The Bahamas: A Taste of the Island

The Bahamas: A Taste of the Islands

Paris Permenter & John Bigley

HUNTER PUBLISHING, INC.

hunterp@bellsouth.net

www.hunterpublishing.com

Ulysses Travel Publications

4176 Saint-Denis, Montréal, Québec

Canada H2W 2M5

514-843-9882 ext 2232; fax 514-843-9448

Windsor Books

The Boundary, Wheatley Road, Garsington

Oxford, OX44 9EJ England

01865-361122; fax 01865-361133

© Paris Permenter & John Bigley

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

The publisher, author, affiliated individuals and companies disclaim any responsibility for any injury, harm, or illness that may occur to anyone through, or by use of, the information in this book. Every effort was made to insure the accuracy of information in this book, but the publisher and author do not assume, and hereby disclaim, any liability for any loss or damage caused by errors, omissions, misleading information or potential travel problems caused by this guide, even if such errors or omissions are the result of negligence, accident or any other cause.

Cover image: Beach bar at Atlantis Paradise Island

© Paris Permenter & John Bigley

All other images © Paris Permenter & John Bigley

unless otherwise specified

Maps by Kim André © Hunter Publishing, Inc.

About the Authors

John and Paris are professional travel writers and photographers specializing in the Caribbean. The team contribute travel articles and photographs to many top magazines and newspapers.

In addition to their nine titles written for Hunter, they are the authors of Gourmet Getaways: A Taste of North America's Top Resorts, Texas Getaways for Two, Day Trips from San Antonio and Austin, and Texas Barbecue, named Best Regional Guidebook by the Mid-America Publishers Association. The couple are frequent radio and TV talk show guests and have appeared on several travel shows.

Both Paris and John are members of the prestigious Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA). The husband-wife team reside in Texas Hill Country, near Austin. More about the couple’s travels can be found at www.parisandjohn.com.

About the Authors

The Bahamas

Introduction

Bahamas

History

Planning Your Trip

Accommodation Types

All-Inclusive Resorts

Intimate Inns

Island Outpost

Villas

Travelers’ Information

Banking

Climate

Spring Break

Crime

Currency

Credit Cards

Customs Regulations

Departure Tax

Dress

Driving

Drugs

Electricity

Embassies

Entry Requirements

Immunizations

Information Sources

Language

Marriage

Pets

Photography

Public Holidays

Telephones

Time Zone

Tipping

Tourism Offices

In the US

Specific Island Offices

Getting There

Arriving By Air

Abaco

Acklins

Andros

Bimini

Cat Island

Crooked Island

Eleuthera

Exuma

Grand Bahama Island

Inagua, Long Island & Mayaguana

New Providence Island

San Salvador

Arriving By Cruise Ship

Getting Around

Travel By Taxi

 Cab Fares

Travel By Bus

Rental Cars

Other Options

Shopping

Tastes of The Bahamas

Real Taste of The Bahamas Program

In The Market

Club Med’s Banana Fritters

Coconut Milk

Lobster Linguine, Atlantic Beach Hotel

Club Med Mango Appetizer

Spices of The Bahamas

Substitution Chart

Drinks of The Bahamas

Bahamian Cocktails

Cooking with Rum

On The Menu

Chicken Souse

Conch Fritters

Cracked Conch

Fish Tea

Peas and Rice

What To Eat, When

Regional Delights

Choosing A Destination

Abaco Islands

The Acklins and Crooked Island

Andros Islands

The Berry Islands

Bimini Islands

Cat Island

Eleuthera/Harbour Island

The Exumas

Grand Bahama Island

Long Island

New Providence Island

San Salvador and Rum Cay

How Much Will It Cost?

Restaurant Dining

Cost of a Meal per Person (In US dollars, excluding drinks and tip)

Cost of Accommodations per Person (For a standard room, based on double occupancy in high season under an EP (room-only) plan)

The Abacos

History

Getaways

Recommended Restaurants

Oven-Roasted Grouper Fillet with Veggies,  Abaco Beach Resort

Bluff House Grouper, Bluff House Restaurant

Bluff House Cracked Conch, Bluff House

Where To Stay

Curry Plantain Soup, Abaco Beach Resort

Bluff House Tranquil Turtle

Between Meals

Working Off Those Meals

Golf

Snorkeling & Diving

Turtles

Andros

Chickcharnies and Luscas

Recommended Restaurants

Where To Stay

Working Off Those Meals

Scuba Diving

The Berry Islands

Recommended Restaurants

Where To Stay

Working Off Those Meals

Scuba Diving

The Bimini Islands

The Hemingway Connection

History

Recommended Restaurants

Where To Stay

Between Meals

Working Off Those Meals

Scuba Diving

Sport Fishing

Cat Island

Recommended Restaurants

Where To Stay

Between Meals

Crooked Island & Acklins Island

Where To Stay

Eleuthera & Harbour Island

Recommended Restaurants

Cracked Tempura Cajun Conch with Salsa, Conch:

Thai Wrapped Shrimp, Pink Sands

Where To Stay

Grouper Coral Sands, Coral Sands Hotel

Roast Lobster Tail & Oriental Hollandaise, Pink Sands

Between Meals

The Exuma Islands

Recommended Restaurants

Conch Burgers, Club Peace and Plenty

Where To Stay

Between Meals

Grand Bahama

Blue Holes

Recommended Restaurants

Cracked Conch, Morgan’s Bluff Restaurant

Between Meals

Long Island

Recommended Restaurants

Where To Stay

New Providence Island

Cacique Award

Recommended Restaurants

Where To Stay

Caribbean Seafood Strudel in Mango-Lime Sauce, Atlantis

Club Med’s Chocolate Bread

Club Med Shrimp and Crabmeat Canapes

Minced Lobster, Radisson Cable Beach

Spicy Jerk Chicken Chili, Sandals Resorts

Between Meals

Shows

Working Off Those Meals

Golf

San Salvador

Where To Stay

Club Med Shrimp Cocktail

Between Meals

Working Off Those Meals

Scuba Diving

 Festivals

Junkanoo

Turks & Caicos

Introduction

Geography

Fun In The Sun

Ecotravel

JoJo

Travelers’ Information

Banking

Climate

Currency

Customs

Credit Cards

Crime

Departure Tax

Driving

Electricity

Entry Requirements

Health/Hospitals

Internet site

Language

Pets

Telephone

Time Zone

Tipping

Tourism Office

Vaccinations

Water

Shopping

Getting There

Arriving By Air

Getting Around

Rental Cars

Travel By Taxi

Tastes of the Turks & Caicos

Drinks of the Turks & Caicos

Purple Gecko Cocktail, Gecko Grille, Ocean Club

Appendix

Tasting By Mail

Hot Sauces

Spices

Travel Information

Conversion Charts

Measurement Equivalents

Conversion Factors

Bibliography

The Bahamas

Introduction

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 over 2,000 small cays and islets that make up The Bahamas, spread out across 100,000 square miles. Only 20 of these landforms are populated.

The Bahamas enjoy a Caribbean climate due to the nearby Gulf Stream, a current of warm water that was discovered by Ponce de Leon while searching for the Fountain of Youth. The Gulf Stream certainly bestows a youthful feeling on those lucky enough to take a dip in its waters. But these islands are technically not part of the Caribbean, so expect slightly cooler water temperatures during the winter months.

Bahamas

The name Bahamas comes from bajar mar or shallow sea, a name given to the island chain by the Spanish over 500 years ago.                             

History

The first residents of these islands were the Lucayan Indians. Historians believed these settlers traveled to the region from South America around the ninth century AD and lived a quiet, peaceful existence until European discovery in 1492. Historians still debate exactly where Columbus first made landfall, but one long-held theory is that his introduction to the New World was at the Bahamian island of San Salvador.

The Spanish held the islands until 1718 when the British laid claim to this area following a quarter-century of upheaval. For years the islands served as a hideout for pirates; later they became known as a place from which to smuggle Confederate goods in and out of the South during the Civil War.

The Union Jack flew over these islands until The Bahamas became an independent nation. Today, the Islands of The Bahamas is an independent member of the Commonwealth of Nations; the Queen is the constitutional head of state.

Planning Your Trip

Keep in mind that the Islands of The Bahamas is not one destination, but hundreds. Scattered across a vast region, these many islands offer a diverse assortment of destinations.

So where should you go? The decision will depend on many factors:

How long can you stay? If this is a quick getaway of just three or four nights, select a destination that’s easy to reach, like Nassau or Freeport.

How much seclusion do you want? If it’s peace and quiet you’re after, move past the main tourist spots such as Nassau and Freeport in favor of quieter getaways, such as Bimini, Eleuthera and others.

What type of accommodations do you want? Are you looking for an all-inclusive, a small inn, or something in-between? Most all-inclusives are found in Nassau. Small inns are found on almost all of the inhabited islands.

Accommodation Types

Whatever you’re looking for in the way of accommodations – high-rise hotel, seaside bungalow, bed and breakfast, small traditional hotel, or private villa – you’ll find it in The Bahamas.

Just as varied as the type of accommodations is the range of prices of these properties. Everything from budget motels with spartan furnishings to private islands that attract royalty and Hollywood types is available.

This guidebook covers things in-between, places where the everyday vacationers can enjoy safety and comfort. The resorts, hotels and villas featured on these pages offer all levels of activity. Some strive to offer around-the-clock fun and evening theme parties for their guests; others point the way for guests to find their own entertainment. Some are located on the beach; others up the mountains with grandiose views. Some are full-service properties with everything from beauty salons to jewelry shops to a half-dozen bars and restaurants located right on the property; others are simple accommodations where the guests enjoy dinner in former greathouses built over 200 years ago.

Choosing a Bahamian accommodation that is right for you is important. You’ll find that an island resort, unlike a property in a downtown US city, for example, becomes your home away from home. This is not just where you spend your nights, but also a good portion of your days, languishing on the beach, lying beneath towering palms and luxuriating in a warm sea.

What form will your paradise take? A resort with daily activities and a pulsating nightlife? A historic inn furnished with Caribbean antiques? Or a quiet getaway where the only footprints are your own?

The choice is yours.

All-Inclusive Resorts

As the name suggests, all-inclusive