On Wed, 04 Jun 2008 08:33:32 -0400, jeff miller
wrote:

Calif Bill wrote:

wrote in message
...

On Tue, 3 Jun 2008 10:53:31 -0700, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


Thinking of a trip there. Looking at Internet, see the Rainbow Lodge.
Good
place? Any recomendations? Easiest way to get there? Does not seem as
if
international flights go direct to Eleuthera.

Flight into Ft. Lauderdale or WPB (NOT, repeat, NOT, repeat NOT,
Miami...well, unless you like ****ed-up crowded messes - in that case,
Miami it is..then over to Marsh Harbor, then water taxi/ferry from Marsh
Harbor to Eleuthera (probably north end - buy booze, etc. in MH), or
into Nassau and ferry over to either north or south (Governor's
Harbour), but it depends on what you want to do, IMO. What are you
looking for - just fishing, peace and solitude, moderate nightlife,
casinos, etc. - and for how long? If you sail, I'd suggest Moorings or
similar and then you're on your own as what, when, and where.

Google up Harbour Island (more north end), Governor's Harbour (south),
and perhaps the main Bahamas tourist site to at least get an overview of
what's where and how to get there.



TC,
R


Fishing and snorkeling mostly. After 40 years of marriage we do not do much
nightlife anymore.



as you've no doubt noticed, eleuthra is a skinny, long island. it's a
fascinating place. i visited a couple of times in the 70s to surf.
stayed in a shack in gregory town. we walked a few miles to surfer's
beach south of gregory town. one of the best atlantic ocean beaches i've
ever seen. we snorkeled and caught lobster around the rocks. 3 of us
rented a scooter, but mainly surfed and walked and hitch-hiked. did pay
a guy to drive us to governor's harbor one day, and to the water taxi to
spanish town.

there were 2 airports on the island...one small one north of gregory
town, a better one for jets at governor's harbor. flight out of ft.
lauderdale is less trouble, but the circus at miami international is a
true spectator sport for the patient observer. i took a mailboat from
hatchet bay to nassau when i missed my flight, and i assume they still
have boat transport from nassau if that's necessary.

governor's harbor is in the middle of the island and offered interesting
colonial architecture and a modicum of island night life 30 years
ago...no idea what it has now. harbour island is a tourist resort
venue...if there is such a thing. be sure to visit spanish town - a
bizarre place when i was there. settled by carolina tories who left to
avoid revolutionary war problems, and still populated by their white
descendants, who appeared to have inter-bred.

if i was returning with my wife, i'd probably choose governor's harbor
because of its central location, but i'd find a spot away from the
population. there is reported to be excellent bonefishing in the area,
accessible by wading from shore and without the necessity of a guide.
also, the island has the geography that allows quick transition from
caribbean and atlantic...i liked that. the locals were gracious,
cheerful, and helpful when i was there...i suspect tourism has corrupted
them somewhat, but it's a place i'd like to see again.

let us know how it goes for you.

jeff

Generally good info (but yeah, things have changed a bit in the Bahamas
since the 70s...), with a potential caveat - we're talking about
airlines, so any screwed-up thing is possible, but IME, _generally_,
it's easier (lost bags, plane sizing, etc.) to fly into MH or even
Nassau and take the taxi/ferry, esp. if you want some supplies but don't
want to haul 'em all the way from the CUS. And about that - remember to
consider that you are in another country, on a island - everything must
be shipped in smallish quantities, there are various duties on incoming
goods, and certain common items taken for granted in the US aren't the
same in the Abacos, Eleuthera, etc. For example, booze, certain fruit,
seafood and similar are pretty cheap, but water and milk aren't. Parts
for uncommon-to-the-Bahamas fishing gear can be outrageous if they are
even available. And unless you know what you're doing, don't buy Cuban
cigars.

If you can sorta take your time (IOW, it isn't a getaway weekend), look
for a deal into Nassau or Freeport courtesy of the casinos and make a
coupla-day trip over to Eleuthera - just let your room sit in Nassau,
etc. Often, given the subsidy factor via the casino, it'll be cheaper
to do than a roll-yer-own paying only for days you stay wherever. There
used to be, and may still be, deals around such that a flight from a
major airport in the CUS (often a charter) and 6 nights at a casino
hotel are cheaper than booking the airfare on your own.

IAC, Unless things have drastically changed over the last couple of
years, trying to fly directly to Eleuthera can be (but not absolutely
is) an expensive challenge - YMMV.

And you might check with the folks at Jeffrey Cardenas' shop in Key West
(at the Westin) - I don't think they do guiding there through the shop
(Sal****er Angler), but they are good, knowledgeable people about the
whole area. Yeah, it's a shameless plug, but for the record, I receive
no economic benefit from them.

TC,
R