Houseboats
May 2nd, 2005, 04:13 PM
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Houseboats
My husband and I are renting a houseboat in Exuma in July. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on things to see in the George Town area. We are looking forward to a nice, laid back vacation. No electronics on this trip!
thanks
thanks
May 4th, 2005, 05:55 AM
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Not a heck of a lot to see in Georgetown. Great Exuma is like going back 30 years in time. Just returned from our 23rd trip and love the island. Dirung the day you can cruise Elizabeth harbour and check out deserted beaches. Don't miss Stocking Island. If you don't anchor out and come back to Gerogetown for the evening Two turtles has a bbque and dance Friday evening, dance at Peace and Plenty on Sat evening and Splash at Palm Bay Beach club has a buffet and dance Sunday. Need a taxi or rental car to go there. If you want local color go to Eddies Edgewater on Monday for rake and scrape music. Cheaters a local place has great cracked conch. Again need wheels or a cab. You acn rent a car from Sam Greys in Gerogetwon is you want to explore the island for a day. Probably the best dinner restaurant is Peace and Plenty bonefish lodge. They allow outsiders on Thurs, Sat and Sunday. Make a reservation.
May 8th, 2005, 08:46 AM
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We are renting a houseboat as well in july, I have searched all over for information positive or negative. I have seen mostly positive, I believe the company changed hands a few years ago, i would think they have worked the kinks out by now. I am so excited to do NOTHING, but swim and explore I can't wait! I have looked at tripadvisor.com for some info on things too, along with all the other sites. It sure looks like fun!
Sep 11th, 2005, 02:22 PM
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Howard C (or anyone) - we were hoping to take a second trip on BahamaHouseboats in Exuma, but their website says that they are not taking reservations currently. Do you have any idea if they have sold, or closed down, etc??? Any info would be appreciated!
Sep 11th, 2005, 03:26 PM
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Dittoe HowardC. Does the Two Turtles Inn still have the great grouper and Pigeon Peas & Rice combo buffet, with traditional Bahamian mac&Cheese? LaliMc; if you go by houseboat, definately tour the Stocking Island shoreline. Anywhere in Elizabeth Harbor, if you see a small patch of water below you, it's a patch reef. Take snorkel, fins and masks along!!! Incredible snorkeling from patch reef to patch reef. Also, there's a deserted ship sunk in only 5 feet of water off Exuma...visit it for more snorkeling around its rusted out hull. We've seen moray eels, sharks, butterfly fish, baracuda, angel fish, schools of french and blue-stripped grunts and yellow-tail snapper, grouper, coronet and trumpet fish, octopus, reef squid, schools of blue tang, etc. Most patch reefs are in very shallow water and easy for novice snorklers. Bring an underwater camera. I love the laid back nature of Georgetown, where Jessica Tangey used to sroll. Have fun! Robert
Sep 12th, 2005, 11:11 AM
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The were up and running when we were in Exuma in April (23rd time) and people were renting houseboats. Don't think they have been sold. My guess is that they might close down for Hurricane season for vacation, maintenance etc.
Yes they still do the Friday Night BBque at Two Turtles. They also have a new chef Pierre who used to work at Peace and Plenty. He is very good and had a couple of excellent dinners there in April. For those who new her Gloria Patience The Shark Lady passed away this past year. She was an awesome person and a delight to know and talk to.
Yes they still do the Friday Night BBque at Two Turtles. They also have a new chef Pierre who used to work at Peace and Plenty. He is very good and had a couple of excellent dinners there in April. For those who new her Gloria Patience The Shark Lady passed away this past year. She was an awesome person and a delight to know and talk to.
Sep 12th, 2005, 01:35 PM
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Wow, what an idea! I had never though of doing that in my beloved Out Islands! I googled bahamas houseboats, and I think Howard is right, Always Dreaming. This website (the only one I could find with pics of the inside) says they're closed the month of Sept:
http://www.houseboatrentalcenter.com...houseboats.htm
What was it like? Did you have to stay in a very small area? What are the sleeping arrangements, did you bring your own groceries or shop on island? Was it comfortable sleeping at night (what month did you go?)? Apparently it's about $2000 per week - did you think it was good value for the money? I'm very curious!
http://www.houseboatrentalcenter.com...houseboats.htm
What was it like? Did you have to stay in a very small area? What are the sleeping arrangements, did you bring your own groceries or shop on island? Was it comfortable sleeping at night (what month did you go?)? Apparently it's about $2000 per week - did you think it was good value for the money? I'm very curious!
Sep 15th, 2005, 01:56 PM
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Bahamas houseboats is no longer doing long term rentals. The owners have decided to do day trips only but that won't start until they re-model all the boats. Bummer!!! We wanted to rent one in March 06'.
Nov 12th, 2005, 08:05 AM
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Great news! Bahamas Houseboats is back up and running. I have just talked with the owner, and we are trying to book a reservation for January. The reservations site on the webpage is acting up.
They did close down for awhile, but are back up now. I knew something was up, even during September, they had never stopped taking reservations or closed up their website before.
Joan - we lover our houseboat trip, however it is not for the uninformed. Someone who has never been on a boat before might have expectations beyond what the boat is capable of. It is not a floating hotel room. The kitchen is very small, as is the storage space onboard. You don't need much, however, as shorts and swimsuits are the only attire we needed, along with snorkel gear. It can also be a bit noisy at night with the water hitting the bottom of the boat. But to us, it is what makes it special.
Let's see, what else? We stayed on the smallest boat which had a full size bed and a futon. They say you can also sleep on the bench seats at the kitchen table, but I think that is too small and crowded, personally. For more than two people, I would definitely rent the larger boats. They have almost 2 separate bedrooms. The bathrooms are really small and you want to preserve water with short showers, etc. Take a hanging toiletry bag as there are no shelves. You couldn't put all your stuff on shelves anyway because they would fall in the rolling waves unless you stay anchored in one spot.
This is one of the more expensive vacations that we take, but we absolutely think it is worth the money. We buy groceries in town, just a short walk from the boat dock and they loan you their wagon. Not a huge selection, but we loved our hamburgers, grilled sausage and BBQ chicken meals on the boat.
I could ramble all day, just let me know if you have more questions and I'll be happy to answer them. In general, I can tell you that it was the laziest vacation we've ever spent. We spent our days sunning on the top deck, beachcombing for more sandollars than you could ever pick up, marveling at all of the star fish, eating from our grill on board or at a quaint local beach bar, meeting cruisers from around the world, snorkeling, hiking, etc. Doesn't that sound heavenly??
They did close down for awhile, but are back up now. I knew something was up, even during September, they had never stopped taking reservations or closed up their website before.
Joan - we lover our houseboat trip, however it is not for the uninformed. Someone who has never been on a boat before might have expectations beyond what the boat is capable of. It is not a floating hotel room. The kitchen is very small, as is the storage space onboard. You don't need much, however, as shorts and swimsuits are the only attire we needed, along with snorkel gear. It can also be a bit noisy at night with the water hitting the bottom of the boat. But to us, it is what makes it special.
Let's see, what else? We stayed on the smallest boat which had a full size bed and a futon. They say you can also sleep on the bench seats at the kitchen table, but I think that is too small and crowded, personally. For more than two people, I would definitely rent the larger boats. They have almost 2 separate bedrooms. The bathrooms are really small and you want to preserve water with short showers, etc. Take a hanging toiletry bag as there are no shelves. You couldn't put all your stuff on shelves anyway because they would fall in the rolling waves unless you stay anchored in one spot.
This is one of the more expensive vacations that we take, but we absolutely think it is worth the money. We buy groceries in town, just a short walk from the boat dock and they loan you their wagon. Not a huge selection, but we loved our hamburgers, grilled sausage and BBQ chicken meals on the boat.
I could ramble all day, just let me know if you have more questions and I'll be happy to answer them. In general, I can tell you that it was the laziest vacation we've ever spent. We spent our days sunning on the top deck, beachcombing for more sandollars than you could ever pick up, marveling at all of the star fish, eating from our grill on board or at a quaint local beach bar, meeting cruisers from around the world, snorkeling, hiking, etc. Doesn't that sound heavenly??
Jun 24th, 2006, 10:02 AM
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Always Dreaming, that sounds so heavenly that, nine months later, I'm booked!!! That's right, I keep pinching myself - on the spur of the moment (actually a few days discussion) my husband and I decided to go for it. The cost of the houseboat, while not cheap, is about the same as a modest cottage plus rental car plus a couple days boat rental. So...we leave in two weeks!
Any other tips besides the great ones you've given would really be appreciated. I'm a little worried about my husband, the "sweater". I know you can run the A/C intermittently, but not all night (and we really wouldn't want to, but we were pretty miserable in Nevis last October without this option in our rental cottage). When I spoke to the folks at Bahama Houseboats, they indicated I could always come back to the dock and plug in for all night A/c if necessary. Nice to know.
At night, where did you moor? Out in the middle of the bay, or walkable to shoreline of the little cays? Bugs? I realize you went in winter - we're going mid summer!
How/where did you get ice for your Kaliks?
Was there a cooler onboard (in addition to the little fridge)...did you have trouble keeping things cold at all?
HowardC, I've appreciated also all the comments you've made about great places to dine. Looking forward to the Rake N Scrape, and all the others.
Robert, we will definitely fish and snorkel over those reef patches - the great sounding snorkeling is one of our main reasons for choosing the houseboat.
Any other comments or experiences happily welcomed!
Any other tips besides the great ones you've given would really be appreciated. I'm a little worried about my husband, the "sweater". I know you can run the A/C intermittently, but not all night (and we really wouldn't want to, but we were pretty miserable in Nevis last October without this option in our rental cottage). When I spoke to the folks at Bahama Houseboats, they indicated I could always come back to the dock and plug in for all night A/c if necessary. Nice to know.
At night, where did you moor? Out in the middle of the bay, or walkable to shoreline of the little cays? Bugs? I realize you went in winter - we're going mid summer!
How/where did you get ice for your Kaliks?
Was there a cooler onboard (in addition to the little fridge)...did you have trouble keeping things cold at all?HowardC, I've appreciated also all the comments you've made about great places to dine. Looking forward to the Rake N Scrape, and all the others.
Robert, we will definitely fish and snorkel over those reef patches - the great sounding snorkeling is one of our main reasons for choosing the houseboat.
Any other comments or experiences happily welcomed!
Jun 25th, 2006, 05:08 AM
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tdelano, from their website:
"No special license or experience is required to rent your holiday home. Captain must be at least 21 years old with a picture ID."
http://www.bahamahouseboats.com/index.htm
"No special license or experience is required to rent your holiday home. Captain must be at least 21 years old with a picture ID."
http://www.bahamahouseboats.com/index.htm
Jun 25th, 2006, 06:41 AM
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We were in exuma last july and looked at these houseboats. They were to say the least, horrible, run-down and dirty. They may have upgraded them, but I would find out. They do not look anything like the pics on their website. Also EVERYTHING in this area very expensive. Case of Kalik about $42.00. Stocking island is the best thing there. Beautiful.
Jun 25th, 2006, 07:12 AM
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Joan, one of our most memorable vacation was with friends renting a houseboat in Ontario. I have always wanted to do something like this in the Caribbean. Have a really great time, and I hope you will report back with a trip report for us!
Jun 25th, 2006, 08:06 AM
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Joan - I am so excited for your and your husband in booking this trip - I predict you will have the vacation of your life! We just took our second trip January 2006 and it was even better the second time around! Here are some answers to your questions -
1. We purchased ice from the houseboat staff at the dock and put some in our little freezer (top part of the mini-frig) and some in the ice chest they provided us. Be sure one is on board before you leave, two if you are going to put fish in one. You can also rent fishing gear from them as well as purchase bait. We came back to the dock twice during our trip and bought more ice and refilled our water tanks.
2. HInt - watch your water use. We ran out after 4 days even though we thought we were being very careful. We ran out at night, so going to the bathroom in the middle of the night was interesting, to say the least. We took the dinghy over the Chat N Chill restaurant the next morning to take advantage of their facilities!
3. As for where to moor at night - our favorite places were at Hamburger Beach and Sandollar Beach, secluded beaches with only a few boats anchored around you. THey were so peaceful. We mainly preferred these as we are not experienced boaters and we got nervous driving around and mooring up at the crowded Hurricane Hole spots. Having said that, however, I suggest that you listen to the radio and talk with fellow boaters when you eat lunch to check on the weather forcast. If the seas are going to be rough that night, we prefer the comfort of a neighborhood and also the protection of the Hurrican Hole by CHat N Chill restaurant.
4. As to the comment about the boats being run down, they were all completely refurbished during the fall of 2005 - ours was the last one completed in Jan 06. They are beautiful.
5. Last great suggestion - have some freshly made in front of you conch salad at the little stand near CHat N CHill - tell Pedro that his friends from Texas say "hi".
Have a great time and let me know if you have any other questions!!!
1. We purchased ice from the houseboat staff at the dock and put some in our little freezer (top part of the mini-frig) and some in the ice chest they provided us. Be sure one is on board before you leave, two if you are going to put fish in one. You can also rent fishing gear from them as well as purchase bait. We came back to the dock twice during our trip and bought more ice and refilled our water tanks.
2. HInt - watch your water use. We ran out after 4 days even though we thought we were being very careful. We ran out at night, so going to the bathroom in the middle of the night was interesting, to say the least. We took the dinghy over the Chat N Chill restaurant the next morning to take advantage of their facilities!
3. As for where to moor at night - our favorite places were at Hamburger Beach and Sandollar Beach, secluded beaches with only a few boats anchored around you. THey were so peaceful. We mainly preferred these as we are not experienced boaters and we got nervous driving around and mooring up at the crowded Hurricane Hole spots. Having said that, however, I suggest that you listen to the radio and talk with fellow boaters when you eat lunch to check on the weather forcast. If the seas are going to be rough that night, we prefer the comfort of a neighborhood and also the protection of the Hurrican Hole by CHat N Chill restaurant.
4. As to the comment about the boats being run down, they were all completely refurbished during the fall of 2005 - ours was the last one completed in Jan 06. They are beautiful.
5. Last great suggestion - have some freshly made in front of you conch salad at the little stand near CHat N CHill - tell Pedro that his friends from Texas say "hi".
Have a great time and let me know if you have any other questions!!!
Jun 26th, 2006, 05:22 AM
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Thanks for the replies!
I am glad that Angellyn's visit was a year ago, and yes I have checked them out. A couple of recent posters over on Trip Advisor have also verified that the boats are updated...they apparently even have Sirius Satellite Radio now! How cool is that? I appreciate the food cost warning - we spent $42 for our cases of Kalik on Abaco last year, but that still won't deter us from visiting Paradise!
Maggi, thanks for the support, and you bet I'll post a trip report!
OK Always Dreaming, I'm printing out and following all your suggestions! Can't wait to taste that conch salad (we are always on a quest for it since we serve it in our Florida restaurant!). We will give Pedro a big hello for you. Thanks so much, those were just the kind of suggestions I was looking for.
Some more discussion on the subject, from Trip Advisor:
http://tinyurl.com/qzm96
I am glad that Angellyn's visit was a year ago, and yes I have checked them out. A couple of recent posters over on Trip Advisor have also verified that the boats are updated...they apparently even have Sirius Satellite Radio now! How cool is that? I appreciate the food cost warning - we spent $42 for our cases of Kalik on Abaco last year, but that still won't deter us from visiting Paradise!
Maggi, thanks for the support, and you bet I'll post a trip report!
OK Always Dreaming, I'm printing out and following all your suggestions! Can't wait to taste that conch salad (we are always on a quest for it since we serve it in our Florida restaurant!). We will give Pedro a big hello for you. Thanks so much, those were just the kind of suggestions I was looking for.
Some more discussion on the subject, from Trip Advisor:
http://tinyurl.com/qzm96
Jul 3rd, 2006, 10:31 AM
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Always Dreamin, a couple more questions for you:
Is the houseboat stocked with the following items: salt/pepper, dish soap, trash bags, paper towels, dishcloth/dish towels? Anything else I can leave home?
Getting excited!!! Just bought some new fish ID guides today...I'm gettin' hungry!
Is the houseboat stocked with the following items: salt/pepper, dish soap, trash bags, paper towels, dishcloth/dish towels? Anything else I can leave home?
Getting excited!!! Just bought some new fish ID guides today...I'm gettin' hungry!
Jul 4th, 2006, 12:28 PM
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Joan - to answer your questions - most everything you questioned is already on the boat, except I don't remember salt & pepper. However, I would suggest having list already made out of items to check, you will drop off your bags at the boat most probably before you go to the store. It is within walking distance of the dock, so you will have a chance to inventory the stock first. Everything is available at the store, anyway, just more expensive. There were plenty of towels and dish soap. But I would check the garbage bags, toilet paper, etc before you take off and ask for more if you think you will need it.
Also, I recommend bringing some of those fast food restaurant supplies of small ketchup, mustard, and mayo for hamburgers. They are small to pack and it is a shame to buy an expensive bottle of ketchup that you will mostly waste.
By the way, we gave our leftover pickles, bread, jelly, etc to boaters moored next to us and they were thrilled!
Last suggestions - bring clothes pins and more baggies than you think you will need. I also brought some of those plastic hangars that are cheap, there were not many on the boat and that was a good place to store my t-shirts.
The other thing we can't do without is our shammy. I can't remember if I mentioned this before - but they are available at Wal-mart in the car supplies section to dry them off with. They come in a plastic container that you use to store it in. This is so much smaller than a regular towel and we used it so much on our boat to dry off, saving our beach towels for more uses. THere is even a little hole in the top of the container. We tied it to our dinghy when we went on excursions in it and always had a dry towel. You will not regret taking this with you, even though it takes up a bit of space.
I am so jealous - I know you will have a terrific time!!
Also, I recommend bringing some of those fast food restaurant supplies of small ketchup, mustard, and mayo for hamburgers. They are small to pack and it is a shame to buy an expensive bottle of ketchup that you will mostly waste.
By the way, we gave our leftover pickles, bread, jelly, etc to boaters moored next to us and they were thrilled!
Last suggestions - bring clothes pins and more baggies than you think you will need. I also brought some of those plastic hangars that are cheap, there were not many on the boat and that was a good place to store my t-shirts.
The other thing we can't do without is our shammy. I can't remember if I mentioned this before - but they are available at Wal-mart in the car supplies section to dry them off with. They come in a plastic container that you use to store it in. This is so much smaller than a regular towel and we used it so much on our boat to dry off, saving our beach towels for more uses. THere is even a little hole in the top of the container. We tied it to our dinghy when we went on excursions in it and always had a dry towel. You will not regret taking this with you, even though it takes up a bit of space.
I am so jealous - I know you will have a terrific time!!
Jul 6th, 2006, 12:30 PM
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Thanks so much for the excellent suggestions, Dreamin'. I am going to get that shammy - they do work well absorbing, now that I think about it. Clothespins, hangers, sauce packets, they're all on the list now. Mahvelous! Can't wait!
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