Anyone got any Bahamas recommendations?

[SaltyNuts]

Thinking about a vacation there real soon, it looks like it is a nice, easy 3 hour flight from Houston. I know nothing about it, other than (i) they apparently have gambling, which is good, and (ii) it can be pretty darned ghetto, which is bad. I think we definitely want to stay and some nice resort with nice pools, but also want to venture out of the resort to see what is out there. But I don't want to get robbed or have my head cut off.

Any thoughts on anything? Where to stay, places to go, things to see and do, things to avoid like the plague, etc. etc.?

As always, thanks in advance to all you glorious ATOTers.

 

[purbeast0]

I can recommend NOT staying at the Atlantis.

We stayed there in 2012 and loved it but went back like 2018 and didn't really like it. It's just a huge tourist trap (more so than when we went initially) and just super crowded. Yes the water park is pretty damn awesome but if you want to check it out, just try to get a day pass. It is not worth the cost at all to stay there and eat there.

If I go back to the Bahamas I'd go to Exuma and just pass on Nassau as a whole.

You say you are in Houston. I went to Belize for the first time this past April and loved it and want to go back. Our layover was in Houston which is why I brought that up, so it would be a direct flight for you, although to get to the area we were at would require a quick 15 minute puddle jumper or a ferry.

It's super safe there to explore too and much cheaper than the Bahamas, at least the part I was in the two times I was there. You rent golf carts and drive around on those. The only cars on the island are taxis and service trucks. Everyone else is driving around in golf carts.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Got it purbest0, we will definitely not being staying in Atlantis.

You said you would go to Exuma and pass Nassau, if Nassau is where a bunch of the ghetto is I definitely want to avoid that! Any recommendations on where to stay/what do in Exuma? I looks like its hundreds of islands.

I will definitely check out Belize for a future trip as well, I want to see the world eventually!!

 

[purbeast0]

Got it purbest0, we will definitely not being staying in Atlantis.

You said you would go to Exuma and pass Nassau, if Nassau is where a bunch of the ghetto is I definitely want to avoid that! Any recommendations on where to stay/what do in Exuma? I looks like its hundreds of islands.

I will definitely check out Belize for a future trip as well, I want to see the world eventually!!

The Bahamas is a bunch of different islands. Exuma is one of them. As is Nassau.

And no the whole island isn't ghetto or anything, it's just the most popular one for tourism and easiest to get to.

One other thing I'd say is the locals in the Bahamas are not very nice. Probably the most unfriendly out of all the islands I have ever been too.

I have never been to Exuma so I don't really know where to stay there, sorry.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Thanks purbeast0. Sad to hear about the locals being not very nice. Just curious, what is their ethnic background? Mexicans? Africans?

 

[SaltyNuts]

Bump! I would have thought Bahamas would have been a much more popular vacation place?! 3 hour flight from Houston, waaaaay less from Florida and other places further east? Someone else GOTZ to have been there and know some things!!!

 

[Torn Mind]

Thinking of starting your own Fyre Festival?

 

[SaltyNuts]

If Kendall Jenner will be there, sure, I will seduce her easy.

 

[purbeast0]

Thanks purbeast0. Sad to hear about the locals being not very nice. Just curious, what is their ethnic background? Mexicans? Africans?

No clue other than they are Bahamian.

Bump! I would have thought Bahamas would have been a much more popular vacation place?! 3 hour flight from Houston, waaaaay less from Florida and other places further east? Someone else GOTZ to have been there and know some things!!!

There are just better/nicer places to go than the Bahamas. Flying to Bahamas or any other Caribbean islands isn't much of a difference. It's not like you're choosing between going there and Hawaii, which is like a 7-8 hour difference each way in flight times from east coast.

Bahamas is at the bottom of the list of the places I've been to. Of all the places I've been to, it's probably the last one I would want to go back to. It is tied between that and Cancun, although I'd rather go to Tulum (never been) than Bahamas again.

And when I say "Bahamas" I'm referring to Nassau which is probably what you are talking about since it's the main tourist island. As mentioned I do want to hit up Exuma at some point.

Grand Cayman is probably the same distance or close to it, from Houston, and I would got here 10/10 times over Bahamas.

 

[Captante]

The main islands in the Bahama's are a very short stretch atmosphere-wise from central "Floriduh" these days so if that's your kind of crowd you've picked the right destination.



If not however, I would aim for the Cayman Islands ... they're British territory so not as cheap plus if you drive you'll need to keep left however that pretty much sums up the negatives.

 

[JEDI]

Thinking about a vacation there real soon, it looks like it is a nice, easy 3 hour flight from Houston. I know nothing about it, other than (i) they apparently have gambling, which is good, and (ii) it can be pretty darned ghetto, which is bad. I think we definitely want to stay and some nice resort with nice pools, but also want to venture out of the resort to see what is out there. But I don't want to get robbed or have my head cut off.

Any thoughts on anything? Where to stay, places to go, things to see and do, things to avoid like the plague, etc. etc.?

As always, thanks in advance to all you glorious ATOTers.

take cruise ship from Galveston,tx to carribean island of your choice?

 

[JEDI]

Bahamas is at the bottom of the list of the places I've been to. Of all the places I've been to, it's probably the last one I would want to go back to. It is tied between that and Cancun, although I'd rather go to Tulum (never been) than Bahamas again.

whats wrong with Cancun?

 

[purbeast0]

whats wrong with Cancun?

I never said anything is wrong with it.

 

[Jeeebus]

kinda depends on what you're looking for. If you're into resorts/gambling/shopping, you're going to Nassau. We were supposed to be at the Hyatt Baha Mar last week, but that stupid tropical system came in from Mexico and we rescheduled our trip for September. But we were only going there for the kids as it has a relatively new water park/many restaurants and is way less crowded than Atlantis (which receives a lot of cruise traffic too).

If you're looking for peace/quiet, you're probably still flying to Nassau and then headed elsewhere. Abaco, Eleuthera, Exuma, etc. But you're not finding a bunch of shops and resorts - just crystal clear water and mostly private boat people. Looking to fish offshore? Bimini is probably best given the fishing fleet for charters there.

If I don't buy a place in the Keys in the next couple years, the plan is still to buy something on Bimini or in the Exumas so we can boat over for a quick 2 - 3 day trip here and there. Bimini is around an hour from here, Exumas is a few more hours.

 

[Captante]

whats wrong with Cancun?

Nothing if you stay in the resort/tourist-areas. (and only drink brand-name sealed/bottled water)

PLENTY if you go off the beaten track and get a glimpse "behind the curtain". (or swallow a mouthful of pool-water like my buddy did... he was sick for a week)

 

[zinfamous]

Go to Anguila.

fuck the rest of the colonial tourist islands. (OK, Anguila is the only one that stuck with the British..so no less colony, but it is the least developed, anyway, and chill. Far, far less bullshit. > Fly to St Maarten, then take a boat off of that shit and to Anguila as fast as you can, lol)

 

[deustroop]

I used to go the Sandals Resort in Nassau regularly, for a weekend getaway, until the chinese virus closed stuff.This is an all inclusive , with swimming pools, beaches, etc. On island activities are limited to typical boat excursions and trips into town. Now with the chinese resorts running full blast, town is very touristy but the residents are pleasant and helpful. I suspect having a British Origin has educated the locals to good manners and respect for private property, so we felt right at home in terms of the social environment. The Bahamians have a strong antipathy to Jamaicans if that tells you anything. One night I lost my wallet in town and it was turned over to the police within hours. Very helpful. We stay in the most expensive rooms and find the service excellent. It's a short hop from Toronto so fits in my travel time allocation, 3 hrs and we book three days. We will be back soon.

 

[purbeast0]

I used to go the Sandals Resort in Nassau regularly, for a weekend getaway, until the chinese virus closed stuff.This is an all inclusive , with swimming pools, beaches, etc. On island activities are limited to typical boat excursions and trips into town. Now with the chinese resorts running full blast, town is very touristy but the residents are pleasant and helpful. I suspect having a British Origin has educated the locals to good manners and respect for private property, so we felt right at home in terms of the social environment. The Bahamians have a strong antipathy to Jamaicans if that tells you anything. One night I lost my wallet in town and it was turned over to the police within hours. Very helpful. We stay in the most expensive rooms and find the service excellent. It's a short hop from Toronto so fits in my travel time allocation, 3 hrs and we book three days. We will be back soon.

lol wtf?

 

[deustroop]

lol wtf?

yes ?