Mariner's Cove
Ideas for "A Day in The Abacos "
Sometimes, Kerry (my wife) and I daydream about what we would be doing if we were there.
We would like to share with you some of our past experiences on vacation in the Abacos. (We will use Treasure Cay for a base of operation). It might give you some ideas on what you might want to do for a day.
When you get there:
When Gordon (our taxi buddy) picks you up at the airport have him stop by the grocery and liquor store and get a few essentials (wine, beer,or rum, tp paper). The place will be unlocked with the keys on the kitchen table (The cleaning lady will have opened and freshened up the place). Make that drink you probably need and do one of two things, sit on the patio and watch the sun set or stroll across the road and take that first of many walks on your beach.
Important Stuff!!
1) Depending on the time of year you might have to make reservations for golf cart, boat, and outings with guides before you get there. Sometimes 2 or 3 months in advance. Call or email the parties you would want to rent from and ask them if you should reserve their services. This is very important. Busy season everything is booked. Ask us if we think you should call and reserve.
2) A couple of things about coming and going to the Bahamas: You will need a passport or birth certificate with a raised seal to get in and out of the country. You will also need $15.00 to get out of the country (you pay that to the airlines, at their counter when you check out)
3) Some of the flights coming from the states stop in Marsh Harbour before they go on to Treasure Cay. If so, you will have to depart the plane and go through customs with your luggage in Marsh Harbour. . It happens most flights but for your first time it is a little confusing. Just ask if you don't know which way to go.
4) Don't bring in any vegetables or fruit. Pack light.
5) Most places don't have phones. But there are pay phones very nearby. That is the normal way of people contacting people at home. Cingular mobile works there but it is expensive. In case of emergency the phone in the office (242-365-8015) can be called. Office hours: Mon.- Fri. 8:00am - 5:00pm, Sat. 8:00am -12:00.
6) If you're worried about money take some cash and extra travelers checks. Travelers Checks are taken by most businesses. Boat, car, and cart rental take credit cards, (Visa, Mastercard) Restaurants take credit cards also. There is an ATM at the bank but they are not open but 3 days a week and only about 5 hours a day. You can always take home unused travelers checks.
this in not a definitive list of important stuff. We will add more as will think of them.
One Day:
Arrange to have Gordon pick you up in the morning and take you to the Green Turtle Ferry dock. Go over to GTC for the day. You can make arrangements before hand and have a golf cart waiting for you at the dock. A couple of ways to do this: Look up golf cart business in phone book (there is one in our living room), call by phone, use the VHF radio to hail the business or on the way over ask the ferry captain to call the cart business on his radio. We did the latter when we went to GTC for the day. A little chancy but it worked. Just take off and explore. The cart should be good to go all day. Don't forget, to remember, when you plan on taking the ferry back. If you know before hand Gordon will be waiting for you. Let's see, go to Green Turtle Club or the Bluff House for lunch. Getting to these places is a trek but take your time and explore on the way. See if you can find the hidden cove on the Atlantic side of the island. We did and had a little picnic. We took a small cooler for essentials (beer, water, a couple of sandwiches). Don't forget to wear your suits under your clothes, and a towel to share. Buy a couple of bottle waters. There is a couple of places in New Plymouth (the town) to visit. A museum, a couple of eateries and a couple of bars. You can always catch an earlier ferry if you get tired.
Another Day to Green Turtle:
Just got off the phone with a recent guest. She told us that they went to Green Turtle Cay with the bicycles. That is a daunting trek. It's about 5 or 6 miles to the Ferry dock. She said that the ferry captain had no problem with the bikes as long as the boat didn't get to crowded. Ask what times are the most crowded. The roads are all flat. The bicycles are one speed and have fat tires. One of them has a air pump attached to it. The other has a good sized basket to carry stuff in. I think the next time we're down we will try that. Green Turtle Cay is only about 3 miles long so the longest leg in your journey is to and from the ferry dock. Let me know if anyone else tries this.
One Day:
Rent a car (at the gift shop in the strip shopping center for 75.00 a day) go to Marsh Harbour and either spend the day there and/or take the ferry to Hopetown on Elbow Cay. Do the ferry captain thing again and get a golf cart for the day. Go south to Tahiti Beach and everywhere else. Stop by at Abaco Inn and have lunch or go back to town and have lunch at 2 or 3 different places. Maybe stop by Hopetown Harbour Lodge, Captain Jack's or Harbour's Edge and have a drink and enjoy the view. You can pick up and drop off the cart right there at the ferry dock. Don't forget to make the last ferry. The car rental is for 24 hours so if you get it at 8:00 am you can hand it in the next day at 8:00am.
One Day:
Sunday, if you want a crowd and a good time (even if you don't) take the Prozac ferry (right out your patio door just to the left) and go to Nipper's pig roast on Guana Cay. We don't sign up for the pig roast but we have libations and other fare. Great beach, good drinks, and a general good time had by all. Find out when the ferry returns to Treasure. Take your snorkeling equipment with you. You can snorkel right off the beach. It's not great but it's not to bad. 10:00am to 4:00pm.
One Day:
If you can, check on going out with Mark Carroll. His daily itinerary changes to suit his customers i.e.. fishing, snorkeling, deserted beach feast. We normally don't do the tourist things but am I glad we did with him. Took 6 of us and did it all. You have to mention what you would like. My favorite is the great meal on the deserted beach. As Kerry says, it's to die for. The only problem is he has to have a minimum of people to make it profitable for him. His boat is just out you patio door to the right. Discuss with him what can be arranged. It is worth it.
Other Stuff:
Let's see, Golf, Beach, a good book, get in the water. Ah yes forgot, go to Banyan Beach Bar (the bar on my web page) and have a Great hamburger and fries with a cold one. The food is good but the place makes it even better. We use lunch as an excuse to go there. One of our panoramic pictures is from there.
I'm done. I'm bummed. I want to be there. I'm willing to bet you will have the same feeling when you get home. You'll want to go back. Betch ya!
I can't remember typing so much. The above is a starter. The majority of our time there is spent just relaxing and driving a golf cart or riding our bicycles around.