I can’t believe it took me so long to finally visit The Bahamas. After weeks of travelling in Central America, arriving at the luxury SLS Baha Mar Resort from Cuba was quite a culture shock. This was luxury at its best! On the first night, I even asked the waitress in the restaurant if they had sparkling water. She just looked at me and smiled. That’s what happens when you travel between low-income countries and luxury resorts. That said, I love my versatile travel itineraries. Whether it’s sipping expensive cocktails, or hiking dirty volcanos, I love it all. Each country is unique and I truly enjoy experiencing different styles of travel. But, back to The Bahamas. I was here to relax and enjoy the crystal clear waters. So, are The Bahamas and the Exumas really worth a visit? Is this the paradise everyone is talking about?
After my amazing stay at Raffles Maldives just a year ago, I can’t help but wonder how The Bahamas will compare. Let’s see.
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Relaxing at SLS Baha Mar Resort
Wow! SLS Baha Mar was unbelievable. It was the biggest resort complex I have ever stayed in, and I must admit, I didn’t leave the premises for four days. Well, I did once. To go on a boat trip to Rose Island and to snorkel in the Caribbean Sea, which was amazing! That said, the weather wasn’t great during my time exploring the Bahamas and the Exumas. It was very windy, and temperatures hovered around 20–24 degrees, which wasn’t quite what I expected.
So, during my time here, I settled in by the pool most days and enjoyed the sun whenever it came out. Along with mango daiquiris and some good reading. I loved it! Although there was a casino inside the SLS hotel, I didn’t gamble. I’d like to think I used up all my luck in Las Vegas two years ago, so I’m satisfied for now – read Las Vegas and Route 66.
However, I tried every restaurant in the complex and enjoyed some of the best meals and cocktails I’ve had in a long time. It was the perfect stay, with plenty of time to relax. Not to mention my first sighting of pink flamingos. For me, that was very exciting!
Did I see Nassau city? Not really. And I’m fine with that. After visiting almost 10 countries in the past seven weeks, and being hassled by locals, trying to make money in many places, I was actually quite happy to relax in the safe and comfortable environment of the luxurious SLS Baha Mar Resort.
Exploring The Bahamas from this resort offered me a very relaxed, effortless kind of luxury. And then I went to Great Exuma Island, a highlight for anyone wanting to experience both the Bahamas and the Exumas firsthand. Or is it?
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Great Exuma Island
The Exumas are a stunning archipelago of more than 365 islands and cays (The Bahamas has over 700), famous for their impossibly clear turquoise waters, pristine white sand beaches, and unique wildlife. And no, I didn’t go swimming with the pigs. Mainly because I wasn’t too keen, and because the windy weather stopped most boat trips during my time here. Nevertheless, I was excited to visit the Great Exuma Island, as the photos online look absolutely breathtaking. I could have chosen a day trip from Nassau as well, (apparently a one-hour, rather choppy boat ride), but I wanted to spend a few days on this magnificent island, so I decided to fly.
There weren’t many resort options in the Exumas when I was planning my stay, but I found the perfect little beach house in Great Exuma to rent for a few days. How exciting! It was still very windy when I arrived (and it never really settled during the four days I was here), however, the stunning views more than made up for it. I’ve never seen such incredible crystal clear blue water. Well, perhaps only the Maldives comes close, but even that felt different. The Exumas and the Bahamas, especially together, are definitely on another level.
I hired a car and drove all the way north of the island and down to the very end of Little Exuma. There wasn’t much to do here. Shops were mostly empty, and there weren’t many bars or restaurants, which honestly surprised me. There was, once again, not much produce to buy either. No yoghurt, milk or fresh fruit. Déjà vu! The Exumas and Great Exuma Island are clearly enjoyed by locals, offering a simple, stress-free way of life. It’s a perfectly remote and tranquil destination. And so different to the luxury of SLS Baha Mar I have experienced only a few days ago.
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And so… The Bahamas and The Exumas
I relaxed, walked, read, and enjoyed the view on the island. I even saw dolphins swimming by, which was amazing and added to the incredible experience. What a beautiful (and very windy) part of the world! I wonder whether the wind ever stops. Or is it simply part of life in the Exumas and the Bahamas?
That said, from The Bahamas and the Exumas, both destination were the perfect way to finish my Central America trip. Especially indulging at the SLS Baha Mar Resort for five nights. And so, after seven weeks travelling, and plenty of adventures and sunshine, I was looking forward to going home for a bit. But not to the cold European weather. Oh well, coats will have to be worn again. Until the next summer escape. Stay tuned! xx
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