Advertisement

How to Travel to Grand Bahama on $142 a Day

  • Updated: June 2, 2014

Given a choice, I’d rather travel by boat. So the two-hour ride from Fort Lauderdale to Grand Bahama was made for me.

How to Travel to Grand Bahama on $155 a Day | Affordable Caribbean Vacations | Cheap Caribbean | Where to Stay

Stay for $125 a night

Grand Lucayan: When traveling, the first thing I do when entering my room is sprawl out on the bed. But at Grand Lucayan, it’s the property itself, with 50,000 square feet of outdoor space, that I want to sprawl out over. Gatsby-style lawns lead to the mile-long cottony beach (the east end is the quietest spot); serpentine pools weave through the grounds; plantation-style dining rooms give way to swim-up bars and takeout joints. And my oceanfront suite with a double balcony (at only $126 a night in low season) is bigger than my first apartment. Low-season standard rooms for $125 a night.
How to Travel to Grand Bahama on $155 a Day | Affordable Caribbean Vacations | Cheap Caribbean | Where to Eat

Eat for $12-$20 a day

Outriggers on the Beach: If it’s Wednesday night on Grand Bahama, the locals are here at this Smith’s Cove beachfront shack for the best fish fry in town. There’s soca music, a family-friendly party atmosphere, and plates loaded with whole fish, mac ‘n’ cheese and Bahamian spicy rice for $12; a giant gully wash — made with coconut water, sweetened condensed milk and gin — sends it all down. After finishing, a local guy at the next table turned to us and said, “You’re diving conch,” which apparently means “you look tired.” And he was right. Irie’s: On-site at Grand Lucayan, this first stop upon arriving at the resort meant a welcome lunch of conch fritters (with just the right amount of breading), lobster salad (only $12) drizzled in homemade ginger dressing and a Bahama Mama.
How to Travel to Grand Bahama on $155 a Day | Affordable Caribbean Vacations | Cheap Caribbean | Where to Play

Play for $5-$85 a day

Dolphin Encounters: The $85 to play with dolphins seemed a bit pricey, and the entire idea hit me as, well, touristy. But the facility at Unexso is more playground than pen, its 9-acre lagoon divided up into pools for the 14 bottlenose dolphins that call it home. Petting Gumbay while learning that dolphins eat one-third of their body weight per day in fish made me glad I wasn’t a fish. Learning that they do ocean free-swims four times a week made me forget the entry fee and my earlier trepidations. Bahamian Brewery: Marketed as the “Truly Bahamian Beer,” Sands was born on Grand Bahama in 2008 after a “name those beers” competition among the locals. Touring the 60,000-square-foot site for just $5 ends in a tasting of six brews in the upstairs bar (Strong Back Stout, please). Did You Know? During U.S. prohibition, the Bahamas served as home base for the smuggling of alcohol.
Advertisement

Email Newsletters and Special Offers

Sign up for Islands emails to receive features on travel destinations, event listings and product reviews as well as special offers on behalf of Islands’ partners.

By signing up you agree to receive communications from Islands and select partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy. You may opt out of email messages/withdraw consent at any time.

More

Advertisement

Read More

ABOUT US
FOLLOW US
BONNIER BRANDS

Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. Islands may receive financial compensation for products purchased through this site.

Copyright © 2023 lslands. A Bonnier LLC Company. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.