Barbados HIIT Bootcamp & Beach Fitness Retreat

Workouts run one to two times a day and are the same style Diana and Mat teach back home in New York: bootcamp classes with intervals and strength blocks mixed together, using dumbbells, kettlebells and TRX. Alongside the hard sessions they schedule lower-intensity restorative classes, mostly in the early evening, timed so you're loose for whatever is planned the next morning. On the Saturday you train at Surfside Wellness, described here as the top gym on the island, for a strength-based class.

The itinerary makes use of the island rather than parking you in a resort the whole time. Friday morning is a moderate hike in the mountains led by George Griffith, founder of Surfside Wellness, who also leads the second hike on Sunday afternoon. Saturday afternoon is a catamaran sail with snorkelling over shipwrecks and Bajan food on board. Friday evening the group goes to Oistin's Fish Fry, the fish market and street festival with food and dancing. Sunday ends with a restorative stretch and a celebratory BBQ with a bonfire. Wednesday and Sunday afternoons are deliberately free — you can add snorkelling, a rum distillery visit or jet skiing, or just lie on the beach.

Diana Mitrea came to teaching through Les Mills group fitness classes after college, then started writing her own programmes. She holds an ACE Personal Training certification and now teaches at boutique studios around New York. Mat Forzaglia played football, lacrosse and hockey through college and got his personal training certification soon after graduating. He trains clients at The Fhitting Room in NYC, including people with injuries and disabilities, and works with all fitness levels.

The two met at a gym in Boston and now run a brand together called Stronger With Time. Both teach regularly to groups, so the coaching standard is high — reviews quoted on the page mention clear demonstrations, individual form corrections and options offered mid-class.

The setting is the South Coast of Barbados, one of the more picturesque parts of the island. The hotel is a restored plantation house with cast-iron balconies, two pools, a spa, a game room and a fitness centre, and it sits right on the beach — several of the workouts happen on the sand out front.

What's included

- 5 days / 4 nights accommodation at a beachfront resort - 1-2 workouts per day with Diana and Mat, from high-intensity bootcamp to restorative classes - Daily breakfast at the resort - Two local-guided hikes - Welcome dinner at a local restaurant - Catamaran sail with snorkelling and Bajan delicacies - Visit to Oistin's Fish Fry - BBQ dinner party with food, games and a bonfire - Airport shuttle pick-up - Welcome wellness goody bag

What's not included

- Flights to Barbados - Travel insurance - Lunches and dinners other than those listed - Optional excursions such as snorkelling trips, rum tours and jet skiing - Spa treatments - Personal expenses