Blue Skies, white clouds
Written: Feb 21 '02 (Updated Oct 16 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Azure blue waters, white sandy beaches, palm trees and wonderful people.
Cons: City outside Nassau needs road and sidewalk repairs.
The Bottom Line: This is a great vacation, just hours from home. Relaxing getaway.
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| nassaugirl's Full Review: Nassau |
This is not a trip report, but a general overview.
When you think of the Bahamas you should think of its’ natural beauty, azure blue waters, white sandy beaches, palm trees blowing in the breeze, as well as the culture, local food and friendly people. Nassau is Capital of the Bahamas, and the hub of the banking, tourist and fishing industries, as well as the seat of the Bahamian government.
Experiencing Nassau should give you a feeling of peaceful enjoyment. The pace is slow and calming, they call it “Bahamian Time”. Shift into ”BT” the minute you step off the plane/ship and you will enjoy your stay like a native. You’ll enjoy your trip more if you remember that the native live by this time and they may seem slow and uninterested. It’s part of the culture, don’t fret and whine and you’ll do fine. This is their culture, respect it as in any other foreign land.
Keep in mind, the more you complain in this culture, the more they will turn a deaf ear and ignore you.
As a key tourist location, there are loads of fun and entertaining things to do. From water sports and sunning to casinos and nightlife. The Bahamas has something for everyone.
Cuisine runs from local dumpling soup, conch salad, cracked conch and macaroni and cheese, to world class dining at Greycliffs, The Pink Pearl and Chez Willies.
There are three main tourist areas in the Nassau area, Cable Beach, Downtown Nassau and Paradise Island. There are other great locations such as Lyford Cay, South Beach, Compass Point and South Ocean.
Transportation between these main areas is quite simple. There are plenty of taxis, jitneys, carriages, and ferryboats.
The #10 jitney will carry you to and from Nassau and Cable Beach/Compass Point for $.1.00 pp each way.
You can take the native ferryboats to and from Nassau/Paradise Island every day from 9am – 6pm for $3 pp each way. They run every 30 minutes. Some of these boats don’t look like much, but they are inspected, licensed, insured and registered by the government, and run by licensed captains. Enjoy the experience.
General Things to Do:
ˇ Sea Island Adventure – tour to private Rose Island
ˇ Blue Lagoon Adventure
ˇ Dolphin Encounter
ˇ Scuba diving – Learn to dive in one day or cert dives.
ˇ Snorkeling trips
ˇ Booze Cruise
ˇ IAC Challenge – Join the crew of an America’s cup racing boat. Great family fun.
ˇ Powerboat Adventure to Exuma
ˇ Harbour Island Day Away on the Fast Ferries
ˇ Hartley’s underwater walk
ˇ Deep Sea Fishing
ˇ Flying Cloud Catamaran tour
ˇ People to People Connection – enjoy the day as a true Bahamian, spend the day with a local enjoying family life.
These tours are available from you hotel tour desk and pickup from you hotel or local dock.
Cable Beach – generally known as the Caribbean Riviera, this area is teaming with great beaches, good food and an enjoyable staff.
Hotels - The main hotels on Cable Beach are Radisson, Marriott Crystal Palace and Casino, Nassau Beach Hotel, Breezes, and Sandals as well as several timeshares.
Beaches – The Cable beach area is Nassau’s most beautiful beach. These waters are calmer than those at Atlantis/Paradise Island, since they are in more protected waters. The hotels stand on a good portion on the beach, but you can walk east along the beach and enjoy less crowded surroundings.
Water Sports – Jetskis, parasailing, bananaboat rides, snorkeling etc, are available right off the beach. These activities are usually less expensive at Cable Beach than at Atlantis / Paradise Island beaches.
Restaurants Each Hotel has it’s own restaurants attached to it. I’m not a fan of hotel food, so I won’t comment. For restaurants outside the properties, try:
ˇ Café Johnny Canoes – Caribbean / continental, great food at great prices with a fun local band playing most evenings. Friday night Junkanoo parade is a must see. FUN STAFF.
ˇ Capriccios at the roundabout – Wonderful Italian cuisine.
ˇ Dicky Mo’s – West Bay Street – Caribbean Continental
ˇ Poop Deck at Sandyport – Wonderful Seafood
There is also a Subway and Dominos for those who are homesick.
Nightlife
. The Living Room at Nassau Beach Hotel (R&B)
ˇ The Casino at Marriott Crystal Palace
ˇ Kings and Knights Native Revue at Nassau Beach Hotel
ˇ Lounges at the Marriott Casino,
ˇ Phil’s Sports Bar at the Casino,
ˇ Lounge at the Radisson
ˇ OutIsland Lounge at the Nassau Beach Lobby
ˇ The Zoo
To Do at Cable Beach
ˇ Strawmarket across the street
ˇ Sun and Fun at the Beach
Downtown Nassau is the hub of the financial industry as well as the Bahamian Government.
The Cruise ships dock at Prince George Wharf in downtown Nassau, just steps from the docks and Bay Street Shopping. Most activities and tours pick up at the downtown docks, or you can catch a ferry boat to paradises dock to meet your tour boat.
Hotels
The only major hotel is the British Colonial Hilton, my favorite, this is a classy, luxury hotel in the middle of downtown Nassau. This newly renovated classic beauty is an oasis in this bustling town.
The Holiday Inn Junkanoo is a few blocks left of town, and is considered a budget hotel. This property has been newly renovated and is clean, safe and comfortable for the budget travel.
The Towne Hotel, Red Carpet, and Park Manor are tourist hotels not near the beaches.
Graycliffs is a lovely bed and breakfast up the hill from town.
Beaches – Nassau Beaches are plentiful, but most are not considered ‘Tourist” beaches. The only beach downtown with lounges, lifeguards or amenities is the beach at the British Colonial Hilton. This little slip of beach is an oasis of pleasure with a view of the lighthouse at Paradise Island and the Cruise Ships as they move in and out of the harbour. The beach is just steps away from the pool and Patio Grille, and has wait service for drinks and lunch poolside or on the beach. Kayaks and snorkeling are available to guests.
Junkanoo Beach is just west of town and is a long stretch of local beachfront with calm, pristine waters, the beach is not always kept clean, and there are no lounges, towel services or bar service.
Montegue Beach is East of the paradise Island Bridge at Fort Montegue. This stretch of beach is shaded by seagrapes trees and coconut palms. It is just steps away from the local market selling fresh fish, conch, fruits and vegetables. No lounges, towel service etc.
Nightlife
ˇ Bahamaboom Niteclub - East of Rawson Square / Club Crowd
ˇ Club 601 nightclub - East Bay Street / Club Crowd
ˇ Waterloo’s – East of Paradise Island Bridge / Club Crowd
ˇ Hammerheads – Just West of paradise Island Bridges / Hanging out
ˇ Cocktails & Dreams – Local club/ West Bay Street
ˇ Sand Trap – local club /West Bay Street
ˇ Palm Court at the Hilton – Dancing to the tunes of Jay Mitchell. Adult Crowd
ˇ Billabongs – Aussie Pub and Restaurants – Darts and beer
. Blue Note Jazz at the British Colonial Hilton
Restaurants – There are many restaurants to choose from in Nassau, some of my favorites are
ˇ Café Matisse
ˇ The Poop Deck at the Paradise Bridge
ˇ Montegue Gardens
ˇ Mandarin Court – Chinese
ˇ Green Shutters Pub and Restaurant
ˇ Greycliffs – Very Pricey – 5 star, great for special occasions
ˇ Chez Willies
ˇ Bahamian Kitchen
ˇ Shoals
ˇ Portofino’s at the Hilton
ˇ Iguanas Café (lunch)
ˇ Conch Fritters
ˇ Café Skans ( Bahamian lunch)
To Do in Nassau
ˇ Adastra Gardens and Zoo
ˇ Strawmarket
ˇ Shopping at Bay Street
ˇ Arawak Cay Fish Fry – local village of stalls and restaurants serving local food – music some nites
ˇ Parliament House
ˇ Government House
ˇ Rawson Square
ˇ Fort Fincastle
ˇ Queens Staircase
ˇ Changing of the Guards
ˇ Afternoon Tea at the British Colonial
ˇ Carriage tour
ˇ Fort Montegue
ˇ Ferry boat to Paradise Island
Paradise Island was once the most beautiful peaceful place on earth, with natural flora that would rival none.
Atlantis has destroyed the natural beauty of nearly 2/3 of the island and erected a Las Vegas Style monolith which caters to up to 8000 people per day. The aquariums are beautiful, and the grounds are well designed, but I must say, it just doesn’t belong in Paradise. Club Med and the very wealthy homeowners on the Western Part of the island have maintained some of the original beauty of the island.
Hotels: Club Land’or , Atlantis, The Ocean Club, Club Med, The Yoga Retreat, Pink House, Chaplin House, Comfort Suites, The Sheraton Grand, Holiday Inn Sunspree, Bayview Village, Sunrise Village.
Beaches:
ˇ Cabbage Beach – in front of the Sheraton and Atlantis – this water is sometimes rough, and the beach gets narrow at high tide, you can walk east to find a more secluded spot.
ˇ Paradise Cove and Club Med Beach – truly the most beautiful spot in the Bahamas, this section of beach, from the breakwater to the Lighthouse is protected by the break water and has some of the best snorkeling in the area. Access as a member of Club Med, or by walking west along the width of Atlantis, over the breakwater. This is public beach, but has limited access.
Restaurants:
ˇ The Dunes at Ocean Club - I don’t usually recommend hotel dining but this on is exceptional. Expensive, but worth it
ˇ Blue Lagoon at Club Land D’or – The best Fine dining on Paradise Island, great food, terrific staff
ˇ The Courtyard Terrace – Wonderful romantic hideaway. Pricey, but a real treat
ˇ Anthony’s Grill - TGIF’s goes Caribbean
ˇ Green Parrot – Good food, good prices, nice surroundings at the Hurricane Hole marina
ˇ Blue Marlin - Decent food, fun Native show.
Nightlife:
ˇ Casino at Atlantis
ˇ Club Land’Or – Entertainment nitely
ˇ Comedy Club
ˇ Atlantis Clubs and Disco’s
ˇ Blue Marlin – Native Show
To Do on Paradise Island
ˇ Versaille Gardens
ˇ The Cloisters
ˇ Paradise Island Golf Course
ˇ Atlantis Water Slides and Pools (For guests of Atlantis and Comfort Suites ONLY)
ˇ The Digs ($25 fee to non guest)
ˇ Strawmarket
ˇ Day Pass to Club Med
Recommendations and observations:
The cost of most items in the Bahamas are very expensive. They are about 20% higher than NYC pricing.
Food Prices are somewhat prohibitive at some restaurants. There are a few that may be worth the extra $$$, but I’m not a fan of the food or prices at the Atlantis.
I recommend that you bring snacks such as breakfast bars, trail mix etc for you kids, teens, etc, as snacking can become very costly.
I recommend purchasing inexpensive snorkel/mask so that you can snorkel anytime, anywhere.
For those staying in a timeshare with a kitchen, I recommend you bring some things from home, like breakfast cereal, granola bars, cookies, crackers, trail mix, powdered drink mixes etc. There is a City Market at Cable Beach, and in Nassau to purchase groceries, but beware groceries are VERY expensive.
There is also a small grocery store at the Hurricane Hole Shopping Plaza for those on Paradise Island. It is within walking distance of the condos at Harbourside. This spot is even more expensive than Nassau, so I recommend you shop downtown at the CityMarket by the Ferry boats, and take the ferry back and forth.. it’s all part of the adventure.
For more info on Restaurants, activities etc, visit my website at : http://www.bahamas-treasures.com
It’s not a commercial website, but a labor of love.
Peace
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Couples
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
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Epinions.com ID:
nassaugirl
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Location: NYC/Nassau,Bahamas
Reviews written: 5
Trusted by: 2 members
About Me:
NYC Web producer with a yen for travel.
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