Question:
Just got done reading the posts here. I feel like I will be scorned asking about staying on Cable Beach, Nassau for the Christmas week, but that is what I am looking at for the family of 4. Was on Paradise Island 20 years ago and had a good time. What about Cable Beach? Stuff to do?, crime?, stuff for early teens? Non-touristy eating establishments? Thanks for any Rick
Response:
I stayed at the Nassau Beach Hotel this summer with my two kids. It was less expensive than the resort next door, but included priveleges at the hotel next door–including the casino. My kids loved the beach–the resort next door (sorry, I didn’t pay much attention to it–it used to be called the Crystal Palace when I lived in Nassau and may still be) had a water slide that they enjoyed. There are a lot of places that the natives eat on Cable Beach–but unfortunately they are mostly American chains. There is a Sbarro next door to the Nassau Beach Hotel, and a Dominoes in the nearby shopping center. There is also KFC a short bit toward town. I rented a car, so I didn’t really hang out in the Cable Beach area that much–I like to eat from the take-aways over the hill and we spent most of our vacation visiting relatives and friends. However, it turned out that the best place to go dancing that wasn’t touristy was downstairs at the Nassau Beach Hotel. I went to a couple of interesting reggae dance halls over the hill, but there was a terrific Bahamian band (Sweet Emily) playing at the Nassau Beach and the DJ did a better mix of reggae, soca, and Bahamian music than you will find in the hardcore reggae dancehalls–and the crowd was primarily Bahamian! Peanuts Taylor’s club with the limbo fire dancers is no more (and the public beach that is near the downtown area seems yucky due to the demolition/construction going on), but the King & Knights club is tucked between the Nassau Beach Hotel and the Crystal Palace and I think you may be able to take the kids there. By the way, when the Crystal Palace was first being built, I thought it was one of the ugliest places I had ever seen. The sun has bleached the colors nicely, and it looks much better now. My kids would have rather stayed there–but we were on a budget (I have usually stayed in guest houses or places that aren’t really licensed for tourists on previous trips, but wanted to stay somewhere nicer since I was travelling with an 11 and 14 year old. The room had a small refrigerator, and there is a Winn-Dixie nearby. You can probably find places that have small kitchens (the Casuarinas is a small place on cable beach that (when I was there 20 years ago) has rooms you can walk directly out your patio door onto the beach and small kitchen areas, too, if you are more into that kind of thing. The refrigerator at the Nassau Beach Hotel was a pleasant surprise and I never had any worries about crime (even though the hotel staff cautioned me not to let the kids wander around alone). Be sure you have a certified copy of your birth certificate and a government-issued photo ID OR passports. My husband got stuck in Fort Lauderdale and did not enjoy the vacation nearly as much as the rest of us! We thought about going back at Christmas time–but my husband’s part of the trip was an unexpected expense, so we will probably have to wait until summer when the rates are much cheaper. (which is a shame because we both have 2 weeks off at Christmas and I LOVE Junkanoo!!) Paradise Island sure has changed! The Atlantis is overwhelming and their prices are extremely expensive for things like cokes and ice cream (no wonder the room rates seem reasonable for such a plush resort). There is definitely lots to see and do at Atlantis, though–but I prefer Cable Beach cause I don’t have to pay to go over the bridge and I do like to spend a lot of time away from the hotel)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Just got done reading the posts here. I feel like I will be scorned asking > about staying on Cable Beach, Nassau for the Christmas week, but that is > what I am looking at for the family of 4. Was on Paradise Island 20 years > ago and had a good time. What about Cable Beach? Stuff to do?, crime?, stuff > for early teens? Non-touristy eating establishments? Thanks for any > Rick
Response:
town) that take you to the front of the straw market and you can walk around. There is even water taxi to take you to Paradise Island Atlantis. Atlantis is an overpriced, overhyped piece of cement structure in the island. The place is full of morons with money who go there to spend it. Everything cost you an arm and a leg and the service or food is no better than average. If you are a fat cat, go ahead and trow your money away with the other monkeys. For real people Cable BEach is fine. If you are a diver stay a cable beach and dive with Stuart’s Cove or Dive Dive Dive. They pick you up at the hotel. The beach at cable beach is the best in the Island. Some locals will try to haggle you by attempting to sell you jet ski rides or local jewerly. But no one is forcing you. The beach is warm and beautiful…..some local snorkling trips could be arranged. PArasailing is also available. In short I did not mine staying at Cable Beach and would go again if the opportunity arises. BTW I stayed at the Crystal Palace NOW known as the Wyndham. Good trip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Just got done reading the posts here. I feel like I will be scorned asking >about staying on Cable Beach, Nassau for the Christmas week, but that is >what I am looking at for the family of 4. Was on Paradise Island 20 years >ago and had a good time. What about Cable Beach? Stuff to do?, crime?, stuff >for early teens? Non-touristy eating establishments? Thanks for any >Rick
Response:
Thanks so much for your replies! We will be staying at the Wyndham and this info will be most helpful!!! Rick – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I stayed at the Nassau Beach Hotel this summer with my two kids. It was >less expensive than the resort next door, but included priveleges at the >hotel next door–including the casino. My kids loved the beach–the resort >next door (sorry, I didn’t pay much attention to it–it used to be called >the Crystal Palace when I lived in Nassau and may still be) had a water >slide that they enjoyed. There are a lot of places that the natives eat on >Cable Beach–but unfortunately they are mostly American chains. There is a >Sbarro next door to the Nassau Beach Hotel, and a Dominoes in the nearby >shopping center. There is also KFC a short bit toward town. >I rented a car, so I didn’t really hang out in the Cable Beach area that >much–I like to eat from the take-aways over the hill and we spent most of >our vacation visiting relatives and friends. However, it turned out that >the best place to go dancing that wasn’t touristy was downstairs at the >Nassau Beach Hotel. I went to a couple of interesting reggae dance halls >over the hill, but there was a terrific Bahamian band (Sweet Emily) playing >at the Nassau Beach and the DJ did a better mix of reggae, soca, and >Bahamian music than you will find in the hardcore reggae dancehalls–and the >crowd was primarily Bahamian! Peanuts Taylor’s club with the limbo fire >dancers is no more (and the public beach that is near the downtown area >seems yucky due to the demolition/construction going on), but the King & >Knights club is tucked between the Nassau Beach Hotel and the Crystal Palace >and I think you may be able to take the kids there. >By the way, when the Crystal Palace was first being built, I thought it was >one of the ugliest places I had ever seen. The sun has bleached the colors >nicely, and it looks much better now. My kids would have rather stayed >there–but we were on a budget (I have usually stayed in guest houses or >places that aren’t really licensed for tourists on previous trips, but >wanted to stay somewhere nicer since I was travelling with an 11 and 14 year >old. The room had a small refrigerator, and there is a Winn-Dixie nearby. >You can probably find places that have small kitchens (the Casuarinas is a >small place on cable beach that (when I was there 20 years ago) has rooms >you can walk directly out your patio door onto the beach and small kitchen >areas, too, if you are more into that kind of thing. The refrigerator at >the Nassau Beach Hotel was a pleasant surprise and I never had any worries >about crime (even though the hotel staff cautioned me not to let the kids >wander around alone). >Be sure you have a certified copy of your birth certificate and a >government-issued photo ID OR passports. My husband got stuck in Fort >Lauderdale and did not enjoy the vacation nearly as much as the rest of us! >We thought about going back at Christmas time–but my husband’s part of the >trip was an unexpected expense, so we will probably have to wait until >summer when the rates are much cheaper. (which is a shame because we both >have 2 weeks off at Christmas and I LOVE Junkanoo!!) >Paradise Island sure has changed! The Atlantis is overwhelming and their >prices are extremely expensive for things like cokes and ice cream (no >wonder the room rates seem reasonable for such a plush resort). There is >definitely lots to see and do at Atlantis, though–but I prefer Cable Beach >cause I don’t have to pay to go over the bridge and I do like to spend a lot >of time away from the hotel) > Just got done reading the posts here. I feel like I will be scorned asking > about staying on Cable Beach, Nassau for the Christmas week, but that is > what I am looking at for the family of 4. Was on Paradise Island 20 years > ago and had a good time. What about Cable Beach? Stuff to do?, crime?, >stuff > for early teens? Non-touristy eating establishments? Thanks for any > Rick
Response:
I returned from Nassau and Paradise Island two months ago. I guess that the Ministry of Tourism is publishing false advertisements. And journalist should not repeat only what they have seen on controlled courtesy trips. Some journalists visited Nassau, Paradise Island and Andros last some. Did anybody read a story published after July 2003 in any magazine? I would be interested in knowing what was published to be able to compare it with my experiences: Bahamas Consult published recently a second website about nassau and Paradise Island: www.nassau-paradiseisland.net.tc Some comments are published also at www.bahamasforum.net.tc — Posted via http://britishexpats.com