My Bahamas Trip July 18th-25th

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

What a wonderful trip except for the screwed up travel day coming home but that's a topic all it's own.

Had no trouble getting from the airport to Taino, it was a $25 cab ride and the cabby got insulted when I told him I thought it was $20. I've since learned the rates are controlled so all should be the same. It took me almost the whole ride to convince him I wasn't an "Ugly American" .

Checkin was a breeze altho the room wasn't ready. Just grabbed our bathing suits and headed for the pool which was just lovely. I had asked for a bottom floor, easy access to activities. I was put in the Coral (4012) and all we had to do was open the patio door and take 10 steps and fall in the pool!! Woo Hoo!!

I bought a package of activities when I checked in which included the bonfire, the w & c boat ride and the island jet ski tour. I could have lived w/o the first 2 but the jet ski was a blast (except for the Dad from He--) He was just a mean man and yelled at his son and kept calling him stupid. I really got upset with him and told him he needed to chill out!! Kudos to the young man leading the tour. When we hit Petersen's Cay he told the Dad he had had enuff and he needed to apoligize to his son. His son was not stupid!! and you are on vacation and no yelling is allowed on vacation. He couldn't drive the jet ski so the son was doing it, and doing a fine job. I told the dad he could ride with me & Kelli could ride with his son and if he gave me a hard time I'd throw him off!! Lots of fun, we went thru millionaries row, the dolphin place , Petersens Cay and back. Now for an adventure-- we were racing a storm with thunder and lightning back to Taino. The winds and the waves were whipping up and it was a rough ride but we made it all in one piece!!

The bonfire was expensive for what it was ($45 per person) altho the food was good, the games and dances were fun (except I couldn't do all of them) the fire dancer was good, the limbo dancer didn't show up, but they limboed anyway. Notice I said "they" not "me"

The wine & cheese /sunset cruise was not worth the money. It was fun but we came in b4 the sunset and that didn't bode well with me. There were taxis waiting on us to go to Smith's fish fry. It's a big deal every Wed. lots of fun and food is good. I asked them to cut off the fish heads tho Yuk.

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Shaggy,
Sounds like you had a good time. Should have warned you about the sunset wine and cheese cruise. We didn't take it but ran in to several that did and they were doing a lot of "whinning" but didn't like the "cheesy" cruise much. lol
I agreed that the Smith's point fish fry was good and with the DJ and dancing on the beach made for a good time. It was interesting to see them just through the whole fish in the oil with no breading or whatever but the tast of those red snappers was great.
Did you go snorkeling and where??

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

The unit/other activities/restaurants

I had a studio unit with a full kitchen and 1 br with shower only and 1 bed, Kelli slept on the couch. It took me a couple of days to get sheets and when they changed linens on Wed they took the sheets and didn't leave us any!! The dishes were over the sink and I couldn't reach them so had to have a "tall" worker get them down for me. They only allowed one pool towel per person . Tip: Get them early b4 they run out.

The pool was outstanding, very large, nice slide, grotto bar with happy hour from 4 to 6. The pool and the beach offered very little relief from the heat and humidity. It was like taking a bath!! Even the ocean was too warm but that's where I stayed most of the time, Kelli stayed at the pool. My motto is intact: Tan fat looks better than white fat!! Even the locals were commenting on it. A taxi driver accused me of doing a tanning bed b4 I got there but I didn't. I didn't even peel this time. Very even and no burns, one of my better efforts, I must say.

Food: Resort, expensive - take ferry over to Port Lucaya $5 r/t They have done away with the weekly pass.

Zorbas: Awful, nasty, no care attitude. Orded Greek baked chicken and it was supposed to be 1/2 chicken but was thin, tough, and unedible. The baked potato looked and tasted like it was days old. I told the waitress that I didn't like it and all she said was sorry. No offer to make it right. Kelli ate the conch fritters and fries which were fine. On the way out I talked to the mgr /owner and he said the same thing. Sorry!! issed I said I was sorry to, I'm a travel writer as I walked out and left him with his mouth open!! I have never had this bad of a meal, WS is full of Greek restaurants, and Greek chicken is delicious, (usually) I have to say I was never nasty or ugly.

Pieces: OMG Good!! Ate there twice. Kelli had the spaghetti & I had the pizza. We ate the pizza the 2nd time around. Just too good!!

Fish fry @ Smith's point . Not my cup of tea but I would still recommend for the experience.


Junkanoo: Bus left at 6"30. Forget the bus. Nothing gets going until late. They had a fabulous singer "EB" He's a Bahamas star. I want his CD!! He was great!!

Casino: Small, clean, variety of slots and gaming tables. I won $150 playing BJ !! Woo Hoo!! Another day won about $70 on slots and roulette. I recommend going there when the cruise ships are in as it's a little more lively, otherwise it's dead. The island needs us!!

West End: Gaynell, she has been there for over 20 yrs!! and has moved up to ts sales manager. It was so so good to see her again. She took us & another couple to the west end area. We stopped at a house where I stocked up on different breads and pies/cakes. You would never know it was a bakery, no sign but oh my did it smell good!! We also ate at the same restaurant that she took us to almost 20 yrs ago. Again , no sign . It's called the Chicken (something or other) I can't remember. She also recommended buying your fish from the boats that pull up every day with their catch. I bought a conch shell that you can blow into for $5 from a local fellow .

[shaggy Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close shaggy]

I went snorkeling every chance I got. Glad you brought it up. I forgot to mention that Kelli & I went snorkeling with Pat & Diane . I believe you recommend them . Went with them because of the recommendations and Kelli wanted to do the slide and rock wall. I wish they had had a platform in the back as Kelli had to swim around the boat to get back on. She did this about 5 times. I also went with the snorkel boat at Taino as I had a free trip and it was good too but w/o the atmosphere. I also snorkeled by the jettys at the place. Learned to do it only when the tide was coming in.

[susieq Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close susieq]

Glad you both had a great time ~~ sounds like you really enjoyed yourselves!!

[Dori Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dori]

Shaggy, you and Kelli have "Excellent Adventures" wherever you travel! Good for you! I'm glad you had fun.

Dori

[grest Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close grest]

I agree with Dori....you and Kelli always seem to get busy, find fun things to do, and enjoy yourselves. Then you tell us about it: bonus! Thanks for sharing.
Connie