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   The beauty of the Bahamas is only superficial

Tourists cannot always be shure that questions in travel forums are being answered honestly and truthfully. Moreover we have to take in consideration that in their reports, travel journalists should not simply reiterate statements made by the experts, who at the same time lobby on behalf of the tourism ministries. Some journalists should be more prepared to initiate critical debate on holiday destination areas, because this would prevent expectations of the Bahamas as a holiday destination being generated which – as the study on tourism in the Bahamas published last year showed – can not, in the final analysis, always be fulfilled.

   US Embassy warns Spring Breakers

Highlighting the discrepancy between advertising statements in travel brochures and the real dangers in vacation destinations, the U.S. Department of State has issued 2003 a Travel Warning for Spring Breakers traveling to The Bahamas. The US Embassy in Nassau explains that crime and drug trafficking have increased to such a level that it is necessary to officially inform younger tourists about the bad conditions they may encounter in the island nation.

The American embassy in Nassau mentions theft, armed robbery, physical attacks kidnapping and murder of tourists as potential risks. Widespread drug trafficking and dangerous possesion of arms are increasing even on the so called out islands.

   Driving tourists away

Well said:......the www.boycottbahamas.com website is attracting international attention to the incompetent, insensitive, corrupt and disreputable government of The Bahamas, making Bahamians all look like a nation of greedy, insensitive pirate bafoons, when truthfully, only 70 per cent of the population fits into that category.

Take the widly popular boycottbahamas, add to it the stories and derogatory Web sites created by ripped-off foreign investors, spice it up with the international reputation of the pirate-like judicial system, sprinkle it with the ever increasing Bahamian crime rate, add a pinch of money laundering and financial crimes, throw in a dash of international copyright violations and top it all off with the human rights violations, contained in the Amnesty International report, and you've got a great recipe for the failure of a nation......The Bahamas government need to do it better and the sooner the better!

   Taxi Warnings from Bridaltips.com

No caribbean vacation resort ever warns you of the things to watch out for, so I'll tell you here. One suggestion if you take a taxi anywhere from Atlantis Resort, ask the taxi driver before you get into the cab, how much your fair will be.  To go to downtown Nassau it should not cost more than $5, it's only 1 mile away, and a 3 minute ride.  Make sure they don't try to charge you $5 for each person, it should be $5 for the entire vehicle, and make darn sure you and the taxi driver are crystal clear on that point. 

There's no laws, no meters, nothing to protect you.  You have to be a lawyer to take a taxi in Nassau.  There are quite a few tricks the taxi drivers pull so you must be ready to outsmart them.  Don't rely on the Atlantis Hotel valets to quote you a price, each taxi is different and the valets really don't know the price.  The valet could tell you it's $5, so 6 of you pile into a taxi, then at your destination 1 mile away the driver wants $30 for the whole car load, so watch out.

   No real value for the money

The problem in the Bahamas starts already when you enter the country. In the Bahamas is a deep-down dishonesty in action every day. Bahamian thieves are relieving the local store chain of between $3 and $4 million a year (published in July 2003), pushing up the food prices by an extra 15 - 20 per cent. Stealing is wide spread even in companies and hotels. Compare some prices: One pound of bananas costs in Nassau 1.25 $, in Florida 0.39 $, a bag of crackers costs in a Bahamas shop 1.78 $, in Miami just 0.99 $. For a 2 ltr. Coke (produced in Nassau) I had to pay at a supermarket on Paradise Island even 3.25 $, one week later in South Beach I got a big bottle for just 0.99 $.

Tourists do not get real value for their money in the Bahamas. Check this: water & sewerage rates for water 1000 gal.: 0.90 $ in Toronto, 12 $ in Nassau. Air flight from Nassau to Fort Lauderdale (180 miles) 200$, in Canada you pay 100 $ for 1800 miles. A can of beer costs 5 times what you pay in Europe. Strange: even the local Bahamas Kalik beer is cheaper in Miami than in Nassau.

   I got caught in a tourist trap 

The entire vacation on the Bahamas was a bit of a trap for us. My friend and I had gotten a bit too excited about the idea of spending Christmas on the beach, that we didn't realize that the Bahamas could be quite expensive. The real costs will become obvious once you arrive on the Bahamas..........All of Nassau is a tourist trap. The straw market is a cheap flea market with nothing really original. There are so many hair wrapping people it is funny. And they attack you right away. Not worth the time or money.............

Down by the cruise ship docks many 'natives' asking 'You doin' alright?' At first I thought they were just being friendly, but I eventually figured out they were trying to sell me drugs! Also many islanders bumming smokes. Cigs are very expensive there. Local's cars are in very poor condition. Ask the taxi driver to turn the meter on!

   American boaters are angry about the fee increase:

   Stay on board

Bahamas Consult can explain what Nassau and Freeport are: Many cruise ship passengers will NOT visit Nassau or Freeport because they like those destinations. Specially Nassau is ranking very low considering visitors satisfaction in caribbean ports. The only advantage of some of the Bahamian islands is the close location to the United States. Tourists can get often discount cruises and they accept the high port fees but they get angry about the bad attitudes, the high prices and the poor service Bahamians mostly offer.

Tourists might visit the Bahamas and they might spend money in a straw market where they can get cheap stuff from China for the tourist dollars. Negative responses of visitors include specially "lousy hotels"; unfriendliness of downtown business; "ridiculously high" taxi prices and "lackadaisical" transportation. And why do almost all tourist stay in the evenings on board of their cruise ships? Because there they get more fun than what locals are willing to offer. They like the cruise, they like the buffet on board and they prefere the entertainment on board as well because Nassau downtown after 7 pm is death. Does anybody want me to tell what is published every week in Nassau newspapers about crime, stealing and attacked tourists? Visit also www.bahamas-travelboard.net.tc or www.nassau-paradiseisland.net.tc and read the travel and investment warnings at www.your-bahamas-newsletter.de.vu

   Cruise ship passengers describe Nassau as being dirty

   Expensive low season room rate

Grand Bahama man and Bahamas Tourist Minister Obie Wilchcombe who announced a good increase in the Bahamas Travel Industry for 2003 doesn´t like what we know now: The season July through September – known as the period with the hottest  temperatures and highest hurricane risk - shaped up to be a weak time for the tourism sector over the year before, particularly in Grand Bahama, which recorded a 9.5 percent downturn in arrivels.

Country-wide arrivals by air: Even though tourism business improved during the third quarter, the improvement was slower than the same period in 2002, with 340,000 air visitors coming to the country. Bahamas cruise arrivals: The falloff was much more dramatic with growth during this period being 2.3 percent, when compared to the 18.2 percent boost last year. In the third quarter of 2003, 720,000 visitors came on cruise ships.

During the quarter, hotels experienced a 4.4 percent reduction in income. Industry-wide, hoteliers actually got a little more per night for their rooms - $146.64 on average. But occupied room nights decreased by 6 percent with the average occupancy falling to 57.5 percent from 63.7 percent during the same period the year before. This past September was the worst September Bahamas hoteliers have experienced in more than 25 years.

According to Bahamas Consult tourism growth weakens also due to increasing reports about crime, corruption, drug trafficking and attacked spring breakers and other tourists. Bahamas visitors would also more and more claim that in big hotels like Our Lucaya in Freeport, Wyndham or Radisson Cable Beach Resort in Nassau, Sheraton Grand and even the two towers at Atlantis Resort and Casino (Paradise Island) would not attrack so much because those hotels with 500, 1000 and more rooms would not garanty the real tropical experience. Room rates are much higher till april.

   People-to-people programme

I red on a Bahamian forum (Bahamasissues) that “visitors like us Bahamians”. Is that really true? Members of the people-to-people programme are selected Bahamians and profit from free cruises or something like that. Being friendly is a must. But it is interesting what he described as bad news: Everything was too expensive! They (the tourists) have a few bucks themselves so it is not like they are poor. They could not get over the cost of beer! (Even when we brought it from a shop. At a bar or hotel! Forget it!) They felt the food was too expensive in restaurants, but the quality was good. They were a little shocked by the food stores. They had never seen steaks that had green edges!

They felt that the place looked untidy. Public garbage cans were full to over flowing. Bottles etc. were to be found on every beach they went to. The national monuments (Forts etc.) looked run down and were not being used to there full advantage. The roads were full of bumps and holes, and the local drivers! They said it was like driving in a "Demolition Derby". I asked them the BIG question. "Would you return to Nassau for another visit?" There was a LONG pause. Yes, they would - to see my wife and I. But if we where not here, no, they would NOT.

   Be careful with drugs you get offered

One in every 200 Bahamians is in prison. The rate of imprisonment in the Bahamas, 478 per 100,000, is the 8th highest in the world. Amnesty International is seriously concerned about the dangerous lack of health care currently provided to prisoners in the Bahamas. Despite reform initiatives and the best efforts of prison health care workers, health care remains, at best, a lottery.

The most recent available statistics indicated that approximately 32% of the prison intake population were infected with TB and with 20% with HIV. A recent Annual Report available indicated at least 7 deaths from AIDS-related complications. There have been several suicides and in 2001 the Prison Service was found grossly negligent after an inquest jury recorded a verdict of suicide after Eddison Thurston, a death row prisoner, slit his wrists. Specialist medication that could save lives is not available; one HIV positive prisoner had received only vitamin supplements for the two years of his incarceration.

   Grand Bahama drug experience

Just returned from 5 days in Freeport and are sad to report our disappointment with our trip. After reading postings at interknowledge.com/grandbahama we were quite excited. We traveled for a wedding in a party of 35 people and stayed at the Royal Oasis' Crown Plaza but did not get the requested adjoining rooms for my family. We were surprised to find that the pools and shops all close at 6pm and therefore, there is nothing for young people to do in the evening.

The hotel offered a shuttle to Xanadu beach, which was awful. It was dirty and we were approached to purchase drugs by one of the locals. All in all, members of our party were approached for this purpose 6 times in five days. Several of these happened right in the resort parking lot........

   Stray dogs

Tourists are deeply concerned about homeless and hungry dogs in the Bahamas.  Many are even suffering from burns, broken limbs, and open, untreated wounds. Tourists have called PETA, deeply concerned about homeless dogs roaming the streets in the Bahamas. They tell us that the Bahamas’ streets are filled with hungry, neglected dogs, many suffering from burns, broken limbs, and open, untreated wounds.

One witness reports having seen local residents and restaurant owners chasing away emaciated dogs by throwing sticks and scalding water at the animals. When one tourist offered water to these thirsty strays, onlookers laughed at her for caring about the “damn dogs.” The homeless animal crisis in the Bahamas has brought heartbreak to compassionate tourists for years; it warrants government officials’ immediate attention and action. The animals cannot afford to wait any longer.

   Free vacations

According to a complaint US onsumers called by Air-Land-Sea were told by its sales representatives either that they had "won free vacations," or were "specially selected" to receive a vacation package for free or at a significant discount. The packages were supposedly all-inclusive, and were a cruise to the Bahamas for instance. During the pitch, consumers were told of several incidental charges of between $149 and $299 per person that had to be paid separately. As each trip required a minimum of two travelers, the total cost of these "incidentals" typically ranged from $300 to $600.

Some consumers were also told that "port fees" for the cruise were extra, with such fees totaling at least $150 per person.Many consumers were pressured into attending long timeshare presentations, and were often told that only by going to the presentation would they receive their cruise or hotel vouchers. While most consumers were not told of the timeshare tour requirement during the sales pitch (or were told it would be brief), the tours often took up the better part of a day.

   More boards are getting monitored

It seems the policy of some Bahamas travel boards has changed. They are hardly real travel forums anymore but they are commercial travel websites selling travel and advertisements. In former times we have red posts chastising other persons, presumably the owners, for sending information their about inns and hotels. The comment being this was a forum for travelers to get together and share their experiences,  not a place for commercial ventures to advertise.

Bulletin boards becoming a important part of the travel industry is a problem and a conflict of interests between potential tourists on the one side and the whole industry on the other side. More and more boards are getting monitored. Other remove their forum from their website. Who can believe in what the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism is saying about vacation in the Bahamas in her new website www.bahamas.com? The Ministry even closed down the own bulletin board since months because there was a increase of negative messages about vacation in the Bahamas. A counter website www.bahamas-info.net.tc has been published by Bahamas Consult.

 Who can believe in what travel journalists report on what they saw during carefully controlled courtesy trips? Don´t they want to be invited again? Do you believe in what Fodors is writing in their magazines filled with advertisements? Don´t they want to sell their magazines and books to travelers? Do you believe in the free island guide given with compliments to Air Canada travellers but WRITTEN AND PUBLISHED WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM in Nassau and THE BAHAMAS TOURIST OFFICE in the United Kingdom? Don´t they want to have passengers for their Nassau flight

Do you believe in the Bahamas supplements which appears regularly in the WASHINGTON TIMES for instance which are merely advertorial material and not written by real journalists? Would they publish without advertisements those supplements too? Or would you believe more in the websites published by Bahamas Consult like www.focusbahamas.net.tc (Bahamas - Americas bad neighbour)or www.nassau-paradiseisland.net.tc (Do you want to visit this paradise)?

The Bahamas is now being seen as a carribean trap! How can the Bahamas be a true paradise if many tourits return home very disappointed? How can the Bahamas be a paradise if so many first visitors will not recommend this little island nation to their friends and family members? Why is Nassau ranking so low in tourist satisfaction? Many cruise ship passengers stay on board because Nassau downtown is ghastly in the evenings? Or is the marketing slogan  IT IS BETTER IN THE BAHAMAS just a joke and does the Bahamas government mean that the Bahamas is a paradise concerning crime, corruption, money laundering, injustice, drug dealing, killing etc.? Read what Bahamians are saying at www.bahamas-international.net.tc or visit www.nassau-paradiseisland.net.tc a new Nassau website with 25 pictures.

   Black Thursday Bahamas

The October 06, 2003 started bad not only for Bahamian households, and businesses, small entities that rely heavily on the consistent flow of electricity but also for many tourists  in Nassau and thoughout the island of New Providence. The power source failed before daybreak, and remained paralyze for the rest of the working period, and throughout the late evening for thousands of hapless consumers and  tourists. One day later again power surges in the east, west, and north, central and south - starting at different times.

No lights , air conditions were at a standstill. No current to run fridges and deepfreezers or to operate valuable personal computers. What should tourists do at the day of departure if they need to prepare their steaks in a rented apartment, have their dirty porcelain in the diswasher and in  which  troubles can a homeowner run when left the burner on after he left his own property? The government and Bahamas  Electricity Corporaton’s executives should do what is essential to keeping the lights on in the name of profits, which keep the economy’s flames alive. In the Bahamas are too much power cuts, and lately they appear to be happening more frequently. We all would agree that that is unacceptable for a nation and people desirous of competing in the international arena of tourism, banking, real estate, and the list continues to increase with other areas of trade. BEC needs to upgrade all the old equipment one time and then maintain it properly, not with the slackness.

   Bad Paradise Island memories

We booked a stay at the Atlantis last April in the Royal Towers for 5 nights but on arrival they tried to break our 5 night stay into 2 separate rooms with 3 in Royal and 2 in Coral due to overbooking. They finally budged but it wasn't a pleasant start to the trip. The Royal Tower's rooms and grounds were extremely impressive but the walls are paper thin and lots of teens party late and you hear it all.

We also had various "mistaken" wakeup calls and "wrong" room service deliveries so if you value your sleep, plan accordingly. They also double billed us and charged for mini bar that we never used , and it took months for us to straighten it out, but no mini bar credit. On the plus side the pools and slides, aquariums and activities are all top notch , but over all our memories unfortunately are of hassle and lack of sleep...

   Racism in the Bahamas

   Extremly poor Bahamian service

You should read the following also: .....The restaurant hostess did not greet us with the warm friendly smile, not even "how are you tonight," all we got was "what's the name please?" We showed ourselves to the dining room and found our own seats. We wanted to place our drink order before we started at the buffet so we sat there waiting for someone to come and take our order. After waiting for about ten minutes a man came over, he never said good night, or how are you all doing this evening, the only thing he said to us was "ya'll ready to order" my friend. We went over to the buffet, took up our soup, ate our soup and the drinks were still no way in sight. Our drinks took forever, and when it came it was awful, it was so bad we actually had to send them back and ordered new drinks. We were so angry because had planned for a nice quiet, relaxing evening......

When we asked for the check there was no "thank you for coming", or I hope you enjoyed your meal, come again, nothing but there was a fifteen percent gratuity tip for that rude awful man. We went to pay the check expecting at least "did you enjoy your meal," from the ladies who were about to take our money but there was nothing not even a thank please come again. With service like that, no wonder that the tourists are going to other Caribbean Islands.

   Security risk for tourists

Any answer from the Royal Bahamas Police about one of the tragic events that occurred summer 2003 when two American families and a third person Trinidad, were attacked at gun point in three separate hotel rooms at the Nassau Beach Hotel in Cable Beach, Nassau? The police report: "When leaving the hotel room two gunmen with a local accent forced us to return to our room. We were thrown on the floor, they tied our hands and feet, covered our mouths, kicked our bodies and threatened us with their guns demanding "where is the money". For the next 20 minutes as hostages, we lived the most terrifying moments of our lives when these criminals immediately searched our suitcases, throwing its contents all over the floor, insulted us and kept repeating that they would kill us at any time.

After taking our personal property and inflicting on my daughter and my wife the most inhuman and cruel acts, these men left our room and entered the room across ours, where they perpetrated another attack to an American family of two adults and a small child from New York. About 15 minutes later a lady from the Island of Trinidad was also attacked by the same ruthless criminals. These vicious, cruel criminals do not represent all people of the Bahamas, but officially there is a lot of work pending to make Cable Beach and Nassau a safer place for visitors and more responsive to emergencies when lives are at risk.

   People at www.bahamas.com "work for Ministry of Tourism"

I have to travel to nassau/paradise island app 4-6 times a year on business. I generally take my spouse a stay a day or to just to chill out. Out of the last 5 visits, we where victims of crime 3 times!, not very good odds. By the way we always stay at reputable hotels. The Bahamian police has absolutley no respect for crime victims, so do-not expect to be treated with any dignity. Our rental car was stolen on one trip 16nov02 from the front of an eating establishment. We saw them take he car! WITH A KEY! Thank god for american express gold card advantages. They paid for the car, it was never recovered on the small island. WHAT IS THAT TELLLING YOU?

Another time our hotel safe was open when we returned from lunch, the police could care less!, even had a problem with them wanting to even take a report. 2hrs later about 6 people on our same floor reported the same problem, we all banded together upon comming back to the states/US. We all reported this to the hotels main office and we were all compensated to an extent. Another time someone got a hold of our credit card number and started doing charges at various merchants. Thanks again to american express fraud division for noticing what was happening and putting the card on deny status till they herd from us. We just returned last week 17jul03, Bahamians trying to sell us drugs at every turn and corner. Any idiot should be able to see thru that bulletin board at www.bahamas.com. the people that keep answering the questions work for the ministry of tourism, and there main objective is to book hotels, get you over there to spend your money, and believe me if you don't know where to go you will spend a buck. If you must go just BE CAREFUL, TRUST YOUR .INSTINCTS, and know what REALLY TO EXPECT.

   Honest information policy?

   We do not stop in Nassau anymore

We were due to sail the Bahamas on Monday August 4th. This would have been our second trip in our own boat this year. Last trip we spent just over $1400 on fuel, food and drink, and marina fees (plus the ocassional T-shirt and hat).

We're not going to the Bahamas on Monday. We're going to the Keys and maybe the Tortugas if the weather holds. We're not going to the Bahamas as long as the unreasonable fee increase is in place. We stopped at the Bahamas (Nassau) on a cruise in February. We were planning another cruise in late fall, but we will insure that any cruise we go on does not stop in the Bahamas.

   Who said this?

The Bahamas does not need a new Crime and Corruption Victims Assistance Division in the Office of the Attorney General because our mission is not to advocate for the rights and the needs of any victims. Why should such a division administer programs that directly benefit victims of crime and corruption, that assist victims with the financial burden resulting from injuries, and that assist the criminal justice system in holding offenders responsable for the effects for their crimes and corruptions? And it is also not our mission to treat crime and corruption victims and survivors from abroad with respect and dignity.

For those of you staying in one of our Bahamian hotels for the first time, you will soon discover that many of us are chameleons and pirates. The government of the Bahamas is certainly pleased if you choose the Bahamas for your vacation or investment.

   Wrong marketing slogan

Ask a Bahamian at any corner of Baystreet or when you go by jitney to Fox Hill what he thinks about his week-day. He will tell you what even Archbischof Drexel Gomez confirms: Bahamians are frustrated! Some people will plead that this is not true. Than you might talk to somebody who belongs to the corrupt society in the Bahamas.

   Atlantis - not worth it?

   No more questions about taxes please!

Having already booked flights to Nassau/Bahamas my timeshare resorts at Guanahiani Village (Cable Beach) and Sunrise Beach Club (Paradise Island) inform me there is 10% goverment tax, 6% room tax, $126-$200 utilities/maid etc tax. Does anyone have experience of these charges or did they see us coming?

Here's a sample breakdown from one of the Bahamas hotels concerning taxes and gratuities

12% Room toll/levy
$5.00 per person, per day energy surcharge
$3.75 per person, per day maid gratuity
$5.25 per person, per day maid/beach/pool gratuities
$5.40 per person roundtrip for porterage
15% gratuity on meal plans

Note: there is a 15% gratuity added to all meals and food purchases (not grocery stores).

   Higher risk of conch poisoning starts again

Bahamas Ministry of Health is warning again conch vendors not only in Nassau because many of the conch vendors on the out island sell their conch just on the side of the street out of the back of vehicles or at street conch stands. This without doubt heightens the risk for conch poisoning to consumers. Tourists have to know that ALL conch vendors must wash all conch in cleanand fresh running water only. Conchs should not be stored in buckets of water, which is also used to wash the conch before serving. This is harzardous to one's health.

   Other message boards are boring

I do not mind if Atlantis will have finally 3500 rooms. I prefer smaller hotels anyhow. I would never recommend bookings for those Atlantis towers. For anyone who's just back from Atlantis, how early must you get out to the pool or beach to stake your claim on lounge chairs for a small group. Will the pool attendants reserve for you for the next day like in Miami? General question - what happened to all the old postings on the www.bahamas.com site? Search only goes back to May 19. The webmaster does not like every comment?

   High murder rate in the Bahamas

Harald Fuhrmann, managing director of Bahamas Consult, claims that a comment published by the Bahama Journal News „are right but wrong as well“. A story was published saying in Nassau streets „you have a lot of security here“ and „I feel safe“ in the Bahamas. Fuhrmann sees the situation concerning safety, crime, corruption, drugdealing and killing in a different light: It is not so important to publish the headline „Tourist see Bahamas safe haven“ because talking about the realty would reduce the high crime and murder rate in the Bahamas. We can confirm that most areas of Nassau are safe during the daylight hours but it is not advisable to travel on foot in certain areas the city after dark.

Freeport News reported that even Prime Minister Perry Christie admitted that there is too much crime in The Bahamas. And BBC News conferms that in the past few years the murder rate has been rising alarmingly, and although the penalty for murder in the Bahamas is death, few convicted killers have been hanged.

   Be careful

Yes, as a lady travelling alone you should be concerned about reading some reports on the crime in Nassau, murder, rape, assault, robberies. If you want some light on this read the BAHAMAS travel warning to Spring Breakers published by the US State Department. But theft, armed robbery, physical attacks, kidnapping, murder of foreigners and drug trafficking are high risks all the year round. At least it is a good idea to take taxis from restaurant to nightclubs etc. when travelling alone at night. Recently in broad daylight a 55 year-old woman was held at gunpoint and sexually assaulted. The man forced the woman into nearby bushes away from houses and motorists in the area of Eastern Road.

Even prominent citizens are not safe in the Bahamas.  Sir Arthur Foulkes, was robbed at gunpoint outside his West Bay Street home Wednesday night. A newspaper reported that two men robbed Mr. Foulkes, using a handgun, after following him to his home near Compass Point. The attack is part of a recent spate of armed robberies and shootings, several of which have gone unreported by the major media.

   Recommendation for Gizmo

Hi, Gizmo, I feel sorry that you have to read so much negative things about Nassau. Unfortunatelly Nassau is not what you read in the glossy broschures. What you also won´t beleave – because not published in any broschure for tourists or foreign investors – is that the Bahamas is a homeland for wide spread corruption and crime, drug trafficking and murders.

You mentioned the problems foreign investors might have. Read other websites and you will get an idea of injustice, how bad local lawyers represent you before courts and why you should „look at the islands of the Bahamas but not touch it“. This is a slogan from another investor but I like it very much. My slogan is: Caution is better in the Bahamas.

I will give you my first advice what to do if you stay a few hours only:

1.   Forget all the seedy sides of Nassau

2.   Walk from the harbour to nearby Rawson Square and take some pictures

3.   Shop 10 minutes at Bay Street because in my opinion there is nothing important to buy (you are not interested in buying anything made in China at the strawmarket anyhow)

4.   Closeby – at Woodes Rogers Walk – you can catch a little ferry boat for three $ to Paradise Island. From there check the prices for a trip to Blue Lagoon Island.

5.   On the way back have a drink at Altantis hotel or at the pool bar of Hilton British Colonial, located at very busy Bay Street.

   Restaurants found in violation of health rules

After repeatedly lifting the lid on unsanitary practices in several food establishments Ministry of Health should think about a new system of inspections in restaurants and hotels. Since Tamarind Hill at Village Road was closed due to vaious reasons (also rats) people in charge should have called already for better investigations. It is intersting for tourists too because Tamarind Hill was visited mostly by tourists. I see also tourists visiting restaurants located in the Mackey Street area. Something need to be done straight also concerning some East Bay Street Eateries.

   Nassau: Suggestions after Dinner

Well, Scubagirl, in my opimion you did a very poor job and tourists can understand now why they could get bored in the evenings. Read my answer on your suggestions which migth be quiet interesting for visiters of Nassau. The question was what do you recommend to do „after“ dinner:

1. Drinks and Dancing at the Living Room – Nassau Beach Hotel: Scubagirl – I just called NBH: no life band and tomorrow even closed.? Good recommendation?

2. Blue Note for Jazz: not every day plays a band – thanks for your advice!

3. King and Knights stage show: Could be an idea but how many people stay for dancing after the show? You relly recommend this as a nice place to stay?

4. Majestic Tour Dinner Cruise: The question was what to do after dinner (and you can recommend cold chicken and rice?) 

5. Dancing to Jay Mitchell at Palm Court (British Colonial): Palm Court is a nice place but do you like to stay at places where the number of band members  is bigger than the number of guests? Reservation does not makle sence: Monday CLOSED for instance, they said.

6. Casino nite, Drinks in the lounge at Marriott, or the lobby bar at Radisson: Do you like gambling? And do one need to fly from New York to Nassau to have some drinks at those bars? Thanks for recommendation!

7. Cafe Johnny Canoes with local music and dancing, with a Junkanoo Rushout: OK, I recommend this Cafe too, specially for Friday´s Junkanoo Rushout.

Other more adventurous venues:

> Dancing at Jumby's: did not get an answer.
> Dancing to local music at Goldies. Closed too?
> To mingle with the locals at the Sporting Lounge at Montegue Garden: I don´t like it.
> Darts with new friends at Billibongs on Cumberland: Are you joking?
> Club Med for superb dining, entertainment and nitelife: No bad advice if you like       „club-like“ shows.
> Drinks and Dominoes at Potters Cay: Wow! You will be there too?
> Room service and a romantic nite of passion with your mate: Funny! Good reminder! Thanks!

   Caution is better in the Bahamas

You want to travel to or invest in the Bahamas? Be aware that not only a few Bahamians are very onesided in case you talk about crime, injustice and corruption in this little island nation. Bahamians will claim that you find so much comfort in steering garbage and slander against the government of the Bahamas and its people and at the same time the will ask you „why are you here?“ and „why you do not leave the counry?“ Fact is that Bahamians can be very rude and they do not show any respect towards foreigners,  specially not towards the Americans. Fact is also that even Bahamians decribe each other as chameleons. In other words: They are friendly only as long as they can take any advantage from a foreigner. Already children learn these attitudes at school or from the parents, they read about the power of lawyers in the Bahamas and that they can manipulate very easy any court decision. They know about injustice and learn even from the government the strategy how to plunder and steal from brothers, neighbours and foreigners.

   „Nassau is a dump, other islands are beautiful“

OK, for tourist generally it is safe as they stay within the hotel or bay street area. Don´t let them venture out at night though, its the wild, wild west. I also live here. Nassau is a dump, other islands are beautiful. Do not come here because of Nassau´s problems though. Anyone that says Nassau does not have a crime problem or is not a dump, is living under a rock. Yes crime is everywhere, though between Nassau and New York, I was safer in New York.

I have been robbed about 12 times in the past 10 years: gun point, knife point, car jacked a couple times. But like I said I am local and don´t live in the hotel. 

   Advice regarding moped riding?

There are mopeds available to rent. You can easlily get it for about $40/day at various places. But I recommend you to take a jitney first to see how they (not only the jitney drivers) drive along the streets. It would be risky on a moped. In Nassau is a very high speed traffic and weaving in and out of lanes in the bustling traffic there. On Bay Street in downtown Nassau it's mostly one-way and also dangerous and you'll be breathing in exhaust fumes. I wouldn't drive a moped from downtown Nassau on West Bay Street at all, including all the way to South Ocean. Even do not try the roads off the main thoughways outside of Nassau. Outside of Nassau you have an additional problem: The strayed dogs will ran behind you and you might get scared. We rented a moped in Nassau and were sorry we did. We turned it in immediately. It was really dangerous there (in terms of the crazy drivers). You would not enjoy those trips and consider also the left hand driving!

  Best time to travel to the Bahamas?

The Weather Channel web site says it is 55 degrees in Freeport right now. That's COLD for January. The really good news is there is no rain in the long range forecast into next Saturday. But it can be cold and rainy from beginning December till end of February. Best time should be middle of march till middle of may. Than it´s getting hot and the hurricane season will start. Best recommendation for the summer is make last minute bookings than you might be on the safe side. November can be another month I can recommend. In case you come for Christmas and Junkanoo Parade bring an umbrella with you. (24. Jan. 2003)

It can be risky to go by cruise in the hurricane season. If you once had bad luck you will never go again. If we you in the hurricane or someplace close to it than it is a cruise from hell. The bars, restaurants, shops, everything on board will be on the deck someplace. Including people if you dared go outside. You could just get out of your cabin. I'm not even going to get into the sick people!

  Americans, Canadians, Europeans....

Harald Fuhrmann, managing director of Bahamas Consult, does not expect that everybody agree on this board. Some demand that citizens, Bahamian lawyers and polititions should really live by the code of ethics, other prefer to live by unethicial behaviours in order to take advantages from the brothers and sisters or the mass public, tourists and foreign investors. I am aware that short time visitors will not recognize what is really going on in the Bahamas. Bahamas Consult refers to the contents of the new website www.focusbahamas.net.tc

  Corruption, crime, drug traffickung and killing

Travelers and investors....ask as a result of the National Tourism Quality Assurance Survey what are the advantages to make the Bahamas to their travel destination? Business people claim foreign investors ought not to risk money in the Bahamas because of the alleged corruption and inefficiency of the legal profession and the refusal of government to do anything about it. Even lawyer Allyson Maynard-Gibson calls for moral revolution, warning if this will not happen the Bahamas could lose ist respect in the world.

  Think about it........

I red about special thoughts of a passenger on a flight from Miami to Nassau. Bahamas Consult has the meaning more people should think about this: .....conch poisoning.....like clock work every year this problem breaks out.....seems like as soon as the weather gets warm and the rains come the conch goes poison. Then I thought about this: One cruise liner was accused of dumping 40 tonnes of raw sewerage in one cruise.....(raw sewerage not like raw conch....but raw like untreated) into the ocean..... Imagine that human waste.....solid, liquid and in between dumped into the ocean and consumed by fish conch, lobster, crab.....and much more finding its way onto shoals and reefs to contaminate these once pure creations with the misbehavior of man..... How much of this waste found its way onto beaches to lather unsuspecting bathers in feces as they take what they think is a healthy swim in the ocean? Or how much attaches itself to the ships hull to be released in Prince George's harbor to eventually find itself to Potter´s Cay and to Montagu (fish markets) and to Arawak Cay.....and onto conch.....and other seafood served at these places.....

  What you can read about Bahamasair

  Bahamian feeling

The Bahamian population is growing at an insupportable rate and illegitimacy is commonplace. A frightening number of young men have grown up without a suitable male role model in the family. The good former lifestyle has largely been replaced by the macho rantings of certain American rap performers, the ones who glorify a swaggering, gun-toting lifestyle. Perhaps those factors help to explain why we can no longer walk freely around the parts of Nassau which are off the beaten tourist track. Tourists are seldom touched by the violence if they stay in their hotels, but away from the well-protected hotels and resorts people are constantly on edge.

And what about the youth: A report by Youth Against Violence president Carlos Reid list the names of the 54 gangs he claims exist in The Bahamas, along with the number of members, the area of their headquarters, their identifying characteristics, and the schools affected.

  Where richness meets poverty

Personally I do not recommend the foot of Paradise Island Bridge. Even the atmosphere is not nice. Last autumn I recognized something like fecal odor from under the bridge (specially in the afternoon). Scubagirl (known at viarious boards) is saying this scent is from the commercial fish market at Potter´s Cay from before the bridge was built, and way before Atlantis was built. The smells are from the market are part of life at the waterfront.

  A Nation of Crime

Something is terribly wrong in this nation: Today, this country is reaping a whirlwind of terror and disaster. In its heyday, the criminal activities associated with drugs spawned other distresses. Among these was the HIV-AIDS crisis. Thousands of Bahamians have already perished, victims of guns, drugs and AIDS.

  30 years of independance

I take heart because the Bahamian universe is unfolding as it should.

Crime rises. The economy sours. Tourism down. Investment houses closing. More crime. Moral degeneration. Breakdown of the family. Breakdown of morals. False prophets. A government built upon people who have dark sins on their past. Trying to regain what they sold to the devil with temporal honours like 'Sir This' and 'Senator That'. The name of God invoked for political and personal gain. Instead of help thy neighbour, its beat up thy neighbour. Father kills son. Waitress stabs employer. Shoot the foreigners. Rape the tourists. Kill the cabinet minister's kin. Sell the birthright to the highest bidder. A 'saviour' with feet of clay. Appoint scum to suck at the public (taxpayer's) teat. Every one of the seven deadly sins are here: Pride, Lust, Anger, Covetnous, Envy, Sloth and Glutonny.

  Investment warning

Business travelers and investors need to be warned. One points out that the quality of services offered by some Bahamian service agencies, particularily attorneys, doesn't always live up to the client's quality and service expectations. Knowledge, experience and unfriendly attitudes towards foreigners are often claimed.

The Bahamas Investment Authority points out The Bahamas has the "right" climate for investments but those conditions are often spoiled by the poor attitudes and inefficient services of Bahamian lawyers. There are various official complaints but no decisions are taken by the Bar Association or the Ministry of Justice.

The Bar has to take care regarding the encouragement of legal education, the promotion of standards of etiquettes and professional conduct of the members of the Bar.  Furthermore the Bar is obliged to protect the public’s right of access to the courts and – of course – the members of the Bar should represent their clients professionally before the courts. Foreign investors have evidence that lawyers are not abiding by their own Code of Ethics.  Especially the attitude and morality of attorneys at law are often criticized, as well as their capability and preparedness to sincerely assist. The Bahamas is a whorehouse concerning the rule of law, and still more: From a prostitute one could certainly expect a more correct behaviour than from some of the Bahamian lawyers.