Research and homework for Harborside trip/MERGED

[jerseygirl]

Thanks for the explanation. Sounds like a wonderful way to arrive for your week. I'll have to check into it one of these days.

 

[mariawolf]

I wouldn't rely on this on every cruise ship==my cousin went on a cruise with family members and one wanted to get off early and fly home in St Thomas and they were told they could not do this==so if you want to do this make sure you ask and get something in writing!

 

[GrayFal]

Billy, I posted my thoughts elswhere from my trip last week - but I will copy and paste here for you.

It is really freakin nice here!
The units are so spacious and beautifully decorated.

BIG lock-off 1BR (I have a 2BR L/O) - I would definitely take one in a trade(as opposed to the smaller 1BR at Westin Mission Hills - too small!)

Gorgeous beaches - white sand....nice chairs with Bimini tops.

Fun lazy river..... beautiful pools....SHARKS! Sting Rays! Fishy's!

Went to the free dolphin show yesterday - very cool and a really nice environment for them to live in.

Went to dinner at the Seafire Steak House - nice but expensive...

Going to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill tonight.

The exclusive Cove Resort is to die for....we had drinks on the terrace of the lovely lounge there....

The beach is calling me now - catch ya later

LOVED Mesa Grill

Mesa Grill - $168 for 2 people including a 20% tip.

1 cosmopolitan, 1 glass of wine.
2 appetizers
1 entrée split, 1 extra side.
1 desert and 1 expresso.

Billy - please reference your resort map on check-in for the numbers....

On Tuesday - we had a rain shower for about 20 minutes - it happened to be at lunchtime, so we had a salad sitting under an umbrella at a poolside bar area....this was right next to the #67 pool - between the pool and #52 nurses office - this pool is packed with people and is right next to the "Mayan Palace" #66 - hence all the action.
The bar is fun here but avoid this pool area at all costs :mrgreen:

Yesterday we had a 'sprinkle on the beach' - we didn't even get out of our Bimini covered lounge chair....
And walking home from dinner at 9:15 we did get wet after we got off the shuttle and were walking to our room.

Today looks bright and sunny.

Our favorite place - cove beach - this is actually to the right of the cove resort - but u take the shuttle over to the cove hotel....walk thru the lobby as if u were going to your room there....when u enter the area where you would take the elevator....walk straight thru and out the other side - at the bottom of this path will be the towel hut....get your towel and continue to the left - down to the beautiful tranquil beach or into the really nice #57 'The Baths' pool.
You can also access the 'crazy river' or the Current - a REALLY fun lazy river with rapids! Bring your $10 snorkel mask - I saw many colorful fish yesterday at this beach.....over to the right is a coral area that u can see from the beach as the 'dark area' in the water out near the ropes....it is worth the extra space in your suitcase - if not, buy $5 goggles so you have a better view underwater.

Another gorgeous, tranquil pool is #74 - oval shaped surrounded by Palm Trees.

Every evening on our way back from the beach - we stop at the TS pool and go into the hot tub.... very nice.

Both Maria and I have small coolers with us we carry to the beach each day with our drinks and sandwiches - no problem to do this.....

We ate dinner one night at the Point - it really is a lovely spot - okay hamburgers ($12-15) ..... more about the location - u can also sit and have a drink there.

Johnny Rockets has a nicer menu over at the Marina Village #11 - for $7-15 a better deal.

Also at Marina Village - u can buy the 'six pack' of Tortuga rum cakes for $31.50 versus $29.95 in Nassau.

As for our trip to Nassau - took the water taxi for $6 RT - when I come back next year, I wouldn't bother going - I know I can get anything I want or need on ST Thomas for a better price....

This really is a trip where the resort is the destination/attraction/everything.
You never need to leave the property - we were walking around yesterday and still finding areas/things to see that we had not seen before.

The outdoor area between the Beach and Coral towers is closed for renovation.
There is free internet at the Library in the Coral Tower - they limit you to 15 minutes.

In room internet is high speed wired under $70 for 6 days...$14.95 for one day.

Get your 'bracelet each morning at the TS pool before u walk over to get the shuttle - they are ALWAYS looking to see if u have it on....security is very present. You can get beach towels everywhere so no need to carry them on the buses.

Ate at Messa grill again last night - $161 for 2 drinks, 1 appetizer, 2 entree's and 20% tip...we saw many people come in and have entree only - and it is worth it.

Tonight we are going to Dune at the One and Only Ocean Club... We will go early to walk around the beautiful grounds - we hear they are stunning.

Off to the beach!
TTFN

We did eat at DUNE - as for the food - I thought Mesa Grill was better - but I would definitely take the shuttle over and have a drink at the bar - what a fabulous setting.

Here is a link to my pictures...
Harborside Atlantis
I wanted to share something on Photobucket with you!

My guest password is: TS4Ms1
After you log in - click on "SLIDESHOW" in the upper right corner.

Login to Harborside Photobucket.com album

 

[Denise L]

Great photos!

Pat,

Thanks for posting the link to your fabulous photos :whoopie: . The weather looked perfect and you and Maria look very relaxed! Were there any kids around or was everyone back in school?

 

[GrayFal]

Pat,

Thanks for posting the link to your fabulous photos :whoopie: . The weather looked perfect and you and Maria look very relaxed! Were there any kids around or was everyone back in school?

Mostly younger children....the beauty of going when school is so newly in session
Definitely the under 8 year old crowd.

 

[adanac1]

Going to harborside in december

Hello again,
What are some of the things people take with them to this resort, meaning food wise? I will be travelling from Canada to Fort Lauderdale and then to Nassau.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

What have the hurricanes done to the area and was there much damage?
We are there from December 12 - 19 and then the 19 to 26 in Orlando.
It will be busy but hopefully an enjoyable trip.

 

[GrayFal]

I just sent this to Billymach....

My food plan.....
Lots of zip lock bags - 2 sizes - and a small folding soft cooler - it fit right in my beach bag. I always bring a white plastic garbage bag to fit inside to prevent leaks.

I bought instant oatmeal and cream of wheat for breakfast along with a bag of craisins.....

I brought a pound of gourmet coffee - they provide filters - I also travel with my travel coffee mug - used it for hot and cold drinks.

I bought 2 packages of 'wraps' = 8 pieces..
I bought squeezy mayonnaise in a plastic bottle - usually I pack mustard, too.
I brought 2 cans of Costco chicken and made chicken salad wraps.
You could bring tuna salad, too.
I brought the wraps and a box of Melba toast (for cheeses) in my carry-on.

In a gallon zip lock, I put 6 different kinds of cheese (Brie, cheddar, fontina, etc) and one of those 'new' sliced turkey packages they sell in a glad storage container - I took it out of the container and 1 stick of frozen butter....I froze 4 cranberry juice boxes (to mix with the vodka ) ....I put 2 in the zip lock with food - then put all that in another zip lock with the other 2 and then wrapped it in a few sheets of newspaper and all of it in the white garbage bag.
I packed it in my luggage and the juice was still almost fully frozen when i Unpacked it 10 hours later!

I buy a bottle of liquor duty free BEFORE I leave the USA....

We did stop at City Market and I purchase 1/2 and 1/2 - yogurt - cookies - milk, fruit, lettuce, lemon, lime.
I spent $36 at the store...I should have purchased ice cream...I spent $7.99 at the resort for a pint of hagen daz.....

Treat yourself and DW one night to Mesa Grill....and get the shuttle about 5:30 or 6 another night and go to the one and only ocean club.....go down to the seaside bar there - it is sooooooo fabulous, as were the $18 martini's!!!

Be sure to pack some 'nice' shirts to go to Mesa Grill and DUNE bar... khaki shorts are fine.

Man, I can NOT wait to go back .......

 

[DeniseM]

There is a current thread on this topic, so I'm moving your question to that thread.

Be sure you use the search function (Search this forum button) and search for Harborside for lots of information that's already here.

 

[azsunluvr]

All the porters are at baggage claim, so there was no need for help getting through. We only had carry-ons. Saw a couple of people getting baggage searched, but no one even looked like they were going to stop us.

And I've been to Nassau airport 3 times now and have never had to share a cab. In fact, I had to ask to share a cab back to NAS from Harborside when I had to travel by myself.

 

[clsmit]

Hello again,
What are some of the things people take with them to this resort, meaning food wise? I will be travelling from Canada to Fort Lauderdale and then to Nassau.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

What have the hurricanes done to the area and was there much damage?
We are there from December 12 - 19 and then the 19 to 26 in Orlando.
It will be busy but hopefully an enjoyable trip.

All the hurricanes stayed south. No damage of note (knock on wood to get thru the rest of the season!).

Try to do it with just carryons. You can do lots of laundry in the Bahamas and Orlando and will need the same clothes for both. Just wear your winter coats on the plane and carry them when you land.

 

[calgarygary]

Hello again,
What are some of the things people take with them to this resort, meaning food wise? I will be travelling from Canada to Fort Lauderdale and then to Nassau.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

What have the hurricanes done to the area and was there much damage?
We are there from December 12 - 19 and then the 19 to 26 in Orlando.
It will be busy but hopefully an enjoyable trip.

If you plan on doing some cooking in your unit, bring a selection of your favourite spices in zip lock bags. As baggage allowance appears to be changing for the better, take an extra suitcase with snacks, cereals and other staples. We made great use of a collapsable cooler for packing some lunch items and drinks.

By the way, if your stay in FLL allows for it, try to spend some time at Sawgrass Mills for some serious shopping. The prices will blow away anything we see here in Calgary.

 

[billymach4]

How about fresh fish / shrimp in the local markets?

Is there a large selection of fresh seafood available in the markets like City Market? DW likes to prepare and make seafood on vacation.

Please do let me know.

TIA

Bill

 

[clsmit]

There are fishmongers on the other side of the old bridge. I think we discussed them on another thread....

Found it!
http://tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=78742

 

[billymach4]

Another question about communication?

What about phone service, and Internet connectivity???

What is the situation regarding broadband internet service. Is there wireless, or should I bring a cable to plug into the wall? And is it free or is there a charge?

What about phone service back to the states? Is it expensive like most of the Caribbean? What about cell phone service? I have verizon?

Thank You in advance again....

 

[tomandrobin]

What about phone service, and Internet connectivity???

For phone service we used Skype over the internet. Or use a prepaid calling cars. Internet is available.

What is the situation regarding broadband internet service. Is there wireless, or should I bring a cable to plug into the wall? And is it free or is there a charge?

Each room has a cable to use for the internet. The resort charges daily for its use. There is also wireless at the Harborside pool deck, also a fee.

What about phone service back to the states? Is it expensive like most of the Caribbean? What about cell phone service? I have verizon?

Phone service is expensive. Check with verizon to see if you have coverage and what the charges would be. Like I mentioned above, we used Skype on our laptop. The minutes are really cheap and it work very well.

 

[jerseygirl]

I'm almost certain I've been charged $1.99/minute for my Verizon calls while I've been at Harborside. Keep your phone off if you don't want incoming charges to come through.

I've definitely had wireless service (for a fee -- $9.95/day, I think) in the building that's behind the check-in building -- the one where the balconies look straight out at the Royal towers. I think the marina has full wireless capabilities, so if you're close to it, you'll pick it up.

 

[Ken555]

Keep in mind that if you pay for wireless service outside, and then use the cable provided in your unit you will be charged twice. When I was there last my unit could not get wireless reception (I've heard it's improved since then), so I only used it in my unit with the wired connection. Of course, I brought my own small wireless router so I could use the computer at the dining table...

 

[JeffW]

Bill,
..And is City Market on the way to the resort?

Is the the market that's recommended to stop at? Should the taxi driver know where it is? How much time can we spend in there without appearing excessive to the driver? For what it's worth, there will be others in my party remaining in the taxi.

Semi-related - Does anyone have an island tour they'd recommend? I'm looking for perhaps a bus tour (on & off okay, some in my party can't do extensive walking) that might show different parts of Nassau. I was hoping to see more than Paradise Island.

Jeff

 

[calgarygary]

Is the the market that's recommended to stop at? Should the taxi driver know where it is? How much time can we spend in there without appearing excessive to the driver? For what it's worth, there will be others in my party remaining in the taxi.

Semi-related - Does anyone have an island tour they'd recommend? I'm looking for perhaps a bus tour (on & off okay, some in my party can't do extensive walking) that might show different parts of Nassau. I was hoping to see more than Paradise Island.

Jeff

Before entering the taxi, tell the driver you wish to make a grocery stop at City Market, and negotiate in advance the exact amount of fare you are willing to pay.

Although not a tour, make a trip out to Arawak Cay either by jitney or taxi for some great local food.