Packing list for trip to the Bahamas? Anyone been?

[BC]

My daughter is headed to Green Turtle Cay in the Bahamas and we were wondering about a packing list. Is there anything we may not think about that she would need? Also, has anyone ever been to Green Turtle Cay specifically and if so, tell us about it. Should she just take cash or is it best to just use a credit card? Any info is appreciated.

[BC]

Surely somebody has been to the Bahamas! Please help me out.

[wdwmom2]

Wish I could help. Try cruisecritics Bahamas forum. Here is a link http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=58

[TaraPA]

We've been to Green Turtle Cay many times...we stay in Treasure Cay & take the ferry over for a day trip. I'm curious why she would choose Green Turtle Cay? It's VERY remote, absoutely nothing to do, I'm not even sure there is a restaraunt there anymore. However, if she's looking to sit on a gorgeous beach & read the whole trip - this is the place to be!

Is she staying at Green Turtle Club? I don't think there's a dress code there or anywhere on the island, khaki shorts & a t-shirt are about as dressed up as people get there. We always take cash, even if the places have a CC machine, it's usually down...and things being fixed in Bahamas time are vereeeeeeeeee slow!

[Disfan1]

I have been to Andros Island in the Bahams for a SCUBA diving trip and I recommend either flip-flops or sandals - it is WAY too hot for sneakers or other closed shoes!

[BC]

TaraPA, she is going there because the boat manufacturer of her friend's boat is sponsoring this trip. There are lots of boats made by "Edgewater" that are going over from Miami and they have dives, fishing & snorkeling planned along with afternoon cookouts on the beach and such. They tell her there are several "bars" on the island that have pools to enjoy. They actually have rented a large house for 6 of them to stay in. She is not so much of one to enjoy being out of the action, but hopefully with this group, she will have fun. She does like to read and relax, so it sounds like she could get lots of that. I guess shorts, t-shirts & lots of sunscreen is all she needs. How about bugs, are they bad over there?

[TaraPA]

That explains why they're going there, tons of boats are in that marina! The Bahamas Out Islands are famous for their boating. It sounds like they have a lot planned, it sounds like a great time! It's just so off the beaten path, that if you've never gone to the Caribbean, or you've gone to more commmercialized places such as Nassau, St. Thomas, Aruba, etc. you may be in for a shock. There's no airport (are they flying into Treasure Cay & taking the boat over?), no grocery stores, no fast food, barely any TV, etc. When you get to the marina there's no beach in sight, and some of the buildings right there are run down. I remember the 1st time as a kid when we flew into Treasure Cay - the airport was no more than a shack, and we couldn't see a beach for miles. We drove on a dusty dirt road through a forest of half-dead pine trees, in a rickey old van. I was devastated! This wasn't Peurta Vallarta like they showed on The Love Boat!!! But once we rounded a corner to the most beautiful beach I've ever seen I was hooked.

We've never encountered bugs on Treasure Cay, or Green Turtle Cay. We've always gone in February or March, so I'm not sure if there is a "buggy" season in The Bahamas.

Tell her she has to visit Miss Emily's Blue Bee Bar - it's a shack - but has been there since the 1970's. I left my business card on the wall (with thousands of others) back in 2004. The last time I was in Green Turtle was March 2008.

If they are boating at all, they shouldn't miss Treasure Cay, just a 30 minute boat ride south. National Geographic named the beach there one of the Top 10 Most Beautiful in the world, and it truly is. Sometimes you are the only person on the beach, that's how secluded & untraveled these out islands can be!