Bahamas Cable Beach

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » July 5, 2004 1:13 pm

After more than a week of debates....weighing pros and cons...considering costs..etc....we as a family have decided on the Bahamas as our fall trip this year. To me it looks too "touristy" for my liking, but the wife and keet are happy with the decision. I prefer more out of the way spots,with less crowds. Last years trip was to Bonaire (absolutely fantastic island if you scuba dive) and I was hoping to return this year too. I must have gotten a great rate last year because it would have cost me almost double this year!! Anywho......we're booked at the Wyndham resort on Cable Beach...anyone been there? Have any "tips" on what to expect..etc..etc. I am excited about doing the shark feeding dive and some of the wrecks and James Bond movie set dives, but am I going to have to "elbow" my way through crowds to stick my toes in the water on Cable Beach? Thanks Pholks

We'll be there the next to last week in Oct.

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » July 6, 2004 5:23 pm

Out of ALL the people on BN.......not 1 of you has been to Cable Beach?

NJPhinPhan · Post by **NJPhinPhan** » July 7, 2004 12:05 am

Hmmm....well, I have been to Cable Beach, although it was a few years ago. The beach is very beautiful. But I just don't dig the Bahamas anymore and most of my clients who have been don't either. I rarely send anyone to the Bahamas these days. It has become crowded, terribly overpriced, and I hate to say it but...dirty (is that the word I'm lookin for?).

The Wyndham gets mixed reviews...you can read them here:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserRevi ... hamas.html

Coming from Pittsburgh in late Oct., the Mayan Riviera (south of Cancun) would have been an extremely inexpensive vacation for the phamily.
It really is one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Maybe next year!

But good luck on your vacation and have fun!

The Lost Manatee · Post by **The Lost Manatee** » July 7, 2004 3:17 pm

Sorry, it's been over 10 years since I've stayed there and thus don't feel it would be fair to give a review of the hotel. The beach was wonderful, although it was crowded on the weekends.

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » July 7, 2004 5:53 pm

Thanks guys....... I did purchase vacation insurance...wonder if I can change reservations now?

Floridaze · Post by **Floridaze** » July 7, 2004 6:04 pm

I have been to Cable Beach several times over the years. My wife has worked for a cruise line for over 10 years so we have spent a lot of time in the Bahamas. Make sure to get around the island, head over to Paradise Island and check out the Atlantis Hotel. The Fish Fry is a must with all the locals, the hotel can tell you where and when. I think it was on Friday nights. We had one little restaurant lock the doors at closing and kept serving us beers, cigars and fresh ceviche way into the night. The Conch Ceviche is awesome. Like any touristy place, the locals get sick of all the tourists, just smile and remember you are on :Island Time”, everything moves a little slower in the lower latitudes. Try and take some boat trips to some of the out islands if you have time. Have fun,

NJPhinPhan · Post by **NJPhinPhan** » July 7, 2004 9:30 pm

Reefdiver wrote:Thanks guys....... I did purchase vacation insurance...wonder if I can change reservations now?

Depending on what vacation company you booked with, you can change the hotel for a small change fee. But the air tickets are another story.
Unless you're prepared to pay an airline cancellation penalty, you have to stick to that flight. If you are on a charter flight, there's more flexibility to do some changing and even if you cancel, the penalty is much smaller.
Best bet is to check with your travel agent if you really are thinking about switching.

Kerry · Post by **Kerry** » July 8, 2004 7:40 am

My sister lives on Eleuthera, a little island about a 15 minute flight from Nassau. It's quiet with very little tourism and we love it there. Of course, there is no Wal-Mart or anything remotely like that, no fast food, but more of an unspoiled paradise where most of the beaches are empty. I've done the all-inclusive and never again. Having said all that, Eleuthera is not for everyone. If you need planned activities and lots going on, forget it. And it is pretty expensive. ie. A box of Triscuits is $5.95US. But rum is cheap! Have fun wherever you choose to go.

Reefdiver · Post by **Reefdiver** » July 8, 2004 5:01 pm

Just got off the phone with my travel agent....she's checking to see what my options are. I really dont care what it costs me to change hotels-whatever the price,it will be better than staying at the Wyndham. I first wanted to book at the Raddison, but my daughter saw a pic of the 2 story pool slide at the Wyndham and begged me to book there. So much for listening to a 12 yr old !! LOL

Pepe T. Pirate · Post by **Pepe T. Pirate** » July 16, 2004 5:49 pm

Did a search and found my first BN post.....to a pre-"Changes in Latitude" thread that focused on Nassau. Here's the address to that thread:

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... au+bahamas

Even though most of the Bahamian nation lives on New Providence, it never feels really crowded.......Nassau is definately an island city. For a contrasting, more isolated island experience, check out the other side of the island or get a boat to one of the other islands, like Eleuthera.

Have fun! Your kids will LOVE snorkeling aroung the breakwater at Cable Beach....eels and little barracudas and big old fish to follow around right at the hotel......and a city bus into Nassau drops you off right in front of the dive shops offering dive/snorkeling boat excursions.......not bad, sounds like a fun family vacation to me!

Oh, regarding the Cable Beach beach, you're imagining something like Coney Island, right? It's not like that.....most of the tourists seem to stick to the pools, which is mind-blowing to me, but.....whatever! Man, would love to go with you guys!

Floridaze · Post by **Floridaze** » July 20, 2004 1:12 pm

Pepe T. Pirate wrote:Did a search and found my first BN post.....to a pre-"Changes in Latitude" thread that focused on Nassau. Here's the address to that thread:

http://www.buffettnews.com/forum/viewto ... au+bahamas

Even though most of the Bahamian nation lives on New Providence, it never feels really crowded.......Nassau is definately an island city. For a contrasting, more isolated island experience, check out the other side of the island or get a boat to one of the other islands, like Eleuthera.

Have fun! Your kids will LOVE snorkeling aroung the breakwater at Cable Beach....eels and little barracudas and big old fish to follow around right at the hotel......and a city bus into Nassau drops you off right in front of the dive shops offering dive/snorkeling boat excursions.......not bad, sounds like a fun family vacation to me!

Oh, regarding the Cable Beach beach, you're imagining something like Coney Island, right? It's not like that.....most of the tourists seem to stick to the pools, which is mind-blowing to me, but.....whatever! Man, would love to go with you guys!

Hey Pepe, That was some good reading, I'm glad you re-posted it. I have been going over to the Bahamas for 25 years and am always looking for some new ideas...found quite a few in your post. Since my wife works for a Cruise line we are usually short on time but always seem to find something new to do. You can only handle so much of the straw market.
Thanks....

Lastplaneout · Post by **Lastplaneout** » July 21, 2004 12:53 am

I have been to Jamaica...They have some nice beaches....That is all I have to contribute. Though it has no bearing on your topic whatsoever. So please continue and disregard my pointless rantings.

johnson2113 · Post by **johnson2113** » July 21, 2004 1:50 pm

We had my sister's wedding on cable beach. We stayed at Breeze's and that was, not near as laid back as I like. And as busy as it was, the beaches were usually not too packed. We didn't have time to do any dives, but definitely would like to make it back to the shark dive and some of the wreck dives. There was one wreck dive people went on and they said just a few yards away was one of the party barges sank there. Apparently they were having a good time and everybody got on one side and tipped the boat and sank it.

Stuart Cove's Dive Operation was one of the coolest dive shops I've seen.

Buffett4ever · Post by **Buffett4ever** » July 26, 2004 8:21 am

I have been to Cable Beach in Nassau. Stayed at the Sandals resort there. Very nice. Not the cheapst but very nice. PM me if you want any more details.