Weekend Getaway to The Bahamas
We love going on quick getaways from Orlando with the kids. Up until this past week, it never occurred to us that a quick getaway could be international. Most of our getaways to be honest have been in Florida – Clearwater Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, Delray Beach, Miami and Tampa, as well as Savannah, GA for our one out of state getaway, and of course cruises out of Port Canaveral – leave on a Friday afternoon and be back on Monday morning.
However, this past week I flew down to Nassau, Bahamas on Frontier’s inaugural flight from Orlando and I realized that an international destination could be a quick weekend getaway with the kids as well.
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Weekend Getaway to The Bahamas
The flight to Nassau was only 58 minutes and 55 minutes on the return. Because you are only going for a few days, you don’t need to check bags, limiting the time spent in the airport pre and post flight. To be honest, including the drive to the airport, security check, wait time, flight and travel to the hotel, it wasn’t much longer than driving to Miami without traffic. But what made it much better, is that I didn’t have to drive more than 30 minutes. And once I was through security, I was pretty much in relaxation mode. I could sit and read a book, listen to my music or just relax. I didn’t have to worry about fighting traffic to my destination.
Of course, you are probably wondering about the cost, as driving is usually a pretty affordable way to go away with entire family and flights for a family of four or five can kind of get up there in cost. Well, that’s what is so great about Frontier airlines new route to The Bahamas. Frontier flights usually come in extremely affordable. My flight was $111 roundtrip. What about luggage? Packing a minimal amount of luggage is the key to making the flight affordable. If you can pack a small backpack for each of the kids, those will be free. You can also bring a small bag for each adult and then share a roller board to limit costs.
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Where to Stay
There are a few different options for hotels to stay in the Nassau area with the kids.
Baha Mar
Baha Mar is a 3-hotel complex located about 10 minutes from the airport. You can choose to stay at the Rosewood Hotel, SLS or Grand Hyatt. On property, there is a 15-acre water park featuring multiple water slides and water coasters, a wave pool, surf simulator and splash park. They have a variety of restaurants for the entire family including Umami Burger, Streetbird, Sugar Factory, Pizza Lab and more.
Margaritaville
Margaritaville is a hotel with a chill, laid back island vibe. The hotel is located downtown near the cruise terminal, so you can see the ships pulling in and out. Restaurants and shopping are easy walking distance from the hotel.
Atlantis
The picture of The Royal at Atlantis is what most people picture when thinking of The Bahamas. Atlantis is located on Paradise Island which is about a 30-minute drive from the airport. The complex is huge and includes 6 hotels (budget, moderate, deluxe and luxury hotels and 2 timeshares), a waterpark, dolphin interaction area, a marina village with restaurants and shops, casino, multiple pools spread throughout the property as well as multiple eateries.
Going on a trip? You will definitely want to check out Viator for all of your activity needs. You can book food tours, water activities, walking tours and more.
Things to Do in The Bahamas
Here are fun things to do in The Bahamas other than relaxing at the pool or the beach.
Bites of Nassau Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour
On the Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour, taste some of the great food options of The Bahamas such as conch fritters, peas and rice, and conch chowder. Learn about important events in The Bahamas history and visit some important sites. If your kids love food, history or both, they will be a fan of this tour.
Educulture Museum
Junkanoo is an annual festival that takes place in The Bahamas. At the Educulture Museum, you can learn about the history of Junkanoo, take a tour of the museum, learn how costumes are made and even make your own mini Junkanoo item to take home. To book a tour of the museum contact the director Arlene at [email protected].
Fort Charlotte
Fort Charlotte is the largest of the three forts in Nassau and sits up on a hill overlooking the harbor. Fort Charlotte has underground passageways, dungeons and a moat, as well as 42 cannons. You are able to take a tour of the fort with a tour guide. On Wednesdays and Fridays at 11:30, Fort Charlotte recreates 18th century life in Nassau. At 12pm on those days, the cannons are fired. (PLEASE NOTE THAT FORT CHARLOTTE IS CURRENTLY CLOSED DUE TO COVID 19)
Graycliff -The Art of Chocolate and Factory Tour
On Graycliff’s The Art of Chocolate and Factory Tour, learn how chocolate is made and see demonstrations of molds, glazing and dipping methods utilized to create Graycliff’s chocolate. Participants will then get to create their own chocolate bar. (ages 6 and up)
If you are looking for a fun weekend getaway for the family, The Bahamas should definitely be on the top of the list.
I was provided with free flights by Frontier Airlines and free accommodation and tours by The Ministry of the Bahamas. There were no posting requirements. As always, all opinions are my own.
