Bahamas Advice Wanted: Rental Car or Not + Cell Phone?

[rsnash]

We're staying at Ocean Reef Resort & Marina in Freeport, GBI, in a couple weeks. What is everyone's opinion on the necessity of a rental car? I've reserved one, but it sounds like the resort runs a grocery and beach shuttle, and there's a public bus that stops out front. We like to explore when we visit the islands, but are a little nervous about driving on the left side of the road. At ~$500 for the rental car ($300 rental + $136 insurance supplement + gas), we could just take taxis/bus/tour excursions instead. How plentiful are taxis? (like if we took a bus someplace and wanted to get a taxi back)

How big is GBI, like how long would it take to circumnavigate the whole island? When we stayed on St. Martin we did that a couple times, but Puerto Rico was way too big for that.

If you've been there (Ocean Reef or Freeport or Grand Bahama Island), what's your opinion on the necessity of a rental car? We usually rent cars so we have the freedom to go where and when we pleased, and we like to find the best restaurants (best food, not necessarily expensive or fancy*).

In addition, I think we need to get an unlocked international cell phone. Does anyone have any advice or recommendations regarding this? I found this site: internationalcellphone.com and think I could use a local Bahamas Sim in any unlocked phone, right? We're also going to Atlantis + Nassau in May, so I'll be able to use the phone then too.

* While we're at, I'll take food recommendations as well We usually only cook breakfast at the TS. So, grocery and restaurant recs wanted.

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

 

[Nsivertsen]

Grand Bahamas

Hi,
We own a timeshare in Freeport and go there every year since the early 90's.
We always rent a car (from Brad's) and have no problems driving on the left side of the road. GBI isn't that crowded. One of favorite lunch restaurants is the Banana Bay restaurant which you would either have to drive to or take a cab. You'll need a car if you want to "explore " the island.
Try this site: geographia.com/grandbahama then click on Grand Bahama Island Welcome, then on newsgroups. Lots of info on restaurants, etc. on the site. There are several good restaurants in Port Lucaya which are also mentioned and talked about on the site. There's also a lot of bickering lately on the site lately but don't pay any attention to it. Enjoy your vacation.
RichS

 

[MULTIZ321]

Rachel,

Also check out The Best in Grand Bahama Island

Also see Bahamas Travel FAQ's - scroll down to see info on Cell Phones.


Have a great trip!


Richard

 

[rsnash]

Just a follow up, I should have listened to Nsivertsen and rented a car, as we've been here one day and determined we want one. Now Hertz is booked. The resort has a cheap one available, I'm going to call Brad's and see if they compare.

Re cell phone. I had my AT&T phone unlocked. But waited until we were down here to get the local sim chip. Many places (including Zorba's restaurant, recommended) seem to have phone cards (to use at pay phones or add minutes to phones) but not the sim chips. We have to go to Gadgets & Gizmos in Freeport to get the sim chip.