Dotting the Map » bahamas http://www.dottingthemap.com a travel blog Fri, 03 Feb 2012 22:12:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Best Places To Honeymoon On A Budget: Nassau, Bahamas http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/02/24/best-places-to-honeymoon-on-a-budget-1-nassau-bahamas/ http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/02/24/best-places-to-honeymoon-on-a-budget-1-nassau-bahamas/#comments Tue, 24 Feb 2009 19:14:10 +0000 Hilarye http://www.dottingthemap.com/?p=455 sheratonNassauresortHoneymoons are one of the most romantic vacations you will ever take in your life (at least it should be). A honeymoon is meant to be a time where you and your new spouse can get away from family and the stresses of planning your wedding and enjoy being together. It is the start of your new life.
 
Honeymoons can be an added stress if you are not careful, as many times they can be quite costly. This post will be my first of ten to help give ideas of luxurious and adventurous vacations for new couples that would be great honeymoons and still keep some green in your pocket.
 
Why the Bahamas? Gorgeous beaches, exquisite shopping and dining, and not to far off the mainland- it’s only an hour flight from Miami. You’ll love it here. On average the temperature is around 70-80 degrees all year round. For just $1.25 you can take a bus into town and go shopping, tour the pirate museum, walk around the city, or go on a variety of different tours and excursions.
 
The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is a great budget friendly honeymoon spot. Honeymooners can relax on the beach, sheraton2go snorkeling in the crystal clear ocean, or spend time in the whirlpools. The Resort offers a special “Honeymoon in Nassau” package which includes:
 
Free upgrade to next room type,
Full American Breakfast for two in the resort’s restaurant or through Room Service daily,
Bottle of Sparkling Wine and chocolate amenity on day of arrival,
One dinner for two in the romantic Italian restaurant, Amici,
Fruit and cheese amenity delivered to room on the third day of stay,
and 4pm late checkout on day of departure
 
*A minimum of a four-night stay is required.
 
A stay ranges from $350 per night for a traditional king room to $675 per night for a suite, plus resort fees & taxes.
 
sheraton3The 694-room Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort offers accommodations featuring a large private balcony or patio.  Rooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access, LCD flat-screen televisions and the signature Sheraton Sweet Sleeper™ Bed – a multi-layered creation adorned with voluptuous down pillows, sensuous cotton sheets and a signature blanket and duvet.

The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is 15 minutes from Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport, which is serviced by a number of domestic and international carriers.
 
The package can be booked online at Sheraton.com/nassauoffers
 
This beautiful and exotic beach honeymoon would cost you from $1400 to $2700 (plus airfare and food). It really is a gorgeous place. The hotel rooms were romantic even just for the plain king room! The beach is one of the best and has some of the clearest water I had seen, the hotel was beautiful- I would even suggest taking it up a notch and having your whole wedding there!

]]> http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/02/24/best-places-to-honeymoon-on-a-budget-1-nassau-bahamas/feed/ 5 I Could Go For A Cruise http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/02/01/i-could-go-for-a-cruise/ http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/02/01/i-could-go-for-a-cruise/#comments Mon, 02 Feb 2009 02:11:00 +0000 Hilarye http://www.dottingthemap.com/?p=395 Cruising is for everyone. Those looking for a budget vacation will have a great time on a cruise. Those looking for an extravagant posh vacation will have a great time on a cruise. Cruising is really for every kind of budget and lifestyle.

This was my first ever cruise- and I promise you that it will in no way be my last. We loved our cruise so much we put down a deposit for our next. It’s human nature to be wary of the unknown and so that is why I wonder why a lot of people who have never been on cruises don’t go while most cruisers have been multiple times. Look for a post by early next week on tips for first time cruisers where I give a healthy mix of my own tips and tips from a seasoned professional: Norwegian Sky Hotel Director Fillipo Bertuzzi.

For now here is a picture recap of my cruise. I hope you enjoy the pictures and know that I had the best time of my life. Cruising is the best way to truly relax on a vacation because you don’t worry about meals, traveling or money. You just kick back and enjoy the experience. I loved the freestyle experience of Norwegian Cruise Line and don’t think I’ll be able to do it any other way.

The pool on our cruise ship

The pool on our cruise ship

 

View of Miami from the ship

View of Miami from the ship

 

Cruise ship in Nassau

Cruise ship in Nassau

 

Bahemian bus in Nassau

Bahemian bus in Nassau

 

Taken at a church in Nassau

Taken at Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau

 

Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau

Christ Church Cathedral in Nassau

 

The Atlantis Resort in Nassau

The Atlantis Resort in Nassau

 

The Norwegian Sky (our cruise ship)

The Norwegian Sky (our cruise ship)

 

*as always photo credit goes to the lovely Reid Fuller

]]> http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/02/01/i-could-go-for-a-cruise/feed/ 1 Three Days To Go! http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/01/20/three-days-to-go/ http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/01/20/three-days-to-go/#comments Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:56:52 +0000 Hilarye http://www.dottingthemap.com/?p=367 Ok so people have me a little freaked out. In only three short days I will be leaving on a cruise to the Bahamas. Yes I nclam very excited as this is my first ever cruise. But I keep hearing the naysayers talking about how whole cruise ships come down with the flu, or get salmonella or food poisoning- or my personal favorite about all the people who go mysteriously missing on cruise ships. If you know me personally at all you know I’m a person who gets anxiety and hearing stuff like that freaks me out a little. I keep telling myself it’s only a three day cruise and I really won’t be spending a ton of time on the boat.  My husband is really patient and telling me how good of a time we are going to have and that everything will be fine. So in keeping with the relaxed demeanor and to keep me excited not nervous-here is the breakdown of our trip:

We will be staying the night in Atlanta on the 22 and then taking an early flight to Miami on the 23rd

Possibly do some sight seeing in Miami during the day and board our ship around 2 pm. The ship departs at 5:00 pm. We will be doing a video boat tour, and then eating and lounging by the pool.

We will arrive at Nassau on the 24th where we will be taking a taxi over to the Sheraton for a property tour to do a honeymoon destination post, then the pirate museum and hanging out at the beach. Our boat departs at 6 pm.

On the 25th we will be porting at the Great Stirrup Bay which is Norwegian Cruise Line’s own private island. Our plan is to snorkel and visit the lighthouse and take tons of gorgeous pictures.

Then sadly because all good things must come to an end on Monday we will be heading back to reality. Our boat docks at 8 am and we will likely be taking an early flight out.

My goals for this trip will be some very quality blog posts, a nice tan, a few extra pounds, and a good time with my husband. I’ve heard great things about Norwegian Cruise Line and I have no other experiences to compare to- so it should be awesome! If you have been on this cruise or these ports and have recommendations on what we do, or tips on cruises- please let me know!

]]> http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/01/20/three-days-to-go/feed/ 5 18 Days To Go… http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/01/05/18-days-to-go/ http://www.dottingthemap.com/2009/01/05/18-days-to-go/#comments Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:23:40 +0000 Hilarye http://www.dottingthemap.com/?p=314 norwegian-skyI’m going on a cruise! My husband surprised me with one for Christmas! We are really very excited. Can’t wait for the sunshine, the food, the relaxation- and the best part is it is only a few weeks away! It’s a three day Caribbean cruise stopping at Nassau and Great Stirrup Bay. We leave out of the Miami port. We have decided to do one excursion on our trip- we just haven’t decided which one yet- any ideas?

This will be our first cruise ever- that’s right we are both cruising virgins, so any tips, facts or comments would be appreciated.

photo credit goes to Norwegian Cruise Lines

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