Bahamas - Long island arrival by water

Sorry, phrased wrong. Don't mean island hopping but getting to Long Island upon arrival. After flying in to Nassau is there ways to get there by water instead of catching another flight.

Have been to British Virgin Islands and loved it. Just trying to go to a new place.

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but have to ask why the Bahamas and not the Virgin Islands or something if you want to Island hop?

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Bahamas has 700 islands, virgin islands has 90

Sorry let me clear this up. If you want a larger plane fly a carrier from Nassau to Deadman's Cay. Avoid Southern Air. That will leave likely only Bahamasair as your choice. Sometimes Flamingo air will fly that route too. Bahamasair will likely be flying an ATR42. Google it as it's a pretty large plane that your wife should be fine with.

Joel and Marty Fox will fly real small planes but they are top notch pilots, but you will pay a premium compared to Bahamasair.

If you want to go out on a boat sight seeing/fishing/sandbar hopping call Captain Yan Turnquest who owns Jus 1 Danz. Great person and you will never forget a day on the water with him.

For places to stay honestly I would stay away from Cape Santa Maria if you plan to leave the resort at all. It's very isolated on the north end of the island, and as you know its a longgggg island. Look at renting a bungalow at Tiny's Hurricane Hole. They have three and all are amazing. Right outside your door will be the bar/restaurant. Don't be alarmed, they are only open a few nights a week, but you also get to meet a lot of locals there when they are open. Last trip we met a captain who took us out fishing the next day for free as he was already going. A time before got invited to a locals birthday party the next night which was amazing food and drinks. The owner of Tiny's is a woman named Michelle and her husband. Nicest people youll ever meet and can arrange a car rental for you, pick you up, whatever. Tiny's will put you mid island which lets you explore easier. Also, hillside food supply is close which is one of the few grocery stores.

A few beaches you must hit:

-Dean's Blue Hole (of course...) which is not far from Tiny's
-Compass Rose (very protected and looks out of a movie)
-Gordon's (very southern tip of the island so it's a haul, but its beautiful and guy named Ernest runs a beach bar/grill there which is great for fresh seafood and cold drinks. Watch out as his rum punch is deadly)
-Stella Maris at Galliot Cay (Far north, but almost a perfect beach. Soft sand and the bluest water. It's in a richer area of vacation homes, but the owners of Stella Maris resort own a small plot of land that they let anybody use to access the beach.)

Eat:
-Tiny's when open
-Max's Conch Bar (roadside joint, just look for the million flags along road. Max is a legend and good guy)
-Chez Pierre if you want a nice sit down meal
-Lighthouse Point if you venture into the city of Clarence town
-Letta's. As most are, another road side joint. Top notch food. Next door is a kinda gift shop run by an English ex-pat named Debbie. Debbie is a local you might run into time from time and her group of friends are great to join up with bar hopping from beach to beach

Let me know what else you have questions about.

LI Beach Map/Descriptions
(good website to see layout/pictures/discriptions of beaches on the island)

I've always made it in one day, but it seems MSY (if that's where you're flying from) doesn't have direct to Nassau flights which is weird. I can't help with staying in Nassau as only ever connected there.

If you need food in Nassau airport, do not eat at the Wendy's and other American BS in the airport. Walk just outside and you will see a blue shack and a red shack serving food to all the employees of the airport. Eat at the blue one. Amazing island food (jerk chicken etc).

If you go from Columbus Point on the north side all the way to Gordon's on the southern tip I can imagine it getting close to 1:30-1:45 drive. That being said, any of the beaches you will not likely see other people. Maybe at Dean's and Gordon's you might see a couple other groups but very very isolated. It's not a popular tourist island really, so easy to get away. There is not much of anything up north besides Santa Maria, if that's what you want go for it. Mid island will give you local food spots and tons of beaches within 20 minute drive.

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so when we were 10 minutes out Joel called friends to line their cars up on edges of the runway with their headlights on.

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That is awesome!

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I love the islands so much

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Same.


A few years ago, we were taking a puddle jumper over to Andros. (I won't share the pilot or company because we still use them and I don't want people to be turned off to him.) Anyway, our regular pilot was unavailable, and he got one of his friends to fly us over - 5 of us total.

We get about 2 minutes into the flight and there is a giant mountain of a black cloud right in front of us. I'm sitting next to the pilot and he starts squirming, looking left and right.

Me: damn, that's a big storm. We ok?

Him: yeah, should be fine. but I'm VFR only. (It didn't matter anyway, because this plane's electronics were on par with a 1954 chevy truck.)

He starts fidgeting with some dials, says something into his mic that I can't hear. And then we start dodging clouds, looking for any clear path through these storm clouds. I mean we are going left/right/up/down.

I keep thinking, damn, what's the chances of us finding a plane coming from Andros doing the same thing we're doing? We're bound to meet up, right?

The flight to Andros is normally 12 minutes from take-off to landing. After about 10 minutes in this storm cloud, at least 2 of which we couldn't see ANYTHING but black clouds and lightening all around us, the skies open up and we see the airport right below us.

The pilot's face went from, "I'm about to shite my pants" to "dear god baby jesus, we're ok" in an instant.

He looks at me, smiles, gives me a thumbs up and yells, "We're GOOOOOOOOOD!!!".

After we unloaded, I asked him if he was headed back to Nassau.

"No mon, I'm going to the bar next door and have some kalik. I need some time."

I do love the bahamas.

Call them. They might already have a plane coming over from Nassau that day with seats available. If not, they will tell you options.

Yes, once i get our flights booked my plan was to find something cheap and close for the layover.

How is the airport in Nassau. Everything I have seen is to give 2-3 hours for connections. Arriving won't be a problem since we do not make the flight to Deadman's Cay in any scenario. The flight back arrives at Nassau at 12pm. There are options for 1:30pm and 3:55pm back to ATL. Is 1:30 cutting it too close?

There are no customs until arriving back in the US right?

This trip is finally here. Fly out in the morning for Nassau. Wanted to thank you guys again for helping plan this trip. Haven't really planned anything. Just hope to make it there and once on the island we will just take it from there.

As long as I can stop and buy alcohol for the room fridge, lay on the beach in peace in quiet it will be a success.