Romantic Escapes in the Caribbean

by Paris Permenter & John Bigley

BAHAMAS

Technically, the Bahamas lie outside the boundaries of the Caribbean. But, except for a few days when the islands are cooled by winter's chill, you'll have a hard time telling the difference. These 700 islands, sprinkled like seashells across shallow water, share the same sun, sand, and festive atmosphere as their southern neighbors.

A trip to the Bahamas can be as quiet or as active as the two of you choose. For privacy and a real island atmosphere, select one of the Family Islands like Eleuthera, tiny Harbour Island (where motorized transportation means a golf cart), or San Salvador (site of Columbus' first landfall in the New World.) For a more active vacation, Grand Bahama offers golf, casino gambling, and even the chance to swim with dolphins.

But for most vacationers, a Bahama vacation includes a trip to Nassau, the capital city located on the island of New Providence. Nassau tempts travelers with glitzy shows, top duty-free shopping, and water that's as beautiful as any found in the Caribbean.
Located just a half hour flight from Miami, this island may be just a stone's (or a conch shell's) throw from the U.S. mainland, but Nassau gives visitors a wonderful taste of Caribbean life. The atmosphere is a delightful combination of the British and the Caribbean.

Both locals and vacationers tend to use the term "Nassau" to identify the island of New Providence, but the city proper is located on the north side of the island. Nassau is a compact city filled with activity, especially along Bay Street where locals and visitors shop for duty-free items. Just blocks away, the seat of the Bahamian government operates in buildings the color of a conch shell. Downtown Nassau offers several inexpensive hotels that utilize nearby public beaches.

Prince George Dock always bustles with cruise ship passengers enjoying the city for the day. From the cruise port you'll also see a tall, curving bridge which leads to Paradise Island. Nicknamed the "Monaco of the Bahamas," this is the most luxurious area of New Providence Island. It's an $8 taxi ride between Paradise Island and the city (plus a $2 bridge toll when entering Paradise Island). Once named Hog Island, this area was revitalized by the investment of Donald Trump and Merv Griffin and now by South African businessman Sol Kerzner, who recently renovated the Atlantis hotel at the cost of $1 million a day -- every day -- for a six month renovation and building spree.

Tourists also flock to Cable Beach, located 10 minutes west of downtown Nassau. This stretch of sand is lined with high-rise hotels and some of the island's hottest nightspots. Shuttles run between these resorts and Nassau several times daily.

Beyond these two resort areas, the island moves at a quieter pace. If you crave tranquillity, head to the south shore, about a 30-minute ride from downtown. Here, beneath willowy casuarina trees, couples can enjoy privacy and beautiful beaches that give way to a shallow sea.

You may want to book your visit in spring, summer, or fall to be assured of a warm weather vacation. Winter temperatures are usually balmy, but occasionally a cold front reaches its chilly fingers into these waters and drops temperatures to spring-like levels. On an early March visit, we dug into our luggage for sweatshirts and, although temperatures were perfect for island touring, found that it too chilly for comfortable swimming.

While we're warning you, be careful of March and April bookings for another reason: spring breakers. Those low-cost downtown properties (and even some of the Paradise Island and Cable Beach resorts) swell with students during these weeks. Because of the charter packages, Nassau is the Caribbean for the masses and, during this time, that means raucous students. For a quiet, romantic getaway, consider an alternate month or a different destination.

The islands of the Bahamas are scattered like tossed seashells in the relatively shallow waters just east of Florida's shore. In all, there are over 700 islands and cays that make up the Bahamas. Look for slightly cooler water temperatures during the winter months, but equally wonderful water. Although there are over 700 islands in all, only 20 of these landforms are populated.