I think you're right about that. We're also checking out Grand Isle Resort on Exuma as our second week. One tentative(!) plan is to go to CSM on LI the first week and then Grand Isle on Exuma the second week. Of course, we found out that my wife's brother and wife are having their first baby in November! I told them that they were very rude having a baby when we're trying to go on vacation! ;)

Still, the plan is early November for two weeks in the sun...

I think a week at Grand Isle and a week at CSM sounds like a great plan! Take lots of pics!

Sounds like a great plan, Dave! Will you take a charter boat from Exuma to Long Island? There is a company I called for a day trip to LI. It may be cheaper than flying back to Nassau and then down to LI. I would check it out as it would be gorgeous and save you time, too.

I don't have the information in front of me but will post when I find it.

The company is Starfish. Here is there info:

Starfish the Exuma Adventure Center

P.O. Box EX 29265

Georgetown, Exuma Bahamas

E-mail: [email protected]

Phone: (242) 336-3033 (Exuma)

(626) 327-3353 (USA)

There is a small air charter company called Island Wings that does the run from Georgetown, Exuma to Stella Maris, Long Island. (You can fly on AA to GGT from MIA). That might make your trip planning more convenient, instead of going through Nassau. I'd booked my hurricane-cancelled trip to Long Island last year on American/Island Wings, and will use that routing when I eventually re-schedule.

I would recommend flying -it could be a very choppy boat ride-the islands are farther away than you might think. I believe they're about a 2-2.5 hour boat ride in open waters and it can get pretty rough. It's a 30 minute flight if I remember correctly between the 2 islands.

kelly, did you visit Exuma, too? I'd love to hear about your visit as I'm leaving in 2 weeks for Stocking Island.

unfortunately, no, we didn't get to Exuma, although originally we were planning to rent a villa there so I did a lot of research. It looks beautiful, especially the small cays north of Great Exuma. Have a great time-I look forward to your trip report!

BeachGirl247, a couple of years ago DH and I rented a houseboat on Exuma for a week. Our water area was a bay bordered by Stocking Island and the main island, so we did get to see a bit of Stocking. Absolutely beautiful! Our best snorkeling was had there, the wonderful Chat N Chill is there (of course you know that already!) and yes it is a bit remote. You will have to motor over to the main island to explore or do any shopping. I assume you will be renting a house, as I do not recall any hotels on Stocking.

Have a great time!

joan, sounds like you had a great trip. I am so looking forward to ours.

There is a "resort" on Stocking Island called St. Francis Resort where we will be staying. Very simple but it's all about the beach and water. I believe there is another place, too, but the name escapes me. We have rented a boat for our stay so we will be able to explore all the wonderful beaches Exuma has to offer.

Beachgirl,

When you say you're renting a boat, is that a sailboat or motorized? I would love to rent a little Boston Whaler at both of the islands (LI and Great Exuma). I've seen posts about renting boats but haven't figured out exactly what that meant.

We had a little Boston Whaler for the week that came with our villa. It was great to be able to take it out and tool around, although we didn't go too far from the villa with no cell reception. The guys loved going out fishing on it too. It was pretty choppy as you went further out from shore. If you're staying at CSM on LI, I would recommend just doing the snorkel and/or fishing day trip with Delbert rather than renting one on your own. I think Exuma will be the better island for checking out various cays. LI doesn't really have any cays off of it per say. I believe in the Exumas you can travel up the cays exploring each one.

I was in touch with Ray Lightbourn with www.exumawatersports.com to take us on a day trip through the cays when we were doing our research into going there. He seemed to have some very cool trip options. Okay, looking at his site is making me want to go there again-badly! I will swim with those pigs someday!!! It stinks we didn't get there with our LI trip, but I think it would have been too much for us with 2 small kids. They'll enjoy that more when they're older anyway. If you do go on one of his boat trips, let me know how it was!

Early in this thread someone mentioned Nevis as being in the Bahamas. It is not. It is in the West Indies and the temperatures in Nov. temd to ne 5-8 degrees warmer (water and air) than the bahamas). Unfortunately you can find daytime highs og 65 in mid-Nov. maybe I would guess, based on 3 trips over the years, 1 day in 10. But, with global warming it probably is less often now.

StanKase,

As the original poster, I may not have been as clear as I could have been. I was asking if there were any resorts/inns/hotels comparable to Montpelier on Nevis.

We've been to Nevis twice and loved it both times but we always enjoy finding "new" islands for us to explore.

Sorry for the confusion. I wouldn't want to start a fight between Nevisians and Bahamians!