Remember blazing sunshine?

Remember soft white sand, rum cocktails and bobbing about in the warm sea without a care in the world?

Barbados, known as the ‘pearl of the Caribbean’, offers all that and plenty more in spades. It’s all your post lockdown holiday dreams come true… and now it’s about to get a whole lot easier to get there once travel restrictions are eventually lifted.

Aer Lingus has announced that Barbados is its first Caribbean destination, with three weekly services between Manchester and Bridgetown Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados.

Starting on October 20th, 2021 (depending on Covid-19 restrictions) passengers will be able to fly from Cork via Manchester to Bridgetown from €618 economy return and from €2,600 business one-way.

The flight leaves Cork Airport at 7am, reaching Manchester at 8.35am for a two hour stop before leaving at 11am for the nine-and-a-half hour flight to Bridgetown.

The company says that flights (on sale now) will operate twice weekly until the beginning of November 2021, when they will then increase to three times per week.

Barbados is ready for visitors

In addition to having strict travel protocols in place for travellers, Barbados has so far vaccinated 60,000 individuals, which represents about 30% of the adult population. The island now leads the way as the most vaccinated country in the Caribbean.

Minister of Tourism and International Transport, Senator the Hon. Lisa Cummins, welcomed the announcement, highlighting that Barbados has a long, shared history with Ireland.

“With connectivity from both Dublin, Belfast and Cork, it is now easier than ever for Irish people to come and explore the beautiful Island of Barbados.” Ms Cummins said.

“This is the start of a long-term relationship with Aer Lingus. In the future, Barbados hopes to see a direct service from Dublin to complement this Manchester route.”

We’re already dreaming about what to pack.