2019 West Indies

[arthursboy]

Thinking of heading to the West Indies ( Barbados ) to watch a test,bit of a bucket list item.
Realise the dates are not released yet other than Feb - March.
Anyone been before and any advice, Hotel wise I’m not after summit posh ( our lass not going )
Joined the Barmy Army travel so they will send me some details, just need some advice, me and the bairn heading over fingers crossed.

 

[Greavsie]

Thinking of heading to the West Indies ( Barbados ) to watch a test,bit of a bucket list item.
Realise the dates are not released yet other than Feb - March.
Anyone been before and any advice, Hotel wise I’m not after summit posh ( our lass not going )
Joined the Barmy Army travel so they will send me some details, just need some advice, me and the bairn heading over fingers crossed.

@NorthCountryBoy a decent bet to know the answers altho he’s the tightest, meanest man I know so if you’re expecting accommodation with beds and match tickets with views of the pitch, he may not be the best to ask

 

[brandon]

Thinking of heading to the West Indies ( Barbados ) to watch a test,bit of a bucket list item.
Realise the dates are not released yet other than Feb - March.
Anyone been before and any advice, Hotel wise I’m not after summit posh ( our lass not going )
Joined the Barmy Army travel so they will send me some details, just need some advice, me and the bairn heading over fingers crossed.

I've not had the fortune of travelling yet to see England, but I think the general consensus is DO NOT go with the Barmy Army because they'll rip your eyes out. Much better to organise your own flights, room, tickets, etc.

 

[arthursboy]

I've not had the fortune of travelling yet to see England, but I think the general consensus is DO NOT go with the Barmy Army because they'll rip your eyes out. Much better to organise your own flights, room, tickets, etc.

Yeah agree, just joined them to get some details, I usually book everything myself.
Thought they may some info on hotels and if Barbados was better or worse than some of the other tests.

@NorthCountryBoy a decent bet to know the answers altho he’s the tightest, meanest man I know so if you’re expecting accommodation with beds and match tickets with views of the pitch, he may not be the best to ask

 

[NorthCountryBoy]

I've not had the fortune of travelling yet to see England, but I think the general consensus is DO NOT go with the Barmy Army because they'll rip your eyes out. Much better to organise your own flights, room, tickets, etc.

Kind of!

They're meant to be the cheaper of the tour groups but as you say loads better to do your own thing, especially if you're social enough to make mates when you're out there.

Buy your own flight, taxi to digs, and match tickets aren't hard to get, about £25 a day from memory. The BA forum should have an archive section from the 2015 tour there which will be a good source of tips. From what I've heard of the islands (important, as they're massively different):-

Antigua - nice but very micey and most people stick to a resort as a result so maybe miss out a bit on the culture bit
Jamaica - see above
Guyana - shithole
Trinidad - not sure!
Barbados - lush and very little crime as the locals self police due to tourism being their main industry.

We did Barbados and stayed in an Air BnB equivalent near St Lawrence Gap, the main drinking bit (some locals rent out the top floor of their houses when England tour, and we landed one of those). Paid a fraction of what the people up the coast in nice hotels did and some other lads we met from up this way preferred what we did as we got the authentic experience, eating in their cafes, drinking in their bars, getting the reggae bus to town etc. But no doubt you could get a bad experience doing that and hotels are a good way to meet others if you're on your own.

@The Lambton Worm has done the tour loads though and is probably a good source of info. @Paddy O'Dors too.

 

[arthursboy]

Kind of!

They're meant to be the cheaper of the tour groups but as you say loads better to do your own thing, especially if you're social enough to make mates when you're out there.

Buy your own flight, taxi to digs, and match tickets aren't hard to get, about £25 a day from memory. The BA forum should have an archive section from the 2015 tour there which will be a good source of tips. From what I've heard of the islands (important, as they're massively different):-

Antigua - nice but very micey and most people stick to a resort as a result so maybe miss out a bit on the culture bit
Jamaica - see above
Guyana - shithole
Trinidad - not sure!
Barbados - lush and very little crime as the locals self police due to tourism being their main industry.

We did Barbados and stayed in an Air BnB equivalent near St Lawrence Gap, the main drinking bit (some locals rent out the top floor of their houses when England tour, and we landed one of those). Paid a fraction of what the people up the coast in nice hotels did and some other lads we met from up this way preferred what we did as we got the authentic experience, eating in their cafes, drinking in their bars, getting the reggae bus to town etc. But no doubt you could get a bad experience doing that and hotels are a good way to meet others if you're on your own.

@The Lambton Worm has done the tour loads though and is probably a good source of info. @Paddy O'Dors too.

Got married many moons ago and stayed in St Lawrence , loved it and the locals were class.
Some great advice there , thanks for that exactly the kind of info I’m after.

 

[WCC]

Me and @sproates33 are looking into this. Always wanted to do an overseas tour.

 

[The Lambton Worm]

@NorthCountryBoy has nailed it pretty well.

I've been to Barbados six times for the cricket. I've stayed in the Gap four times and in the Holetown/Speightstown area twice. They both have merits and disadvantages. Holetown & Speightstown are on the north west coast and are quiet but more exclusive than the Gap. They're also out of the way although the beaches along the west side of the island are the best. Holetown is more popular as it has more bars. The Gap is livelier and is the party area of the island. This is where most of the hotels etc are. The beaches are pristine but in some areas the sea can be a bit iffy with undercurrents. The east side of the island is not as developed as the south & east sides as that's the Atlantic side and there's no swimming allowed due to the severe undercurrents.

Last time I was there (2015) I stayed at Dover Beach Hotel at one end of the Gap. Its right on the beach and I'd highly recommend the place. @Musicman and his mates from Seaham stayed there at the same time and took the place over with their flags. I booked it through British Airways and for flights from NCL-LHR, coach to Gatwick and then flight to Barbados, 15 nights in a single room was just shy of £1600 return. Obviously if there's more than one of you then the price will decrease dramatically. Its also worth bearing in mind that Feb-Mar is their high season so prices for flights etc will be more expensive. Thomson & Virgin also fly there from LGW & MAN and can be cheaper than BA.

Ticket wise - you should have no problems getting tickets for a test as they're only popular with England fans. ODI's are more popular with the locals but getting tickets isn't a problem. I normally email where I'm staying and ask them to get me tickets for when I arrive. This is common practise in hotels but I'm not sure about B&B's, apartments etc. Do not buy your tickets in England as you'll be charged premium prices.

I'm hoping to do St Lucia this time around but depending on dates & venues I may well end up in Helena's rum shack in the Gap for two weeks again.

 

[arthursboy]

@NorthCountryBoy has nailed it pretty well.

I've been to Barbados six times for the cricket. I've stayed in the Gap four times and in the Holetown/Speightstown area twice. They both have merits and disadvantages. Holetown & Speightstown are on the north west coast and are quiet but more exclusive than the Gap. They're also out of the way although the beaches along the west side of the island are the best. Holetown is more popular as it has more bars. The Gap is livelier and is the party area of the island. This is where most of the hotels etc are. The beaches are pristine but in some areas the sea can be a bit iffy with undercurrents. The east side of the island is not as developed as the south & east sides as that's the Atlantic side and there's no swimming allowed due to the severe undercurrents.

Last time I was there (2015) I stayed at Dover Beach Hotel at one end of the Gap. Its right on the beach and I'd highly recommend the place. @Musicman and his mates from Seaham stayed there at the same time and took the place over with their flags. I booked it through British Airways and for flights from NCL-LHR, coach to Gatwick and then flight to Barbados, 15 nights in a single room was just shy of £1600 return. Obviously if there's more than one of you then the price will decrease dramatically. Its also worth bearing in mind that Feb-Mar is their high season so prices for flights etc will be more expensive. Thomson & Virgin also fly there from LGW & MAN and can be cheaper than BA.

Ticket wise - you should have no problems getting tickets for a test as they're only popular with England fans. ODI's are more popular with the locals but getting tickets isn't a problem. I normally email where I'm staying and ask them to get me tickets for when I arrive. This is common practise in hotels but I'm not sure about B&B's, apartments etc. Do not buy your tickets in England as you'll be charged premium prices.

I'm hoping to do St Lucia this time around but depending on dates & venues I may well end up in Helena's rum shack in the Gap for two weeks again.

Hey lad that’s class and here’s me treating as part of me bucket list.
Great info marra, is there a canny crowd get there and is it worth investing in a flag for the trip ?
Met some of the Barmy Army when they came up for a cricket match, seem to be canny lads who we met.

 

[The Lambton Worm]

Hey lad that’s class and here’s me treating as part of me bucket list.
Great info marra, is there a canny crowd get there and is it worth investing in a flag for the trip ?
Met some of the Barmy Army when they came up for a cricket match, seem to be canny lads who we met.

The vast majority who travel are friendly although you do get the odd bad apple. The locals are the same too. Flag wise, its up to you. There's always plenty of England & Wales flags but all football rivalry is put on the back burner. You'll have a cracking time watching the game, drinking and having some banter with the people around you.

 

[stephen cartwright]

@archiesdad

This thread should help you.

 

[Rip Van Fish]

I've not had the fortune of travelling yet to see England, but I think the general consensus is DO NOT go with the Barmy Army because they'll rip your eyes out. Much better to organise your own flights, room, tickets, etc.

Always This

Thinking of heading to the West Indies ( Barbados ) to watch a test,bit of a bucket list item.
Realise the dates are not released yet other than Feb - March.
Anyone been before and any advice, Hotel wise I’m not after summit posh ( our lass not going )
Joined the Barmy Army travel so they will send me some details, just need some advice, me and the bairn heading over fingers crossed.

Sunbay Hotel mate.
Reasonably priced and good sized rooms.