Nassau, Bahamas - Yeah, Mon~
Written: Mar 13 '04 (Updated Mar 13 '04)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Beaches, activities, Atlantis, weather, food
Cons: Being hassled downtown, prices for most things
The Bottom Line: Go for the weekend, but not the whole week.
|
|
|
| november-rain's Full Review: Nassau |
Week of Trip - 2/21/04 to 2/28/04
My boyfriend’s birthday falls in the month of February and I decided we should celebrate with a vacation in The Bahamas this year. (Plus, nothing’s really happening here in the dead of winter.) Without really knowing anything about The Bahamas, I had chosen it as a destination based on alluring TV commercials and visions of a tropical paradise. That and the flight was only about 3 hours from New York City and they had much better weather over there - averaging at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. I had specifically chosen Nassau (the capital of the Bahamas) to visit, figuring there would be a lot more activities to do than just relax. At the last minute, two of our friends decided to join us since we had a winter break before classes begin again.
On the morning of February 21st, the four of us couldn’t have been happier to get away from the rain and slush at home as we boarded the plane to Nassau. Luckily, the flight was on time and we arrived earlier than expected. At the airport, there was a live musical band to greet travelers as they exit the gates - something I haven’t seen before. Moments later, the guys got an early start to partying when they were served with complimentary drinks (Bahama Mamas!) as we waited for our luggage. When we got our bags together, we tried to rent a car with Budget, but were unable to due to their age policy. We got a taxi instead and soon realized we were better off - driving rules in Nassau may be different, but the drivers are in their own league of craziness.
Our friends had booked a separate hotel from us. Ours, Bay View Village, is on Paradise Island (across the bridge) and theirs, Nassau Beach Hotel on Cable Beach in Nassau. The city of Nassau and Paradise Island as a whole is called New Providence Island, connected by the Paradise Island Bridge. Having accommodations at both places made it easier for us to explore these areas.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nassau Beach Hotel Mini-Review
For all the bad reviews I’ve read about Nassau Beach Hotel, it wasn’t really that terrible. The lobby was very elegant and well-kept, furnished with very comfortable seating for my tired butt. Sure, the hallway carpets are a bit worn and the walls aren’t too sheen, but from what I saw, the rooms were clean and the views in all of them are FANTASTIC. The staff is very hospitable and did a good job cleaning up after two very drunken, filthy college slobs. When I looked outside, I saw the pool needs to be cleaned badly, but luckily, all guests can access the facilities of the Wyndham Crystal Palace next door. They have a very large pool with a water slide and a swim-up bar, plus my personal favorite, the hot tub.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
--|[ Cable Beach ]|--
Cable Beach is a long stretch of white sand beaches and resorts past the downtown area. It is home to the Radisson, Sandals, Breezes, Wyndham and other high-priced resorts as well as the Crystal Place Casino and various water sports. This is where you should be if you’re looking to jetski, windsurf, parasail and etc. Let’s not forget swimming and snorkeling (although you’d find better snorkeling spots elsewhere from Cable beach), because the water in the Bahamas has unbelievable clarity and color. At Cable Beach, waters the color of aquamarine, lounge chairs parked everywhere and an array of coconut trees and fauna fulfill the resort vacation fantasy. However, I have seen a bit of litter strewn about the sands and a guy dumping his cigarette butt into the water, which made me a little bit angry. Tourism would only seem to destroy what natural beauty is left of the islands if tourists continue to neglect the places they visit instead of admire and enjoy.
The resorts do not usually check who goes on their premises, so we snuck into the Radisson twice. Mostly, we stayed at the Wyndham since we were within the rules to do so. A deejay plays music and hosts contests poolside everyday until 5 P.M. and lounging under the sun was all you needed to do. Many nights were spent at the hot tub here, since the temperature can get quite chilly. Also, at this spot, I have seen many fail in their attempts at getting laid.
In the daytime, vendors will come up to you offering goods and services such as hair-braiding, jewelry, water equipment rentals and marijuana. You can always negotiate with them if you are interested in any of these, but I wasn’t tempted. Also, this is the main area where ships pick up people to go off snorkeling, diving, parasailing, or in our case, boozing.
Booze N’ Cruise – The whole concept of this excursion to drink all you can on the “Bahamian Queen” and party on the upper deck while cruising around the island. Simple fun can be had for 50 dollars a head. They will give you 30 minutes to snorkel at a private location and 45 minutes to relax on a private beach, but we all know that wasn’t the whole point. Personally, I didn’t like the drinks too much - the variety was very limited, but they did have a cash bar. I watched my friends and lightweight boyfriend down endless cups of Yellowbirds and Bahama Mamas. I stuck to fruit drinks and had a better time. The private beach we were brought to was the nicest one I’ve seen - the scenery was all natural beauty, there were very few vendors around and the water and sand were exceptionally clean. I wandered off to the rocks, where I saw tiny pools of water with the smallest fish and sea critters swimming about. It was amazing. Snorkeling wasn’t so bad either - the water was very rough when I went in, so I didn’t stay long, but the fish were abundant and can even be seen from the boat or from the boat’s glass bottom. When it was time to leave, the upper deck of the ship had been cleared of all chairs to give way to a dance floor where the DJ spun until we all arrived back on Cable Beach. It was amusing to see drunken revelers spill onto the sand as they got off board.
Crystal Palace Casino – My boyfriend and I went here a few times to play the slot machines. We didn’t have much luck, but the odds seem better than at Atlantis’ Casino (read about it below.) Plus, this place isn’t as fancy or as snobby, and the decor was an eyesore. But, it was a great way to kick back and waste money. We didn’t see any cocktail waiters around us, so we figured they don’t serve free drinks like Atlantis does.
--|[ Paradise Island / Atlantis ]|--
Paradise Island is where my boyfriend and I stayed at and not nearly as action-packed as Cable Beach. It has a distinctly more upscale feel, the streets were very clean and the large amounts of flora and fauna kept this very small island vibrant and enjoyable to walk through. I loved seeing palm trees waving gently overhead and Hibiscus standing out among a bunch of green shrubs. Much of the upscale atmosphere is in large due to the excessively glitzy Atlantis Resort & Casino, which occupies a majority of space on the island. The major thing to do here was to go gamble at its casino, eat at its restaurants or shop in its Crystal Court. We had considering booking a room here for $400 a night, however, this would be the price we’ll pay just to use their pools and slides. Everything else is accessible to non-guests.
On our first night here, the four of us visited Atlantis. We entered through the Crystal Courts, a bunch of high-end shops that included names like Gucci, Versace, Cartier and the like. I looked around for a few moments, more at the fancy displays the items were sitting on than the items themselves. Everything was THAT glossy. This place can be very opulent, or very kitschy, depending on your taste. Millions of gallons of water, sea-life decorations, antique-looking furnishings and grand architectural design in a marine theme was meant to evoke the lost continent of Atlantis. Personally, I liked the imaginative feel of the place.
We headed to the casino with smug looks on our face - where else can you gamble at age 19? We promptly paraded past the high-rollers to the 25 cent slot machines and collectively gamble away $100 dollars that night. It didn’t matter that we didn’t win; the free drinks made up for it. Atlantis will serve you drinks free of charge as long as you are playing, but don’t forget to tip. We got a very nasty look once. The casino is fancier than the one at Wyndham Crystal Palace, like most things here are fancier than anything in Nassau. The machines are newer, the decor more pleasing to the eye and the service much better. We went here twice during our vacation.
Some people have recommended us “The Dig”, a multi-level exhibit meant to recreate Atlantis before it sunk some 11,000 years ago and showcases thousands of marine species and “ancient” artifacts. It was supposed to rival The National Aquarium in Baltimore, but we waited until the last day, only to find out passes aren’t being sold past 5 P.M. However, we got a little taste of it outside “The Dig’s” entrance. If you don’t want to pay $25, just hang outside and you will see a large aquarium with sharks, stingrays and many types of fish in a unique “Atlantis” setting, complete with odd-looking monuments, fallen structure and chests.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Bay View Village Mini-Review
The place we stayed at, Bay View Village, is neither by the bay or a village, and not a hotel either, but minutes away from Atlantis. It’s a pricey condominium ($1500 per week, more or less) that I chose because of my need for space. The pathways are surrounded by tropical gardens and cherubic statues. There are three pools, a basketball court, a pay laundromat, a small restaurant and a convenience store on the premises. Inside the condo, the living room has a comfortable feel, with a pull-out sofa, two armchairs, a 25' TV and a small dining table. We also had a patio, with two lounge chairs and a patio dining set - though we didn’t make any use of this area. The bedroom was large, with a very comfortable king-size bed, 2 closets, a TV and a safe. The kitchen wasn’t used much - but all utensils, wares and appliances were available for our convenience. Maid service was always on time and did a fantastic job cleaning up and providing us towels. My boyfriend did not like the tranquility of this place, but I liked the secluded feeling. ________________________________________________________________________________________________
--|[ Downtown ]|--
The downtown area is just past the Paradise Island Bridge and where all the cruise ships dock. Tourists come here for the duty-free shopping, restaurants and small attractions like the Pirate’s Museum. I did not feel comfortable walking around here - I was hassled a lot to get my hair braided (always managed to say no and make a clean escape) but shady characters are the ones who are a cause for worry. We’ve been approached a few times to “donate” money to some generically named charity that probably doesn’t exist. However, once you get past these people, there are numerous shops to enjoy - jewelry, liquor and perfume shops whose prices are cheaper than U.S. retail. I didn’t find the price differences too great in jewelry, but liquor and perfume are great buys. You will find brands like Gucci, Coach, Rolex, Bvlgari and other high-end shopping.
Straw Market – Many travel guides will tell you to visit the Straw Market, numerous small booths congested under a large canopy, for souvenirs and straw crafts made by locals. Straw baskets and wooden carved pieces might be nice to pick up as a real souvenirs, but the rest is junk. If towels and T-shirts are your thing, you can haggle with the sellers. Some of them can be very persistent when you show interest in something, so practice a firm “No.”
--|[ Restaurants ]|--
All the places we ate at ranged from decent to very good. However, food and drink prices are very high and it’s not easy to avoid paying their prices. You might want to bring your own snacks and drinks on vacation. For dining, here are some restaurants:
Anthony’s Caribbean Bar & Grill / Express Deli – This is one of Atlantis’ 21 restaurants on Paradise Island. We ate here on our first night, on the outdoor deck, and I randomly selected a dish - Calypso Penne Pasta. It was a welcome surprise - a pasta dish with a creamy sauce I’ve never tried before and a nice amount of grilled chicken. My boyfriend had steak (too expensive for its size) which was good also and our friends had cheeseburgers. The coffee wasn’t too great (I needed it.) Half & half was the standard in Nassau - later we found out milk was a precious $4 per quart. By coincidence, we found a coupon that came with a map we picked up for a free (with 2 dinner entrees) “Anthony’s Sparklers,” a giant 46 oz. alcoholic tropical drink. It was served in the biggest wine glass I’d ever seen. The guys happily shared that one.
For budget lunch, try the Express Deli next door - bagels for around $2.00, grilled chicken sandwich for $6, coffee for $1.50, and other reasonably priced pastries and sandwiches.
Café Johnny Canoe – This was situated right next to Nassau Beach Hotel and serves American and Bahamian fare. The chicken tender platter ($14) was small, but fulfilling with very tender white meat chicken and the best honey mustard sauce ever. I had this three times. I developed a taste for Carribean rice while vacationing here and it’s a nice side dish. The grilled chicken sandwich was nowhere as good, but my friends say the Johnny burger (with sauteed mushrooms) is worth $11. The strawberry daiquiris are fantastic. The place has a nice Carribean flavor and the service is quick and friendly. I came back for their chicken tenders before we flew home.
Senor Frogs – A bar, club, Mexican Restaurant and clothing line all under one roof, geared towards college kids and spring breakers. The food we tried, chicken and steak fajitas with rice, wasn’t so bad - nice portions for prices ranging from $12- 25. However, there just wasn’t that Mexican tang to the dishes. The buffalo wings and nacho platter were decent appetizers. The drinks here are potent and reasonably priced.
During the week we were there, the nightlife wasn’t really happening. We had plans to check out the clubs, such as Bahama Boom or The Zoo, but the people we’ve met didn’t give us an enthusiastic recommendation. Then on the eve of the Spring Break season, on our last night, hordes of people our age began to descend upon the shores of Nassau. That night, we went to the club at Senor Frogs and the place was PACKED - conga lines forming, drunks at the bar, our friends getting wasted. The atmosphere was lively, the house band was awesome and the music was a good selection of current hits and dance classics. Senor Frogs is a definite recommendation for a fun Friday night.
--|[ Shopping ]|--
See ‘Downtown’ and ‘Atlantis.’
--|[ Transportation ]|--
Taxis are readily available outside any major establishment and hotel. Fares are pre-established based on location - Cable Beach to Downtown is $7, to Paradise Island $17. Needless to say, we spent a lot on taxis. Jitneys, or local buses, travel Downtown to Cable Beach and beyond for $1 each way. There is never a long wait for these buses and they’re very convenient for traveling short distances. I particularly like the Paradise Island Ferry when traveling from our place to meet our friends. The boats they put you on are small and some look as if they’ll fall apart, but the ride is wonderful for sight-seeing and only costs $3 each way.
--|[ Recommendation ]|--
There are some places I didn’t see, like the Ardastra Zoo or the Queen’s Staircase, however, I don’t feel like I’ve missed much. I went to Nassau to get away from the weather in NYC and relax all week. Generally, I got what I wanted and came home with a million beautiful pictures to show. (Plus, we sure took advantage of the Bahamas' legal drinking age.) The prices for everything tend to be high, so I suggest you do what you can to cut down costs. The total we’ve spent on food and transportation, plus a few activities for a week was $1200.
Nassau is very populated, but I didn’t experience any crime (just shady people) and police presence seems to be somewhat strong. Most of the locals we’ve encountered were very friendly. Beyond the tourist areas, many places are run down and very sad in appearance. It’s a stark contrast to the high-priced resorts and the shameless glitz of Atlantis. (I can only hope money from tourism can help revitalize these areas.) However, the islands themselves are naturally beautiful and worth seeing, especially the aquamarine waters. The reefs, corals and fishes are abundant, but with so much tourism, I sometimes wonder, for how long? If you decide to visit The Bahamas, or any island, keep in mind that you should help preserve what drew you there in the first place.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Friends
Best Time to Travel Here: Mar - May
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
november-rain
|
|
Member: happyhardcore
Location: confines of gravity
Reviews written: 26
Trusted by: 79 members
About Me:
Hello.
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.