Bahamas Advice

[oldawg]

Trying to plan a trip to the Bahamas between Christmas and New Years. We have been to Abacos several times and love it. We are thinking a bit further south this year with The Exumas as our destination. Any advice on where to stay? Not looking for nightlife but we will want decent restaurants.

Thanks,

 

[Pascal]

Nothing comes close to the exumas when it comes to anchorages, scenery, cruising options etc... it's that simple.

That said, you can probably count the number of "good" restaurants on the fingers of one hand but we don't mind as we enjoy cooking even went we re off charter.

The best is without a doubt Fowl Cay the small resort off big majors (next to Staniel) but you need to reserve sometimes a couple of days in advance. Very very nice place...

Staniel is redoing their restaurant in th off season due to reopen just this month, hopefully the food will be improved, the bar and atmosphere can't be beaten though.

I don't care much for highborne so we rarely stop there, but many like it and its restaurant.

Compass cay was also expanding their restaurant but I think it s going to remain simple day food.

For local flavor, black point and farmers cay are your best bet.

Our top stops:
Normans cay (underwater DC3, great sandbars and beaches) ,
Shroud cay (dinghy creek across island to camp driftwood - a must see)
Warderick wells (park headquarters, 10 beaches, trails),
Pipe cay (abandoned navy station, spectacular sandbar where the nr 1 hit Timber was shot last year http://youtu.be/hHUbLv4ThOo) ,
Compass Cay (trails, nurse sharks at the dock),
Staniel (too much to list!),
Bitter guana, (beautiful beach, iguanas, cliffs),
Rudder cay (beach, cave , underwater piano),
Lee Stocking (trails, terrific beaches, hilltop),
Rat cay/Barraterre (nice small days, blow hole)

Th nice thing about the exumas is that once you re there you can cruise on the bank side all the way down to rudder cay, even with a 6' draft. That's 70nm of anchorages where you don't have to worry about weather in the sound...

Look at pamoramio pics on Google earth or check My panoramio picture page with hundreds of exumas pics http://www.panoramio.com/user/948800

 

[oldawg]

Pascal,

Thanks for the extensive reply. Unfortunately, I should have been more precise. We will not be on the boat and are looking for hotel/resort acomodations.

 

[doc g]

Pascal, is that Charmer at 1:57 in the video??........Pat

 

[Pascal]

Greg... Well, hmmm....deoending on your budget Fowl Cay maybe best then, staniel is probably all booked up already.

Without a boat, Staniel is great because bungalows come with a small whaler so you can explore around and there is plenty. Fowl Cay also has small boats. There are also a number of bungalow and home rentals but again, new year is the leak of the season.

Pat, yes that s charmer in the background in the video. Hatteras content... The shot where he feed nurse sharks was shot on the swim platform of a Hatteras MY (late model) that was docked in front of us.

 

[Mambeaux]

Pascal, they dedicated that video to you.....how cool is that!?

 

[Fanfare]

I love the Bahamas, but it's not the place to go for fine dining. I think Captain Hook could count the good places in the whole country and have a finger or so left over.

The Emerald Bay Resort near Georgetown, Great Exuma, was a very nice place while the Four Seasons ran it. The government held up their casino license for so long that Four Seasons pulled out. Sandals now runs it as an adult resort, no children. I have not been back since, as my grandchildren are unwelcome. However the hotel and condos were first-rate and the restaurants were fine before. Georgetown has such a number of boats, mostly sail, that you should find many kindred souls there all winter. Since sailors never seem to spend any money on things such as restaurants you should have no problems getting reservations. Plus Emerald Bay is several miles from Georgetown Harbor. And it has direct air flights from the USA.

 

[Pascal]

Pascal, they dedicated that video to you.....how cool is that!?

he s very grateful that we showed him the Exumas...

 

[Avenger]

I love the Bahamas, but it's not the place to go for fine dining. I think Captain Hook could count the good places in the whole country and have a finger or so left over.

Good one!

 

[Dan Mapes]

Having stayed at Emerald Bay this past Spring, I have a tough time justifying a return visit. The condos at (nearby) Grand Isle are nice. They have golf and a patio restaurant but for an extended stay a car is a must. And despite long drives, you won't find much unless you are willing to be very adventurous.
We have lived aboard at Elbow the past 6 Winters and having been to Great Exuma via boat last Spring we have no need to return. Cruise and anchor out or pick up moorings? Sure. But plopping down for a Winter on any one spot down there doesn't work for us now.
We enjoyed our time there but we are looking elsewhere for future escapes.

For a short stay I might recommend Peace and Plenty or one of the other places mentioned above.

 

[oldawg]

Looking like we will go back to Abaco. We know how to do that. May try Exuma for a short trip around Mardi Gras. Thanks for the advice.