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Freeport

Freeport, Bahamas

The car we rented, and were we stopped along the canal to fishMore Photos

by cocopud

A November 2006 travel journal

Last Updated: September 25, 2007

Journal Usefulness Rating 2 out of 5
Journal Usefulness Rating
17
Reviews
5
Photos

Grand Bahama Island, visited a few times and own property...

The car we rented, and were we stopped along the canal to fish
We travel here quite frequently since it is close to the US, and we can find reasonable flights and reasonable hotels and get away from the cold.

Quick Tips:

Rent a car and head down to the east end of the island. If you see somewhere to pull off, give it a try, we have found some nice secluded beaches where we can relax, beachcomb, and fish.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you are staying in the our Lucaya/Port Lucaya area, and you don't want to go anywhere else, you don't need to rent a car and can just get a taxi to your hotel; however, we like to get out and explore, so we always rent a car. They drive on the left side of the road, but there isn't too much traffic, especially once you get out of downtown Freeport area, and we have never had any problems.
Well, the first time I stayed here, I wasn't impressed, but it wasn't horrible either. My boyfriend likes it here because of the marina and fishing boats. The rooms are nothing special, a little old, but they are reasonably priced, so we stayed here on two occasions. My boyfriend likes to bring his fishing rods and just go out to the docks at night and see what he can catch. It is any easy walk over to marketplace for drinks and dinner and then right across the street to the casino and beaches. The only real problems with the room where ants that we had on one visit.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007
We stayed here once around spring break because Port Lucaya Resort and Marina was booked. It was very inexpensive, and no added tax or resort fees on top of the price. The rooms were old, but they weren't so bad that you couldn't sleep there. It was only for a few days and for the price, I didn't mind. Didn't want to pay 3-4 times the price for another hotel like the Sheraton or Westin. We ate breakfast there one morning, and it wasn't very good, but I have never had a breakfast in the Lucaya/Freeport area to rave about. Since it was spring break it was very load with the kids running around all night, but that was too be expected.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007

Cappucinos

Restaurant

We eat at this restaurant every time we are on Grand Bahama Island. It is one of my favorites. It is a little Italian place with good food that is reasonably priced. Last time we were there was during one of the fishing tournaments and they were serving some of the fish in a few of the dishes. We have never made reservations, and haven't had a problem, but we usually go a little early, so you may have problems a little later depending on the season.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007
We ate here once and I had a chicken pot pie with puff pastry and I believe my boyfriend had a burger. It is an Irish pub, so they have a lot of Irish/English entrées, but also a pretty good choice of other foods. My food was very good, as was the beer/ale. I would go back and eat here again, as it is reasonably priced compared to some of the other places we have eaten
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007

Shennagins Irish Pub
Port Lucaya Marketplace Freeport, Bahamas
(242) 373-4734

We usually eat here once during our stay, and we go for the shark bites and conch fritters. I would recommend them; however, we have eaten other food when they did not have the shark or conch, and I wasn't impressed with the food as much, and I don't even remember what I had.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007
We decided to try this place once, and we did not like it at all. The service was terrible, slow and the waitress brought us beer that was flat which was had a hard time getting replaced. As for the food, it was not very good and we would not go back to this place.
  • Member Rating 1 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007

Cally's Restaurant

Restaurant

This is a little Greek place that we usually go to for breakfast. My boyfriend really likes it for breakfast, but I think the food is just so-so, nothing special, just your basic breakfast food. We have gone there for lunch once for gyros and once for dinner and they were both good. I did leave my purse there once, and when I went back an hour or so later, they had it for me, so that made me feel good about the place.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007

Cally's Restaurant
Port Lucaya Marketplace Freeport, Bahamas
(242) 373 8657

The Stoned Crab

Restaurant

I think we have eaten here 3 times, my boyfriend really likes this place, so that is why we go. I like it, but I am not as impressed as he is. It is right on the beach, so we sometimes go down to the beach after dinner. The food is your typical seafood restaurant type food. The last time we were there, most of us had crab legs which were very good. I have tried the seafood platter and some of the stuff was good and other stuff just so-so. The drinks were also very weak last time we were there and we sent them back and asked for more alcohol. I don't like a lot of alcohol in my drinks, but I like to know that there is at least something in there. I don't know if they take reservations or not or if you really need them, since every time we ate there, it wasn't very crowded at all.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007
We usually take a drive to the east end of the island and will stop in High Rock and go to Bishops for a beer and sometimes something to eat. If you are on the main road, look for signs for bishops. There is a bar right on the beach that we like to stop at and if we are hungry, we we go over to the restaurant to order something to go. Usually some sort of sandwich. The restaurant is very basic, but since there isn't much of anything in that area, I would recommend it if you are hungry, since there don't seem to be a lot of choices, and besides it is a great little spot with the beach right there.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007

La Dolce Vita

Restaurant

We finally tried this restaurant after all the times that we had been to Freeport. We sat inside and it had a nice atmosphere; however, they allow smoking inside, and luckily no one too close was smoking, but we could smell it, which bothers me. Otherwise it was a nice place. We ended up eating there twice, as a lot of the other restaurants were closed in September. The waiters were very attentive. The first night we had a nice bottle of wine and they served bread. I got a shrimp and rice dish which was good, but my boyfriend got the roasted garlic and sirloin tips. I tasted it and it was very tender with a good flavor, and it was only $22. That is the reason we decided to go back a second night, since I wanted to get that since it was relatively inexpensive compared to the other restaurants in the area. When I got it a few nights later it was good, but it was much better when my boyfriend had it. His meat was much more tender and my rice was a little hard. The second time he got the raviolis, which he said where very good. I would definitely go back there the next time we go to Freeport.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by cocopud on September 25, 2007

Dolce Vita
Port Lucaya Freeport, Bahamas
(242) 373-8450

Lucianos

Restaurant

We finally tried Luciano's on this trip to Freeport. We had never gone there before, because we heard it was expensive, and we never felt like spending the money. Our bill came to $175 which included a bottle of wine and dessert. We really like the food at this restaurant. It was nice inside the restaurant, but nothing spectacular. We looked over the wine list which was pretty extensive and finally chose a bottle of red wine. Then they served us bread, which was wonderful. Hot fresh french bread. I could have made a meal of the wine and bread alone. We both got the Filet Mignon au Roquefort, since it look good and we both wanted it. We usually try to pick something different, but this time we got the same thing. The filet was pretty big and we didn't finish them. It also came with vegetables and a salad. We also get dessert, which we don't often do. We got the bananas flambee for two. Of course, they flambee it right out in the restaurant, and it was very good. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and where thinking of going back again during the trip, but never did. They also have an early bird special for $28 that include soup or salad, diner, and ice cream.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by cocopud on September 25, 2007

Luciano's
Port Lucaya Marketplace & Marina Freeport, Bahamas
(242) 373-9100

Grouper Grill

Restaurant

I saw an advertisement for the Grouper Grill which is located at the Ocean Reef Yacht Club and since it was right down the street from our condo, we walked down there for lunch. It is right on the water on one of the canals and right next to their pool. Very casual. We order the conch fritter appetizers and grouper sandwiches. All the food was very good. Another evening we decided to go back for dinner, as there was limited choice on the island in September (unless you want to spend a lot of money). I got some sort of shells stuffed with crab and served in which sauce. They were very good. I believe my boyfriend got the grilled grouper which he said was very good. They also gave us complementary salads with our meal. The bill came to around $40 which included a few drinks. We liked the atmosphere of these place, which was very laid back and the food was very good, nothing exceptional, but good food at a good price.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by cocopud on September 25, 2007

Becky's

Restaurant

OK, so we were tired of going down to the port Lucaya for dinner and wanted to try something different. The cab drive had told someone else on our bus that it was on the way to our condo. So we figured we would try it. There was no one else in the place (we should have known to turn back), but we figured we would try it. They had advertised beer and wine on the menu, but had neither, so we got ginger ale. We both ordered the fried grouper and french fries, as that looked the best on the menu.

I must say that it was the absolute worst meal I have ever had. I tried the grouper and it tasted so fishy. I tried a few small bits, but could not eat it. My boyfriend said that his was so tough that it reminded him of chicken steak. Even that I might have been able to eat, but could not get over the fish taste. The fries also were not good. That had that rancid oil taste. The only edible part was the coleslaw, and there wasn't much of that and it was basically just shredded cabbage with very little dressing.
  • Member Rating 1 out of 5 by cocopud on September 25, 2007

Becky's Restaurant
Freeport, Bahamas

This is a cool little bar that we went to once. We tried to go again another time, but it was around 7pm or so and it was closed. Everyone in there is very friendly and the entire floor is covered in beach sand. We ordered some food while we were there, I believe we had shark bites and conch fritters, or something like that and they were very good. The are supposed to have a bonfire on the beach once a week, which we would like to try sometime.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007
OK, every time we are here, we stick around the marketplace for a few drinks and watch some of the show. Usually I am not impressed at all, the same singers performing the same act with the same old songs. Since it is an island, I always wonder why they don't get some steel drum band or even reggae band to perform. It seems a lot of people enjoy the show, but I could take it or leave it. The last time I was there however, we had fun since we had our neighbor and her 8-year old daughter with us. I danced a little and it was fun watching them dance. They also had a limbo guy come up and perform and I don't remember seeing him in the past, and he was pretty impressive. If you are in the area, I guess it it something to do, but I wouldn't go out of my way to see it, but since there doesn't seem to be a lot of other night life options, except for the casino, it it probably about the only thing going.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007
you can walk the flat and fish here
We always rent a car and like to go down to pelican point which is about halfway to the east end of the island from downtown or the Lucaya area. There is a bend in the road where you can pull off and there is a boat ramp there. The beach is pretty nice with lots of shells and you can snorkel a little bit in the rocks or go fish in the flats. We really love this area, it is so relaxing, and we rarely see anyone else there.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by cocopud on January 26, 2007

About the Writer

cocopud
cocopud
ventnor, New Jersey

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