Island Hopping in the Bahamas
My girlfriend and I are going to the Bahamas. We're flying into Nassau on a Thursday afternoon at around 2:00 pm and flying out of Nassau at about 4:00 pm on Sunday (so we'll be there three nights). She read a little about the pink sands of Harbour Island and Eleuthera and wants to go there for a night. I'm concerned that we'll lose most of our trip if we go there. She is the type of person that likes quiet out of the way type places more than places like Paradise Island. For example, she hates Vegas. I guess I'm just wondering whether it's worth going there during our trip. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this. Personally, we think that would be a lot of time spent in transit for such a short trip. The flight isn't that long but you've got the drive to the airport, the check-in time, waiting time, etc....that's a lot of missed vacation time for such a short trip.
If it were us, we'd consider the south coast and west coast of the island. You could rent a car for the day and explore the island; once you get out of the city of Nassau and Paradise Island, the island is very "real" with some small communities and a quiet atmosphere. There are some pretty areas on the south coast that are really different from the hustle and bustle of town.
If you do decide to do some island hopping, we'd suggest scheduling it for the very beginning or end of your trip so that you arrive and then make your island-hop or do your island-hop then head straight to your departure flight for home. That would cut back on the transfers and check-in times.
Happy travels!!
Labels: Bahamas
posted by Paris & John /Click for permalink 8:47 AM
01209: Long Weekend Getaway Ideas from Florida
My boyfriend will be home on leave in May and I'd like to plan a three-day getaway for us. I live in Miami. We're very active and enjoy outdoor sports. Do you have any ideas for us? Thanks!Thanks for your email; how romantic that you’re planning a getaway for the two of you on your boyfriend’s return! You’re located in a good city for getaways whether you’d like to drive or fly. Here are a few suggestions for a long weekend:
- The Keys. Hop in the car and head south to Key West; there’s a small town, island atmosphere here with fun bars and restaurants downtown. Hemingway’s home is just a few blocks away and you can end the day watching the sunset, a real Key West experience. Some of the other Keys are also popular; there are some very nice resorts (albeit pricey, such as Little Palm Island). Key West has a variety of price ranges for accommodations.
- St. Petersburg. The Don Cesar Hotel is a favorite with romantics; it’s an historic hotel that’s often compared to a wedding cake.
- The Bahamas. It’s just a short trip to either Grand Bahama or Nassau. Grand Bahama is closer and smaller; the biggest resort there is the Westin Our Lucaya. There’s a beautiful beach on Grand Bahama, some markets, gardens, swimming with dolphins, etc. Nassau is home to Atlantis Resort with a huge casino, waterpark, lots of restaurants, etc. Nassau has some very historic spots, dolphin swims, gardens, and good duty free shopping.
- Jamaica. It’s a little further but you’ll find numerous all-inclusives in Jamaica if you’d like to go that route. May’s an economical time; you’ll miss high season which ends in mid-April. Each resort area has attractions: Dunn’s River Falls, Rose Hall plantation house, lots of snorkeling, bike tours, ATV tours, etc.
- Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is one of the most economical places in the Caribbean. It also has many all-inclusives in all price ranges and many ecotourism activities: hiking, biking, snorkeling, scuba, etc.
If you’re thinking of something further afield, just let us know but we tried to think of places you could squeeze into a long weekend. Happy travels! Paris & John
Labels: Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Florida, Jamaica
posted by Paris & John /Click for permalink 8:12 AM
Island Hopping in the Bahamas
My girlfriend and I are going to the Bahamas this weekend. We're flying into Nassau on Thursday afternoon at around 2:00 pm and flying out of Nassau at about 4:00 pm on Sunday (so we'll be there three nights). She read a little about the pink sands of Harbour Island and Eleuthera and wants to go there for a night. I'm concerned that we'll lose most of our trip if we go there. She is the type of person that likes quiet out of the way type places more than places like Paradise Island. For example, she hates Vegas. I guess I'm just wondering whether it's worth going there during our trip. I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on this. Personally, we think that would be a lot of time spent in transit for such a short trip. The flight isn't that long but you've got the drive to the airport, the check-in time, waiting time, etc....that's a lot of missed vacation time for such a short trip.
If it were us, we'd consider the south coast and west coast of the island. You could rent a car for the day and explore the island; once you get out of the city of Nassau and Paradise Island, the island is very "real" with some small communities and a quiet atmosphere. There are some pretty areas on the south coast that are really different from the hustle and bustle of town.
If you do decide to do some island hopping, we'd suggest scheduling it for the very beginning or end of your trip so that you arrive and then make your island-hop or do your island-hop then head straight to your departure flight for home. That would cut back on the transfers and check-in times.
Happy travels!!
Labels: Bahamas
posted by Paris & John /Click for permalink 6:11 PM
