Inexpensive Alternatives to Shore Excursions: Freeport & Nassau

[PhillyPhan]

thanks so much! What are last digits of the phone "037/8" Is that just 0378? Oh, and one more Boxing Day/Junkanoo question.

 

Arrriving in the afternoon, will we get to see any of the remnants of the night's revelries? If so, where should we be looking? And will stores likely be open? Thanks!

Edited December 7, 2011 by PhillyPhan

[scubagirrl]

thanks so much! What are last digits of the phone "037/8" Is that just 0378? Oh, and one more Boxing Day/Junkanoo question.

 

Arrriving in the afternoon, will we get to see any of the remnants of the night's revelries? If so, where should we be looking? And will stores likely be open? Thanks!

 

http://www.nassauparadiseisland.com/what-to-do/families/people-to-people/

 

As for your arrival. Bay Street will be lined with Bleachers and crews will be cleaning up.. and some stores will be closed. Those that open will open late.

 

Tours will operate on their regular schedule.

[seymour6]

Can anyone tell me if the only way to go to Atlantis water park is to book the excursion thru your cruise or can we go there and buy tickets somehow? Our cruise is sold out and we want to take our kids to aquaventure waterpark! any ideas???:confused:

[digitalcajun]

Best to just give them a call and ask.

Mrs. DeAnne Gibson

Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

People-to-People Unit

P.O. Box N-3701

Nassau, Bahamas

Phone: (242) 356-037/8

Fax: (242) 326-0166

E-mail: peopletopeople@bahamas.com

 

I've done everything I can think of to get signed up. I registered on the web site and sent e-mail on 11 December. I've sent follow-up e-mails; I called and left a message on the 23rd. And yet, despite my efforts, I still don't have a People-To-People booking for tomorrow. I'd hate to miss it, but I'm not getting a good feeling about the odds at this point. Time to call them again...

[ATL Michelle]

Reviving an old thread here. But we just signed up for this Cultural Exchange Program for our December Nassau stop, and I am REALLY EXCITED about it!!

 

Here is a current link with all the info.....

http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/people-people

 

And I would love to hear from any others, in addition to liberateny, scubagirrl, and texaridian who have had the P2P experience!

 

I have visited Nassau a few times, and My Guy has lived and worked in several other countries, so the typical "touristy" things don't interest him much. So this sounds PERFECT for us!

[gkrnjlr]

Reviving an old thread here. But we just signed up for this Cultural Exchange Program for our December Nassau stop, and I am REALLY EXCITED about it!!

 

Here is a current link with all the info.....

http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/people-people

 

And I would love to hear from any others, in addition to liberateny, scubagirrl, and texaridian who have had the P2P experience!

 

I have visited Nassau a few times, and My Guy has lived and worked in several other countries, so the typical "touristy" things don't interest him much. So this sounds PERFECT for us!

 

I signed up for this once and received initial response that they'd get back to me with contact for who would be there to show us around but then never heard back from anyone.

 

It sounds great! Maybe my inquiry just "fell through the cracks"?

[dolphinlover22]

My friend signed us up for this. It was her and her 6 yr old son and me and my 8 year old daughter. A very sweet lady met us by the straw market and took us around Nassau. We went to visit quite a few areas - it was very safe for those of you who are skeptical. It was one of the best experiences I've ever had anywhere out of town because you truly get to experience the "real bahamas" - I can post some pictures if I can figure out how to do that on here lol - We toured a church that was being restored, met some people that lived on property and made fresh conch salad by the roadway - had fresh made conch fritters in a little hut and got to taste the salad. We toured a historical area that taught about slavery - we did some shopping, saw pirates cove, place where jaws was filmed - it was a wonderful experience especially for our children to see that places we visit are not all about big hotels and waterparks etc - There was a festival going on while we were there by the fish fry area so we joined in the festivities - danced, played games, bought some items and then enjoyed a meal @ the fish fry. If you get the opportunity to do this - I guarantee you, you won't be disappointed ! We loved it and sooo appreciated her taking time to come spend with us and teach us about where she lives!!!

[mytinman]

Last year we were stopped at Atlantis every step of the way. This time we went around 4:30 pm and had absolutely no problem walking around. I was actually very surprised there was no one to stop as at The Dig. It was after 6 by the time we got to The Dig entrance .. guess we just got lucky this time round.

 

However, last year, our friends went earlier in the day (I'd say around 2 or 3 pm) and they had no problems getting into The Dig either & they did not pay anything to get in!

 

There are lot's of ways to explore Nassau inexpensively & have fun. Enjoy!:)

What do you mean by they stop you in Atalntis? To pay? Or what? Is aquarium free? How much is dig?

[scubagirrl]

What do you mean by they stop you in Atalntis? To pay? Or what? Is aquarium free? How much is dig?

 

The only thing free at Atlantis is the Casino and Marina village. Every thing else requires a pass. even to just walk around the lobby.

 

Digs (aquarium) fee is $40pp (not worth it). Beach is $80 but doesn't include the pools or waterpark.. and the waterpark is $135.. and included Digs and beach.

 

You will be stopped at the door and "escorted" to the casino to purchase your passes. All access passes sell out quickly. and will NOT be available around the holidays...

You might want to check out www.majestictoursbahamas.com for advance tickets.

[EagleMama]

Found this old thread, and wanted to thank you for the suggestions! We are cruising next week, but are also on a shoestring budget. We really appreciate the great tips, and I have emailed P2P. I am not hopeful we will get to do that this time since it is such a short time away, but figured it can't hurt to try!

[gothedistance]

I just sent in a registration request for my family and I for the PTP program. I hope we get accepted!

 

Thanks Scubagirl for all of the helpful information!

Danielle

[oozie]

I think we'll be going to Cable Beach as some of you recommended. Just a few questions...

 

We're scheduled to be in the port from 7am to 2pm. When should be leave the beach by if we take the #10? I suppose worse comes to worse we can take a cab back to the port. Anybody know how much that would be?

 

Also, is the #10 bus easy to find out of the port?

 

Thank you! :)

[tcvaughan]

It looks like Bahamas Tourism is still doing the "People to People" program. Has anyone used it recently. The last post I found was from two years ago! My small group of 4 is looking for the most bang for a little buck!

[MJ_80]

Try *****.com they have a lot of good diverse tours and they're doing really good business as locals! Additionally they have an open feedback system with satisfaction guaranteed! Can't lose

[scubagirrl]

Try *****.com they have a lot of good diverse tours and they're doing really good business as locals! Additionally they have an open feedback system with satisfaction guaranteed! Can't lose

 

This is exactly the reason for the rule I mentioned in your last post.

[gothedistance]

It looks like Bahamas Tourism is still doing the "People to People" program. Has anyone used it recently. The last post I found was from two years ago! My small group of 4 is looking for the most bang for a little buck!

 

We did the People to People program last week when we were in Nassau. We were hoping to visit a local school and we were hooked up with the principal of a local elementary school. Unfortunately it was their field day, so we spent the day watching kids run at a local track not at the school. They had us sit in a VIP section which was very nice but that meant it was hard to get to talk to other people. Everyone was really nice- really really nice to us, and it was eye opening to see the kids compete. But we didn't really get to hang out with the local kids since they were all competing. The track meet was also to send kids on to Island-Wide/Bahamas Wide/Caribbean wide competition so that meant potential scholarships for the kids. Who knows, maybe we saw a future olympian run!

 

I wouldn't look at this program as a tour guide AT ALL. It is meant to have a local show you about their life and dailiness.

[Lauriejl2]

Thank you all for telling me about this! I just submitted a form to request to be part of people to people when we are in Nassau in May. I think this is exactly what Im looking for! I want my kids to see Bahamas but not just sit on a beach and not just the touristy stuff. I want them and me :) to really see another country and the people who live in it. I have 4 kids and 2 of them are 13 and 11 and I really think they can get something out of this!

[1coolcat]

Is there anything special you need to do when booking a Comfort Suites or does it just come with renting the room?

[katiemylady]

Hopping on this thread so I can find it again in the future. Love your free ideas for Atlantis! We might just have to follow suit.