BAHAMAS
July 2019
Our getaway to the Bahamas was short but just as magical !
So put on your sunglasses and don't forget your best swimsuit, here we go, I'll tell you everything...
Last-minute planning: on Monday we bought our tickets, on Tuesday we booked our accommodations, and on Friday we arrived on this well-known archipelago. And yes, that's the life of a cast member... (see Disney Program).
Leaving from Orlando, Florida, the plane crossing to reach the archipelago is very quick (1 hour 30 minutes maximum).
Just enough time to start realizing our luck, we are finally going to discover the Bahamas, the famous Bahamas yes yes! Since we must admit that this name has always rhymed with dream for many years now for the three of us, and I think that we are not the only ones...
So we spent four days on this little paradise in the open sea.
In reality, a week on site should be more than enough to explore the surrounding area and have time to enjoy the different characteristics of the different islands.
ACCOMMODATION
We decided to spend our three nights in the same place, namely on the island of Nassau (the capital). Indeed, this seemed to us to be the most practical solution, and also the most reasonable in terms of accommodation.
This is where we landed and Nassau was the starting point for all the activities we had planned next.
We booked our accommodation on Booking.com, a sort of large house between an Airbnb and a guesthouse.
Tourism represents a large part of the economic life of this country, daily expenses can quickly add up: activities, restaurants, etc.
So we saved a little money with this accommodation rather than staying in one of the luxury hotels, indeed there is no shortage of them. You can also choose to live a dream, even in the evening in a bathrobe in your hotel room: Atlantis, Baha Mar, Hilton, etc.
Paradise Island
This island really does live up to its name...
Located just across from Nassau, it is very easy to get from one island to another . The crossing is quick by boat and cost us less than $10 round trip. It is an all-day ferry system, with a last schedule to reach Nassau around 6-6:30 p.m. in the evening. You are free to show up at the time you want to board to return, but be careful, some times are more popular than others, so potentially more or less places still available for you or not. If you have a rental car, there is also a bridge connecting the two islands.
In any case, here we are, no more than 10-15 minutes to go from the rather traditional side of Nassau to the luxury side of Paradise Island. Everything is neat, pretty, perfect.
As soon as you disembark, you can stroll around the marina , pleasantly decorated with buildings style traditional huts of all colors.
This is also where the ***** Atlantis hotel is hidden, which you probably know. There is even a replica in Dubai .
This hotel is very famous for its huge aquarium , with sharks , and its water leisure park . The famous slide crossing steeply under a shark tunnel is here!
We spent a good part of the morning walking the corridors and exteriors of the hotel. Several parts of the complex are accessible to the general public, which gives the opportunity to have a good first impression of the place, even if you are not staying at the hotel! It is also possible to spend only one day in the aquatic part , the price was around $70 but we preferred to enjoy the more natural water....
Cabbage Beach
This beach on Paradise Island is public; many hotels have a private section of beach.
Quite touristy on the first few meters of sand, we were able to settle down quietly by moving away a little, more than to enjoy the magnificent landscape.
The crystal clear water of the Bahamas is unique, it was the first time I saw such clear water ...
Even more activities are offered on Paradise Island.
We visited the small French gardens, yes yes even thousands of kilometers from home... ''Versailles Gardens and French cloister''.
Exuma
The feeling of being amazed all day long...
Exuma... the part we were most looking forward to, and indeed my favorite part. It was unique , magical...
THE BOAT EXCURSION
Several tour operators offer different excursion packages: full or half-day, different services, small or large groups of participants, etc.
We chose the day package, which was quite expensive ($400 per day, which we had anticipated because for us, if there was one thing to do, it was that). A pick-up service is offered at the hotels to take you to the embarkation point on Paradise Island.
We were part of a group of about fifteen people at most.
30 MILLION FRIENDS IN THE BAHAMAS
Between dream landscapes and unusual encounters
In the end, it was the pigs that were almost more impressive than the iguanas.
THE DAY'S PROGRAM:
- First stop on Iguana Island. Get up close to these little creatures, and have the opportunity to feed them (planned by the tour operator).
- Stop on Pig Island ( swimmers ). Also approach with these pigs for the little surprising.
- Stopped at a beach and swam with sharks.
- Stop on a small island where a local buffet is served at lunchtime
- Stop at several beaches, each one as beautiful as the next...
SWIM WITH SHARKS
Many feelings were mixed during this meeting.
The boat drops anchor, no passage by the beach, it's time to jump into the water. In both senses of the word.
These sharks are harmless and come and swim between your legs.
The first few minutes in the water are impressive, being scared but wanting to get closer each time to these sharks, swimming with them, petting them.
Very strange feeling when one of them touches my skin.
Over time, the fear fades and you can enjoy a unique moment.
This will remain my favorite moment of this trip to the Bahamas...
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
WHEN TO LEAVE?
LOCAL CURRENCY
MY ADVICE
Good news, the weather is nice all year round !
This is a major asset of the Bahamas . However, there is still the hurricane season to avoid, generally from September to October.
The local currency is the Bahamian dollar.
1 Bahamian dollar = 0.92€
However, many restaurants and stores also accept the US dollar.
Plan your stay well in advance to limit expenses.
Visiting the famous Exuma Islands is a must for me.
Maniway