Laura

Hi, <BR>I am planning a birthday/anniversary trip w/my husband to the Bahamas in November. I've never been there, and with so many choices on where to go.. I need some help. <BR>Of course, there's Nassau... but what about the other islands? We're in our early 30's, athletic, love snorkeling, biking and tennis, and enjoy a little bit of nightlife (NO discos - prefer live,local music), and love visiting historical/natural sites. We tend to keep to ourselves on vacations because we hardly see each other due to jobs!), so lots of group activities are not a priority... however, we do like all-inclusives for their convenience. <BR> <BR>So, does anyone have suggestions? We are open to anything...

bob

Laura; My wife and I have been to many outer, friendly islands in the Bahamas. It's hard to recommend one to you, but there a nice snorkeling beaches on Eleuthera(Ten Bay Beach) and Exuma. Also, you can go out with a dive operation to snorkel on shallow reefs, as in Abaco. Try Abaco's bulletin and message board at: http://oii.net/Forum/abacoboard.shtml <BR> <BR>You can also rent a Boston Whaler and travel you your own snorkeling sites; just ask the marina operator, or locals, where the shallow reefs are. Have fun, bob <BR>

john

I think you might enjoy Paradise Island and especially the Atlantis Hotel there. Enough to do, but the beach area is great. I think the out-islands might be kind of boring by the sounds of you likes.

lisa

I have stayed at both Atlantis and the Radisson on Cable beach. I would recommend the Radisson on cable beach over Atlantis , which is really huge, a lot like an amusement park. The Radisson is on a beautiful beach,has a great pool,good restaurants and has activities.

Laura

Thanks for the responses... I just want to say that we are NOT interested in the Atlantis. Looks much to slick and crowded for our taste. I mean - we are going to an island - and want to feel like we're on an Island. <BR> <BR>Anyone been to Compass Point? Looks really neat in photos.

kathy

Laura, <BR> <BR>If you want to go somewhere with Island Appeal, then why go to the Bahamas? Very commercialized everywhere you go. Why not try St. Lucia or Bonnaire for the tropical feel.

Laura

We're going to the Bahamas because I have two free airline tickets to go there! So, I'm trying to find the best location for us. Thanks -- I do hope to visit St. Lucia someday - everyone I've talked to about it loved it there.

mgallagher

My wife and I vacationed in the Abaco's(the Bahamas)in April. It sounds as though your interests are similar to ours even though we're older (50). <BR>We rented a cottage on Lubbers Quarters, a small cay close to Great Abaco and Marsh Harbour. You have to rent a boat to get there(we're not boaters but did fine and had fun)! <BR>WE ate most every nite at small beachfront resturant called Yaho's.We did some snorkeling and exploring of the cays most every day. <BR>The web site for the cottage isandybottomscom. also check out abacovacations.com

Lara

If you can only fly into Nassau (if you have free tickets, I assume this is the case), you could also look at: <BR> <BR>Ocean Club <BR>Club Med Paradise <BR> <BR>Both quiet and away from the crowds and noise of Atlantis. But unlike Compass Point, still convenient for restaurants and shopping. <BR>

Danny

Laura, <BR> Try posting your question on one of the following web sites. There are many veteran travelers to the Bahamas that frequent them all and you should get some good options. www.bahamas.com , www.interknowledge.com, www.bahamas-mon.com or www.bahamas-on-line.com. Hope this helps. Personnally, I'd stay at the Nassau Beach Hotel on Cable Beach on New Providence, no owned by the next door Marriott and you can use all their facilities. Recently renovated (some construction might still be going on, but I'm not sure), and one of the more venerable hotels in the Bahamas. Still near the action, though. On GBI I'd recommend Reef Village, Phase I of three phases of the new The Lucayan Resort. You can check that out on their website, www.thelucayan.com. It opened in April, is offering special deals to attract people and is right in the middle of Port Lucaya, with the Marketplace and Marine across the street. My wife and I have been going to the Bahamas for 20 years, but don't hit the clubs often, so I can't help you much there. Good luck. <BR> <BR>Danny <BR> <BR>

Ryan

I am from South Florida and spent much of my early years vacationing in the Bahamas. They are NOT all comercialized. I went for close to a month a year for 14 years, and never went to Nassau, and once to Freeport. I spent my time on Man-O-War, near Marsh Harbour in the Abacos. I would highly recommend the Abaco in on Elbow Cay (pronounced Key) If you want a house, contact the owners of "Costa Lotta" (my neighbors from Fla. stay there) the old "Bell House" our stomping ground with a view of the ocean on one side and the Sea of Abaco on the other, or any other home owner on Man-O-War. Houses there are rustic, and the island is very small, safe and quiet. Lots of good stuff on the internet for the Abacos. Resturants including Wally's, the Conch Inn, Guana Cay Resort, Club Soleil (spelling ?? pronounce solay), Hope Town Harbour Lodge and for the real island adventure seeker.. Mother Mearle's (call a cab by VHF and make sure to tell him you want him to pick you up afterward as there are no cabs around ..Best food to $$ ratio in the islands). Other great islands to find a house in that area would be Scotland Island, Lubbers Quarters and Great Guana. I'll stake my name on these islands as rustic beatiful and cost efective (watch the cost of fuel and beer (can be 3$/ gallon and 45$per case, but houses can be 1000/week which for the size is a deal!) (although not as secluded from the world as they used to be as phones have become more common in the last 5-6 years). Do some internet searching on these islands. <BR>Have fun and please don't touch the coral!!!!

Ryan

That was Abaco Inn on Elbow Cay...

Derek L

My wife and I visited Green Turtle Cay of the Abaco chain for our last exotic vacation without babies and had a pleasant time. It is a quiet place with little of the rat race of other resorts. I reccomend it. <BR>

Bob

Laura; You may want to consider flying into Nassau, then taking Bahamas Air or another island hopper to one of the out islands. You sound like you'd enjoy one of the offshore cays(pronounced Keys) off of Great Abaco Island. Guana Cay is beautiful, and I'd recommend renting a boat(Boston Whaler is the best down there for the ocean) and visit and snorkel its isolated lagoons and beaches. You could also visit other offshore cays close by. Email me if you want more information. I've got tons of inso. Bob <BR>

tweedy

Laura, you sound like us, we just want to veg, read a book, swim in the pool, eat great food and relax. <BR> <BR>We love Harbour Island in the Bahamas, which is easy to get to from Nassau, you can fly on Bahamas Air (20 minutes to N. Eleuthera Airport) or you can take the ferry which is very romantic and a pretty 2 hour ride to Harbour Island ($90RT). <BR> <BR>There are several nice places to stay and several good restaurants and a bit of shopping. <BR> <BR>Harbour Island is one of the 10 most beautiful islands in the world as per Islands Mag a few years ago and has one of the most amazing beaches (pink sand) <BR> <BR>Our favorite place to stay is Runaway Hill Club (only 10 rooms, nice pool and right on the beach, no kids). They have a MAP plan and the food is GREAT. <BR> <BR>If you want to see some pictures, go to the www.where2stay.com board, if I can be of any more help, please let me know. <BR> <BR>tweedy

Joe Raphael

Try a combination of San Juan and the Virgin Islands. It covers all of above and variety. San Juan for history and night life.St Thomas for shopping, beaches and snorkeling. The Bahamas are wonderful for resting and beaches.

Joe Raphael

Forget the previous message, I didn't read about the tickets. You've gotten some very good info. so far. Atlantis is very touristy, but many people like that kind of thing. I call it Las Vegas in the Caribbean. I agree with Bob about Eleuthera. You'll have a great time anywhere.

Robert Morton

Laura; I have a Bahama questionairre which I found on the outer island of Abaco. If your answer is "YES" to 90 percent of these statements, I'd suggest hitting the friendly, outer islands of Abaco, Eleuthera, San Salvador, Long Island, Exuma, etc. Here they are: <BR> (1)I do not like a wild evening on the town <BR> (2)I do not like a wide choice of cuisine <BR> (3) A casino is not important to me <BR>(4) My kids don't need to watch TV. <BR>(5) I don't have to be entertained by professional performers. <BR>(6)I don't look forward to shopping in fancy department stores. <BR>(7) I don't need a hotel with a "Kid's Club" or babysitting. <BR>(8)I don't expect a lifeguard at the beach. <BR>(9)I don't need to keep in close contact with the office. <BR>(10) I don't expect room service and laundry to be done pronto possible. <BR>(11) I don't get mad if I'm not waited on pronto possible. <BR>(12) I don't need to visit the local museums and parks <BR>(13) I am not looking forward to learning limbo dancing. <BR>(14)I like reading a book in the sun for hours under a palm tree in a desolate beach. <BR>(15)I enjoy boating or fishing. <BR>(16)I can smile and say "hello" to total strangers I pass on the street. <BR>(17) I consider baracuda friends and not enemies when they curiously follow me when I snorkel. <BR>(18) I, and my family, can entertain themselves. <BR>(19) I don't mind sand in my shoes. <BR>(20)I think 'Happy Hour' is watching the sunset. <BR>(21) I am elated I can't find a copy of "USA Today" or the "WSJ" anywhere, and that my cellular phone accidentally(on purpose) fell into the sea. <BR>(22) I like to rent a Boston Whaler and tour the cays by myself. <BR>(23) I dig it when the fastest way to town is in a rented golf cart or on a <BR>bicycle, or maybe a motor scooter. <BR>(24) I'm not afraid of land crabs when hiking. <BR>(25) I love the out-of-doors and enjoy seeing wildlife in the wild, not in aquariums or bird exhibits, or zoos. <BR>(26) I like places where the tour of "Downtown" takes only 20 minutes on foot. <BR>(27)I love snorkeling, scuba diving or swimming in the salty sea. <BR>(28) I don't get upset when the salty sea makes my hair like a brillo pad, for fear I won't look good at the fancy restaurant I plan to dine at tonight. <BR>(29) I'll take a Kahlik Beer over a Manhattan or Martini any day. <BR>(30) I can handle the flight home leaving an hour or more late due to <BR>sudden bad weather, or, because the pilot and crew of one or two can't make it on time to the airport. <BR>(31) I don't mind seeing pigs or chickens scavaging on the lawn of government buildings. <BR>(32) I think it's fun and exciting when the power goes out for the third time in two hours. <BR>(33) Believe the highlight of the day is finding something neat on the beach. <BR>(34) When I get back to the states from the outer, remote islands, I learn some lessons I wish the U.S. culture would adopt. <BR>(35) I enjoy the out islands so much, that I would risk a Bahamas Air flight to one of them, knowing I'm the last plane out before the out-island flights are cancelled due to an approaching hurricane. <BR> <BR>Feel free to contact me if you have any questions on any of the 34 items. I will give you specific examples of them...they all happened to me. I love the OUTER ISLANDS! Robert