My absolute favorite aspect of the Bahamas is the beach. In all my travels, the Bahamas have some of the best beaches around... hands down. The picture above was taken from my beach chair. As you can see, the color of the water graduates from crystal clear to piercing blue and even a hint of green in some areas. There are very few sections in which you cannot see the bottom of the ocean. The reefs here are abundant with life and some of the best I've seen. You'll see a variety of sealife ranging from coral to tropical fish to gigantic lobsters!
I recently made my third trip to the islands of the Bahamas. I must say, I get more impressed each time I go. I've been to Nassau and Coco Cay (an island owned by Royal Carribean). Each place has a lot to offer.
Nassau- Nassau has a lot to offer in the way of shopping and things to do. If possible, I'd recommend staying at Atlantis. It is a bit more pricey but I think it's worth the extra spendature in the end. It is a resort-style hotel that has every ammenity imaginable- restaurants, water parks, an aquarium, private beach, and even a casino! As far as shopping, there are a few boutique here and there that you can get local goods at- rum cake, apparel, coffee, etc. You must visit the straw market. Located by Senor Frogs' restaurant, this market resembles an indoor flea market. Here you will find items handmade by locals, shirts, and odds and ins. The biggest seller that EVERY booth will have is imitation designer bags and jewelry/accessories. They have everything from Coach and Louis Vuitton to Chanel and Gucci. The best part is: prices are negotiable.
Coco Cay- This island is only available to those cruising with Royal Carribean. To be honest, when I saw it on our cruise itenerary I was less than thrilled. I don't like the idea of the cruise line I'm already paying for taking me to an island they own and spending all day there expecting me to buy more things. However, I was wrong. We spent the whole day laying out and playing in the ocean. The landscape did not disappoint. The small island was engraved with multiple little coves of clear blue water. The cruise line also provides plenty of entertainment- full lunch buffet (free- well it's included in the total cruise price), live reggae band, photographers (you can have your own photo shoot on the beach with no obligation to buy pics), and servers walking around taking drink orders (you do have to pay for these but you can charge it to your cabin on board- how convenient!)
Watch Out:
Vendors can be pushy. Just let them know up front that you are 'just looking' or simply walk away if it gets too annoying. Chances are the booth right next door has the same thing, maybe even for a better price.
Be aware of people inside the market selling illegal drugs. It's usually not blatantly obvious, but they've been known to walk by and slyly hint that they have 'other items'...if you get my drift. Just sternly tell them no, and go about your business.
As with all trips, keep your personal belongings with you and never go off alone.
I recommend walking almost everywhere but if you have to take a taxi, make sure it's legit (sign on the car, proof of taxi permit, etc) and always go with a group.
Overall, I would go back to stay at an all inclusive resort- just to make things easier and safer.
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