The Eleutheran Magazine Spring 2011

Here'a link to the Eleuthera Magazine, Spring 2011, a sixty page island guide .

Pics of Rainbow Bay Beach, May 2011

BTC upgrades internet service Rainbow Bay area

Good news! BTC upgrades key telecommunications and internet services for Rainbow Bay and Eleuthera Island Shores. Here is the link to the article featured in the local Eleuthera News

Rainbow Bay Eleuthera YouTube video by Yolotraveller

Rainbow Bay Eleuthera Bahamas at Sunset by YouTube video by Yolotraveller

Rainbow Cliffs Youtube Video by yolotraveller

Arriving by Airline or Boat to Eleuthera

You can arrive to Rainbow Bay, Eleuthera by air or boat.
Eleuthera has 3 airports:

Governor's Harbour - GHB (closest to Rainbow Bay about 8 miles south)
North Eleuthera Airport- ELH (the next closest about 25 miles north of Rainbow Bay)
Rock Sound Airport - RSD (Southern Part of Eleuthera-approx 1 1/2 hr drive from Rainbow Bay)

Larger airline carriers from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, Florida:

American ph 800-433-7300 & Continental Airlines ph 800-525-0280, fly from Miami or Ft Lauderdale (an hour's flight to Eleuthera):

Smaller airlines that also fly from Fort Lauderdale:

Bahamas Express ph 754-200-0005
Twin Air ph 954-359-8266
Yellow Air Taxi ph 954-321-0292

Airlines that fly from Nassau, Bahamas to Eleuthera (20 minute flight)

BahamasAir ph 800-222-4262
Pineapple Air ph 242-377-0140
Southern Air Charter ph 242-377-2014 or 2015

Bahamas Ferries from Nassau

You can also catch the large ferry from Nassau (2 hr boat ride) which comes a couple of times per week to Governor's Harbour, and most daily to Spanish Wells in the morning. Contact Bahamas Ferries ph 242-323-2166 or 242-394-9700 for additional information & pricing.

Around & About Rainbow Bay

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Rainbow Bay Eleuthera Bahamas maps

Here are some links to maps of the island area:

Rainbow Bay area maps via link to the Rainbow Bay Property Owners Assn. website.

Eleuthera Island map

Bahamas Island chain map

Eleuthera Online Newspaper

Go here to see the online Eleuthera newspaper called the "Eleutheran"

Here's some other Bahamas online newspapers:

The Nassau Guardian

The Bahama Journal

Bahamas Post

The Bahamas Weekly

The Tribune

PAYING ELEUTHERA UTILITY BILLS

Batelco, (BTC) the telephone company. This can be done online by credit card for ease. Register your account,and you can check balances and pay online with a credit card:

http://www2.btcbahamas.com/aboutus/index.php

https://btcezpayplus.com/login/Login.aspx

Batelco in Governor's Harbour, phone 242-332-2476

BEC, Bahamas Electricity Corportation, you can check your bill online at http://www.bahamaselectricity.com/ after registering your account.
As of this writing, you cannot pay online, but you can check your balance and send a payment to the company. The Nassau phone # is 242-322-2856. The Nassau phone # gives automated account balances. The Governor's Harbour office # is 242-332-2727.

Bahamas Water & Sewer Corporation
http://www.wsc.com.bs
At this time, you are not able to pay online, but they do accept credit cards. If requested, they have a credit card authorization form that you can fill out and fax over to them to make immediate payment, or you can mail a check in with your bill. The Governor's Harbour office phone # is 242-332-2370.

AuthenticBahamas.com - Eleuthera

BRINGING YOUR PETS TO THE BAHAMAS

We have an elderly dog, Daisy, the black miniature poodle who is 15 1/2. We didn't want to leave her home due to her age, so we took her to Eleuthera with us this past trip. She weighs about 20 lbs, but American Airlines advised she was too big too put in a carrier under the seat. Continental Airlines would not work for her either. We could not put her in any cargo due to the heat. There was a recent episode of seven dogs who died on a flight to Chicago due to heat; here is the CNN link to this story. The pet friendly airlines that we found that could take our dog to Eleuthera in a carrier on our lap were the smaller carriers, TwinAir and Fly Yellow Air Taxi. We only knew about Twin Air at the time we reserved our flight, so we used Twin Air out of Fort Lauderdale. They charged $50 for Daisy, and she seemed to do well on the flight.

To bring your pet to the Bahamas, you need to complete the permit import form (link below) and send $10 in cash or money order to the address in Nassau on the form (add $5 extra if you want the form fax'd to you). Then you will also need to make sure your pet has the proper vaccinations listed on the permit form sent to you, and your pet must be seen by your local veterinarian within 48 hours of boarding who will sign off on the health of the dog (if healthy to travel), and provide you with the Bahamian export documentation papers (in addition to the permit form) with the vet's signature for you to provide to Customs upon your arrival to the Bahamas, and your return flight back to your country of origin. This was our first time bringing a pet to the Bahamas, and Daisy seemed to enjoy her trip!

Here is the link for the Bahamas Pet Import Requirements and Form

Bottom Harbour Club Eleuthera

Went to the Bottom Harbour Club, this past Sunday for the buffet at 2:00 pm. Plates were $12.00 plus drinks. Great Bahamian style food, BBQ chicken, ribs, peas & rice, mac & cheese, coleslaw, potato salad, etc. Thumbs up!

Ad previously emailed to us from Facebook:

Bottom Harbour Club Every Sunday - BBQ - 2pm
Located in Whale Point just north or the Glass Window Bridge
road is fixed for easy driving or come by boat
$12.00 plates
$3.00 Drinks
Rake & Scrape
Gubby the Conch Man in the Conch Shack
Enjoy the ocean view, good food, great music
Tell all your friends and family to join in for the BBQ fun

TV and Free WiFi

Now Open Wednesday - Saturday
11am - 9pm for Lunch and Dinner
Sunday BBQ - 2pm

ph 242-470-1667

Tippy's Restaurant

Tippy's is a beach-side restaurant with fine dining. Meal prices are a little higher here, but the exotic island dishes are delicious. They have a nice bar here for tropical drinks. Location is on Banks Road between Governor's Harbour and North Palmetto point, near Pineapple Fields. Reservations are recommended; you may call 332-3331.

Island Made Gift Shop Gregory Town Eleuthera

Island Made Gift Shop is a wonderful place to get your souvenirs. They have some great Eleuthera t-shirts, tropical jewelry, island crafts, etc. This colorfully painted pink building is located in Gregory Town, about 10 miles north of Rainbow Bay.

Front Porch Delights, Hatchet Bay

Front Porch Delights is a quaint place to stop by for a sandwich and a drink. They also have free wi-fi here also. We experienced our usual friendly Bahamian hospitality here during our lunch break. From Rainbow Bay, the location is just slightly north of the Hatchet Bay town entrance, off of Queens Highway, left side of the road. This delightful orange building also houses the Town Store Liquor store.

Two Daisy Dogs in Rainbow Bay Eleuthera

Daisy Dog from Key West got to meet Daisy Dog of Rainbow Bay (my favorite potcake). Daisy from Rainbow was looking good this August visit. One thing we have learned from Daisy from Rainbow is that she doesn't devote her attention to just one person. She likes to spread the love. We fed her some soft dog food, and she spent one night with us on our porch outside, but she has such a following of friends and admirers that she needs to take turns and roam to the next place. She has a mind of her own and is quite independent. She has quite the beach life. She may chase a lizard for a while, and then take a swim at Rainbow Bay Beach, and then perhaps go visit one of her local or tourist friends.

Rainbow Inn Restaurant

The Rainbow Inn Restaurant had their annual year-end closing party for the season Aug 7. They had a good band, food and drinks. Rhonda, the owner, indicated they will be closed for their season break, but the Restaurant will re-open for business around October 15, 2010.

Governor's Harbour Fish Fry & Conch Stand

Friday Nights (weather permitting), Governor's Harbour holds their Fish Fry. Location is Governor's Harbour, seaside, just across the street from the library. Most of the action I am told begins about 9:00 pm with food and music. However, you can still get a good bowl of conch salad beginning around 6:00 pm.

Eleuthera Car Rental

Looking for a reliable car rental in Eleuthera? A car rental is highly recommended to get around the island for touring, beach-hopping, getting groceries, going to restaurants, and day-trips to places such as Spanish Wells and Harbour Island. Kean Stubbs offers friendly service with a smile. He will work with Governor's Harbour (GHB) and North Eleuthera (ELH) airport arrivals.

242-422-9611, cell phone

242-332-0344 Kean & Tia Stubbs, proprieters.

k.stubbs2009@hotmail.com

Brenda & Billy Stubbs are a dear couple who have a charming BBQ operation called "Under the Tamarind Tree". Most Fridays and Saturdays (weather permitting) they are open starting at 11:00 am - 3:00 pm. They serve fresh local Bahamian cuisine in carry-out, take-home cartons. They serve tasty BBQ ribs, chicken, peas and rice, mac & cheese, potato salad, coleslaw, pop, and desserts, etc. They are located in James Cistern off of Queens Highway on the same side of the street as Bethel's Barn Bargains--look for the BBQ sign. James Cistern is just about 4 miles south of Rainbow Bay. When in Eleuthera, this place is highly recommended to experience ultimate delicious Bahamian style food. For call-ahead orders or catering inquiries, phone 335-6111.

Lizards of Rainbow Bay

In Rainbow Bay, you may spot a lizard scampering here and there. They are timid, so they generally scurry away when you approach.

Big Rock General Store, Rainbow Bay Eleuthera

Big Rock is a delightful store located off Queens Highway in Rainbow Bay. Meet Tony and Bernard Bethel, who provide welcoming and friendly customer service. They will be happy to assist you with their selection of convenience food and general store items during your stay in Eleuthera. Stop in and say hello!

Bahamas Hotel Rental Tax now 10% for Vacation Rentals

Effective July 1, 2010, the Bahamas hotel tax on vacation rentals has increased from 6% to 10%. Those owners renting a vacation rental(s) in Rainbow Bay, Eleuthera can submit their monthly returns and payment for ten percent of the rental income collected from guests to the Administrator's Office in Governor's Harbour Eleuthera (the pink post office building in downtown Governor's Harbour).

The monthly return can be completed and mailed in or you can stop by the local office. The return form can be found on the http://www.tourismtoday.com/ website. Here is the link to the monthly return itself. Currently for payment, the office is not accepting US checks--just cash, money orders, or Bahamian checks addressed to the Public Treasury.

The Governor's Harbour Administrator's office phone # is 242-332-2112

Other articles about this topic:

BahamasPost.com

Travel Weekly.com

Note the airport departure tax and cruise departure tax increased also from $15 to $20 per traveler.

The Goombay Smash – Boat Drink

The Goombay Smash – Boat Drink

Eleuthera Bonefishing Adventure on YouTube

Travel Guard Trip Insurance

Trip insurance is a great way to protect your vacation investment against the unexpected. Subject to policy conditions & limitations, Travel Guard, a well-respected insurer, has a trip plan that covers trip cancellation, interruption, hurricanes & inclement weather, emergency evacuation, and more. TO REVIEW AND PURCHASE the Travel Guard, All Seasons Travel Plan #008571 P1, click here.

Harbour Island Barefoot Bandit Apprehended

I did not know who the Barefoot Bandit was until I got a call from a Seattle reporter today. This amazing story about the Harbour Island capture has world coverage on CNN.

Here is the article on Yahoo News.

I think there is a movie in the making!

Yellow Air Taxi--New Service to North Eleuthera Airport

I talked with someone from Yellow Air Taxi on the phone today, and here is the email they sent me of their current promotion to North Eleuthera (they also indicated they were a pet-friendly airline--inquire about their pet policy):

Hi Tamara

Thanks for taking the time to chat about the exciting announcement of NEW Air Service from FLL to North Eleuthera on Sunday, Monday, Thursday, Friday.

For unparalleled service and passenger experience, you can book online www.FlyYellowAirTaxi.com
For additional flights you can call our toll free number 888-935-5694 OR 242-367-0032 OR 954-321-0292
Fares start at $99 one way, based on round trip purchase.

Please forward this information to your friends and WIN A TRIP FOR 2!
As promised, attached is the flyer to post and share with your customers, friends and associates!

Thanks so much,

Denise
Sales Department -Ft. Lauderdale Airport

www.FlyYellowAirTaxi.com
305 343 4150

Around & About Rainbow Bay

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Kyoko Miyake, The Oven Songs - Eleuthera Island video

Kyoko Miyake "The Oven Songs" - Eleuthera Island. Enjoy the Youtube Video. You can hear Dr. Seabreeze sing in the background.

Wednesday Ladies Nite Bottom Harbour Beach Club

From: Bottom Harbour Club
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 6:10 PM
Subject: Bottom Harbour Club Wednesday Ladies Nite Disco

Wednesday Ladies Disco Nite
Bottom Harbour Beach Club
Whale Point

Road is fixed for easy driving

Featuring:

2 for $5.00 Beer Specials
2 for 1 Drink Specials
.50 cent Wings
Jello Shots
Chicken Souse

7 pm - Til
359-7163

Free WiFi

WOW TV on the Beach

Check out this interesting TV Service on the Beach, a Youtube video--to access, you have to be at a location where you can get internet service. The guy in the video doesn't seem to need a good book to read when he's got his favorite tv shows from his laptop in Belize.

Lenny Kravitz, the Shakeout.

I'm going to have to try that aloe hair treatment. Looks like it feels good! Background song on the Shakeout youtube video is Lenny's "Eleutheria" song.

Glass Window Gallery/Laughing Lizard Cafe

Just received this email in my inbox about the Glass Window Art exihibit. You might also want to check out the Laughing Lizard Cafe next door (located on the northern end of Gregory Town). They have great food. They also have some outdoor eating tables that have a spectacular view of Gregory Town.

Glass Window Art Gallery presents

ELEUTHERA - A NATURAL BEAUTY Photography Exhibit

April 10-17 2010

Opening reception 6-9 pm

Location- Gregory Town, next door to the Laughing Lizard Cafe (now serving gourmet pizza on Saturday nights)

For more info call 359-7467 or email anng68@gmail.com

Rainbow Bay Eleuthera, Key Lime Cottage for rent

We have a lovely beach cottage for rent in(built 2008). We have painted it lime, and appropriately named it the "Key Lime Cottage", to remind us of the delicious Key Lime pie we have tasted on the island.

The home's location is directly across popular Rainbow Beach on Wandering Shore, and can accommodate one to four guests. This cottage is fully furnished with all of the amenities for your comfort, including central air and satellite tv. A great place to unwind and relax.


For more information, you can check out our website:


http://www.eleuthera-bahamas-vacation-rentals.com/

Rainbow Bay Beaches

Atlantic Side--Ocean Drive

Smuggler's Beach

Hidden Beach

Caribbean side-Rainbow Bay Beach

Rainbow Bay subdivision is fortunate to be a part of some of the beautiful beaches that surround Eleuthera. On the Caribbean side, is Rainbow Bay Beach (pictured above), which is a great place for swimming and snorkeling. This beach is located on Wandering Shore Drive. On the Atlantic side, you have Little Twin Beach, Smugglers Beach, Hidden Cove and Come-N-Go Beach. Beach-hopping is a must-do on Eleuthera. Each beach offers something unique, whether you're looking for calm water, waves, shelling, etc.

Key West Daisy Dog, Winter 2010

Glad to see that it's beginning to warm up and we should have some great ocean temps for swimming and snorkeling. Had a longer stretch of cooler weather this winter season than usual in Florida. Generally the weather in Key West, FL is pretty comparable to Eleuthera. Believe it or not, our dog Daisy got a little chilly in Key West on the days the temperature dropped, and we put on her Snuggie. She probably didn't get much sympathy from her dog friends from the North and Midwest where there was a lot of snow.

Blog with Great Eleu Photography

Here's a blog I ran across from a Eleuthera vacationer who took some great pictures, and shows the essence of what this place is all about.

Water's Edge Internet Cafe

Internet Cafe in Hatchet Bay, only 4 miles to the north of Rainbow Bay.
Sandwiches and internet service available.
ph 242-335-0679

Rainbow Bay Association

Rainbow Bay Association website:

http://www.rainbowbay.org/

Bahamian Food Recipes

Click here for:

Bahamian Food Recipes

The Seahorse

One of my favorite sea creatures is the Seahorse. I was fortunate enough to see a small one floating majestically by itself one day in the water at Rainbow Bay Beach, and I was totally fascinated with it.

Song, "SomeWhere Over the Rainbow"

Popular song, "Somewhere over the Rainbow", Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Listen on youtube. Pleasant song, and great scenery visuals.

Article: Somewhere Over the Rainbow Bay

Do you want to visit a tranquil paradise setting like Oz? I have personally witnessed some fantastic colorful rainbows in Rainbow Bay, Eleuthera, Bahamas, as well as gorgeous sunsets.

If you want to escape the crowds, and get to an affordable island destination, then you should consider Rainbow Bay. Eleuthera island has miles of beautiful, unspoiled beaches, and Rainbow Beach is one of the most popular. The Rainbow Bay community has a large land area, but homes are sparsely scattered here and there, with homes on both the Caribbean and Atlantic oceansides.

The Rainbow Bay area is a highly sought after area for visitors to stay. Most of the accommodations are private home rentals, where there is a local Caretaker to assist you. The location of the Rainbow Bay community is about 8 ½ miles north of the Governor’s Harbour Airport (GHB), and located between the town villages of Hatchet Bay (four miles to the north) and James Cistern (4 miles south).

A car rental is highly recommended to get around the area to explore the various beaches, and to get to the grocery stores, restaurants, etc. The nearest grocery store in Rainbow Bay is a convenience store called Big Rock. However, there are larger grocery stores elsewhere on the island. There is also a nice restaurant called the Rainbow Inn which is located near the tennis courts off of the corner of Queens Highway and Lazy Shore Road. As Eleuthera is a long skinny island (about 110 miles by 2 miles at the widest), there is one main road that travels all the way north or south called Queens Highway, so it is hard to get lost.

Although the Rainbow Bay area has beach areas on both the Atlantic and Caribbean oceansides, the most popular beach is Rainbow Beach located on Wandering Shore Drive. This beach is family friendly and has picnic tables. This is a great place to snorkel, and kayak rentals are available on the island.

Eleuthera itself has a small population of less than 12,000 people. The main city, Governor’s Harbour, is located about 16 miles to the south, where there is a larger grocery store, gas stations, some souvenir stores, restaurants, deli, bakery, library, and other government buildings. However, up and down the island, there are many town settlements such as Hatchet Bay, which has an internet café, and James Cistern which has a couple of small restaurants, gas and convenience stores.

Eleuthera is that special place to have quiet tropical relaxation, to enjoy water sports, soak in the sun, and to breathe fresh ocean air. This is not a place for those looking for commercialized areas with fancy shopping malls or casinos. This is a casual dress, laid-back island with shorts and t-shirt as the standard.

It is common for visitors to Rainbow Bay to take a day trip to explore the tourist places such as Spanish Wells or Harbour Island. To visit either of these island locations, it involves about a 30 minute drive to the north. Park your car and take a five minute ferry over. Both of these locations have golf cart rentals to tour. Spanish Wells is a quaint fishing village with pastel colored homes, and Harbour Island has the famous Pink Sands beach as wells as souvenir shopping and restaurants.

A favorite Eleuthera artist, Mal Flanders, sadly passed away in 2004, but his work lives on.

Prepare for Hurricane Season

As you know we are approaching prime hurricane season, so it is important for homeowners in the tropics to make sure they are prepared. Official hurricane season is June 1 through November 30 of each year. Although hurricanes can occur at any time, history has shown major storms to have developed around mid August through mid September. Hurricane Floyd was particularly hard on Eleuthera, and occurred September 14, 1999. I have experienced several hurricanes in the Florida Keys, and Hurricane Wilma flooded Key West pretty bad on October 24, 2005. Hurricanes can cause severe wind damage to roof structures, and/or severe flooding. However on the positive side, (in contrast to tornados which give virtually no warning)hurricanes generally give you several days notice to prepare, and for Tourists and Residents to plan their evacuation or preparation. As a result of my family's hurricane experiences, I would like to share some tips on protecting you and your property:

Storm tracking can be seen at http://www.noaa.gov/
This is an excellent site for following the timeline and projected path of any hurricane. We also stay in tune with the Weather channel, as the tropical updates are generally ten minutes before each hour (1:50, 2:50, 3:50, etc.)

Trim any large tree branches that are near your roof. Fallen trees can pose a real problem during high winds.

Make sure you have all of your shutter hardware and tools stocked and available to cover all windows and patio doors. Don't wait until the last minute.

If in a flood zone, consider putting your appliances like your washer & dryer on blocks. Store your car somewhere at a higher elevation. The salt water ruins appliances and engines. Place your outside air condition unit on a high platform so that it doesn't get flooded. Consider buying a water vacuum. This works nice if your home gets flooded, as it is important to get the water out asap so that mold doesn't set in. Mops, paper towels and cleaning supplies are good to have on hand too.

Have an evacuation plan for your family and pets. Remember to take any prescription medicines you may need, and pet supplies. Plan where you will be staying in advance, and if evacuating the island, keep in mind when the airports will be closing due to inclement weather.

If you are not evacuating, make sure you have plenty of food & water, and in a secured building, (and at a higher elevation if flooding is a threat from storm surge).

Know where your homeowner's insurance papers are safely stored, and other important documents.

Make sure your family photographs are stored in waterproof containers higher off the ground if you are in a flood zone. Buy some bags of inexpensive painter's plastic drop cloths to cover furnishings or computers. In flood zones, keep computer hardware off the ground. Make the necessary data backups and store in a safe place.

Prepare a hurricane kit or tub. We fill ours with flashlights, batteries, candles, matches, manual can openers, plastic bags, cordless drill, tools, etc.

Prepare your communication systems, cell phones, radios, emergency contact #'s, etc.

Generators are nice. You can count on the power going out in a major storm. Just practice safety with the generators (place accordingly to prevent carbon dioxide).

It's good to have a tarp in storage readily available in the event of roof damage. It may be hard to find one on the island after a storm hits and you'd have to wait to import one in.

Secure your boat (if applicable).

We certainly don't want to see any more hurricanes for a while, but they are a part of the tropical lifestyle. Most importantly, listen to your local officials and heed their warnings. Don't take chances with your life. Stay safe!

Bahamas Radio Stations

AM RADIO:

810 R. Bahamas Northern Svc (ZNS3) Freeport
1240 Inspiration, Nassau (ZNS2)
1540 Radio Bahamas, Nassau (ZNS1)


FM RADIO

89.9 Splash FM, Spanish Wells
93.5 Radio Abaco
94.9 More 94FM, Nassau
96.1 Cool FM, Freeport
97.5 Love 97 FM, Nassau
100.3 100 JAMZ, Nassau
102.9 Island Nassau & Caribbean ,World
104.5 Power 104.5 ZNS FM, Nassau
107.1 ZNS-1, Nassau
107.9 ZNS-2, Nassau