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The Bahamas, just south of Florida, is made up of 700 islands and is famous for its white and pink sand beaches with shimmering turquoise waters. It’s no surprise that the Bahamas has always been a top holiday destination!
American Eagle flies from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Nassau (the capital) for about $260 USD per person. Getting around Nassau from the time you arrive is really easy; at the airport there are taxis on call, and downtown on Bay Street is the popular bus service, the Jitney. The weather is great all year round, but if you like bathing in warm sea water, then summer is the best time for you to visit. English is the national language and the Bahamian dollar is equivalent to the US dollar.
Johnny Depp may be one of the fortunate few to actually have his own island in the Bahamas, but for your next vacation you too can make an island your own! Whether you’re going for some romance or taking your kids for a fun family adventure, Nassau has something for you…
The Bahamas is the perfect place for weddings, honeymoons, and couples who wish to rekindle their romance. Almost anywhere you go, you’ll see couples holding hands, or a wedding photo shoot in the works! The romantic atmosphere at Sandal’s Resort is the ultimate couple’s retreat with all the conveniences of an all-inclusive resort, complete with massive pool, and easy access to the scenic Cable Beach. Go to www.sandals.com and you’ll find deals like ‘3 nights from $648 USD’.
Steam things up in your relationship (literally!) in the sauna room of the Red Lane Spa at Sandals. Friendly staff awaits you at this Balinese decorated spa managed by the hospitable Aketa and Yolanda. Get a couple’s massage at the main spa, or try individual massages like their popular full-body West Indian massage featuring warm river stones and white sand foot exfoliation (80 glorious minutes at $180 USD). Indulge in their Caribbean sea wrap—which firms up skin—at $115 USD, or the salty margarita scrub—which polishes the skin with sea salt and refreshing lemongrass—for $100 USD. They do everything from manicures and pedicures to hair and make-up. The spa taster (seasonal only) allows you to sample a basic facial and back massage (a mix of Shiatsu and Swedish massage) for $90 USD. Ask for Marissa, whose hands move like magic! Check out their wedding packages, and services especially for men.
To highlight your special occasion, there are plenty of duty-free liquor stores where you can find the perfect bubbly, and don’t forget to stop for fresh flowers at the Floral Boutique in Trinity Place, between Market and Frederick Streets.
They really don’t call it “Paradise Island” for nothing! Visit or stay overnight at the Atlantis Hotel with the kids to experience the largest man-made marine habitats. Parents can relax while kids have fun at The Discovery Kids Adventure—which educates children about marine life in very fun way—and at Dophin Cay where they actually see dolphins at play.
Stop for lunch at Johnny Rockets, an upbeat 50s-style American diner that serves milkshakes and hamburgers galore with a special kids menu. Sometimes you can even catch the staff singing along to a jukebox song! Wind down with dessert from the delicatessen and ice cream parlor in Marina Village, Atlantis.
It might sound strange to you, but there are actually people who don’t go on vacation mainly for the beach! You’re the type who’s after the peace and quiet of New Providence and you’ll make it your personal responsibility to experience as many beaches as you can and rate them. Cable Beach and Cabbage Beach are quite popular, and you just have to go swimming on the beach by Delaporte, where the water caresses you like silk. For snorkeling, you’re bound to find fish anywhere there are rocks. Remember to make sunscreen your beach essential when temperatures start rising.
Dine opposite the beach at Travelers Rest and feast on locally-flavored dishes such as BBQ Ribs, rice and peas, and plantain. Next to the restaurant, you’ll find a gift shop, The Seagrape, and come across some interesting finds—for instance, batik in the Bahamian Androsia print.
In addition to soaking up sunny rays, you’ve also got to soak up the island’s culture to make your holiday perfect! Shop at the straw market on Bay Street and if you’re lucky enough, you can even see how the women there make intricate straw creations. Bargaining never hurts, and don’t get overwhelmed by the feisty saleswomen!
If you’re a history buff, next door is The Pompey Museum of Slavery and Emancipation at Vendue House on Bay Street where you can see ‘Images of the African Experience’. Take in the panoramic view from Fort Charlotte, the largest in Nassau, and visit the Pirates of Nassau to get a feel of pirate life many years ago—complete with the replica of a pirate ship—for $12 USD.
Feeling a little artsy? Nothing says “collector” more than buying some local artwork! I highly recommend visiting the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas at the historic Villa Doyle site, West and West Hill Streets. Enjoy their innovative artwork layout, and numerous abstract paintings on display. Pick up your own pieces of art at the gift shop, and while you’re there, don’t forget to support the local industry by getting your own copy of the Tada CD.
When it comes to food, savor the local fare and don’t be afraid of new taste-bud experiences! If you love a good BBQ, try the steak with Aussie chips at the Outback steakhouse, and get sweetened up with the national dessert, Guava Duff, a flavorful, fluffy cake with chunks of guava, enveloped in a sweet guava cream that becomes a gooey delight when slightly warmed. Join the lime at Arawakey where ‘Twin Brothers’ serves the best Miami Vice (a piña colada/strawberry-swirled non-alcoholic daiquiri) that was featured on CBS. Seafood is popular, and conch is the prized catch. Twin Brothers also prepares the local favourite: conch salad.
Don’t miss annual events like the much-celebrated Junkanoo Summer Festival in June and the International Fair at the Botanical Gardens in October.
We all know the slogan, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas” all too well, and fortunately, the creators of Pure, Las Vegas, have opened the Aura Nightclub in Atlantis Hotel. Visit www.aurathenightclub.com for more information.
Fuel up for your late-night partying at restaurants near to Aura—like Nobu for sushi, or Atlas Grill, where the Parisian Burger is to die for. Try your luck at the slot machines in the casino there, or at the Crystal Place Casino on Cable Beach. At Bimini Road in Marina Village, Atlantis, you’ll sometimes hear live local musicians and even get a taste of the Junkanoo Parade with costumes, drumming, whistles, and tubas in tow.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a little pampering, especially during vacation time. Did someone say Piaget? Check out Quantum on Bay Street, for Mont Blanc pens, gorgeous designer watches, and Colombian Emeralds. Guccini in Prince George Plaza sells fine European jewellery, and visit John Bull for perfume, cosmetics, and Cartier! There’s a great perfume boutique in Marina Village, Atlantis, plus a rum-cake shop, and a Dooney & Bourke.
The food connoisseur will definitely be delighted by the five-star gourmet restaurant at Grey Cliff on West Hill Street. For an affordable $50 USD per person, go crazy over the delicious buffet at Atlantis.
Before you take your flight back home, let Tureia at Head Lines in West Bay Shopping Centre help you make your friends even more jealous with a fabulous new hairdo!
Do what you always wanted to do this vacation, and don’t be afraid to try something new…you never know what memories are waiting to be created. See you in Paradise!
Stella Chong Sing began her love-affair with traveling the Caribbean when she was just a child. Now, her adventurous spirit leads her anywhere, but her favorite destinations always involve exotic beaches and unusual retreats.
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