I Don't Understand ???

The roads are far better maintained in the Bahamas, there is much less liter around, there are hardly any starving dogs, the supermarkets are better and the general, overall state of the island is far superior to STT. Easy choice, for me.

I haven't researched it, but I bet there are a lot more flights going into Nassau than into St. Thomas. It's a quick flight from Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, etc. and not all that far from Atlanta, Raleigh and other hubs. People in the southern US pop over to the Bahamas like we pop over to San Juan. The Bahamas has been a gambling destination for a long time, with large resorts. St. Thomas has nothing that comes even in the same category as The Atlantis or several others. Our one little casino on STX does not a destination make. The Bahamas has a very active Dept. of Tourism. They advertise a lot, and they always have a very impressive presence at tourism shows.

Angela Roads Maybe they don't have the mountains we have here. Dept Stores and Shops STT Kills them hands down!!!!! In regard to being clean is about the same i saw allot of liter in Bay street. Yes Atlantis is a destination on its own and there are allot of Flights from Miami, FTL to Nassau. In regards to Crime i think Bahamas has more than in the VI so far this year 30 murders and there have been allot reported against tourist. In communications STT has a open free Telephone systems for cel and home while Bahamas is sitll government run Batelco but Cable Bahamas is great the same as Comcast or time warner in the US 9MB download 1 MB upload $ 49.99!!!!. And also i think STT gets overshadow by San Juan its casino mega resorts and Airport connections.

I might be way off base with my single vacation experience in Bahamas (Eleuthra, 1980 ish) vs 2 vacation experiences in both Barbados (1985, 1995) and STX (2006,2007). But, my experience in Bahamas was so bad that I'd really have to be convinced before I'd go back there again. I consider myself very tolerant of different people and different cultures. I've lived in Germany, Spain, Africa and the US. I enjoy the differences of different cultures. But, Bahamas was such a turn off because almost everything that I did (restaurants, hotels, rental cars), I felt like the people knew that you were trapped and they didn't have to provide even the slightest level of customer service. A typical breakfast situation was:
- a waiter eventually shows up at your table and literally drops the menus on your table, without even looking at you, or greeting you.
- when they deliver your food, the plates are almost dropped (a definite angled approach, where food could literally roll off the plate, then drop the other end).
- while "serving" you, your waiter might be having a full volume social conversation with another waiter. You'll have to wait for them to finish if you have any questions/comments because they won't hear or listen to you until they're done.

Now, I have to admit that snorkeling went just fine, but it was not the normal Bahamian experience.

I loved Barbados. The people were so friendly and welcoming, and interested in talking about their culture. It was a true adventure.

I've found the same friendly attitude in STX and STT (I haven't been to STJ yet). I don't mind that folks have their own way of doing things, and might go a little slower than I'm used to. I don't mind that they might not understand me, or mistaken my style or mannerisms falsely. In STT, a taxi driver recognized (probably from my incessant questions) that it was our first time on the island and gave us a short tour of the island. He took us through his childhood neighborhood and told us stories about his youth, about the government, and his kids. He didn't ask for any more money (but, of course I paid him appropriately). You might say that he just took advantage of us. I say that we shared a wonderful few moments between two different cultures, and I felt welcomed to his world.

In Bahamas, I never felt welcomed. It might be that I was younger and less tolerant, but I don't think so. I really hope that Bahamas has changed; or that I just happened to go on the worse week ever for Bahamas; or that I just forgot to shower all week.

Angela, please tell me that I'm way off base... that Bahamas is nothing like I reported.

Are you talking about Nassau[Grand Bahama] or the hundreds of Bahamian island each of which has its own personality? Atlantis Resort and cruise ships are pretty much the definition of only one island. Try buying groceries on most of the other islands - you think the VI has water issues - garbage problems - electricity and infrastructure difficulties.??
The Bahamas are spread out over a large area - very shallow water in most cases - some private exclusive developments do exist --- but Nassau is not the Bahamas/like/ NYC is not New York State.

Exit zero Nassau is the island of New Providence. Nassau is the capital but because the Island is so small everybody calls it Nassau. Grand Bahama island is a totally different island the main city there is Freeport and is one of the most northern islands of the bahamas. Freeport Bahamas has a very big transhipment port and a big Cruiseship port too not as big as Nassau. The island where Atlantis is located is Called Paradise Island and is connected by Bridge to the main island where Nassau is. In regards to infrastructure i think Nassau New Providence has probably better roads because the Island is Flat pretty much and in regards to electricity is about the same as STT but Cable and Internet is far superior. Now the Town looks pretty develop and the Cruiseship port could receive about 6 ships at the time.

Roki, I don't think Exit Zero needs a geography lesson in the Bahamas. Sounds to me like he had been there! I adore the Bahamas...NOT Nassau! I have so many fond memories of the islands, where we couldn't find milk or cheese or heaven forbid, fresh veggies. The little huts called stores had maybe a dozen rusty cans of veggies on the shelf. One stop, in particular, (and without pulling out the cruising charts, I am going on memory) called Chesters on Ragged or Crooked Island. The store was closed because everyone in the village had gone to the airstrip to meet the weekly plane. There was a teenage girl still in town who crawled into a neighbor's house to get us a couple of Cokes and a loaf of bread.

Sometimes when I read posts from people who seem to be looking for an escape from the American rat race, I think some of the islands in the Bahamas would be just what they are looking for. where the most sophisticated form of transportation is a golf cart, if that. I could go on forever about our experiences in the Bahamas, but maybe that's a short story waiting to happen.

I got out the atlas and I am wrong about the name of the Nassau home island -it is New Providence- I was confusing the cruise ship port in Freeport - But I did measure the Bahamian chain and it spreads out over 760 NM , NW to SE, has over 700 islands and 2000 isles, is 4,404 sq. mi., [2005] total population of 280,000 of which 180,000 live in Nassau. I have been there. I will never again respond w/o looking things up, [sort of like having a spelling error] and absolutely never understand the original question.

New Providence (Nassau and Paradise Island) are not really to my taste because of the fact that they are so commercialized. However, on a recent trip to Atlantis, I was really pleasantly surprised by how nice and friendly the people were, and how good the service was. There is a wonderful restaurant called "Cafe Martinique" where the Marina and all the shops are right next to Atlantis. It is so elegant, old Colonial-style, and the service is excellent. I can't imagine why anyone would want to go on holiday to another country and eat at Outback or any other chain restaurant for that matter. Why not stay at home if you don't want to experience anything different?

I, too, had a not so great experience in the Bahamas. I've been to many of the islands, and Bahamas was my least favorite. Over commercialized and not as friendly. The worst is the restaurants, because of the system of built in gratuities, if you don't order the most pricey menu items, you never see your waiter again. The best places were the back roads, but when I was there, it was quite a few years ago - not been back, left a bad taste in my mouth. There are too many other places to see.

can't imagine why anyone would want to go on holiday to another country and eat at Outback or any other chain restaurant for that matter.

Sabrina you must not have kids or friends with kids...sometimes family just want a night where everyone is moderately happy with their food.

First of all i now live here in STT i am not on holiday i am working? when i say why doesn't STT have an Outback or national chains as an american territory and other places have them not being America . Also cost of doing Business in the Bahamas is higher than the US virgin Islands. Since 2005 in STT chains like Hard Rock cafe now IHOP have been closing and living the island. One thing to see is that all islands where Cruise ships have port of call have either a Hard Rock cafe, Senor Frogs, Margaritaville and STT right now is the only port that lacks those tourist traps. I am not saying that they are everything about a place but it's speaks volumes about the lack of investment in STT.

Bingo!!!! Lack of investment. You hit the nail on the head. And you've asked the right question - why?? I only know why I chose not to invest in the USVI: terribly deteriorating infrastructure.

rokipatel [ PM ]
Re: I Don't Understand ??? new
May 28, 2008 08:52AM Registered: 3 months ago
Posts: 104

First of all i now live here in STT i am not on holiday i am working? when i say why doesn't STT have an Outback or national chains as an american territory and other places have them not being America . Also cost of doing Business in the Bahamas is higher than the US virgin Islands. Since 2005 in STT chains like Hard Rock cafe now IHOP have been closing and living the island. One thing to see is that all islands where Cruise ships have port of call have either a Hard Rock cafe, Senor Frogs, Margaritaville and STT right now is the only port that lacks those tourist traps. I am not saying that they are everything about a place but it's speaks volumes about the lack of investment in STT.

FYI: Leaving not Living

Thank you for the correction " Shakespeare"

Betty, you're right I don't have kids, but I swear if I did I wouldn't let them eat fast food! I have several friends here (from Europe), and they don't let their kids eat it. It is a battle though when you are surrounded by something.

My comment really wasn't just about the food, but more the fact that so many people travel to other countries, and then expect them to be just like home. I used to live on a really beautiful little island. There was a Club Med, and people would come to stay for a whole week and never leave the club. Some of them even thought the island was called "Turquoise", which was actually the name of the Club Med. They ate the same type of food as at home, socialized with the same people, listened to the same music etc, etc.

I would rather see STT stand out because we do not have the standard 'tourist traps' - [not that we don't have our own variety] - than be covered in Chain restaurants instead of local cuisine or at least something locally owned and operated. Frenchtown is a fine example as all the restaurants have local owners, who have invested, are seen on premise daily, and know their customers by name. -- Except for the Mc Donalds.
People do invest here - witness the local hardware, paint and furnishing stores that have withstood the Home Despot.

Also reading the original posters responses and enjoying the punctuation, spelling, grammar and reference to Shakespeare as a spelling teacher makes my geographic faux pas pale.