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Caribbean Travel RoundupNewsletter - Paul Graveline, Editor |
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Updated summer ‘98 The Abaco Cays have been called Out Islands, the Family Islands and the Friendly Islands all of which definitely apply. Here you will find friendly native folks, a relatively booming economy (98) with none of hustles and hustlers of fast paced Nassau, Paradise Island and Freeport. Many of the populated settlements were founded by the Loyalists back in 1780’s. You will regularly hear the names Bethel, Sawyer, Lowe, Albury, Malone, Sands, Thompson, Roberts, Pinder and Macintosh through out the islands. The Abaco cays (of which Green Turtle is part and where we have been going since 1973) start in the north at Walkers Cay working their way 100 miles or so down to Little harbor. The ocean side and many of the passages between these cays are covered with coral reefs making passage between a bit tricky if not impossible. Walker's is strictly a sport fishing resort with it’s own operating air strip (albeit wreck strewn). It's reputation is world wide. Many sport fisherman keep their yachts berthed there and fly in for a weekend of fishing fun. There are numerous tournaments here through out the year, and was once famous for their "Shootout" between Hatteras and Bertram owners now being held at Boat Harbour Marsh Harbour. Walker's native workers live on the adjacent island of Grand Cay who's main (and only) attraction is “Rosie's Restaurant” where you can get their famous combo of Cracked Conch, Turtle Steak, Lobster Tail and Grilled Grouper. Working southward you will pass a half a dozen or so large uninhabited cays. Most have their own protected and secluded spots where you will always find a few boats anchored. Lying between them and on their Atlantic side are some of the most beautiful coral reefs between here and South America. Shooting up from depths of from 20 to 200 feet are these towering stands of coral. It’s truly a divers paradise and a well kept secret. Passage between these islets and the fishing grounds outside can only be made at a few select locations and with local knowledge. Spanish Cay is the first of the outlying cays after Grand that has any population and those folks are those attached with the resort there. There is an airstrip and a fine marina attached to the “Resort at Spanish Cay”. Outside of what the resort offers, dive shop, restaurant, bar with occasional Calypso singer, there isn’t a heck of a lot to there. Beaches on this Island are nowhere near what will find on others along the route. An earlier owner of the island (Clint Murchison who owned the Dallas Cowboys) removed the Casuarina’s (Australian Pines) which have all but undermined the natural foliage of this (and other) islands. Instead he replanted the island with thousands of coconut palms and other tropical trees. Although I cant say for sure, I suspect these new plantings, many of them berry producing, attract the many types of birds that we’ve noticed on this island as compared to other cays. The next cay you come to with any population (20 Miles south of Spanish Cay) is Green Turtle and the one we are most familiar with. We have been going to Green Turtle cay (almost annually) since 1973. Those were the days of Mackey airlines. Things have changed a lot in 25+ years. There were no cars on G.T. back then. Electricity was only provided for the village of New Plymouth. The clubs at the other end had their own generators. A flash light was a necessary item for travel since the electricity would go off regularly. - "The good ole days in the Bahamas". Radio was the primary means of communications (and still is, only now VHF instead of CB). And of course you didn't see the many satellite dishes that have sprung up. Recently the small satellite dishes and cellular have made their impact on the island folks. Believe it or not as of 1996 a Internet site was set up in Marsh Harbour! (http://oii.net/) and by 1998 quite a few of the merchants and resorts had their own web site. 1997 was the year that G.T. started getting it’s electricity from the mainland of Great Abaco. During our early trips we would take our kids. I was a great place when they were growing up. We didn’t have to worry about a thing. They could run around all they wanted , as kids still can, I might add. It was originally settled by the loyalists in the 1770's. Lobstering and tourism are main industries of the island today. The quaint and picturesque village of New Plymouth serves most of the needs of the Islanders. Access to the Island is of course only by boat. A ferry (the "BOLO" (II & III), Neigel, Larry or Curtis will probably be your captain) runs from anywhere on the island to a dock on the mainland serving the airport (by land Taxi) at Treasure Cay. Connecting commuter flights here are to Miami, West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale Orlando and Nassau. (Incidentally Treasure Cay is not a Cay anymore but the name of the mainland resort and the airport serving that area of Great Abaco. It boasts one of the most beautiful crescent white sand beaches in the Abaco’s. It’s beach is on Great Abaco Sound and therefore has no reefs for snorkeling.) There is in New Plymouth a half a dozen restaurants including the some first class dining at the “New Plymouth Inn” (although not air conditioned as of 6/98). A favorite night spot for the visiting yachtsman are “Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar”, (the originator of the Goombay Smash), Miss Emily passed away in early 1997 and is now run by her daughter Violet. Just next door is “Bert's Sea Garden”, and both open an their mood dictates but usually in the evenings and especially on weekends. Then there’s the Island's hot spot, “Roosters Rest” where on the weekend you can find the Gully Roosters playing Reggae and Soca (Calypso). For native dinning there is always the “Wrecking Tree” and the “Rainbow Restaurant”. Then there is everybody's all time favorite “Laura's (carbohydrate) Kitchen”, just up the street from the town dock. Here you will get your plate piled high with food for a reasonable price. A reservation is strongly suggested. Our favorite native restaurant was the “Sea View” run by Maxine Macintosh, however she married a Customs Officer closed the restaurant and moved to Nassau. As of early ‘98 her father has opened it once again serving the native dishes we remember. Above the hardware on New Plymouth Main street is a new restaurant called The Islands Restaurant. Its small but air conditioned. Finally there is Mikes Bar & Restaurant - right on the water and probably has the best view of all in town. Like so many others their schedule is sporadic. Check first, you can hail them all your VHF. At this point we should say something about the Bahamian food in general. Despite the variety of fresh local fish their preference is to fry, and fry everything. You can get broiled but it is sometime difficult and or has to be ordered in advance. In the upscale restaurants this is not the case but rather the exception except maybe at lunch. Fresh greens are hard to find and a red tomato - forget it. Their staples are peas & rice, macaroni & cheese, French fries and coleslaw. Now the water, that is another thing. In the Abaco's (which ain't Mexico) we drink it right out of the tap and have been doing so for 25 years with no problems. It is either sea water purified by reverse osmosis (the Green Turtle Club and other places) or filtered rain water. Buying bottled water wont help, it is the same stuff. Fact is they sell it to their cruising guests in the marina for upwards of 15 cents a gallon! Cottage rentals are available not far from New Plymouth. A few names that come to mind are Linton's Cottages, Star Cottages and Long Bay House which are near beaches close to town. Others Like Coco Bay Cottages can be found at the more pristine north end of the island. Still others can be found listed in the classified of yachting magazines like Southern Boating, Yachting Power & Motor Yacht etc. “Islands” magazine and “Caribbean Travel & Life” routinely have listings. At the north end of the island in White Sound, you will find “The Green Turtle Club” and the “Bluff House”. There is standing rivalry between them both as the managers of each are sisters (and or their husbands). Seems even in paradise there are family feuds. There is quite a story on how this animosity came about but that's for another time. Both have first class restaurants (order in advance), and the Bluff House a fantastic view. Both have marinas with rooms and cottages for rent. The G.T.C. has cottages right on the water. This writer finds The G.T.C. a little more upbeat and an easier spot to explore the north end and its beaches. The Green Turtle Club Bar is a lively spot hosted by ever smiling Debi or Gerri. (In the spring of 1998 Geri moved to Grand Cay (I suspect temporarily) to be with her husband Sidney who’s yellow fishing boat sits sunk in front of the Bluff House dock - again that’s another story). The girls will gladly whip you up a great Tipsy Turtle (which will do the job for which it is intended). The Green Turtle Club Bar is a favorite stop over for the cruising yachtsman and often the nights are spent in conversation with them and of their travels. On Wednesday the Gully Roosters comes over from town (with half the population) to play at the club. On Fridays and Mondays, other entertainment is provided. At this point we have to mention Brendal (the unofficial Ambassador of the Goombay Spirit). He used entertain you at the G.T. bar with his one man band and ran the clubs dive shop and has been for the last 20 years anyway. But as of the fall ‘97 he has had a falling out with the club and is no longer associated with it. As of spring 98 he has opened his own dive shop right across the street from the clubs (which is now run by a nice Bahamian fellow named Leon). It’s sad to see this situation. I might interject at this point, the G.T.C. is within a 5 minute walk to a lovely bay beach at Coco Bay and 15 minute walk to a beautiful stretch of ocean beaches with all the diving and snorkeling you may want. Add another 15 minutes if from the Bluff house. As far as diving goes both the a fore mentioned dive shops can take you on any type dive you want, however our favorite is the day trip where he will catch your lunch and cook it for you on a uninhabited beach. There are also a couple of boat rental companies Donny Sawyer's and Danes. A small runabout is a must to get you to the uninhabited neighboring islands of Noname Cay and Manjack Cay. Their boats are usually beet to hell but seem somehow to always work. A new place has opened in late 97 called Reef Rentals that has all new boats which we have not yet had any dealing. They all can be reached by VHF radio. There are hardware, gift and food markets in New Plymouth albeit a bit pricey. Finally, a visit to Albert Lowe's museum is worth a visit. Remember these are the out islands. Merchandise has to be shipped to Marsh Harbour via Nassau or the states then to the outlying cays, This plus a 25% duty on many items makes things a bit costly. The fishing, diving and beach combing are great; as good as anywhere, even in the Caribbean. Evenings are spent with the boating folks who often return. The native population is as friendly as can be. Blacks & Whites mix without any problems. A truly homogeneous little spot in the world. The original white settlers descendants are still here and consist of primarily two families Sawyers & Lowe's. They have a lot of similar looking features (understandably). If sport fishing is your thing, contact the Sawyers, a family of fishing guides. The old man Joe is the best and most experienced although he is "sort of semi retired". If he is busy try his son Ronny. Another very popular guide is native fellow named Lincoln Jones. Any and all of them can take you any type of fishing you like deep sea to flat fishing for bone fish. If you can bring a marine VHF Walkie talkie with you, just hail them on channel 16. Most of the islands communications are by radio this way. The main Islands south of here have a similar constituent. They are Great Guana Cay. Man-O-War Cay , and Elbow Cay with it's village of Hopetown. Marsh Harbor is Abaco’s commercial hub and the Bahamas 3rd city after Nassau and Freeport. It is on the mainland of Great Abaco. It has an airport with connecting flights to the States and Nassau. The town sort of forms a triangle between, and is the jump off point (water taxi) to the off shore cays of Man-O-War and Hopetown. Guana Cay’s north end (Bakers Bay) has been the “Treasure Island” for those “Big Red Boats” that made this their out island paradise stop. We are happy to report, that due to uncertain weather conditions of the infamous Whale Key Passage in this area, as of fall 94 they were no longer stopping. However, Disney has bought a new island in a more protected area for this purpose which was called Gorda Cay, now Castaway Island. It is located south east of Great Abaco Island and is scheduled for opening in early 1998. Guana Cay has a picturesque small settlement (pop 95) with a couple shops and restaurants. Here you really feel you are really at an “Out Island”. The reef strewn beaches and reefs that line the 5.5 mile of ocean side are reputedly the most beautiful in all the Abaco's with every shade of blue and turquoise and have the quality one might find in the South Pacific minus the palm trees. The settlement adjoins the “Great Guana Resort” which provides accommodations and a fine restaurant which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. (like always reservations for dinner can be made by VHF radio). The resort’s equivalent of the Tipsy Turtle and the Goombay Smash is the Guana Grabber - not too unlike the others but with a hint of grapefruit juice. Recently opened (spring ‘96) is “Nippers” is a trendy new place that lives up to its reputation for its view, on a bluff overlooking the ocean - Spectacular. The food is another thing. Not bad, just typical island fried everything and tomatoes without color. Half way between Bakers Bay and the settlement an new small resort opened in 1998 called Seaside Village. It’s property runs from ocean to bay and is only accessible by boat. It is a cozy spot with about eight rooms and dining room. All in all, Guana is more laid back than G.T. but has a reputation as the getaway party spot for the folks from the neighboring cays despite the fact there are only a couple of places to party. Their Marina here offers free dockage if you stay for dinner which attracts lots of yachties especially on Barbecue (Friday) nights. Man-O-War is a busy boat building island of God fearing (no alcohol sold on this Island), hard working folks 70% of which can trace their ancestry to the first Albury who at age 16 fathered the first of 13 children with his 13 year old wife. It is a great spot for all kinds of quality boat work and parts. Marina facilities are available however restaurants and lodging is sparse. Still a spot not to be missed if staying at one of the neighboring islands. No yachtsmen would miss it especially if in need of repairs. As mentioned earlier the Internet has hit the islands in a big way. The “Man-O-War Marina” even offers E-Mail services for it’s guests. The "Albury's" Canvas Shop is the place to see. Here you'll find the town ladies making all sorts of bags and hats out of canvas. Despite the enterprising nature of it’s residents, restaurants are in short supply however we enjoyed an evening meal at Ena’a restaurant one of the two very casual eateries on the island. You will find another restaurant dockside is at the marina. As with just about all the restaurants in the cays dinner selection is made when you make your reservation. Marsh Harbour is the commercial hub of the Abaco's and the Bahama’s third largest city. It is on the mainland of Abaco and forms a triangle with Man-O-War and Elbow Cay. Here you can feel the pulse of activity and commerce. You will also find a culture of the sailing community enroute to places far and wide. Hundreds of yachts mostly sailboats will be anchored in Marsh Harbour at any given time and it’s winter hangout for the northern folks. Just tune in VHF Marine radio Ch 68 at 8:15 AM daily to catch up on all the comings and going and parties too. Marsh has some really great restaurants and bars to gather and hang out with the yachties during their happy hours. It is not unusual bump into a couple just returning from a circumnavigation as this writer has. A good many of these are within a short walking distance of the old established “Conch Inn and Marina” which a few years back became the base of the “Moorings Charter” operation. From here the town is just a 10 minute walk and other hot spots like “Wally’s”, “Mangoes” and “Sapodillys” are found all along harbors edge near by. In town there is a luncheonette style restaurant called the “Golden Grouper”. On the other side of the harbour is the “Marsh Harbour Marina and Jib Room” which was taken over in 1997 by a a young couple Tom and Linda Leffler who hail from the Tampa. If you can make the trip outside Marsh Harbour to Dundas Town check out “Mother Merles” a delightfully renowned native restaurant and also the “Bayview Seafood Restaurant”. The Largest Marina in Marsh is actually not on the harbour but rather on the less protect Abaco Sound side. It’s called “Boat Harbour”, and along with it’s “Abaco Beach Hotel” is a full scale resort. It seems there is always something going on here especially for the sport fisherman. Need a Taxi when in Marsh? You can call them on VHF channel 06. Despite all the positive things I can say about Marsh Harbour, it cant be called it a vacation spot yet can be a good base to explore the outlying cays. Just the same it’s worth 2-3 days on a two week trip in the Abaco's. More than likely Marsh Harbour will probably be your point of arrival (if not Treasure Cay) when flying in from the States. Rather than go into great detail about Marsh Harbour here, pick up a copy of “The Cruising Guide to the Abaco's” by Steve and Jeff Dodge. Available at all yachting supply stores (it’s updated annually). Further more you’ll get a better feeling for things from the yachtsman’s perspective when traveling in the Abaco's. Elbow Cay with it’s village of Hopetown (the names are often used interchangeably) is famous for its Red and White Striped Lighthouse. Reputedly one of the most photographed attractions in the Bahamas. Hopetown is a lively small village with colorful restaurants, bars and Inn's. There is a small quaint museum of artifacts from earlier times. Life surrounds the harbor on this Island which has only one narrow (and shallow) opening for the many visiting yachtsmen. There are a half of dozen restaurants in the area including those at the hotels at “Club Soleil” and “Hopetown Harbour Lodge”. (ask about their Sunday Champagne brunch). As of spring 98 the latter installed air conditioning, so there is no sense telling you about a dinning experience we had prior. Don't assume that all restaurants in the Cays have A/C, and open air dining in the evening without a breeze can be uncomfortable during the warmer month because of mosquitoes and flies. My favorite and lease expensive restaurant is, “Captain Jacks” which is right on the water. (it’s for sale as of 7/98 - if I was younger). Next to Captain Jacks, down the harbour a bit and a little more expensive is the “Harbour's Edge”. Both have bands a couple a nights a week and the latter a lively pool table. “Rudy’s Place” is famous for excellent fish, lobster and duck dishes some of which have to be ordered the day before. They are located in the middle of the island however he will send transportation. Again call by VHF radio for reservation. Three miles south of Hopetown on Elbow Cay is The “Sea Spray Resort” run by Monty Albury who owns and runs the resort with his wife Ruth. They have full marina facilities and rooms and cottages for rent along with informal restaurant. They too offer a traditional Barbecue pool side on certain nights a week. Near by is “The Abaco Inn” and their more upscale restaurant which over looks the Ocean - absolutely beautiful. Be sure to try a Banana Flavored Yellow Bird and something called the Conch Pearl, God knows what was in them. Continuing down the chain, the last stopping spot for the yachtsmen, is Little Harbor. It is actually on the mainland of Abaco and the jump off spot for boaters headed to Eleuthera and the Islands to the south. It is accessible by road from Marsh Harbour. Just follow the road to the settlement of Cherokee. Little Harbor is a protected anchorage with lots of turtles poking there heads our of the water. Here you will find only “Pete’s Beach Bar” that sometimes serves Burgers at lunch only. More importantly this the home of the late Randolph Johnson who made home here 30 years ago after being marooned during a hurricane. You can even explore the caves where he and his family took shelter. Mr. Johnson was an artist so he set up a small foundry where he made his bronze castings which he sold to visiting yachts folks. Soon his fame spread till the point where the Government commissioned him to make his now famous statue in downtown Nassau. Unfortunately Mr. Johnson dyed in 1992 and is survived by his wife who still runs the gift shop with the artistic traditions being continued by his son Pete. When in Marsh Harbour you might want to rent a car and explore the settlements to the south like Sandy Point and Hole in the Wall. The following is a tale from one of our cruising experiences that we upload from time to time. “While in Marsh Harbour, we rented a car to explore the settlements on Abaco not easily accessible by boat. We drove 60 miles through the pine barons to Abaco’s southwestern most settlement, Sandy Point. As we arrived the Churches were letting out and all the women and children were dressed in their Sunday finery. We couldn’t help but wonder where in the Abaco's could they buy such pretty clothes. This picturesque community of about 200 make their living from the sea. We stopped by to talk to a couple of fishermen (not attending church) who went out of their way to tell us of their work. They also spoke of new work opportunities for their village due to it’s proximity to Gorda Cay eight miles off shore. Gorda Cay was recently purchased by Walt Disney to be the new out island home of Disney's “Big Red Boats”. Most of the labor will come from the folks of Sandy Point. Later, we found a spot on its tip in the shade of some casuarina’s looking out at Gorda Cay to have a picnic while thunderstorms loomed on all horizons”. The Abaco's are truly a Yachtsman paradise, however all of the spots mentioned can be visited relatively easy by the landlubber. You can enjoy the privacy of out lying unspoiled smaller islands and beaches that can be reached by renting a small outboard motor boat at the many rental services at the cays. That’s how this writer and his wife started and fell in love with the Abaco's 25 years ago. This writer has in recent times chronicled his travels in the Abaco's by boat after moving to Florida in 1990 and uploaded them to the rec.boats.cruising newsgroups of the internet. In 1998 he & his wife flew over to Marsh rented a 22 footer from Rainbow Rentals (one of the many) and made the 30 mile trip to G.T spent six days there then headed south for four days at the Hopetown Lodge with stops at the other cays as day trips from those locations. This type of approach to seeing the islands is not recommended for folks not familiar with boating, navigation and using a GPS (the first time anyway). This is not to say that renting a smaller 13-15 boat once at your destination and staying “close to home” would cause you and difficulty. But a boat is a must when visiting the cays. There are literally dozens and dozens of beaches and or islands that you and your, whomever, will find yourselves being the only people there. And finally one last note, if you are into history, you might enjoy poking around the cemeteries on the cays and reading the epitaphs. It is not uncommon to find them over looking the sea at a spectacular location like the one on Hopetown’s upper road. For more on the Abaco's you might want to check out: http://oii.net/ Or pick up a copy of “The Cruising Guide to the Abaco's” by Steve and Jeff Dodge. Available at all yachting supply stores (it’s updated annually).
Trip May 23-30,1998 Trip to Nassau/Cable Beach We originally booked our trip on a charter which used Continental air and was scheduled for June 28-July 5. We booked the land separately through All-Inclusive Vacations. We received a credit card bill and immediately noticed a subtraction from the balance for the amount of the airfare and found that the charter had been canceled, that Continental didn't honor the fare, and that the travel agent and Continental both didn't notify us or try to get our business for the same time schedule. As a result, we had no air booked. Todd had a conflict in his schedule by then, anyway, so we moved the trip to May 23-30 and let All-Inclusive Vacations book us on American. This was an extra $123 per person. We had booked the trip because of the direct flight. This flight was through Miami. Our trip was on a Saturday. We got up and did last minute packing. We went to Champs for breakfast buffet, as we are acquainted with American's food. We arrived at the airport at nearly 11 a.m. The parking lot was nearly full, and we followed the representative as she literally ran all the way across the length of the place to find one little space. We waited a bit for the bus, and it went to our terminal last. This time, they had wised up and had a Miami-only line, and we got through quickly. The 12:32 flight boarded at noon. Unfortunately, the pilot had not made it in, so we left after 1 p.m. They made up no time, and we got to Miami at 4:30 p.m. We made our way to terminal D to gate D10D (American Eagle). The bus came on time, but we sat on the bus outside the plane for a few minutes. We left 10 minutes late and arrived in Nassau 10 minutes late at 6:30 on the 68-person propjet. The airport was pretty nice (read -- it had a/c). Customs was easy. They had several baggage carousels, but the guys just threw the bags out on the floor in mass. The Sandals rep greeted us quickly and got us on our way to Royal Bahamian. The ride lasted 10 minutes and was not wild like Jamaica. We saw no ocean the whole ride, as it was a back road. By the time we got to the resort, we had tipped a baggage guy, who loaded our stuff at the Sandals desk and took it to the bus, and the bus driver. Check in was almost too fast but included a glass of champagne and a cool towel. We gave an imprint of our Visa and were given two room keys and a safe deposit key, after we signed a form. We were instructed to bring Todd's golf bag back the next day, as we had clothes in the bag packed around the clubs. This was to save the trip down the elevator and stairs with them. Todd elected to keep them all week and carry them himself. The Room We were in room 425 in the Manor House. Since Royal Bahamian is so expensive and we just went to Sandals Dunn's River last month, we booked Deluxe, the cheapest category. From what I could tell by the brochure descriptions, we had been upgraded one category to premium, although we did not get a slip indicating an upgrade, and when I mentioned our room number and category to the general manager, it didn't appear that we had been upgraded. The room had a lot of floor space. There was a king-sized bed, armoire, table with thick, plush chairs, a stand for coffee and tea setup, a large closet, a marble bath (almost no room for toiletries), two night stands, and a separate little room with a dressing table and mirror, a 2nd mirror (full length), hair dryer, and double plug in. All furniture was cherry or mahogany. The view was of the courtyard and part of the pool. The balcony was long but had no chairs. The room would have been great for non-room people. We are room people, and this was the biggest drawback of the trip but pretty much no big deal. The TV had quite a few stations. Unfortunately, it was able to receive Todd's basketball games. We had a problem with one or two of the stations where at times we would get only sound and no picture. All rooms in the Manor House above the first floor have balconies. However, only the luxury category has chairs on the balcony. Some rooms have room for them, but there on no chairs. The grand luxe oceanfront offers a beautiful view, but the balcony is not wide enough for a chair. The honeymoon concierge rooms are in the Manor House and offer views of pool or gardens. The honeymoon one bedroom suite and the honeymoon villa suite are both in the gardens. There is no view of the main pool or beach, but there are several small pools, one Jacuzzi, and several hammocks nestled back there. It is quiet and not crowded outside back there. When the new side opens (scheduled for October 1), I believe there is a new honeymoon suite category that will offer an ocean view. The Property The resort felt more crowded than Royal Jamaican but less crowded than Dunns. It was about as crowded as MoBay feels to me. The resort is quite compact. Just about everywhere you go, there is some upscale setting -- the chandeliers, the statues, the water dripping from walls, rocks, and columns. Everywhere is just beautiful. The spa was big and extensive, and you could get to it from outside by the pool or from the rooms through a back way. The workout area is on the 7th floor of the Manor House (you take stairs from the 6th floor), and the entire back wall offers a chance to view the ocean and Sandals Cay, the offshore island, as you work. There are two balconies to go out on from the fitness center. Both offer a nice view. The Villas offer a hiding place to stay, and there are several pools and a Jacuzzi nestled back there. The largest pool back there is quite nice and next to the Jacuzzi. That Jacuzzi was a nice temperature, consistently, as was the pool. This was a nice place to go after the appetizer happy hour. Some of the deluxe rooms are back there, and the honeymoon suites are there. The patios have an umbrella table, and this would not be a bad location unless you are too close to the road. At that point, there is some chance you might hear cars go by. The construction wouldn't bother you if you were to visit, but it is easy to tell that there will be quite a few more oceanview rooms. The wedding gazebo has two cherubs and is in the brochures. You are literally over the ocean, and it seems very romantic. It would be a challenge to get across the sand in your gown, as there really isn't a path. Receptions are held on the side patio of Spices. There were usually about 2 weddings a day. Everyone we saw had different flowers. Brides were escorted down the stairs and over to the gazebo while music played across the property. Witnesses wore tropical outfits from the current era, unless, of course, the bride and groom had their own witnesses. The Manor House is the main building. On the first floor, there is a bar. They serve appetizers between 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. outside in the lobby. This is very popular. The backside of this bar is the piano bar. Most nights, there is a sing-along held at 10:00. There is an elegant sit-around table built around the piano, and there are other nice chairs around, too. Some nights, the piano was played during the happy hour. Unlike many of the Jamaica Sandals resorts, the Royal Bahamian offers a terrific setup for sunset viewing. On our visit, this was about 8 p.m. Some nights it was too overcast to see much. There are tables set up outside and a pier that goes out in several directions and has two swings. Several people sit, and several people stand to watch the event. Times of sunrise and sunset were posted at the towel hut on the beach. There are great fish to feed from the pier in quite a few varieties, and it is fun to watch the BIG ones as the come bouncing along the water. The fish only came out periodically, and we suspected some of the boats often scared them off. The water even near the shore is so clear that it makes just standing there exciting. The beach isn't really long, but it is nice. The sand was thick and a bit difficult to walk in quickly. Watersports are the typical Sandals variety, and there is optional jetski right there on the beach. In addition to the Sandals large-wheeled aqua trikes, there were also aqua bikes for two that had bottoms something like a hobie cat. Supposedly, you can book parasailing, too. The beach is private, but it is shared with a nearby property or two. This is not a big deal because few people try to sell you anything. Although you can see other properties, you can't walk down the beach to them, as there are rock barriers that prevent it. If you want to stay somewhere with a stretch of beach to walk down, I recommend the Marriott. You can see Sandals Cay from the beach of the Royal Bahamian, but it is too far to swim. The boat takes guests out there about once an hour. There is a pool, Jacuzzi (not hot tub), and a restaurant out there. Some guests were topless on the back of the island but only laying on stomachs with nothing visible. Nudity is illegal in the Bahamas, and the resort is very conscious of what happens and where. We did hear about an episode one night on the island where guests were pouring liquor all over each other and licking it off. Some guests were offended and took the boat back. This, I doubt, is typical. The resort offers many interesting settings. The restaurants are quite classy. Baccarat, Crystal Room, the Pub, Spices are all interesting. Even the Royal Grill is a nice setup. The property offers the opportunity for a la carte dining at all 3 meals, or guests can opt for buffet breakfast or lunch or room service breakfast. However, as at other Sandals golf resorts, there is no early option for golfers. Some of the entertainment is held at the Royal Theatre (a nightclub) indoors. This backs up to a large bar on one side. That bar has a popular self-serve area of non-alcoholic drinks. The mango and strawberry slush are fat-free. The mango was very good. Sometimes there were no glasses there and it was necessary to wait in line at the bar. The bar also had a window at the back for walk-up customers from the beach. There were many seats there and a TV that seemed to be always showing sports. The manager's cocktail party was held in and out of this bar. A billiard room offers pool at 2 tables. It is usually in use. There are checkers and another game in there (backgammon or chess). There is another game room, also. That is the snooker table outside the pub. The ping pong tables are under roof. Tennis courts are out near the villas, as are a huge chess set and shuffleboard. There is beach volleyball and a basketball net in the pool. Tennis equipment is right out at the court in a rack hanging on the wall. The equipment looked new. There was bottled water next to the equipment. There is also bottled water near the pool bar. There are several Jacuzzis and a hot (sometimes scalding) and cold plunge pool near the spa. The misting pool offers a great setting to lounge and get cool air as you watch one of the dripping waterfalls. Behind the villas, there is a guard and an exit to the Sandals gift shop, Royal Tings.. It is possible to get to the gift shop by walking down the driveway from the main entrance, also. Across the street from the gift shop, there is a strip center. It houses Subway, Dominos, a T-shirt shop, a dentist, and some other things. I did not find anything I wanted to buy over there. If you want to buy rum, buy it there or at the airport. I did not see any at the resort gift shop. The resort entrance, courtyard, two lobbies -- all is QUITE elegant. Sandals Cay -- on Monday afternoon, we took the boat over to the island at 2:15. It runs at 15 past every hour. By this time, the restaurant had finished serving. We did not intend to eat there, as we had enough conch dishes on the main island. There is more beach on Sandals Cay than at the resort. There is a beach on both sides of the island. The pool is small, and the Jacuzzi was not a hot tub (at least there was no heat when we were there). There is a full bar there. If you order soda, you get the whole can (yes, can!). There are a few other huts on the island that do not belong to Sandals. The island is a good place to go if you want away from the crowds. Tours off property: Gambling Excursion -- -Sandals provides free transportation to the Marriott for the casino excursion beginning at 6 p.m. every day except Monday. Some staff will tell you that the bus leaves on the hour. Others will say a quarter after the hour. On Sunday night, the bus came at 6:25. The bus returns from the Marriott on the hour. We arrived at 8:02 and missed the bus. We were early for the 9 p.m. bus, and it was prompt. On Sunday, Todd and I had set a loss limit of $50 each. I expected to lose that fast enough to take pictures of the Marriott and next door at the Radisson. That did not happen, however. I eventually lost $20 at roulette and $30 very quickly between dollar and quarter slots. I went back to roulette with Todd where he turned $20 into about $350. However, I gambled a little of his, and we missed the bus. He ended up with $300 or a little more by the time we got back to the bus. Drinks were offered faster than anyone could have possibly drunk them and were large. There was a drunken guy that kept taking my chips because he was confused. I did get all of my money, and he eventually moved on. Minimum bets for roulette were $1 on the numbers and $5 on the outside, for a total $5 minimum. The Marriott is close enough to walk to. I walked down there by myself on Friday afternoon. I felt quite safe. It was about a 12 minute walk each way. You can also take the number 10 bus down there. On this trip, I eventually lost $110 at roulette but used $10 for quarter slots. After using $8.25 of it, I put 3 quarters in a Wild Cherry machine and won $250 (1000 coins). The bucket was full and heavy. I cashed that in and walked back to Sandals. Todd was in the room just back from golf. Golf Golf can be booked at the tour desk. Green fees and transportation are included in the all-inclusive price. Cart is required and is $30 per person. Call 30 minutes before your tee time for the bus to the Radisson. A cart is $30 and is required. This is the total cost if you bring your own clubs.. Todd went 3 times -- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. All 3 days, he had tee times before 7:30. On Friday, the shuttle never came, and he found out that the people from the golf club are on "slow down". That is their first step in contract negotiations. If they don't get what they want, they go on strike. Anyway, Marcia at the tour desk was very helpful in getting Todd in on Friday afternoon. He played better each time, getting a 71 on the third day. He said the course is very short. Offshore Island Trips to Sandals Cay offshore island are available every hour. Dinner at Cafe Goombay, the island there, requires reservations. There are two times for this -- 6:15 and 8:15 in the evening. Tours Many tours are available at an extra charge. They include things such as swimming with dolphins, powerboat over to an out island for an eco tour, Crystal Cay and other underwater viewing places, catamaran cruises, parasailing and banana boat tours, and Stingray City. On Tuesday, we made our own tour to downtown and the Atlantis hotel on Paradise Island. Maps of Nassau/Cable Beach and a detailed map of downtown can be obtained at the tour desk. Marcia at the tour desk is very helpful and friendly. We went out to the street and immediately caught the #10 bus (the #38 will work, too). It costs 75 cents to get on, but if you give them a dollar, you will not get change. The bus is very safe, as is walking around. Other passengers are locals or other tourists. The bus stops near Radisson, Marriott, Nassau Beach Hotel, and anywhere on the island that someone looks like they might be waiting for a bus. The ride was not as short as I expected. Todd was not excited about this outing, as he does not like tourist things where everyone wants to compete for your money and where they assume someone will get it. I wanted to ride a surrey (horse-drawn carriage). There is a line of them set up. I had read in someone else's trip report that a ride costs $10 for two. The drivers wanted $20 and would settle for $15 for two. The drivers fought over us. They even fought over who showed us to the bathrooms. The bathrooms were disgusting but available. We got in a surrey. Someone offered to take our picture and then wanted a tip. We gave the guy $1. Our guide started us out OK, but within two blocks, the tire came off the wheel. He kept going. Eventually, another one came off. Todd was getting very worried, but the ride went OK, and this was an easy way to see some of the historical buildings. The ride lasted about 30 minutes. Next, we searched for the ferry, expecting something like the ferry we had encountered in Hong Kong harbor. It turns out the ferry is almost a racket, and I don't recommend it. We arrived at 11:58 with no boat in sight. We were told they run every 30 minutes. This is not true. We waited until 12:20 for the boat. We assumed it would leave at 12:30. The boat did not leave until every seat was full. The guy we thought was the driver was just a hawker. He goes along by the cruise ships telling people the boat is leaving for Paradise Island. He collects $2 from people. We finally left at 1:15. On the return, we took a cab for $4 each back to where the surreys are in order to catch the bus. Many people were so disgusted that they took a cab back to their resort. This is a consistent practice, as we heard it later from several other people. Atlantis -- The property is very, very large. It is growing, and the building on the web site is not finished. The hotel is a short walk uphill from the ferry. We followed others. Of course, going anywhere requires a walk through the casino. We went out the back and visited the tanks with a shark, stingrays, jewfish, and many other large tropical fish. There were encased in glass. There was also a large pool with schools of stingrays. This was open water. There were a couple of pools with sea turtles and various waterfalls. There was a lazy river running through the property. There were falls to walk through, a waterslide, and a wading pool/water playground. Many of the attractions looked similar to Splashtown, the local water park here in Spring, Texas. It was several steps down to the beach. The pool nearest to the beach offered a view, and there was a hula-hoop contest for kids going on. The pool was literally wall to wall chairs. The casino was larger than the Marriott. There were only two roulette tables open. Everyone was losing at the one we were at, but Todd managed to stay ahead for an hour or two, me an hour. I went to the bathroom and blew $10 on slots. When I came back, Todd had lost a hundred bucks in 5 minutes. I'd already lost $100. (If you are having trouble keeping track of it all, we came home $170 ahead from the 3 casino visits). They didn't keep tables open long unless they were full. That meant there was no where to go if you were losing, except to quit. The roulette limit was also $5. We couldn't find a blackjack table under $25. Someone else found one at night for $15. Todd put down $25, lost and left. We took a cab that turned out to be a van full of people across the bridge to Nassau. We bought 4 T-shirts for $10 (cheap shirts). We looked at a few stands of souvenirs. Everyone wants you to buy, but they tended to ask once and accept a "no, thank you". They were much less pushy than Jamaica. A souvenir someone offered me for $12 was available at Sandals for $3. I bought a small Bahamas bag for a friend. This was a cruise ship racket. Carnival and Sovereign of the Seas were in. The bus took much less time going back, as there were much less stops. We got back after 4 p.m. The trip I thought would take about 4 hours took well over 6. Breakfast -- 8-11 a.m. Baccarat offers a la Carte breakfast. It is a lovely setting and offers a good meal. It did take an hour, so don't pick this if you are in a hurry. Food is served under silver covered dishes. The waiter has a good time raising the dishes to reveal the food. Spices -- 8-10:15 buffet. Continental breakfast from 10:15-11. The buffet is quite extensive. There is a line for omelets and eggs to order. Hard- boiled eggs are available on the buffet. There is an area where waffles and crepes are prepared with a large selection of toppings. French toast (very good) and pancakes were available daily. Food is quite American tasting, even the sausage. This is true for most restaurants and meals. Potatoes, quiche, plantations, hot and cold cereal, fruits such as watermelon, mango already cut from the peeling, grapes, apples, nectarines, peaches, dried apricots, nuts, toast, English muffins, eggs benedict, sausage, and bacon were all items I noticed. On two days, there were fresh strawberries. Hard boiled eggs were always available. There were sometimes dishes such as hash. There was usually at least one presentation of smoked salmon and another of cold cuts.. On Tuesday, Todd and I arrived at the buffet right at 10:15, not realizing the time. The host said they closed right at 10:15 and suggested we go to Baccarat for a full breakfast. We said we were in a hurry and stayed at Spices for the continental breakfast. They had pulled the hot items except for one or two crepes and waffles. Todd asked someone if they still had scrambled eggs left over. She said that they probably had some in the back. She told him to wait a minute. In a few minutes, she came back with freshly cooked eggs. Juice was presented in a unique container that had layers with spouts. They offered orange, cranberry, and apple. If you left for your food before the wait staff came by, they usually placed a pot of coffee on the table. If you wanted tea, it was best to wait for someone to come. When presented, a box was offered for selection of tea, and a pot of water was placed on the table after the first cup was served. Lunch -- Royal Grill offers a la carte dining from a menu from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. according to the information in the room. They are open from about 11 to 5. The salad bar, soup, and dessert bar are available from 12:30 to 3 (in other words, the information in the room is wrong). The menu is available from 11 to 5. Sunday, we ate there. In addition to the menu, there is soup and salad bar. There is also a dessert bar. This restaurant is a lighter meal than the buffet, possibly. Todd had a fish sandwich (not like at home) with fries. I had the deep fried conch. It was salty (I don't eat salt). I ate one piece and some fries. The serving was huge. I ate corn chowder and a small salad. Monday, Todd wanted to eat there after golf, as he missed breakfast. I wanted to go to the buffet, so we did both. I had a slice of self-serve pizza. Todd had a bacon cheeseburger and ordered Texas bacon cheese fries (horrible meal, health-wise, but he was on vacation). He asked them to leave off the jalapenos. They didn't leave them off. The fries weren't like in Texas either. His burger was like American food, rather than the "interesting" Jamaican burger experience. Tuesday we ate there after our trip to town. We both had hamburgers with bacon (Todd had cheese). We served ourselves Diet Pepsi from the machine, and I had a small cone. On Saturday, we went there before our departure after the buffet. I ate a big meal at the buffet and only a small cone at the Royal Grill. Todd had a bacon cheeseburger and fries. Bar service is offered here. Some of the items offered at this restaurant: fried grouper sandwich, deep-fried conch, hamburger, cheeseburger, hot dog, cheese dog, blt. Bar service is offered from a waitress. There are also soda machines, a cappuccino machine, self- serve ice cream, and self-serve pizza. Spices -- 12:30-2 p.m. -- This is the best lunch buffet I've seen at a Sandals. Every day, there was a station for pasta to order -- you pick the pasta, the sauce and the toppings. There were 2-3 kinds of pizza from the brick oven every day. There was display cooking of ribs, deep fried chicken, and swordfish. The hot buffet included items such as scalloped potatoes, cauliflower with cheese, seafood stuffed pasta shells, baked seafood in shells (like the appetizer at Crystal room only instead of just scallops, there was also langostinos and baby shrimp in it. There were various types of sandwiches. The large salad bar offered various dressings, including a spa dressing that was very good. There was a carving station. There were many cold cuts and lots of salads that I term "other" and many fruits. Normally, dessert never tempts me. This was the largest dessert buffet at the resort. There were a couple of puff pastry and fruit combos that caught my eye and were very good. What I saw was a cut above any resort I've visited. Seating is available inside or outside. This resort offers bar service. The white wine was French. Some of the people outside had asked for a bottle of wine. Wednesday -- some of the entrees served included salmon baked in puff pastry, grilled steak, grilled chicken, grilled pork chop, fried chicken, and stir-fried seafood. There were others. Again, pasta to order, several choices of pizza from the brick oven, an array of salads, soup, vegetables, cold cuts, and desserts were served. Wine was Italian Soave. Later days, the wine was whatever they brought and sometimes none. Thursday -- we caught the buffet for 15 minutes hurriedly before snorkeling. Items of interest were grilled seafood kabobs (several types of fish and shrimp), scallops, a spaghetti pasta salad, and carved beef tenderloin. Todd had beef lasagna only. Friday -- they had pita sandwiches, fried fish, teriyaki chicken, and a carved pork that I thought was beef before I took it, and many other items. I spent most of my time chatting to some people I had met that were getting ready to leave, and didn't notice my food much. I was still very full from the previous night. They were way into desserts and sampled most of it. I did pasta salad. Saturday -- there was a tremendous amount of seafood and assorted items, perhaps some left over from the International buffet the night before. The scallop appetizer (coquilles St. Jacques), huge crayfish claws and legs, crab claws, garlic shrimp, scallops, seafood kebabs, several types of grilled fish, cheese tortellini (wonderful), more pasta than usual, pita bread, beef tortilla (similar to fajitas al carbon here in Texas), deep fried chicken tenders, to name a few. There was a good soup, also. Todd very much enjoyed the beef tortilla. I did, also, and we both enjoyed the chicken tenders. All of the seafood everyday was a real treat, too. Snacks -- Everyday except Monday, hot snacks are available outside the Manor Bar from 5:30-6:30. There is a good variety. Items such as brick oven pizza, pigs in the blanket, chicken wings, conch fritters, quiche, mussels with marinara, and cheese, and fried fish are served. On Monday night, the Manager's Cocktail Party serves similar items, in addition, smoked salmon, cold cuts, pretzels, boiled shrimp, and a variety of finger sandwiches. This is held near the beach. Afternoon Tea -- served from 4-5 p.m. in the gazebo across from the side patio of Spices. Dainty pastries and finger sandwiches are served, along with tea. It is easy to walk by and pick up something on the way to somewhere else. I did not see this on Thursday or Friday and wasn't sure why not. Dinner Crystal Room serves 6:30-9:30-Saturday -- -Scallop appetizer (Coquilles St. Jacques), lobster bisque with baby shrimp, Caesar (Todd) or market greens salad (me), Todd smoked prime rib. Me spa fare of mussels, baby shrimp, and other (I don't eat octopus or squid). We were too close to the smoking section, but at least there was a seating preference. No wine preference- she named a few and offered a bottle. Wednesday -- wine offered was sweet or dry-never a menu at this place. That was very surprising. This time we requested "way non-smoking". Todd had the same meal as Saturday. I had the same thing, except I ordered the lamb chops. They were absolutely wonderful. Three were presented with a lovely rice side and vegetables. I could only hold two of them. Spices -- serves 6:30 to 9:30 -- we arrived at about 9:15 on Sunday night after the casino excursion. There were a few couples there. We weren't very hungry (what does that have to do with anything on vacation?). This is one that I forgot to document right away for the purpose of this report. We only had a couple of courses. I had salad and a chicken entr‚e that I didn't like. Todd had snapper with cheese and some other stuff on top. Water to drink. We ate outside. Spices is the main dining room and the location of the lunch and breakfast buffets. They have an open show cooking area. Most of the items on the menu are fish or chicken. I believe they offer a lamb dish. Several people really liked this place, but it was our least favorite, at least for dinner. Baccarat -- 6-10 p.m., reservations required. Book this early or you will only get in during your visit if you are willing to eat at 9 or 9:30. I booked on Sunday and could only get in early on Friday, our last night. This was available because we ate during the International Buffet. I strongly recommend that you not miss the International Buffet. Appetizers - - 3 choices. Todd had the penne pasta. I had the mussels (3 of them). Soup -- Todd had the sweet potato soup. I had the rockfish soup. Mine was better but the temperature wasn't hot enough. They mixed up our courses and served us our salad first. It was Caesar. They came over and apologized when they figured out what they had done. The entrees were served under silver domes. Both were lifted together. I had veal. Todd had smoked beef tenderloin. We were wondering why so much of the meat was smoked everywhere. The veal was shank and mostly bone and fat. It was served on top of thick rice with mushrooms. I am allergic to mushrooms, so I avoided that. The meat had a good flavor, but I wish I had ordered something else. Todd had the cheesecake with white chocolate and a berry sauce for dessert. I had hot tea. Water was served from a silver pot. I recommend going to Baccarat at 8 p.m. or so in order to get the best atmosphere. The pool will be lit up by that time. When we were there, the restaurant did not open on time. It was not full, due to the buffet. Royal Grill -- There is a regular menu and various features such as grilled T-bone or fillet and cheese ravioli or another pasta special. Service is offered from 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday -- nachos with cheese sauce and salsa and a mix of jalapeno bread and fresh-baked bread are offered, whether you ask for it or not. Caesar salad mixed while you wait, or salad bar was available. A soup was available and very good. The entrees were served with corn on the cob and a choice of potato. We ordered the potato skins, not realizing the toppings. We would have ordered them without sour cream, had we known. I ate the edges around the sour cream, and the skins were some of the best I've tasted. Todd didn't touch it. We also didn't touch the corn. We ate a few of the vegetables, but they weren't crispy. The fillets had a good flavor but had a lot of fat and gristle. This was touted as a Tex-Mex restaurant, but the food was not like here in Houston. We did have enough to enjoy our meal, though. Cricketers opens at 7 p.m. Pub food is offered. This includes items such as pizza, chicken wings, chef salad, club sandwiches, fish and chips, etc. Some people just sit around at this place. We were always too full to give the food a try. Cafe Goombay -- on the offshore island. Reservations required. Boats at 6:15 and 8:15. Most items on the menu have conch in them. After my conch meal at Royal Cafe grill, I wasn't too anxious to go to Cafe Goombay. Beach Party Night Buffet -- (Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m.) There was pasta cooked to order (although it took them a while to set up), some salads in a sailboat, a huge antipasto bar, including mussels, pastrami, olives, cheeses, etc. There was grilled beef (strange), bbq ribs and chicken -- all with BBQ sauce dumped on before you could say "no sauce", fish, salad, fried conch. We aren't buffet people or beach party people. Every one showed up at one time. We got a table near the front (ours had no cloth). It was difficult to keep the table level in the thick sand. We enjoyed watching the beautiful ice sculptures and how they changed throughout the evening. Bar service was there but spotty, and some guests went into the bar to get their own. We found ourselves anxious for water. The entertainment was supposed to start at 7:30. It was much closer to 8. Everyone was finished eating by then. The show started with a Junkanoo costumed band. Next, the Sandals VIP band played for dancing. At 8:30, a local brother singing act (supposedly #1 in Bahamas) rallied men and women into singing contests. There was also a dance contest. Todd left during this time -- he was very tired. Eventually, a limbo guy came on and got down to 8 inches with fire below that. About 100 people were rallied around for photos. At 10, the junkanoo group comes back to take people to the royal theater for disco. As other nights, the piano sing a long was at 10. Returnee Dinner -- Thursday was beginning at 6:30. If you are a returnee, call public relations or guest relations or go to the desk where dinner reservations are made. They can RSVP you. You should get a letter inviting you some time in the week. The afternoon of the event, we received T-shirts and two single-serve-sized bottles of local liqueur. The evening started with cocktails and appetizers at the Cricketers Pub. Unfortunately, the air conditioning picked this night to have some sort of problem. There was a book for guests to sign in and regular and pink champagne. Other cocktails and nonalcoholic drinks were available for the asking. There were baskets of pretzels, nuts, and garlic shrimp about. Appetizers were similar to those at the Manor Bar happy hour. There were also vegetables and dip, scallops, and smoked salmon. Most people took everything outside the bar or went over to the Crystal Room bar to get less heat. They called us back in for introductions. At about 7:30, we went into the Crystal Room for dinner. We had Steven Ziadie, the general manager, at our table. We stirred him up with ways to improve the place, how we didn't get upgraded, about the two couples who were nearly obscene in Frederick's style garb over Memorial weekend, and listened to his talk about the future enhancements of Sandals Royal Bahamian and other resorts. He is a wonderful gentleman who does an outstanding job. He was slightly offended that only two of us, in addition to him, ordered the returnee menu. Others requested the regular menu. Returnee menu: appetizer was a seafood cocktail -- a mixture in sauce on top of an avocado. Soup was a mushroom cream with a puff pastry shell backed on top. I ate the shell only, as I am allergic to mushrooms. A salad was not on the menu, but I ordered a salad and received Caesar. The entre was a lamb chop, two shrimp, and port -- I substituted the prime rib for the pork. I could not eat it all. The desert was ice cream wrapped in a white chocolate shell with fruit sauce. Wine, coffee, and tea were served. Wine was served from carafes. At the end of the meal, Steven invited us outside for group photographs. These were available a day or two later at guest relations, complimentary. Women were given long-stemmed roses. International Buffet -- Friday night. This is truly a chef showcase. Tables are set up outside of Spices. Candlelight tables are set in front of the bandstand. The show was an alternation between the VIP band and disco tunes for dancing. Even guests who were finished eating wriggled in their seats to the music. Dining choices were too many to name them all, and the presentation was excellent. Some choices: ribs, pasta, various Oriental dishes, jerk meat, quite a few seafood dishes, grilled meats, sushi, shrimp, the largest jambalaya pot I've ever seen, just about every dish we'd seen all week, many salads, cold shellfish, desserts, including chocolate covered strawberries, and a huge array of things I know I've missed. We are not buffet people, but this is one truly not to be missed. Watersports Kayaks, paddle boats, aqua trikes, hobie cats, windsurfing, and sunfish were available. Scuba was a offered twice a day. The trips were at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. The trips were longer than in Jamaica, 90 minutes. The water time was about an hour. Thursday -- We went on the 1 p.m. boat. We were told to arrive at 12:45 to get equipment. The boat was full. We saw many fish, lots like in Jamaica but many fish which were much larger, such as parrot fish and grouper. The water was crystal clear but a bit cold. We saw the biggest coral formation I have seen in my life, but that was after we ran out of film in our underwater camera. Both trips, we had to sign up a day in advance to get in. Saturday -- We went off East of the Sandals offshore island on the 9:30 trip. We saw a lot of fish and many colors of coral-purple, yellow, green, brown, orange. We saw a dolphin fish. I know on Thursday morning, they saw a nurse shark and that 3 couples pet it. They also saw a moray eel. On Saturday, we saw so many fish, and we followed some of them, swimming along. That trip was full, too. We were pleased at how long they let us stay out. Sign up early for snorkeling, in case the weather gets bad, as snorkeling is just fantastic at Cable Beach. It was worth every goosebump. Activities A very nice booklet outlining the week's activities is provided in the room. In addition, a board of what is offered is posted outside of Spices. A paper list is provided outside of the spa downstairs from the Manor Bar terrace. Everything is subject to change, but they pretty much stuck to the schedule when we were there. We did not do much while we were there. We attended a bingo for points (only us and the playmaker), a cash bingo for prizes ($3 a card or 2 for 5 -- proceeds to charity, I won a little waterproof wallet), black jack night (mucho fun), and music and entertainment. Some of what's offered: orientation everyday at 10 and 5. Some sort of aerobics was offered every morning at 8:30 with Micelangelo. The classes varied from circuit training, toning, aerobics, power walk, step, to low impact. Toning involved either resistance bands or weight machines on the circuit after an aerobic workout with bike, treadmill, and/or Stairmaster. Water aerobics were offered everyday except Saturday in the main pool at 2:30. Sunday -- beach volleyball, bocce ball, table tennis tournament, pool volleyball, pool tournament, water balloon toss, aerobics, water aerobics, mixology, and pool volleyball. Monday -- tennis with pro, pool volleyball, bingo for points, table tennis tournament, beach volleyball, treasure hunt, obstacle course, pool volleyball, Caribbean dance class, drinking competition, shuffle board tournament, water aerobics, aerobics, water balloon toss. Tuesday -- group tennis lessons, aerobics, funny bowling, beach volleyball, mix your drinks, tennis pro test, pool basketball, table tennis tournament, water balloon toss, honeymoon games, beach dice, horseshoe, tan/t- shirt/belly contests, darts, pool volleyball, golf, bocce ball, swimming contest, pool tournament, horseshoes. Wednesday -- group tennis lessons, aerobics, beach volleyball, beach olympics, pictionary, horseshoe, pool basketball, scavenger hunt, water races, table tennis tournament, pool volleyball, Mr. And Mrs. Royal Bahamian, reggae dance class, drink relay, beach volleyball. Thursday -- group tennis, beach volleyball, water balloon toss, quiz- a-thon, pictionary, pool basketball, golf, darts, pool soccer, shuffle board tournament, crazy relay, pool volleyball. Friday -- tennis with pro, aerobics, beach volleyball, crazy pool games, quiz-a-thon, bocce ball, pool volleyball, big games, mixology, staff vs guests volleyball. Saturday -- tennis with pro, table tennis tournament, beach volleyball, horseshoe tournament, water regatta, putting tournament, pool volleyball, drinking game, big splash, tennis tournament. Entertainment Saturday -- talent show. They had an Irish guy telling jokes and 3 playmaker skits. They had a professional singer with a beautiful voice and an impersonator. He did Elvis and Tina Turner. He was funny. The singer's name was Keeshla. The show started at 10 and was eventually standing room only. Sunday -- Karaoke and piano sing along, then disco music. All day, jukebox tunes. The guys that worked there played Whitney Houston over and over. Monday -- beach party night. Dinner is at 6:30. The band doesn't begin until 7:30. The junkanoo-costumed band came through shortly after. At 8, the VIPs the resident band played for dancing. At 8:30, a local brother singing act (supposedly #1 in Bahamas) rallied men and women into singing contests. Eventually, a limbo guy came on and got down to 8 inches with fire below that. About 100 people were rallied around for photos. At 10, the Junkanoo group comes back to take people to the royal theater for disco. As other nights, the piano sing a long was at 10. Tuesday -- black jack tournament, VIP band, and sing-a-long in piano bar. The black jack tournament had a set up of 4 tables with 7 or 8 people at each. It started at 8:30. The cost was free, and everyone got points. The winners got Sandals necklaces. Everyone had a good time and kept some money until the last hand when everyone bet it all. We met another couple from Houston. They live about 50 miles from us. We talked about the lack of TexMexyness of the Royal Grill (a.k.a. OK Coral). Wednesday -- honeymoon hour (like Newlywed game) and cabaret-skits, same singer Keeshla, Little Richard impression. Show started 20 minutes late. Band played before and after the cabaret show. Thursday -- karoake and resident band. Normally, there is a cabaret show, but the island is having an entertainment lull of about one month, we were told. Friday -- VIP band played at the International buffet, disco music followed for dancing (very popular), and a movie (Air Force One) was shown at the bar near the beach. Theme Activities Not so emphasized here. On beach party night, one returnee couple (saw them in St. Lucia T-shirts) said they decided to make their own pirate night because they had costumes. Other Activities Lots of activities held daily and activity board near main pool showed the day's schedule. For watersports schedule, check the watersports hut. There were pool games, basketball, pitch and putt, shuffleboard, tennis tournaments, volleyball, and various other unique games invented by the playmakers. We were given a schedule of the week's activities when checking in. It had "summer" on it. Some of the activities included ping pong tournament, miniature cricket, dance lessons daily and nightly, too, domino tournament, speak Jamaican, team drinking game (called mixology), charity bingo and casino, Jamaican trivia, horseshoe tournament, costume parades, fashion show, dress up competition, lover's knot, Newlywed game, beer drinking, water aerobics, darts tournaments, bocce ball, backgammon, and jeopardy. Points were given for most things and were in the range of 5-15 per activity. Sixty points earned a leather sandal necklace. Games There was shuffleboard, croquet, table tennis, pool, backgammon, checkers, slot machines (didn't win anything on my $20), and board games. Books and Board Games Both are available for loan from the playmakers. Points Points are awarded for activities such as volleyball, aerobics, aquacize, contests and games, tennis, basketball, talent night, Olympics. I did not get any points for playing bingo and should have. You can go to the playmakers and find out how many points you have at any time. Other Sandals we have visited required 60 points for a pair of Sandals (although it was 50 when we started going to Sandals). This resort required 120 points. We had 140 at checkout and got one pair. Go to the entertainment office to check on this. Photos A photographer takes your picture all over the property at various times. The pictures are available the next day for $10. No pressure to buy. You don't even have to go look at them. Gift Shop Royal Tings. Beauty Salon There is a full service beauty salon inside of the spa. Services offered include a wide array of waxing, manicures and pedicures and hair treatments. Spa The spa setup is quite nice. The spa is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. In addition to a wide variety of services at a charge, there are separate men's and women's steam rooms, saunas, and jet showers. There are bathrooms, changing rooms, lockers, and a few toiletries in the spa. There are packages available on the web site (call Unique Vacations at 1-800-Sandals or your travel agent). These are a bit different from those offered once you get to the resort, but I am sure both are honored. All tolled, I had 5 treatments at the spa. I believe I shook up Steven, the GM, when I indicated that the spa at Dunns River is better. He was surprised that I had already been. My feeling is that Dunns is lower cost and offers more variety. They have combo treatments that combine scrub and wrap or massage and facial, or sometimes even 3 treatments. Also, Elaine and her staff are willing to customize anything for you. I booked a Royal Choice package. This gave me 4 hour-long treatments for $264, rather than $300. Most spas cost about $1 per minute or slightly less. The Royal Bahamian is a bit more, but prices include a 10% gratuity. The $264 cost of the package brings prices to $1 a minute, before the gratuity. Once you book the package, you do not have to select the treatments right away. I chose to book the first treatment and then booked the others a couple of days later. Generally, you can get in the same day for treatments, but book a couple of days in advance if you want to be assured of what you want when you want. In addition to my package, I booked a hydrotherapy bath and was given a deal (I believe 20% off) on that. My schedule: I tried to book most of my treatments when Todd would be at golf. Otherwise, they were mostly when he slept in. After most treatments, I visited the steam room and sauna. Sometimes, I visited the jet showers. The steam room really opened up my sinuses. In a 10 to 15 minute sit, I eventually got to where I could barely see myself through the fog. My first treatment was the sampler massage. This combines techniques of Swedish massage, Shiatsu, and the sports massage. Mostly, it was Swedish massage with aromatherapy, but the therapist added pressure- point techniques that released tension in my muscles. The pressure was a bit light on the front but good on the back. The therapist played soothing music and dimmed the light. Other massages offered include Swedish, aromatherapy, reflexology, Shiatsu, and Sports. Facial -- -a man -- George, did this facial. I booked the aromatherapy facial. This treatment included pore cleansing, steam, exfoliation, oils, facial massage, and a mask. He did a lot of massage on my head and neck, and I was so relaxed that I had trouble staying awake. Other facials include European, refresher (shorter), men's, moor mud, seaweed, glycolic, oxygenating, and sun lover's. Hydrotherapy bath -- Dolly assisted with this treatment. These treatments normally are priced at $35. I chose the seaweed bath because the algae powder is supposed to release toxins and revitalize the metabolism. Dolly was late, due to a backup from the previous client. The tub must be sterilized between treatments. Once she prepared the bath, she assisted me into the many-jet tub. I thought it was too cold. She spent a bit of time getting the water to my satisfaction and getting a seaweed mix in the water. Just as I thought I was finally warm enough, Dolly came in and placed an ice- cold washcloth on my forehead and gave me water. Other bath choices include mineral salt, moor mud, and aromatherapy. Seaweed Wrap -- I chose this wrap due to the supposed benefits for increased circulation and benefits to reduce cellulite and water retention. The main benefit is detoxification. I was rubbed down with the seaweed mixture and wrapped in cellophane, a blanket, and sheets. The therapist turned down the lights and left me wrapped for quite a while. After the treatment, she put me in the jet shower and then handed me lotion. Other wraps offered include aromatherapy wrap, mud masque, body polish, and salt glo. Sports Massage -- This was my favorite treatment. I had this done the day before we went home, and by that time, I was very sore from the various weight-lifting sessions I had performed. I was a little surprised that I was getting a massage from a man. He did a fairly good job of not exposing me, but I was a little bit apprehensive, anyway. The treatment involved strokes of direct pressure, friction techniques applied to tight muscles, and heavy pressure traditional strokes to get ride of tightness and toxins. He did arms and legs on the front and a full backside massage, including scalp and neck. I was very relaxed. In addition to the treatments, the spa offered personal training sessions at a cost. There was plenty to gain from attending the aerobic sessions. Classes met in the spa at 8:30 a.m. At that time, participants headed to whatever location was appropriate for the class of the day. We did exercise in the gym and on the pool and beach patios. There are aquacize classes on most days of the week. There are couples treatments (massage and wrap) where couples can get treatments side by side. Piano Bar The pianist plays beginning at 10 p.m. Many people sang along. Other Guests Guest to staff ratio was 1.8 to 1. It wasn't 1 to 1, but it seemed just fine. We found that the crowd changed every couple of days. On Memorial weekend, there was quite a mix, including some "professional" types who caused a scene in nearly obscene gowns and swimsuits. The two couples were asked to tone down their activities after the night watchman caught them in some undisclosed act that got recorded in his log book. The guests were on the verge of being tossed out, as nudity is illegal in the Bahamas, and carrying on is not what Sandals is looking for in guests. Beyond these folks, the mix was anywhere from 20 to 70 for the entire stay. Over Memorial weekend, there seemed to be largely a 20s and 30s crowd. On Tuesday and Wednesday, there were many folks above 50. After that, it was largely a 30s and 40s crowd. We are in our mid- 30s and felt quite at home the entire stay. Dress during the day was casual. At night, there was a mix of dress. Long dresses were quite popular at night. Other female guests wore cocktail dresses, casual dresses, and slacks. Men wore Dockers and golf shirts for the most part. At some restaurants (such as Royal Grill), they wore dress shorts (no T-Shirts). At Bacarrat, a lot of men wore jackets. Some wore ties. Some just wore pants and a golf shirt. No shorts allowed there. Crystal Room was similar. Departure and Return Home When checking out, you can request American Airlines frequent flyer points. Check out time at SRB is 11 a.m. We were allowed to keep our room until 1 p.m. That really helped. We had a 3:30 bus for our 5:20 flight. We got lockers at the spa to keep our valuables and to assist with changing from swimsuits. After waiting in line for American, we learned that our flight was canceled due to mechanical failure. We were placed on a Bahamasair flight leaving 10 minutes later than our scheduled flight. Since we had only 40 minutes connection time to begin with, we were worried. We found that the setup in Bahamas is a bit different from Jamaica or Mexico. We paid our $30 departure tax ($15 each, payable in USD or Bahamian dollars, these two are equal) and were asked to take our own bags to the customs line. We only bought $60 worth of stuff. I had stuck two nectarines in my purse thinking we'd have 2 hours at the airport. Due to all of the rigmarole, we had no time to spare. The agent took it out and commented that they don't allow fruit. I indicated the situation, expecting her to throw it out. She plunked it back in my purse and waved us on. That was it. Bahamasair wasn't full, and we had the 3 seats for the two of us. They gave a choice of grape or orange juice in a 4 oz. Size for the service. We had a huge hike around the airport in Miami. We got to our gate in the E wing just in time. They had given our seats away but got us on anyway at the last minute. The flight was a pain. We got sodas and pretzels, plenty, as we were way full from our other eating of the week. We got to Houston on time at about 8:40 p.m. Central time. We were so thrilled to find that our luggage made the plane -- we had some doubts, as we barely made it. We arrived home at 10 p.m. exhausted from our full week. Comments Sandals Royal Bahamian is a very lovely resort. The resort remained quite full during our stay. However, with just a few exceptions, guests were quite tame and into relaxing or doing a few activities if the mood struck. There are plenty of romantic spots on the property. However, I never saw a swing that wasn't in use. Because the resort is so full, there is very seldom the frustration of searching for an activity only to find that the activity coordinator didn't show up. There were a couple of activities held somewhere other than scheduled. For instance, Todd missed a ping pong tournament because he could not find it in time. The staff is very well trained. We were told to enjoy our day or the rest of our day many times. If someone didn't have what we wanted, they usually tried to get it for us, rather than send us off somewhere else or send us away disappointed. There were some patches of things that needed improving. For instance, the housekeeping service came anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. On more than one day, they made the bed at nearly 5 p.m. and turned it down before 7:30. The general manager seemed genuinely interested in ideas for improvement. Also, guests can fill out a survey and drop it in a box in the reservations office. Breakfast and lunch buffets at Spices are a cut above most places. The a la carte breakfast offers the opportunity for a healthy meal or a heartier breakfast without waiting in line for eggs to order. Many of the golfers (like my husband) like to leave for tee times as early as 7:04 to beat the crowds. Since the resort is competing in the golf market, there should at least be continental breakfast available by 6:30. The weather was overcast quite a lot, and there were two days where we had some rain. The first day that it rained, it came twice. It lasted only long enough for everyone to grab their things and leave the pool area. The staff opened up the Manor Bar, which I thought was nice of them. That place usually opens at 5:30 p.m. It rained again on Friday morning but was not raining when Todd's shuttle was to come for golf. The Radisson Cable Beach Golf Club employees were nearing a strike, though, so he had trouble getting in. We got out of bed at 6:25 for him to make his tee time. The shuttle never came, and he missed the tee time. I blame this on the Radisson, however, as the staff at Sandals called twice. People were at the pool claiming their spot early in the morning. By 10 or so, there was difficulty getting a seat, although all day, there were plenty of seats that only had a towel in them, and there were many more seats with a towel in them than there were people in the pool and Jacuzzis. Some people hung out on the beach. The sand on the beach was very thick and somewhat hard to walk in. The showers on the beach needed a spout just for feet, as it was difficult to rinse feet without getting at least partially wet under the shower. Eventually, I found myself using what I call the wall waterfalls for this purpose. Photography was available at the resort, and some pictures were taken around the pool. Complimentary group photos were taken at the returnee night. It was nice to not have photographers chase us all over the property for photos like at some of the resorts. Oceanfront rooms have the best view. Honeymoon suites do not offer a view of the ocean. According to the GM, the resort is on schedule to open the new side of the resort (to add 205 rooms) by October 1. That side will offer a bigger pool than the existing one and Italian and Japanese restaurants. Apparently, they have an Italian chef, so this should be a plus for the restaurant. It is a bit inconvenient to make meals sometimes. Aerobics and snorkeling can make it difficult to make the breakfast buffet. Afternoon snorkeling gives opportunity for only a quick 10-15 minutes at the lunch buffet. There is food available at least 19 hours of the day, so this is not a real problem. Towels were sometimes hard to come by. We didn't understand the policy when we checked in, as there were no beach towels in our room. We had to sign out towels on the beach. Sometimes, there were no towels to exchange for fresh ones. Although the exercise room was lovely and modern, sometimes there were no towels available there, either. The spa staff were courteous and efficient with only a few snafus. However, there were a few times when I could not get the steam room to work and could not find anyone to help. Also, the hot Jacuzzi of the hot and cold plunge pools had a floating thermometer in it which read "max 100 degrees". The first several days, the tub was 108-112 degrees. After that, it was 92 to 96. Most of the Jacuzzis were in the 92 to 96 range all of the time, except for the one on the island that seemed the temperature of the ocean. For a spa resort, I expected better. I feel that this resort is well worth a look for those wanting golf, gambling, spa, or fine dining. We found it nice that we could get a bottle of wine or champagne at any bar anytime they were open and take it to our room. The only things missing at Royal Bahamian are laundry/dry cleaning included and 24 hour room service.
Trip May 1998. This was my fifth trip to Columbus Isle, so I guess I must like it. In a few words, Club Med is basically "summer camp for adults", however, Columbus Isle is more "really nice summer camp", it is much nicer than your normal Club Med. Getting There: Basically, there are only two options, the Club Med Charter from Miami (twice on Saturdays and Sundays) via American Eagle, or Bahamas Air from Miami or Nassau (a few times per week) and hope your luggage arrives. Or you could charter your own plane. The runway is VERY short, and full of potholes! There is an ongoing project to extend the runway, but I have watched it for over two years, and it doesn't look all that close to being finished! Normally, the flights from Miami to San Salvador aren't any problem, on American Eagle ATR-42s, however, this trip was a bit more exciting. I arrived early on Saturday in Miami, and was on standby for the first flight (and booked on the second flight); however, the flight was full, so I had to wait, not a problem, as I had expected to. However, as people were arriving for the second flight, Club Med announced that the first flight hadn't been able to land at San Salvador because of weather! It had returned to Miami, was being refueled, and would go back again. But that meant they didn't have a plane for us! After an hour or so, they found us a plane, but than they needed a pilot. After not too long, we get a pilot, and off we go...for about 3 minutes...just long enough to take off, turn around, and land. Engine problems, fun fun fun, we got fire engines and everything. The fire engines at Miami Airport are "Dayglo Green". American Eagle "stored" us in a satellite terminal while waiting for another plane. But the brought us munchies and drinks. Eventually got to Columbus Isle 4 hours late. The Island: San Salvador Island is an "out island" in the Bahamas. It is actually quite far east, and is in someways more like an Atlantic Island than a Bahamian Island. It is separated from the rest of the Bahamas by deep water. There is only one other resort on the island (the Riding Rock Inn), a few tiny villages with a few tiny shops, about a 1,000 residents (maybe), a couple of bars and a bunch of churches! There are a couple of Columbus Memorials to see, an oil powered lighthouse, and lots of great beaches! The Village (Resort): Columbus Isle is a "Club Med Finest", and they put a lot of money into it. The common areas are all very nice, with a reading area (with very comfortable couches), a nice TV room, artwork (from all over the world) everywhere, even in the bathrooms. The rooms are much nicer than most Club Meds, good to moderate views of the ocean, big bathrooms and closets, artwork in the rooms, TV, phone, minifridge. There are also small "garden view rooms with shared bath"; which are small, but still nice for Club Med. And CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. Columbus Isle is starting to become a secret singles hangout, because it is such a good deal. The main restaurant is quite nice, with great food. And has tables of various sizes. Not just all tables for eight like most Club Meds. Has the "standard" big Club Med buffet, with lots of choices for every meal. Each dinner has a "theme", but there are always many standard items available. I am AMAZED at how good the food at Club Med is, considering how many people they feed. There are two annex restaurants, but I only ate at the Italian one. It was good, but I am not a big fan of Italian food, so I normally just eat at the main restaurant. Late lunch is at one of the annex restaurants, which is on the second floor, and has a great view out over the ocean. I ate late lunch there almost every day. Not quite as many choices as the main lunch restaurant. The Guests: The village holds 500 guests. There were about 350 the first week, and 300 the second. This village is rarely full, only in July/August (Europe on vacation) and the Christmas Holidays. One of the office staff said one week in late January they only had 95 guests! The guests were about half Europeans (mostly French) and half Americans (mostly Californians). A few people from other European countries, and a few from other states, Canada, South America, etc. But it was amazing the number of people from California. In general, this is a couples village. But there were a moderate number of single people, probably 40-50, more than I have seen here before. They no longer have any "singles get togethers" or activities here, but I think they should. At least a "singles happy hour" once or twice a week. There were a few single people I didn't meet until the last day I was there. There were a 3 or 4 children, except for one they were all fine. I heard the one was a real brat, but I never had any problems. There are more children when the village is full. There are no special facilities or activities for children. Because of all the Europeans, and the remote location, there is a reasonable amount of toplessness, even around the pool area. This doesn't cause any problems, except for the occasional American who isn't used to it. There is a small amount of "clothing optional" on the farther beach areas; and if you leave the resort and find your own beach no one will care. Of my five trips, this was the only one with reasonable amounts of partying. But the disco still was pretty quiet many nights, but it was rocking a few nights. The Scuba Diving: This is why I go! Club Med has three very nice catamaran dive boats (two 45', one 55'). They can hold about 45 divers each, but they are BIG boats, with large bow areas and sundecks, so while they are underway it isn't crowded even when they are full. The buddy divers use the outside racks, and the groups the inside racks. The buddy divers go in first (if they are ready), so you can hit the water before the groups, and never see them the whole dive. Getting back onto the boat can sometimes be a traffic jam, but just hang out at 15' and wait, no big deal. Almost every dive site is a wall dive. The top of the wall is usually about 40', dropping down to 200' or MORE MORE MORE. A few places it just goes forever. This means there are normally three different areas at each site; down over the edge of the wall, on the reef at the top of the wall, or inside the reef in a usually sandy area. And you can go either direct along the wall. So you can dive the same sight two or three times, and not have it feel the same. The walls and the coral life are very good here. There is a moderate amount of big things to see, sharks, turtles, rays, moreys, lots of big grouper, barracuda, etc. However, because San Salvador Island is quite far out into the Atlantic, there aren't tons of schooling fish like some places. But there are also lots of little things to see, shrimps, crabs, etc. In the winter, there are Hammerhead Sharks all the time. This trip in May I saw four, but in another week or so most will be gone, out into the cold water. The water temp was in the high 70s, and getting much warmer later in my stay. In late summer it is in the mid 80s, even down at 100'. The visibility was about 120'? Some days only about 60', but most better. The weather was still being dominated by westerly winds, which is the winter pattern, which made it wind and choppy a few days. The daily dive schedule is two boats in the morning (two tanks each), and one boat in the afternoon (one tank). When they get crowded they run more boats. Other Sports: The main sport of the village is scuba, followed by snorkeling and laying on the beach. But there are other sports, tennis, sailing, kayaks, windsurfing, beach volleyball. There is waterskiing in the summer (starts May 1) but it was too windy most days I was there. But the wind made for pretty good sailing, nice Hobie 16s. But the last two days it was even too windy for sailing! Very unusual weather for May. But it was still nice an warm, and only rained (a little) once during the day. The beach is awesome, and great water. Altho there isn't much snorkeling right at the village, twice a day they go by boat to good snorkeling spots. There was beach volleyball almost every afternoon. I went to aerobics a few times, and wasn't impressed with the instructor. But she was only filling in, as the new instructor hadn't arrived yet. The weight room is OK, but not much. Overall, and Random Thoughts: Basically, I like this Club Med a lot. It has nice facilities, pretty grounds, a great beach, good scuba, etc. However, it is "Club Med on Valium", and is very quiet and laid back, especially for Club Med. Lots of couples and scuba divers, but a reasonable number of single people, who were actually partying this trip! But there isn't much else to do on the island, it is basically an overgrown sandbar, with great beaches. Comment about Club Med Management. Club Med has been losing money, and their solution to this seems to have been to "dumb down"; i.e. lowering prices and cutting service. Things that have been available in the past are gone or going? Examples: previously Columbus Isle had bicycle rides, three times a day. They no longer have them, and they haven't been replaced with anything else. (They claim it is seasonal now, but I doubt it will be back). The early breakfast used to be at the annex restaurant, by the scuba area. It has been moved to the main restaurant, presumably to save money, etc.
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