Hi all - We're spending a week in Eleuthera soon. On the way home we have a long layover at Nassau Int'l Airport. We'd love to see some of the island, even so briefly. Does anyone have any suggestions re taxi or bus or where to go? We like straw markets, pretty scenery and beaches. Thanks a million!

All you'll be able to take is a taxi from the airport. Let's see, 7 hours..hmmmm. I know take a taxi to downtown Nassau, and get off by the straw market just past the British Colonial Hotel on Bay Street. Shop at the straw market on West Bay Street, then hit the downtown shops. Next, stroll down Charlotte St. or Parliament St. to the surrey rides on Woods Rogers Walk. Take a tour of Nassau via horse and buggy there. Now, that should gobble up 3 hours from the time you boarded a taxi at the airport. If you have 4 hours left, I'd walk down down Woodes Roger Walk St. heading west, and you'll come to a small, Bahamian run ferry boat to Paradise Island. For a cheap fare, they chug among the cruise ships docked at Prince George Dock and across the bay to PI. For a fee, you could stroll through the Atlantis complex and see the huge aquarium there filled with caribbean reef fish and sharks. Then, walk back to the ferry boat (to the left of the PI Bridge) and head back to Nassau, and taxi back to the airport. Instead of ferrying over to PI, you could walk up and down Parliament St. and see the historic library, Parliament Bldg., and government offices, all painted in pink with white trimmings. Have fun. Robert

I don't know what you can do with your luggage, so I would suggest taking it with you and drop it off at the British Colonial for a few hours at the Bell Stand, then pick it up on your way back to the airport. You can't check it and leave the airport. Also you have to go through customs.

Which airport are you flying into? Have you thought about taking the late fast ferry instead of flying, that way you have one more day on island. Also there is a later Bahamas Air flight, but don't know which airport you are using, it would be helpful to know that part as well.

Have a great time on Eleuthera and if you have some time, do a little exploring like the ocean hole and head down to Tarpun Bay, nice artist community there, and see the "castle" if it is open for tourists.

Mal Flanders is the best known artist in the area and his "gallery" is not hard to find, just ask anyone you meet. You might find a piece of his art to take home. (We have 4 of his pieces).

If you have any other questions, let us know.

Thanks so much for your responses. Due to your help, I was prepared for the fact that we could not leave our luggage anywhere at the Nassau airport. My husband waited at the airport with the bags and read a good book. I took the 4 teenagers and hailed a van-taxi cab. For $28 plus tip, he took us to the straw market/Bay Street/cruise terminal area, where we had a blast checking out the goods and eating lunch. (There were no gift stores to speak of on Eleuthera so the kids hadn't bought souveniers for their friends yet) 2 1/2 hours before our flight was to leave Nassau, we caught a van cab back and went through the laborious security/customs/Homeland Security line. Many thanks!

Jil2; glad to help. Robert