Anyone vacation in the Bahamas?

[intheozone]

I want to plan a trip to Grand Bahama. I'm thinking of going in Sept. or Oct. (I know, it's hurricane season) Anyone know when is the best time to go? Anyone ever stayed at the Westin at Grand Bahama? I've never been there so any information you can share will be good to have.

Thanks to all you good DU people!

[Scooter24]

1. I've been there a few times

and every time at the Atlantis resort. Except for the other 4 or 5 times the cruise ship I was on docked there. :P

It really depends on the scene your looking for. If you are wanting lots of young people, parties, etc., then the best time would be during March, April and June. Lots of families go in June through August and then during the winter season (December and January). September and October are pretty hot months and aren't that crowded.

Since you are traveling in the midst of the hurricane season, I highly recommend you purchase travel insurance. This would come in handy should you have to cancel at the last minute or need to evacuate.

There's really no "bad" time to go to the Bahamas. Just be cautious and alert since you are going during hurricane season.

Hope this helps :)

[intheozone]

2. Thanks Scooter, it does help.

Hubby and I aren't young so we aren't going to party all night. I'll check the weather info to see how hot it is in Sept. and Oct. Thanks again.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Lots of people have!

[Ava]

4. We went in Sept last year

I was really nice and we had great weather the entire time. We left from Miama and visited Nassau, Cococay, and Key West.

here are a few photos we took:

[Floogeldy]

5. Seems to me to be a waste of money and time.

A status symbol, of sorts. Meaningless, for the most part.

[pitohui]

7. not much of a status symbol in september!

if the poster is seeking a status symbol they should go in peak season

there is nothing to brag abt visiting when no sane person would make a nuisance of themselves by going there at the peak month of the peak year in the atlantic hurricane cycle

there are just so many beaches to visit, why be a nuisance, if there is a storm, people will have to be evacuated

go in december

go in march

don't go in freakin september to save a few bucks, you impress no one

[pitohui]

6. the best time to go is not hurricane season

the bermuda high is back in place, much more chance of bahamas being hit and your vacation disrupted than new orleans being hit

there are beaches everywhere, what is the problem w. choosing to go at a time when you are not a risk of disruption and being a nuisance to everyone?

i still don't understand why we had tourists in new orleans in late august (our high risk season is last week of august through third week of september) and in olden days tourists would not visit then, we are just lucky a lot of tourists didn't get killed in their search for a cheaper vacation

the small discount you get is not a fair and sufficient discount in exchange for the risk

are you aware that the atlantic hurricane season is predicted to be the most powerful ever this year, you are at the peak of the cycle!

go in march or december like everybody else, if you can't afford it then, accept you can't afford to go to an expensive destination like the bahamas and visit a beach where hurricane risk is low to non-existent

what is wrong w. panama say, or costa rica, or trinidad and tobago? they have beaches for a fraction of the cost!

[AirmensMom]

11. I couldn't agree with you more, pitohui!

Many people still don't get how nasty hurricanes can be. I would extend that high-risk season to at least the end of October. That's when Wilma hit. Vacationing in hurricane-prone areas during hurricane season is just plain foolish.

[RebelOne]

8. Been there, done that. I wasn't really impressed.

It would be better to go to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

[AirmensMom]

9. I would not go during hurricane season.

Never in a million years! I live in FL and I wouldn't come down here to visit during hurricane season -- it's too big of a risk.

[bmbmd]

10. About five years ago, I had some chest pain.

the cardiologist upstairs did a stress test and an EBT, pronouncing me fit for duty. At the end of the appointment, he said "Too much stress. I want you to go somewhere you've never been, and do something you've never done". So, I headed off to Crooked Island, Bahamas for a week of bonefishing, snorkeling and eating lots of lobsters. The cities are all right, particularly if you are into nightlife etc. For my dollar, though, I suggest a visit to the out islands.

www.crookedislandfishing.com

[cobalt1999]

12. I too avoid the cities

I've been to Nassau and the Abacos and the Exumas. I will always stick to the out islands from now on. One great place is Staniel Cay, you can rent a cottage and a Boston Whaler for exploring, snorkeling, diving for less than a room in other places. No night life, but you can get that in the states. Here's a link for one place. www.stanielcay.com

Enjoy the trip.

[seemunkee]

13. Stayed there two summers ago

Wouldn't go back, but it depends on what you are looking for. The food was blah and very expensive, best dinner we had was at an Irish pub. The snorkling trip we took was unimpressive, most of the corral looked dead and not many fish. The beach at the resort was crowded but few people went in the water, saw a couple of rays by the resort. There is a small casino that was OK. My daughter and I did the paragliding thing which was fun and they do offer lots of trips but expect to pay a lot for them. The best thing we did was a kayak trip through the mangroves.

I would go back to Costa Rica or St Johns any day over Bahamas. Costa Rica would be safer that time of year.