any temptation to crack open that bottle of Fireball or Tom Ford fragrance. Travellers with a layover in the same country as their departure — such as a flight from New York to Los Angeles to Tokyo — can only shop at the last airport before they exit the country. Laird also warns of some 'extraordinary situations.' Travellers bound for the U.S. proper can't take advantage of duty-free in Puerto Rico, because it's in the 'same customs union as the mainland,' Laird said. They can, however, shop for tax-free goods in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Europe has varying rules, because its customs unions, or trade agreements, do not neatly align with the Schengen area. 'So a flight from Norway to Germany doesn't have passport control,' Laird said, 'but it does have duty free.' In addition to shopping on-site, many duty-free companies, such as Shop Duty Free, allow travellers to purchase products online, often with extra savings. The service is available at least 24 hours before takeoff. Shoppers must share their travel details, such as flight number, and pick up their gifts at the airport. Duty-free stores stock their shelves with an assortment of products that are typically heavily taxed, such as liquor; cigarettes; cosmetics; and luxury apparel and accessories, including watches, handbags and sunglasses. Most also sell chocolate and other candy, and some carry local souvenirs. The retailers will offer exclusive products, such as Lotte Duty Free's Dewycel mask set or Highloop picnic beach mat, available at Incheon International Airport in Seoul. 'It's typically a specific flavour or a gift box or set,' Laird said. The item's size or packaging also might be unique to that airport location. The amount of savings depends on an array of variables, such as the overall markup of the item and whether the product is made locally or imported. The price can vary by state, province, country, airport or even terminal. In the European Union, the standard VAT for the 27 member countries ranges from 8 per cent to 27 per cent, though foreign visitors can apply for a refund at the end of their trip. According to the website for France's international airports, duty-free shoppers can save on average 20 per cent, the amount of the VAT. In general, Laird said alcohol, tobacco and cosmetics are 'particularly good savings.' He advised against buying alcohol in the United States because its taxes are comparatively low. But if you're travelling to Tahiti, he suggests picking up duty-free liquor there because the prices on the French Polynesian island are so high. In The Points Guy's 2019 study, the staff recommended buying: alcohol in the Caribbean, cosmetics and perfumes in Europe and tobacco in Asia. For price-conscious consumers, the best duty-free shopping was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Singapore; and Grand Cayman Island. Sydney; Santorini, Greece; and Zurich were the priciest. If the cost of manufacturing rises, Laird said, companies could raise their prices. The duty-free stores could then pass along the higher prices to their customers. 'Duty-free will probably continue to be a cost savings for consumers,' Laird said, 'but retailers have a little bit of wiggle room on how they behave in the market, and that's the factor that we don't know.' However, Sanjay K. Dhar, a professor who studies retail at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, said airlines and airports rely on amenities such as duty-free shops to entice travellers. Higher prices could erode their customer base, so they will proceed with caution. 'Duty-free shops might pick up some of the margins, so the prices at duty-free shops will become more attractive than what you would pay if you had bought it in the local market,' Dhar said. For even greater savings, sign up for the free membership programs offered by the duty-free companies. You can receive discounts and other specials. 'If you make a big-ticket purchase on your outbound flight and then you see something you like at a store by the same operator on your return flight, you can use those points as a discount on your next purchase,' Laird said. Take a beat and check the prices online, factoring in taxes and shipping or pickup. If the items cost less at home, you can be excused for paying a little more at airport duty-free if you wish to consume the products during your trip or on your first night back from vacation.
