In October 2006, Everett and I celebrated his 40th birthday with a quick trip to the Bahamas. Since it was a gift for him, I made reservations at a resort he had visited as a kid (with his family) – Treasure Cay Resort on Abaco Island.
We flew Spirit airlines from Providence to Ft. Lauderdale on a Friday morning. We were in the Ft. Lauderdale airport by 10:30 a.m. waiting to connect to our Continental flight to the Bahamas. That second leg is a tiny little prop plane, but it’s a short flight and the view is terrific.
We landed at the Treasure Cay airport (which, per Everett, is not much different than it was 30 years ago!) and took a cab to the Treasure Cay Resort. Since it was off-season, we knew it would be quiet, but that turned out to be an understatement! We felt like the only people at the resort. Our two-bedroom waterfront condo was spacious enough for an extended family, with three levels of living space, three baths, and a full kitchen. The resort has a large marina, restaurants, shops, a pool with a (closed at that time) pool bar, a golf course, and an unbelievable powder white beach (reputed to be one of the world’s top ten beaches).
We enjoyed relaxing at the beach-side restaurant and drinking a few Kaliks (the Bahamian beer) and Bahama Mamas but there was not much else to do at the resort itself because it was so quiet in the off-season. That said, I can see that it would be a fantastic spot during the peak season, with a lively poolside scene (live entertainment), lots of boats in the marina, etc.
Over the weekend, we fished with a very knowledgeable local guide (Rick Sawyer of Abaco Flyfishing) who put Everett onto some terrific bonefish flats. He even tried his hand (or feet?) at wading the flats, which he hasn’t tried before, and caught some really nice fish. Our guide raved so much about his home base – Green Turtle Cay, an island off the coast of Abaco – that we decided to check out of our hotel after two nights and give Green Turtle Cay a try.
A short ferry ride later, we arrived in paradise!
The ferry took us right to the dock of our new hotel, The Bluff House, where we were met by a staff member in a golf cart. He whisked us (and our bags) up the hill to the main hotel and showed us where to check in. From the moment we stepped into our deluxe suite – complete with hardwood floors, cathedral ceiling, and French doors leading out to a balcony overlooking the Sea of Abaco – I knew we would be coming back here soon!
The Bluff House has the perfect combination of a gorgeous location, terrific staff, and relaxing atmosphere. No phones. No televisions. No e-mail. For a very stressed-out couple taking a much-needed break from kids and work, it was paradise! We lay in a hammock with our books…. we walked the (empty) beach…we spent the day fishing in secluded coves with Rick…and we watched the sun set from our deck overlooking the Sea of Abaco.
The island itself is VERY quiet. The main form of transportation is golf cart, and the “town” is about two blocks long, but it’s a great retreat from the rest of the world. If you like laying on the beach, snorkeling, fishing, and low-key exploring, this is the place for you. There are rental cottages, and other resorts, but I highly recommend the Bluff House for its friendly service, reasonable rates, and gorgeous location.
We were sad to leave after only two days, but we received warm hugs from the staff and an invitation to return any time!
