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If this is your first planned trip to the Caribbean, the decision factors and choices
can be daunting. Besides price, the decision factors that seem to matter for a first visit
include travel time (how long it takes to get there and back), accommodations,
available activities, and, unfortunately, physical security.
Travel
time should probably be minimized for the first few visits. In the Caribbean air travel is
expensive and the small planes, delays, overbooking, cancelled flights, etc. can
substantially diminish an otherwise wonderful visit.
Accommodations
in
the Bahamas tend to be of three types: US-style hotels
that are typically located in Nassau, some with a Las Vegas-type motif that can
include a casino, stage shows, etc. Frommer's, Fodor`s, etc. travel guides list most of these
accommodations. The Bahamas also has many rental cottages and
rental houses. These
accommodations generally require a week's stay and may not be located near a
restaurant,
so cooking can be required.* There are also many Out Islands resorts. In general
they
are located on island chains similar to the Florida Keys. Along with
accommodations and dining, most Out Island resorts feature their closeness to nature,
especially marine wildlife. Most also feature a getaway motif
that usually includes, for example, no phones or TV's in the
rooms. Frommer's and Fodors, etc. travel guides list many of these
accommodations as well.
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In
the Bahamas the available activities are extensive and
they generally involve
water. Besides sunning and beaches, the US-style hotels may offer golf, jet skis, parasailing, New York-style shopping, gambling and
more. Out Islands resorts usually feature sunning, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing,
exploring the flora and fauna of
their island, and, frankly, loafing.
Unfortunately,
for
many travelers these days, physical security is a consideration. For example,
destinations with US-style hotels may also have US-style crime
problems. The Bahamas, and the Out Islands resorts in particular, have generally escaped these problems so far.
For example, while most Out Islands destinations provide doors with locks, at some
they are seldom used.
In
summary, because a Bahamian destination is expensive, the choices may reduce to a
US-style hotel, or Out Island-style accommodations, and minimal travel
time. For the Out Islands the choice may be between a week's stay in a rental
cottage/house, or more flexible accommodations at a resort. Choosing among cottages/houses can be
accomplished using
their references, which they should be able to provide. For Out
Island resorts, cuisine and the availability, or lack thereof, of US-style hotel
room amenities such as phones, TV's etc. could be used to chose an accommodation. US-style hotel room amenities are usually mentioned
in the resort's description. While there are no 5-star restaurants in the
Bahamas in the Michelin or Mobil sense, descriptions of cuisine that include
"excellent," "fine," "recommended," etc.
frequently suggest a desirable choice.
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