Happy Friday, Bomb Lifers!
I am currently sitting in Atlanta airport on a gnarly (!) 3 hour layover, and figured: what better time than now to tell you about my recent trip to Eleuthera, Bahamas?
As many of you may know, my mother is from Nassau, Bahamas, and we have family on Nassau, Andros, Long Island, and Eleuthera. While we normally go to Nassau to see our family, we decided to switch it up for this trip to my motherland.
Read on for a few things you should know if you choose to go:
- How to Get There
I flew to Eleuthera on American Airlines, and am flying back on Delta. True story, my flight on American Airlines back to the States was unceremoniously canceled on the morning of my flight, and I was lucky enough to snag a seat on this flight. Imagine, I’d still be in the Bahamas if I had to depend on American Airlines! So I’d recommend flying on Delta. They have direct flights from Atlanta and they are a generally reliable airline (though my Dad was a United Pilot, I’ve grown to LOVE Delta).
You’ll need to present a negative Antigen test if you are vaccinated or a negative PCR test if you aren’t vaccinated. Eleuthera’s airport might be one of the smallest I’ve ever seen. You disembark on the tarmac, and there is basically one room/cottage to check in, go through security, etc. Be ready for delays (my mom almost had a conniption fit when someone in the line held us up for 30 minutes), but you can be at peace to know that everyone is delayed, not just you. And the flight won’t take off without you! Also, the time of year we visited, there was significant rain everyday, so my flight coming in had to turn around and go back to Miami and then try to come in again. It sounds like lots of drama, BUT it’s fine. The airport is cute and quaint, you’ll get your bags, you’ll land safely, and be on your way.
2. Where to Stay
We rented an AirBNB in Windemere Island, and kinda didn’t follow the basic rules of AirBNB-dom: stay somewhere with reviews! That said, our rental, entitled “Utopia” had many positive attributes, including a beautiful pool, lots of flowering trees, and a spacious living and kitchen area.
I really don’t have many complaints about our AIRBNB…It just didn’t “Wow” me. Next time we’ll do a more thorough search and find a SuperHost or a place that has been stayed in before. I was overall pleased with the experience, however it was definitely at one with nature. Which brings me to…
3. Be Prepared for The Wildlife
On day 1 of our trip, it rained at night…and I could hear this mysterious sound. It wasn’t a croak, it wasn’t a song, it was more like a long, sad moan…I was freaked out! I ruled out ghosts and figured I wasn’t in harm’s way because the sound stayed outside (it wasn’t getting closer!). I later found out that the sound is the night song of a frog that climbs onto the galleys of a house during rainstorms. This same frog (or a member of the family) took a dive into our pool the next day, with a baby on its back. They are LOUD, love to sing along with music (which I found when I was doing one of my many Tik Toks by the pool) and no-one prepares you for them. You’ve been warned!
Other wonderful wildlife you’ll find include lizards, snakes, land crabs, and all grades of birds. While most of the animals are afraid of you, one thing that was characterized as ‘friendly’ by my cousin were the mosquitos. Oh boy! Our first meal was at a place called Buccaneers, and we sat inside, though the doors were open. I was bitten everywhere–even on the top of my head (the nerve). Afterwards, I carried Off Backwoods spray everywhere. It helped but it did not completely eradicate the bug bites. I literally bathed in mosquito repellant, sprayed everything around me down. They were relentless. I enjoyed being outdoors–it was supremely peaceful. But hearing a mosquito make a kamikaze dive for my ear always ruins my vibe. You heard it here. The Mosquitos are ruthless!
Also, if you have a rental and have some food, wrap it in a plastic bag. We left our leftovers in our car when visiting our cousin and came back to ants in our food. I have never seen anything like it. The bugs play zero games!
4. Where to Eat
Conch is a Bahamian specialty and one of my favorites! I ate cracked conch or conch fritters…everyday.
I also indulged in crab and rice, crab fat and dough, fried fish, and assorted sides included coleslaw, baked Mac & Cheese, and Plantains (vacation is not for diets, sorry!). Wash it all down with Bahamian Goombay Punch.
Places to dine include Neek’s Eats and Treats, Big Fish and Chips, and Buccaneer’s. Because the island is small, some days restaurants will have certain dishes, other days they won’t. But whatever you can find, it will be delicious! If you want to avoid fried or starchy foods for every day, I’d recommend going to the grocery store or splurging on a private Chef if you can swing it.
Also note that the fruits are fresh and delicious. I filled up on pineapples, mangos, cherries, plums, and sapodilla.
5. What To Do
Eleuthera is for those who want to do absolutely nothing. It’s not a party town. It’s not particularly populated. If you really want to unplug and relax, Eleuthera is the place for you. Get a few good books, pack some sunscreen (and bug spray) and relax on a hammock under the sun.
I personally loved it. The beaches are dusted with pink sand; turquoise waters bless the shores.
It is pretty isolated and it’s safe (you can leave your doors open and no-one with bother you). Eleuthera is attractive to the celeb set who want to have a Caribbean experience without the ra-ra. If you’re coming to the Bahamas to party like a rockstar, maybe go to Nassau. If you want to decompress, Eleuthera is for you!
6. Additional Notes
My family and I rented a car through a family friend. Having a car was definitely great when leaving the airport and for getting around, so I’d look into getting one. Otherwise, I’m not sure how you’d get food (Uber Eats does not exist there, unfortunately).
In terms of what to see, there are beaches. And there’s a Cave (I did not love it because of the mosquitos, but it was cool!). Bring cash. When you go, just relax, and enjoy the Utopia that is Eleuthera.
If you’ve been, do you have anything to add?
Love & Light,
If you’d like to know about any of my looks, leave a comment below.
