MEET OUR TEAM: VAIDA BLADES

Surrounded by happy people
 

​Matching guests with the excursion that suits their budget is just one of the things that makes Vaida Blades’ job so rewarding. Vaida runs the Activities Centre at Coconut Court Beach Hotel - she's the go-to person for advice about things to do on Barbados - and is married to Ted Blades, son of hotel founder Charlie and owner of Ted’s Tours. “For a small island Barbados has so much to offer,” said Vaida, who is originally from Lithuania. “Sometimes people have a smaller budget. If they don’t want a taxi or a tour guide, there’s always a local bus to places like Hunte’s Gardens, Welchman Hall Gully or Harrison’s Cave.”
 

Love blossomed on tour
 

She’s had a few unusual requests over the 13 years she's been on Barbados. “Guests who got married here 30 years ago wanted me to find the minister who carried out the original service," she said. "I tracked him down and they all got together and renewed their vows. It was lovely.” Among the most popular things to do is the catamaran tour where guests sail along the west coast and swim with turtles. The dinner show at Harbour Lights and Ted’s Tours is up there too - it was while on a tour as a guest that love blossomed and she met her husband Ted Blades. ​​

Contact with guests
 

One of Vaida’s favourite activities is Hike Barbados, organised by the Barbados National Trust. It’s popular with locals and free, though a small donation at the end is appreciated to cover the organisers’ costs.
“There are two hikes on a Sunday, one at 6am which I prefer or one in the afternoon. When they go over to the Codrington area of the island on the east coast… that’s just so beautiful.”  And her favourite attraction? Hunte’s Gardens in St Joseph.
It’s the contact with guests that she really enjoys. Working at Coconut Court means Vaida is surrounded by happy people. “I love meeting people, listening to their stories and it’s great to see them return to the island,” she said. “When I see them back again, it makes me think “where has the time gone?”” You can book your excursions through Vaida – she doesn’t charge a fee or a mark-up. This also has the advantage that any activity booked in advance with Vaida can be cancelled. You’ll find Vaida in the Activities Centre, just above Cocos restaurant. Contact her via the hotel or email her at vaidaki77@yahoo.co.uk. Her website is https://barbadosfuntours.webflow.io/.