GRAND BAHAMA
Area: Bahamas
Location:
In Atlantic Ocean, forming NW edge or "top" of Bahamas archipelago. 126 mls NW of Nassau (New Providence Island) and its airport. 55 mls E of Florida coast; 105 mls NE of Miami, Florida. International airport 2 mls NW of Freeport.
Telephone code from UK:
1 242
Website:
http://www.bahamas.com
Position:
Nearest neighbour in archipelago is Abaco Island to E.
Description:
A long and fairly narrow island shaped like a shallow letter "S" laid on its front, Grand Bahama is 96 mls long and only 17 mls across at its widest point _ generally it is much narrower. It is the fourth largest of the Bahamas islands but the second most populated. Fairly flat and low lying, much of the island is covered in tall, spindly pine forest. Though inhabited from pre-Columbian times, the island only started to wake up to the wider world in the 1950s. A tax-free port utilising the natural harbour at the W end of the S coast was conceived together with a plan to introduce industry and tourism _ and thus was created the port city of Freeport and the residential and tourist zone of Lucaya, 4 mls to the E. Freeport is now a major cruise and container port while Lucaya has grown into an extensive, upmarket residential and holiday-home marina development. These twin centres are the only planned, modern towns in the Bahamas. Laid out like their contemporary "New Towns" and "Garden Cities" in the UK, they have wide boulevards, providing easy car access to all areas, with a maze of residential streets and cul-de-sacs leading off them. Sprawling over a combined area some 10 mls by 4 mls, these towns are low rise, neat and tidy but have nothing in the way of historic sites or monuments and certainly lack the "buzz" of Nassau.
Suitability:
Favourite with American golfers, gamblers and boaters _ who dominate the market and for whom most of the hotels are tailored _ but becoming more accessible and affordable for UK package tourists seeking sun, sea, sand and anything else beginning with "s". Also major port of call for cruise ships.
Accommodation:
Second only to Nassau (New Providence Island) in terms of tourist development, although only limited number of hotels available on UK inclusive-tour market. Mainly large operations with plenty of facilities; couple are integrated with casinos; some are all-inclusive. Some in central Freeport but British tourists will prefer beach hotels at Lucaya. Many older properties dating from 1960s or 1970s have been refurbished after damage by Hurricane Floyd in 1999 while others have been completely rebuilt.
Shopping:
Main shopping centre is almost-themed "International Bazaar", right on main crossroads in centre of Freeport, offering large selection of international shops and boutiques (many selling goods at duty-free prices), bars, restaurants and entertainment from around the world. Port Lucaya has its own "Marketplace": a complex of genuine market stalls, many selling straw goods (not all locally made) as well as a mini-village of small shops, boutiques, restaurants, bars etc, all in colonial-style clapboard buildings. Both centres are thronged each day by hundreds of cruise-ship passengers "doing" Grand Bahama in 6 hrs. Upmarket buys include jewellery, leather items, perfume and cigars. Plenty of T-shirts, seashells and other local souvenirs.
Beach:
Lots of them and all of fine, white coral sand. On S coast, most popular are Xanadu, nearest to centre of Freeport; Silver Point, which stretches as far as Lucaya; then Taino, Churchill and Fortune, all progressively farther E.
Entertainments:
Daytime: beach activities and water sports varying from snorkelling to serious scuba diving _ the Underwater Explorers' Society (UNEXCO) is based at Lucaya; surface-based water sports including water-skiing, parasailing, windsurfing etc. Sailing and fishing is available though not on same scale as on other islands. Golf courses. Tennis. Horse riding. Miniature golf and other children's entertainment at "Pirates of the Bahamas" amusement park. Bowling alley. Nightlife: casino complexes in both Freeport and Lucaya offer cabaret shows, dancing to live music and discos as well as 18-hrs-a-day gambling. Several hotels also provide shows. Independent nightclubs and discos. Calypso show in open square in Port Lucaya Marketplace. Plenty of bars, some with live entertainment.
Eating:
Lots of restaurants at all levels from burgers to fine dining, both in and out of hotels. More fish than meat with plenty of places offering local Bahamian food as well as wide international choice from Greek to Chinese. Prices, though not cheap, are more reasonable than on other islands. Nondiscretionary "gratuity" of 15% is normally added to all bills regardless of level of service which, it has to be said, is not highly professional but at least comes with an unforced smile.
Public-transport:
Bus service plies route between central Freeport and Port Lucaya. Taxis are metered but meter is never used, the drivers preferring set fares (no doubt inflated) on popular routes. Many taxis are stretch limos, so at least you can be ripped off in style. Cars, scooters (with helmet) and bicycles can be rented. To get farther afield: ferry to Abaco Island and fast ferry to Miami; flights to Nassau (New Providence Island) and various parts of Florida.
Local-excursions:
Island sightseeing and city tours. Glass-bottomed boat to see coral reefs and tropical fish. Garden of the Groves, 12-acre botanical gardens. Hydroflora Gardens with local plants, many growing hydroponically (without soil). Lucayan National Park, covering 40 acres with caves, beaches and trails. Eco-tours using various modes of travel from kayak to jeep. Dolphin Experience _ stroke, swim with or help to train dolphins. Brewery and perfume factory visits. Evening "booze-cruises" with drink, dinner and show.