I have just returned from a 2 week stay at the Bougainvillea Beach Resort Maxwell Beach Barbados. Wow, what a time we had. My Husband and I went to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary and we were not disapointed! We were sc but the hotel does do b&b. We had breci a couple of mornings and there was a great choice. We had a couple of evening meals at there restaraunt Lanterns and the quality was great and the price was equal to that of restaraunts in the locality. I have to say that on the whole Barbados is expensive and lots of people go ai because of this. We new this so went prepared as we wanted to go off and explore the island as much as possible without being tied to the hotel. right, the hotel. we had a deluxe studio and the room was realy big with micro, 2 rings, fridgeand freezer a king size bed, plenty of wardrobe and hanging space, tv, phone, alarm and i pod docking station. There was plenty of mirrors with a hairdryer in a great location to one of them. There was also, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel hand soap and hand lotion in the bathroom and washing up liquid and sponge and t towel in the kitchen. Never found this at any other sc resort i have been to, also had iron and ironing board. They also offered a washing and dry cleaning service. Room service was available all night and every day. They had an activities desk were they gave you free advise and maps ect on anything you inquire about. They would book tables at restaraunts for you and they booked our hire car and trips for nearly the same as booking direct. The whole of the saff were fantastic, the bell boys,reception and activities staff, the bar staff the room cleaners( i never once washed up!!) There was a beach hut on the beach with 2 men who would sort out watersports for you and they gave you a beach towel which they changed every day for a clean one. there were free snorkles and masks, boogie boards available at no charge. Lanterns restaraunt was right on the beach and we never had a problem getting a sun lounger on the beach or around any of the 3 pools. The sea was quite lively and small children I believe would struggle but my husband and I loved it diving through the waves. Once you got through the break it was nice and calm but elderly, infirm or kids would struggle. The hotel is situated about a mile from st lawrence gap or the gap as the locals call it and a mile and a half from Oistins the oposite way. There are taxis right outside the hotel that charge 20 barbados dollers to take you to the gap, we did this twice on what we called our posh nights out!! You have to be adventurous and do it like the locals do so this is the best way to get around! If you turn left out of the hotel and follow the road around the next right hand bend up to the main road you will see the bus stop opposite the croton inn. If you wait here the goverment blue buses with a yellow strip will stop and u give 2 barbados hand over ur 2 dollers and tell them where you want to get of. The taxis will peep you at the bus stops and as u walk along the road as well and will charge you 20 so be carefull not to mix them up with the next form of transport that we took all the time which we called Boogie buses! They are little cream mini buses with a red strip down the side and they dont have a taxi sign on them. As you wait at the bus stop or walk along the road, we always used to start to walk they will beep there horn, if you turn and pop ur hand out they stop you jump in you hand over 2 dollers and tell them where you want to get off. Do not be put off as they are full of locals and look as if they are full but they always find room the locals are realy freindly and they have music blaring out. It is the quickest way and the cheapest way to get about you can go as far as the bus goes for just 2 dollers and they will stop and drop you off anywhere along the main road. Do not miss out they are a great expereance. Well I have loads more to tell you all about places of interest trips beaches ect but will have a break for now and come back soon with another instalment before I bore you all!!