The Bahamas: A Taste of the Island
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About this ebook
Paris Permenter
John Bigley and Paris Permenter are a husband and wife team of travel writers. Longtime residents of Central Texas, they make their home in the Hill Country west of Austin, near Lake Travis. John and Paris have authored 32 guidebooks including Day Trips from San Antonio and Insiders’ Guide to San Antonio. Paris and John also publish www.TexasTripper?.com, which focuses on travel across the Lone Star State, PawZaar.com, featuring global style for pet lovers, and www.DogTipper?.com, filled with tips for dog lovers. Both John and Paris are members of the prestigious Society of American Travel ?Writers. For more on the couple’s writing and travels, see www?.parisandjohn?.com.
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The Bahamas - Paris Permenter
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