Maxwell Holidays

The dinky resort of Maxwell lies on Barbados’ south coast, sandwiched between the fishing town of Oistins and party-hard St Lawrence Gap. It’s a low-key place – aside from the beach, there’s just a handful of hotels, a smattering of restaurants and a few stalls selling crafty bits and bobs.

Maxwell Beach is the kind of place that looks like it’s been lifted straight off a postcard. It’s a ribbon of flour-soft white sand, backed by palms and sea grape trees. Thanks to trade winds, it’s a mecca for wind and kite surfers – if you fancy trying it yourself, there are a few watersports huts where you can sign up for lessons.

While Maxwell itself is an early-to-bed type of place, its next-door neighbour – St Lawrence Gap – likes to stay up all night. Its bars and clubs get going around 11pm, with music ranging from reggae favourites to chart-topping tunes – including plenty by local girl Rihanna. To the other side of Maxwell you’ll find Oistins, a fishing town that’s famous for its lively Friday night fish fry.

Drive west from Maxwell and in less than 15 minutes you’ll hit Barbados’ capital, Bridgetown. UNESCO recently gave it their stamp of approval, handing the town and its historical Garrison area a World Heritage title. It’s got some of the best shopping on the island, too.