Romantic Escapes in the Bahamas
By Blair Howard
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Romantic Escapes in the Bahamas - Blair Howard
Romantic Escapes in the Bahamas
Paris Permenter & John Bigley
Hunter Publishing, Inc.
Introduction
Geography
Getting Started
Vacation Options
Budget Getaways
Quick Getaways
Mega Resorts
Where to Stay
Prices
All-Inclusive Resorts
Bed & Breakfasts and Small Inns
Villas
How Long to Stay?
When to Go
Seasonal Pricing
Climate
Festivals
Caribbean Cuisine
Unique Island Dishes
Activities
Tennis
Windsurfing
Sailing
Shopping
Beaches
Adventures
Get Set to Get Wet
Sightseeing
Nightlife
Casinos
Music
Just Doing Nothing
Travel Information
What to Pack
Getting to the Islands
Caribbean Air Carriers
Air-Land Packages
Island-Hopping
Cruises
Travel Agents
Entry Requirements
Obtaining a Passport
Vacation Options
Budget Getaways
Quick Getaways
Mega Resorts
Where to Stay
Prices
All-Inclusive Resorts
Bed & Breakfasts and Small Inns
Villas
How Long to Stay?
Caribbean Embassies & Consulates
Customs
Life
Dress
Patois
Taxis
Potential Problems
Crime
Drugs
Food & Drink
Sunburn
Insects
Manchineel Trees
Marine Dangers
Heat Dangers
Time Zones
Currency
Island Romance
Weddings
Destination Weddings
Two Top Wedding Packages
Other Wedding Packages
Wedding Requirements
Romantic Sites intheCaribbean
The Islands
The Bahamas
Geography
Festivals
Sweet Dreams
Nassau-New Providence Island
Grand Bahama Island
Harbour Island
Tables for Two
Nassau-New Providence Island
Romantic Activities
Paradise Island
Nightlife
Just the Facts
Appendix
Caribbean Tourist Boards
US Passport Offices
Embassies & Consulates
French Government Tourist Offices
Introduction
Before we start examining the individual islands of the Bahamas, lets look at the region as a whole. The Caribbean spans an area that stretches over 2,000 miles east to west and 1,000 miles north to south, starting just off the coast of Florida and reaching down to the coast of South America.
This part of the world is blessed with year-round sunshine, with water warmed by Caribbean currents and shores cooled by gentle trade winds. Winter and summer temperatures differ by only a few degrees.
Geography
The islands arch out like a cracking whip, with the largest islands to the west and the small islands to the east, curving on down to South America and ending with a snap
back to the west at the ABC islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao.
The whole formation of islands is referred to as the Antilles,usually divided into the Greater Antilles and the Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles, as the name suggests, are the Caribbeans largest islands: Cuba, Hispaniola (an island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Jamaica, and Puerto Rico. The term Lesser Antilles encompasses the other islands.
Often, the area is just divided up into the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Eastern islands are the same as the Lesser Antilles; the Western Caribbean is the Greater Antilles and the Cayman Islands.
The multiple names given to this region is your first hint at the diversity the Caribbean boasts. In researching and writing this book, we traveled to the Caribbean every few weeks and many friends asked us, Are you getting bored visiting the same area again and again?
Besides the fact that it would be pretty tough to tire of perfect weather, postcard-pretty scenes, and a sea as clear as glass, the Caribbean holds an endless fascination for us, and hopefully for you, because it offers so many different types of experiences.
Although every one of these countries is an island surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, they differ in many ways. The political structures range from crown colonies to independent nations. Some islands span hundreds of square miles; others can be covered by bicycle in a single afternoon. Languages vary as well; English, Spanish, French, Dutch, and even a beautiful mélange of languages called Papiamento greet visitors, though youll find that English is spoken in just about every resort area.
Although technically not part of the Caribbean, the Bahamas share its azure waters and perpetual summer. Bermuda is also beyond the Caribbeans reaches, though it, too, offers a romantic island atmosphere.
How Do You Say....
The Caribbean contains a few tongue twisters. So you can sound like a local, heres how to say some of the toughest:
Anguilla an-GWIL-a
Antigua an-TEE-ga
Barbuda bar-BOO-da
Nevis NEE-vis
Saba SAH-buh
Statia STAY-sha
St. Barths St. Barts
St. Croix St. Kroy
St. Lucia St. LOU-sha
Getting Started
Okay, its time tomake some decisions. Which island will you choose? Its a question that only the two of you can answer, based on your own personal tastes. Do you want high-rise luxury or Robinson Crusoe-type seclusion? Glitzy dinner shows or evening serenades from tiny tree frogs? Days spent shopping, snorkeling, scuba diving, or just sunning on a sandy beach?
When friends ask us for help in selecting a destination, we advise them to first identify their preferences. We sometimes like the bustling atmosphere of busy islands like Jamaica, St. Thomas, or Puerto Rico; other times we long for the serenity of St. Kitts, Nevis, or Virgin Gorda.
To help you make this major decision, begin by asking yourself these questions:
Is our budget a major factor in our choice?
Will this be a quick three- or four-day getaway or a leisurely vacation of a week or more?
Do we enjoy casino gambling and shows?
Are we looking for luxurious accommodations?
Would we prefer the convenience of an all-inclusive resort?
Do we want to rent a car and explore on our own?
What activities are most important to us? Snorkeling? Scuba? Tennis? Windsurfing? Sailing? Hiking? Shopping?
Do we want a lush, tropical environment?
Do we want white sand beaches? Nude beaches?
Do we want the simplicity of remaining on US turf or would we rather experience a different culture?
Sit down together and consider your answers. Then take a look at your choices.
Vacation Options
Budget Getaways
Theres no good way to put this, but youll find out soon enough that a trip to the Caribbean isn't cheap. Even if you select a budget hotel, transportation to the islands is a big expense that you just can't avoid.
However, some islands are less expensive than others. These destinations are high volume, bringing in commercial and charter flights on a daily basis. This may mean more crowds, but your airfare will probably be cheaper than flights to more secluded islands.
Some destinations offer packages that include air, hotel, and ground transportation for one affordable price. Jamaica, Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, and the Dominican Republic offer these kinds of deals.
Charter airline companies serve most of these islands as well. For more information on low-cost carriers, see Travel Information.
Quick Getaways
If you're planning a three- or four-day retreat, make the most of your visit by minimizing travel time. These islands are the easiest jumps from the US: the Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico, and Jamaica (if you stay in the Montego Bay area; Negril and Ocho Rios are nearly two hours from the airport, Port Antonio is even farther). From the UK, youll find the best connections to Barbados, Antigua, and Bermuda.
Mega Resorts
Twenty-four-hour room service, full-treatment spas, and satellite TV arent commonplace throughout the Caribbean. However, the two