Abacos last minute?
 

Looks like I need help. My husband & I want to go to the Abacos 4/9-4/14. The first few places we tried were booked solid. We're looking for a place with a beach and fishing.<BR>Am I utterly unrealistic to think that ALL 656 rooms on the island are taken? Does anyone have a recommendation (other than try again in June!)?<BR>

Yes, here are a couple of ideas that may help.<BR><BR>Try the www.abaco.com board and the www.where2stay.com board. Where to stay will also list islands and give you access to pictures, rates and contact info.<BR><BR>Also try Liberty Travel here in NY, they specialize in the carribean.<BR><BR>April is high season in the Bahamas so alot of rooms are booked well in advance.<BR><BR>Hope this helps.<BR><BR>tweedy

Hi! Have you tried Walker's Cay (famous for the "Walker's Cay Cronicles" in Abaco? Great fishing, small island w/beach for snorkeling pleasures as well or hanging to read. Good Luck!

Deb; Great Abaco Island has dozens of cays lining her eastern shores. From Marsh Harbor, you could travel to Great Guana Cay on Albury's Ferry. Have you contacted the Great Guana Seaside Village? Or, on beautiful Hopetown, call Hopetown Hideaways at 242-366-0224. One other option, call Abaco Real Estate at 242-367-2719; they may have listing of houses and cottages already sold to people, but also rent them out for the owners. You know, there's a lady I just thought of who rents golf carts to travel on in Great Guana Cay, off of Abaco. Her name is Donna Sands, and her husband has hilltop homes and lots for sale. She knows everything which goes on on Guana, a beautiful cay with 7 miles of isolated beaches. Call Donna at 242-365-5195 and see if she knows of any vacansies. Hope this helps. Robert

I got lucky! Sondra from Dolphin Beach resort called me back this AM and has what sounds (and looks from the website) like what I need. Walker's Cay looked great for my husband...yes, he drooled, but I'd like to see him occasionally. It'd be like sending a gambling addict to Las Vegas. Thanks for the info on the golf cart---it definitely sounds like a good time and I'll call her.<BR> Now I'm trying to get flight connections. I usually use a travel agent BUT without the airlines reimbursing it has made it darn near impossible!<BR> Thanks all for the handy assistance.

Deb...YOU LUCKED OUT!! Dolphin Beach is great, and the little restaurant has seafood and buffets that are unmatchable. Take Albury's Ferry over to Guana Village, and Donna will meet you on the docks with a golf cart. You are a short stroll to Guana Village, which is laid back and lined with colorful Bahamian houses with hibiscus and oleander flowers growing all over. HIT NIPPERS, which is a short stroll through the village on the other side of it, just past the cemetary. Great drinks. Now, for the best kept secret. Off of Nipppers is a great shallow reef you can snorkel out to. And, their Grouper was swimming in the ocean that day, and will fill half your plate. It comes with Pidgeon Peas and rice, a Bahamian stable, for a reasonable price. YOu will laugh at the grouper or snapper back in the states. Also, Nippers boogies on Saturday nights, and their pig roast is quite a time. Also, hit Coco Paradise next door. I envy you. Oh, forgot, Dolphin Beach has a dive/snorkel op called Froggies...go on it. My wive and I were going out to Fowl Cay with them, and ran into a pod of 30 wild, spotted dolphins, with babies. You'll want to snorkel Fowl Cay Preserve, which Froggies goes to. You can island explore with your golf cart, but get one with big wheels. visit Gauana Seaside Resort on the northern section of Great Guana Cay, and say hi to them for me. Robert

Deb: We're thinking of the Abacos as a vac. destination for March, 2003. Let us know what kind of fares you find. Best I can find is around $590 (from the Philly). The Dolphin looks awesome-have fun! ;)

$590 is not out of line for airfare to Abaco; we typically get to MHH from BWI for about $400-$450. A lot of people take the smaller carriers out of Florida to Marsh Harbour ... Air Sunshine, Air Florida, or Lynx out of Ft. Lauderdale, or Vintage out of Daytona Beach or Orlando. These run from $200-$300 round trip. You can usually get a discounted domestic fare on Southwest or another airline to get to the gateway. This can save a few bucks. But it can be also be a pain, because the schedules sometimes require you to have an overnight stay in Florida, and there are not cooperative baggage arrangements. If you count your Florida stopover as part of your vacation, it may be worth it.

Eva: I think I'll stay away from Lynx- your bad experience scared me! Thanks for your info!