topic Re: Bahamas in Travel

Bahamas

sim2222 — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 15:42:17 GMT

We plan to go to the Bahamas next year. Is it worth it? Or is it too expensive? I have never visited before. DH hates to travel so this is a big undertaking to get him to go! We arent staying at Atlantis although we will visit it and see what it is all about. We plan to go for 4-5 nights max. No kids, just us. We plan to stay at the Comfort Suites Bahams as they have free breakfast. Any insight would be helpful.

Re: Bahamas

software — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 16:05:08 GMT

What time of year?

Hurricane season starts in August.

@sim2222

Re: Bahamas

Ideserveit — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:06:09 GMT

Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30th (I'm In FL).

Re: Bahamas

jpie — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 17:25:01 GMT

Hi! My bestie and her family went a couple of years ago. She said it was a one time trip because it was more expensive than other beach destinations.

She also said it was very important not to go too early in the season (like March or April?) because it was too cold to enjoy the beach.

I think they went in July.

Re: Bahamas

meem120 — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 20:52:54 GMT

Its affordble, the Caymans are VERY expensive. Hurricane season is cheaper. Get insurance tho, just in case

Re: Bahamas

Alsee — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 01:09:00 GMT

It's ok - the outer Islands are lovely. Like Exuma and Abaco.

Re: Bahamas

CANDLEQUEEN — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 14:27:31 GMT

Unlike the other Caribbean islands, The Bahamas isn't as warm in our winter months, so I wouldn't necessarily go in Jan or Feb, but by April it should be warm enough, and I would only spend maybe two nites in Paradise Island, and then the other nights on one of the outer islands-more privacy, quieter and less tourists.......

Re: Bahamas

Lipstickdiva — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 16:32:18 GMT

It depends on what you think is expensive. Any island is going to be expensive because they have to bring just about everything there.

I've been to the Bahamas twice. Compared to places we've been to in the US and Mexico, it was very expensive. Compared to other places I'm sure it's probably cheap.

DH and I honeymooned in Nassau many many years ago. I don't believe the place we stayed at is even there anymore. The second time I went we stayed on Paradise Island at Atlantis but even that was the first year they opened. That year we were there in February and it was warm during the day but by evening it was chilly.

The one thing I remember about both Nassau and Paradise Island is they aren't all that customer service oriented at the hotels, etc. For instance, DH and I walked into our hotel room and the curtain rod across the sliding doors had fallen down on one side. We called down about having it fixed but it was the next morning before they finally showed up. There were also other issues that it took forever to fix.

Re: Bahamas

itiswhatitis — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 17:41:03 GMT

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
It depends on what you think is expensive. Any island is going to be expensive because they have to bring just about everything there.

I've been to the Bahamas twice. Compared to places we've been to in the US and Mexico, it was very expensive. Compared to other places I'm sure it's probably cheap.

DH and I honeymooned in Nassau many many years ago. I don't believe the place we stayed at is even there anymore. The second time I went we stayed on Paradise Island at Atlantis but even that was the first year they opened. That year we were there in February and it was warm during the day but by evening it was chilly.

The one thing I remember about both Nassau and Paradise Island is they aren't all that customer service oriented at the hotels, etc. For instance, DH and I walked into our hotel room and the curtain rod across the sliding doors had fallen down on one side. We called down about having it fixed but it was the next morning before they finally showed up. There were also other issues that it took forever to fix.

What has to be brought in to the Bahamas? I'm confused by your response. They have their own food (indigenous). All of it isn't imported.

Re: Bahamas

lulu2 — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 18:17:07 GMT

Personally I think there are far prettier islands. As others have mentioned, the weather is not always tropical. If you are planning a winter getaway, it may not be beach weather. One Christmas vacation we spent on Paradise Island and we had to wear coats all but 1 day. The only thing there was a casino.

We were at the Atlantis one February. We had about 50-50 for beach weather.

Re: Bahamas

itiswhatitis — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 06:42:34 GMT

I agree. There are many beautiful Islands other than Grand Bahama or Nassau.

Andros Island in the Bahamas, Eleuthra, Harbor Island, Acklin Islands and a few others might have more of a tropical feel for Islands in the Bahamas.

Re: Bahamas

Lipstickdiva — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 15:40:43 GMT

@itiswhatitis wrote:
@Lipstickdiva wrote:
It depends on what you think is expensive. Any island is going to be expensive because they have to bring just about everything there.

I've been to the Bahamas twice. Compared to places we've been to in the US and Mexico, it was very expensive. Compared to other places I'm sure it's probably cheap.

DH and I honeymooned in Nassau many many years ago. I don't believe the place we stayed at is even there anymore. The second time I went we stayed on Paradise Island at Atlantis but even that was the first year they opened. That year we were there in February and it was warm during the day but by evening it was chilly.

The one thing I remember about both Nassau and Paradise Island is they aren't all that customer service oriented at the hotels, etc. For instance, DH and I walked into our hotel room and the curtain rod across the sliding doors had fallen down on one side. We called down about having it fixed but it was the next morning before they finally showed up. There were also other issues that it took forever to fix.
What has to be brought in to the Bahamas? I'm confused by your response. They have their own food (indigenous). All of it isn't imported.

The majority of food and agricultural products in the Bahamas comes from the United States.

I also never knew until we went for the first time, that islands are prone to water issues. Both times we were in the Bahamas for several hours we had no water at all and the first time for several hours the water was a very bad color.

Re: Bahamas

itiswhatitis — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 20:43:41 GMT

@Lipstickdiva wrote:
@itiswhatitis wrote:
@Lipstickdiva wrote:
It depends on what you think is expensive. Any island is going to be expensive because they have to bring just about everything there.

I've been to the Bahamas twice. Compared to places we've been to in the US and Mexico, it was very expensive. Compared to other places I'm sure it's probably cheap.

DH and I honeymooned in Nassau many many years ago. I don't believe the place we stayed at is even there anymore. The second time I went we stayed on Paradise Island at Atlantis but even that was the first year they opened. That year we were there in February and it was warm during the day but by evening it was chilly.

The one thing I remember about both Nassau and Paradise Island is they aren't all that customer service oriented at the hotels, etc. For instance, DH and I walked into our hotel room and the curtain rod across the sliding doors had fallen down on one side. We called down about having it fixed but it was the next morning before they finally showed up. There were also other issues that it took forever to fix.
What has to be brought in to the Bahamas? I'm confused by your response. They have their own food (indigenous). All of it isn't imported.
The majority of food and agricultural products in the Bahamas comes from the United States.

I also never knew until we went for the first time, that islands are prone to water issues. Both times we were in the Bahamas for several hours we had no water at all and the first time for several hours the water was a very bad color.

@Lipstickdiva, thanks for the clarification. I never knew. Jamaica was prone to electricity outages when I went years ago. Never been to the Bahamas. Don't think I like the idea of water issues.

Re: Bahamas

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 19:55:52 GMT

I'm going to be honest, so please don't be discouraged but for ME, I think their are nicer islands and I have cruised to almost all of the islands in the caribbean. I'd say research, research.

Have you considered a cruise, I say that because for the price to fly to bahamas, and pay for lodging you could get on a ship from Ft Lauderdale, stop at several islands and have the cruise entertainment, food, shows, etc. OF course I would not go n a cruise during hurricane season but just an idea.

I went to the Bahamas and I love Atlantis, if I can't stay at Atlantis I would not go at all. The country is POOR, the resort has everything so you don't have to leave the resort. IT has a beach, the acquarium, and so much to do. I can confirm they do have a water problem in bahamas as even at atlantis the toilet water was brown at certain times.

Re: Bahamas

Lipstickdiva — Wed, 05 Apr 2017 20:53:55 GMT

@Happiness Is Inside JOB, DH and I have a best friend who just got back from a 7 day cruise and he said he'd never do that again. They stopped at several different islands and he said they paid a lot of money to be in the cruise ship but then they went to 3 different islands, got off the ship for the entire day, and had to then pay for everything on their own once off the boat. We were talking and he said for him, it made no sense to pay all that money to be on a cruise where everything was included, to then end up off the ship for 3 days and pay more money to do everything on their own. For him personally, he said he'd rather fly directly to a resort and stay.

I thought about that when they booked the cruise. He had a lot of money into the cruise plus he spent a lot when they were off the boat. So I guess it all depends on what you want to do.

As an aside, it has been a number of years since I was at Atlantis but I really wasn't all that impressed with it.

Re: Bahamas

Happiness Is Inside JOB — Thu, 06 Apr 2017 18:00:46 GMT

Lipstick - Thanks for your comments, it proves everyone is different and likes different things. I love crusing and was view it like any other vacation where you pay for excursions while others expect different things from their cruise. I'm sorry to hear that your friend did not enjoy his cruise. I wish he had been told all the included items, not included as well as and ups and downs in advance. Then he could have made an intelligent decision for HIM.

I hope the original traveler finds the perfect travel itinerary for her.

Re: Bahamas

Vamp — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 21:20:26 GMT

@sim2222 wrote:
We plan to go to the Bahamas next year. Is it worth it? Or is it too expensive? I have never visited before. DH hates to travel so this is a big undertaking to get him to go! We arent staying at Atlantis although we will visit it and see what it is all about. We plan to go for 4-5 nights max. No kids, just us. We plan to stay at the Comfort Suites Bahams as they have free breakfast. Any insight would be helpful.

We stayed at Atlantis & brought our kids (teens at the time) & had a blast. Personally, and this is just me, I wouldn't bother with the Bahamas otherwise. It all depends on what you like to get out of a vacation. Atlantis has a lot of families and a lot of water activities such as paddle boarding, swimming with sea creatures, pools, slides, etc. What foes DH like to do? You might have better luck getting him to travel if you mix in some activities he would enjoy. Does he like history? Golfing? Lounging by the pool?

Re: Bahamas

riley1 — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 22:57:22 GMT

Been to many of the islands including Bahama. To me it was meh. I'd much rather go to Aruba again and, they are more out of the "hurricane belt" than most of the others. Cayman was very expensive as was Bermuda.