Maybe Mick Jagger should take a trip here.
Travelers seeking an easy-to-reach destination that will impress on all fronts should start planning a vacation to Barbados.
At ITB, a travel trade show in Berlin on March 7, data collection agency Norstat announced that Barbados is the top-rated destination for travelers, according to the results of their annual Destination Satisfaction Index. The island destination scored an 8.8 out of 10 in a comprehensive evaluation that took into consideration 20 distinct elements.
To determine the top destinations, travelers reviewed 144 destinations around the world on such factors as weather, beaches, “service and hospitality,” accommodations, sightseeing and culture, and culinary offerings.
Enough gifted chefs have opened shop on Barbados to make it one of the most delicious destinations in the Caribbean — so don’t leave without ordering at least one plate of grilled lobster, flying fish with plantains and local Banks lager, and a pan-fried fish sandwich that even chef Marcus Samuelsson loves.
Related: This Caribbean Island Hideaway Is a Surf Paradise
But travelers were also asked to consider personal safety, landscape, the friendliness of locals, and value.
Norstat then calculated the scores from each individual category, as provided by more than 70,000 travelers from 24 markets around the world, to determine a general winner.
Barbados earned the best overall score, and it also took the top spot in the accommodations category.
A delegation from Barbados, led by the ministry of tourism and international transport’s permanent secretary, Donna Cadogan, accepted the awards at ITB Berlin.
“Over the last year, 2017, we would have had about 43 different establishments [refurbished],” Cadogan said, according to TravelPulse. The Fairmont Royal Pavilion, for example, is fresh off a multi-million dollar renovation. Travelers also rave about the iconic Sandy Lane Hotel, the polished Lone Star Boutique Hotel, and the Sea-U Guest House.
Other island destinations that outperformed their neighbors regionally include the Seychelles (for Africa) and the Maldives (for Asia). The latter also earned top marks for its beaches with an impressive score of 9.3 out of 10.
