This is what we decided to do, SusanLynne. And now we have to find a place not too far from the Nassau airport where we can spend a quiet night before continuing to Cat Island. You are such a great help. I wish we could do something for you. I got it! Come with us.

Wildflower, for whatever it's worth, we will stay at the Orange Hill Beach Inn (www.orangehill.com) in Nassau before we fly to Cat Island and after we return. It came highly recommended as reasonably priced, clean and friendly, and my interactions with the owners thus far have been wonderful (of course, I have no other personal experience... yet).

(We had wanted to stay at Compass Point, but they had a 2-consecutive-night minimum).

Callaloo: That is where we spent the night as well!!!! It is not the Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons, but it is clean, convenient and an overall friendly place. Wildflower, Callaloo is right and you may want to check it out. For the price I don't think it can be beat. As for coming with you, well, I am in the midst of planning our trip to East Africa for 2004, and was thinking of returning to Cat Island (or Exuma!) in 2005. So many places to see and visit ... so little time - and money!!! Maybe when you return to Cat Island we can catch up and you can buy me and Callaloo a sundowner which we can all enjoy while watching the sun set over Exuma Sound!

Thank you Callaloo and SusanLynne for suggesting the Orange Hills. From the photos on their website it looks like a simple motel but we do not need any luxury for one night and we are not Ritz or Four Season types anyway

Did you stay in a regular room or apartment?

SusanLynne, everyday my husband and I are coming up with some new places to visit. I agree, there are so many places to visit. We are fortunate as we are able to take a few trips each year. One day you will too. Where are you going to Africa? We love our safari in Kenya.

Hi Wildflower! We stayed in a simple room at the Orange Hill. It was clean and quiet and that was all that we asked for after our long journey from Boston. Ah, Africa ... We went last year to Kenya and Tanzania. In Kenya we stayed almost a week in the Masai Mara at a permanent tented camp, before moving on to Amboseli, where we stayed at a super luxurious camp - it was quite a treat and we really should not have splurged, but I did. We hopped across the border into Tanzania and went to the Ngorongoro Crater (stayed at the Crater Lodge which was absolutely decadent), went south to Tarangire National Park (stayed at a rustic permanent camp) and went even further south to Selous Game Reserve, where we stayed for four nights at Sand Rivers. Our next trip - planned for September 2004 - will include Meru National Park and Tsavo in Nairobi. Then we will cross the border again into Tanzania for some semi-luxury mobile camping (chef, camp attendant and driver/guide included) in the Serengeti. We will visit with some friends in Arusha before heading off to the remoteness of Ruaha National Park. From there, fly to Dar Es Salaam and stay a few days beachside before heading home to Boston. Future trips include Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique. I cannot get enough of Africa. I would like to move there for a couple of years, but my husband is less than enthusiastic about the idea. He is practical and thinks of things like putting money away for retirement, etc. Me, I would be off in a heartbeat. But really, I should be on the Africa & Middle East board ... which I am all the time! I think you will really like Cat Island. You know, there are some stunning islands off the East African coast. Mafia Island off Tanzania, as well as Pemba and Mnemba Islands, and the better known Zanzibar. Kenya's coastline - when you get away from Mombassa, has loads of places you can go and stay in a simple accommodation on a white sand beach that stretches for miles and miles. Then there are the Seychelles, and we can't forget the Maldives Islands. Oh dear ... so many places to go, so little time and money!

Meant to type Meru and Tsavo national parks in Kenya, not type Nairobi! Sorry about that ... :-<

SusanLynne, I will post sometime this evening a message on the Africa board with a title ?Tanzania - mobile tented safari.? It sounds fantastic.

Look forward to reading it, although I have to be a bit careful on that board. I have a safari business that focuses on Kenya and Tanzania, so I can't toot my horn on that board. But, again, I look forward to reading your posting. Yes, mobile tent camping is an unbelievable experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone that is willing to deal with some minor inconveniences to be amidst the wildlife. Ah, Africa ...