Bahama honeymoon
 

I am hearing both good and bad about the Bahams. We are looking to visist a Sandals and I thought the one in the Bahamas would be nice because it is close. However, I am not hearing great things about the island. I hear it is very commercialized now and not very beautiful. Also, that there is not much to do. oh what about the weather in January?

Hi bam:<BR><BR>It is important to remember that the Bahamas are composed of 700 islands; about a few dozen of these are inhabited. A good way of mentally dividing these is into New Providence (Nassau), Grand Bahama (Freeport/ Lucaya) and the Family Islands.<BR><BR>The Sandals property is on New Providence Island, on Cable Beach near Nassau.

Nassau will not be very warm in January. It will probably be in the 70's. Too chilly to sit on the beach and definitely NOT swimming weather. <BR>I would go further south at that time of the year if I were you.

Hi bam:<BR><BR>Sorry I posted my reply too soon. <BR><BR>New Providence Island is the only island I've been to, so it's the only one I can really comment on. To my knowledge, it and Freeport/Lucaya are far more commercialized than the Family Islands.<BR><BR>To answer your question: Is it very commercialized? Well Bay St. is a major shopping artery, with souvenir shops geared toward the cruise ship tourists. Cable Beach has resorts and restaurants geared toward tourists. So if you stay at Sandals, you will be staying in a highly commercial area. <BR><BR>That said, there are parts of island only a few miles from Nassau that are very tranquil and feel miles away from the bustle of Bay St. Even Nassau itself feels more Bahamian and less tourist-trappy during the work week, when few cruise ships are in dock. <BR><BR>Is it not very beautiful? New Providence is pretty flat; don't expect the lush terrain of Grenada or rugged landscape of St. Lucia, Hawaii or Guadeloupe. That said, the rich turquoise blue of the waters of the New Providence Channel is stunning (I stayed at an inn in West New Providence, about 5 miles west of Cable Beach and woke to this view out my window every morning) and some of the beaches are very high quality. I found this aspect of Nassau quite beautiful.<BR><BR>As far as things to do go, it's not New York City but I think you'll be fine. From golf to tennis to Ardastra Zoo/Gardens to museums to shopping to Dolphin Encounters to powerboat trips to ferrying out to Eleuthera to many restaurants, I think you should be able to find enough to keep you occupied easily.<BR><BR>The weather in January averages highs in the low to mid 70s. You may have some days in the high 60s...definitely bring a sweater for the night. I was there last January and except for one day where the high was in the 60s, the highs were mostly in the mid 70s with even two days in the low 80s.<BR><BR>Good luck whatever you decide. DAN

While Sandals Bahamas is indeed wonderful, I agree with the other posters. Weather is a bif "IF"