Day Trip to the Bahamas - Where to go?

[ILS37R]

I have to build some time in the DA-42, so my girlfriend and I are planning to make a trip out of it and scoot down to the Bahamas for a day trip (we're in Florida). Right now we're thinking of Grand Bahama, Nassau or Eleuthera, but we haven't settled on anything yet.

We're looking for a place with good, local seafood joints (as opposed to cuisine) and a nice beach to bum around for the better part of the day and possibly snorkel a little bit at. Any recommendations?

(And, yes, we'll be bringing our passports: http://forums.jetcareers.com/general...esson-1-a.html (Passport lesson #1))

[BobDDuck]

I would head over to Marsh Harbor personally. Way less touristy then Freeport or Nassau. Just make sure you've got all your paperwork in order.

[My Flight Surgeon]

I agree, Marsh Harbor is the place to go. Get a cab ride to town and there are several good places to eat like the Jib Room at the marina.

If your girlfriend has a PPL, she can be "crew" and there is slightly less hassle with immigration. That said, immigration is no big deal.

We found if you notify US Customs before you return (either in person the same day or via phone from the Bahamas) it goes smoother in the US too.

[TFaudree_ERAU]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

If your girlfriend has a PPL, she can be "crew" and there is slightly less hassle with immigration. That said, immigration is no big deal.

A 6 pack of Coca-Cola will go a long way with foreign customs agents.

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

We found if you notify US Customs before you return (either in person the same day or via phone from the Bahamas) it goes smoother in the US too.

I don't know if it's still there, but there used to be a phone right next to the customs desk at Marsh that you could do that from. That and it's normally easier to pick up your ADIZ clearance from Miami Radio then trying to work through Freeport Radio.

[staglia]

http://www.flyplatinum.com/bimini.html

[ILS37R]

Marsh Harbor sounds promising; I'll add that to our list of places at which to look. Thanks for the other tips, as well.

Alas, the girlfriend does not yet have any pilot ratings, so we're out of luck in that regard. I'm not too concerned about customs, anyway--it certainly can't be worse than some of the other places I have stamped in my passport.

[grnclvrs]

Originally Posted by My Flight Surgeon

We found if you notify US Customs before you return (either in person the same day or via phone from the Bahamas) it goes smoother in the US too.

It used to be that you had to notify customs 24 hours prior to your return to the US to get an "appointment." Even on day trips, we used to call the day before from home. Ft. Pierce customs are very unfriendly if you show up unannounced, don't know about the rest of the ports of entry.

[HOTDOG]

Sounds like a fun trip...let us know how it went upon return.

[BobDDuck]

Originally Posted by grnclvrs

Ft. Pierce customs are very unfriendly if you show up unannounced, don't know about the rest of the ports of entry.

It's just Ft. Pierce. I never had a problem at any other port of entry except there. And that was even with the 24 hour notice.