From Lockdown to Island Life: One Family’s Bold Move to Barbados During the Pandemi

When the world shut down in 2020, the Cooper family did something unexpected — they opened a new chapter on a tropical island. Trading grey skies and Zoom fatigue in the UK for sunshine, sea breezes, and sandcastles, they relocated to Barbados with their two young children during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It wasn’t something we’d ever planned,” says Laura Cooper, mum to 5-year-old Ella and 2-year-old Noah. “But when the schools closed and we were both working from home full-time, we realised: if everything’s remote anyway, why not make it count?”

Byline: By Jaki Hannan, Family Travel Blog Contributor

A New Way of Living

Barbados had just launched its now-famous Welcome Stamp visa — allowing remote workers to live and work from the island for up to a year. The Coopers applied on a whim, were accepted within days, and within a month they had packed up their London flat and boarded a plane.

“There was definitely a what are we doing?! moment at the airport,” says Tom, who works in digital marketing. “We had two little kids, ten suitcases, and no clue how long we’d stay. But it felt like the right kind of crazy.”

Settling Into Island Life

The first weeks were a whirlwind. They rented a modest villa near the beach, enrolled Ella in a small local preschool, and tried to create some kind of routine in their new tropical reality.

“There was beauty everywhere,” Laura recalls. “The sea was turquoise, the fruit was ripe and sweet, the people were warm and welcoming. But there were meltdowns too — mostly from the grown-ups!”

Time zones made work tricky (especially with UK clients), and finding a reliable internet connection in a quiet spot away from toddler noise was a daily dance. “We took turns with the kids, had meetings in parked cars, and once even tried setting up a ‘home office’ under a mango tree,” says Tom with a laugh.

Raising Young Kids, Island Style

The biggest joy, the Coopers say, was watching their children thrive in a freer, more outdoor way of life.

“They were barefoot half the time, playing on the beach, climbing trees, learning about turtles and coral reefs,” says Laura. “Ella made friends from all over the world — Canada, the U.S., Barbados, Trinidad. It was like a global classroom.”

Still, parenting abroad brought its own set of challenges. Reliable childcare was hard to come by, and pediatric services were limited compared to back home. “Noah got an ear infection, and it took three different phone calls and a long taxi ride to sort it out. Moments like that made us realise how much we took access to healthcare for granted,” Tom admits.

Community and Culture

What the Coopers didn’t expect was the deep sense of belonging they found on the island. “Barbadian culture is incredibly family-oriented,” says Laura. “People would stop to talk to the kids, help us with groceries, give us directions. We were strangers, but we never felt like outsiders.”

They grew to love the slower pace of life — the Sunday fish fries, the sound of reggae on the breeze, and watching the sunset as a family almost every evening.

“It gave us space to reconnect,” says Tom. “Back home, we were always rushing — daycare, commuting, dinner, bedtime. In Barbados, we had time. That was the biggest gift.”

Returning Home — With a New Outlook

After 14 months on the island, the Coopers returned to the UK. Reentry, they say, came with mixed emotions.

“We missed our family and friends back home. And yes, we missed Amazon Prime delivery,” Laura jokes. “But part of our hearts is still in Barbados.”

The experience taught them to question what normal really means. “Do we need a big house? Do we need all those toys? Do we need to be stuck in traffic every morning? Barbados showed us another way — and that’s a lesson we carry with us every day.”

Advice for Other Families

For parents considering a similar leap, the Coopers share this advice:

• Lower your expectations, raise your openness. Things will go wrong, but incredible things will happen too.

• Routines matter, even in paradise. Kids still need structure — and so do you.

• Be part of the community. Learn the culture, support local businesses, make local friends.

• Embrace the adventure, not the fantasy. Island life is beautiful, but it’s still real life — with laundry, tantrums, and Wi-Fi issues.

A Bold Move, A Beautiful Chapter

Looking back, Laura says the move to Barbados wasn’t just about escaping lockdown — it was about discovering a different way of living, one more connected to nature, to family, and to the moment.

“It wasn’t always easy, but it was absolutely worth it. It changed us. And I think it gave our kids a sense of the world that will stay with them forever.”

Have you moved abroad with kids or worked remotely from an unexpected place? Tell us your story — we’d love to feature you!