Had We Known
I booked a trip for my family to travel to the Bahamas a couple of years ago; before I knew better and before joining the Brownell team. The holidays were the only time our family of four shared vacation days and we have enjoyed some amazing adventures over the years. I worked on this trip for weeks – and as evidenced by my new vocation, I enjoyed the “digging.” The Bahamas are big – and made up of hundreds of islands – so choosing one spot was difficult. Sealing the deal, American Airlines started a new direct flight from our home in Charlotte to the beautiful island of Eleuthera. And, unknowingly, we booked the inaugural voyage to the island. Following tradition, the plane circled thru a water cannon salute and was met by a delegation of Eleuthera’s officials. As we disembarked, we were each given a wrapped treat, a handshake and welcoming round of applause. Waiting for the bags, a band started to play and we all joined in the festivities. There were photographers and a news crew was filming. I slapped my kids arms and boasted, “Not a bad way to start this holiday trip, huh?” (Look at my luck!)
We were met at the airport by a tall, lanky man named Cabbage. No typo. And we chuckled the entire time we followed him. Cabbage asked us to follow him in our rental car to the office so we could sign the paperwork. He is well liked and knows everyone so the short ride was peppered with lots of honks, waves and weaving in and out of his friends front yards. We were delighted. And, when the owner of the rental handed my husband a roadie bottle of Kalik beer, we knew we were delightfully on vacation.
Who doesn’t get a roadie from their rental car agency?
After weeks of googling, emailing,, comparing & contrasting homes for rent on the island complete with spreadsheets outlining all for hubby, we chose a home with a pool and within walking distance to one of the island’s 4 star hotels.
Our rental for the week where I thought we needed “space” but really just needed a card table and strong wi-fi.
We enjoyed our first full day exploring and snorkeling the islands private beaches on the south end. After a glorious day, we got spiffied up and headed to the patio at the hotel resort to have dinner and enjoy a spectacular sunset. We snapped dozens of photos insisting that each were “the best” sunset moment. On the videos I took that evening, I can hear us commenting on how we had the place to ourselves. Why is nobody out here seeing this? We asked the waitress, “I cannot believe we are your only customers.” Had we known.
The moment my son wisely left the patio after a very beautiful sunset.
Had we known what was coming next, we likely would have run – or the very least – hidden inside the restaurant as the in-the-know guests were doing. And, I now can see that what a Brownell affiliated travel advisor would have told me had they booked this trip, “PACK LOTS OF BUG REPELLENT!” In all my hours of googling, emailing, reading, I did not stumble on a single article or mention about no-see-ums in Eleuthera. Upon showing us the rental, the house manager did not mention it (nor did she open the cabinet loaded with other guest’s left behind bottles of deet). However, when those bugs descended on us that evening, they stung my face, my hands, between my fingers, and anywhere not covered with fabric. When the bug feast started, I tried wrapping napkins all over my legs, but the damage was done. I came home with 68 bites on my left leg and over 100 on my right (the next day involved much scratching and time to marvel, and count, the damage). We did not venture out at dusk again without slathering on the deet and in fact so traumatized by the itching that we’d cut short our daily excursions to avoid being outside in any way in the early evenings. (Not so much luck now!)
My text to the family the next morning with this image attached, “what I shoulda packed for our Bahama Christmas.”
Thank you Alexander McQueen for encapsulating a holiday-no-see-um outfit perfectly!
Bugs aside, the trip was glorious. Harbour Island seen from our rented golf cart was so chic (somehow touring on a golf cart imbues extra chic, doesn’t it?). And the fabulous hotels and restaurants on the island offered a welcome dose of hobknobbing and family merriment that you miss when you rent a home. We especially enjoyed the island tradition, Junkanoo. Held on boxing day, this competition “parade” of sorts between the Zulu’s and the Warriors was a sensory wonderland of dance, music and costume.
Still photos do not do Junkanoo justice. The dancing, the music, the costumes make this event one of my all time favorites!
Any trip to the Caribbean and especially the Bahamas must include some time on a boat exploring the vast display of coral reef surrounding it. Weather did not permit us to boat as much as we’d have liked as my husband easily prone to sea-sickness (we tease that he gets sick on an escalator). However, we did get some amazing snorkeling in and managed a visit to swim with the pigs near the Spanish Wells. Disclosure: we are dog people. But, had not idea we were swimming pig people. Our captain was prepared with nibbles on the end of long sticks to feed them which were immensely helpful to keep the sharp hoofs away. And, much to my delight the water was “maintained” constantly by the team that manages the island. We giggled long and loud.
Meet Butterfinger, a local celebrity, for her tenacious “me, me, me” skills.
We were lucky in many ways during this trip. We found, by chance, the market that was open on Christmas Eve thankfully before the long line of other visitors bought every morsel in sight (the inventory was gone in about 39 minutes?). Nothing in the house required repair during our stay as I doubt there would have been anyone working to fix it. And, we found the deet cabinet. However, I learned how foolish this luck-relying had been now that I have looked under the hood of an amazing travel company. At Brownell, all of the advisors share an online network where we relay constant information about resorts and locations. If I type Eleuthera into our search bar, I see the trip reports that warn about no-see-ums. I see recommendations on all the adjacent islands, area restaurants, shops and to-do’s. I see what resort room has the best view (and which one doesn’t). I see the name of the general manager and his direct number. I know that if someone had called on our behalf to VIP us for this trip, we would not have relied on luck. We would have had the skill, knowledge and care of hundreds committed to spoiling, protecting and guiding us.
But, I know now & I will make sure you do too!
XOXO