Recent stay at Stella Maris, Long Island?
 

Love the Bahamas and go to Abaco once a year. Would love to also go to another out island. We've been to Exuma and loved that. Has anyone stayed at Stella Maris on Long Island? The rates seem reasonable.

I haven't yet, but plan to. Did you send for their free video? It's pretty good viewing. Robert

You have made a good choice to go to Long Island. The other Bahamas and Carribean islands are nice, but once you have seen and fished Long Island, you won't go back to the others. Stella Maris is a nice medium priced place and another nice but more expensive place to stay is Cape Santa Marie. They both have extensive pages on the net. However our favorite place is www.chezpierrebahamas.com or something close to that page name. The first two are more upscale and fancy. Chez Pierre consists of only six cute little cottages on top of two or three miles of beach with nothing else around and an excellent restaurant with Pierre cooking five star meals. I strongly suggest you rent a car to see the beauty of the island. My wife likes to do nothing but bob in the water and lay on the beach which is fine. But I like to explore the empty ocean beaches with their high surf. etc. or bone fish on a Carribean side beach. Long Island is major league fishing, leaving the other islands as minor league including the Fla. Keys. There are some nice net pages showing some of the neat villages and areas on Long Island. I'll try to find them if you would like. Curt

Regarding the free video I mentioned above; it's for Cape Santa Marie, not Stella Maris. Neat video of the grounds, beaches, rooms, and underwater reefs. Robert

Curt - it's been a few months since you offered to post some web addresses for Long Island - would like to take you up on your offer now. Considering either Cat Island or Long Island for a stay in June of 2005 - would be interested in details of your stay at Chez Pierre - the rates look so reasonable.

Hi There, I was all set to book a few days at Cat Island in Late FEb, but I am concerned about two things. Are there a lot of sharks there? I don't want to have to worry about that snorkeling out by ourselves sowewhere..Also, it seems a little remote for us, does anyone think that it is remote? We have never ventured out on our own yet, just trips to Florida and a cruise to Caribbean ports, all very supervised. I'm not overly worried, but don't want to put my kids in any type of danger. What does anyone think? I was considering LOng Island also, is that more inhabited?

bonmon62

Cat Island, and for that matter Long Island, are probably a little remote for a first trip outside the US especially with children. While I think the Bahama Out Islands are a great vacation destinations the Abacos and Eleuthera are easier to visit with children. They're just easier overall, more flights, grocery stores, restaurants, etc. Also keep in mind that the Bahamas are not overly warm in February.

Have stayed at Stella Maris before there was a resort on Cape Santa Maria. There is a beach at Stella Maris but it isn't swimable because of the coral. They have three pools and transport you ot various beaches in the area. Cape Santa Maria was the best beach we saw. Liked Exuma better than Long Island. Been to Exuma 22 times

How did these islands fair during the recent hurricanes? We were thinking of spring time but thought we may have to change plans....may be not?

The Stella Maris website says minimal hurricane damage. I think Abaco and Grand Bahama were the Bahamian islands most affected by the hurricane, so I think you would be ok going to Long Island. Cape Santa Maria looks great but is alot more expensive than Stella Maris. Even though we would have to "bus" to the other beaches from the resort, still considering it because it looks like it would be great for some R&R. We basically just want to veg and read books and eat good food.

Orangetravelcat, Curt here finally. Cat Island is nice, but not nearly so beautiful as Long Island. The west side of the island, where Chez Pierre is located, is similar to the other Bahamas, but the ocean side is far superior to any islands. They are spread out and undeveloped, so you will need a car,and or walking shoes, and they are totally worth it. Pierre's would be fine for small children, as he has two himself. However there isn't much to do but sun, swim,and eat very good, other that row a kyak, or play some beach games, or fish. I've changed computers, and can only remember one Bahamas photo site, www.bahamasfilm.com. However I have lots a photos taken from the air and ground that I can email if you give me your address. Mine is [email protected] Curt Fisher