F.A.Q.'s

Where on Eleuthera is Double Bay?  Double Bay is located near the center of Eleuthera on the Atlantic side.  It is between the towns of Governor's Harbour and Savannah Sound.  Look at the attached maps at the right for more details.

How do I get to Bahamas Castaway?  The closest airport to Bahamas Castaway is Governor's Harbour Airport (GHB), 30 minutes away.  There is also North Eleuthera Airport (ELH) about 1 1/2 hours north.  Travelers can connect through Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) Airport. There are also connections through Nassau (NAU). From Nassau you can use the Bahamas Fast Ferries as another option.

Is a car recommended and how do I reserve one and what does it cost? A vehicle is recommended as most places are not close enough to walk to.  A rental car can be arranged through our Property Manager, John Gibson.  Vehicles rent for $60-90 a day.  In the Bahamas you drive on the LEFT side of the road.

Is it easy to get groceries on Eleuthera? There are several stores close by. There are 2 in Palmetto Point which are a couple of miles away, 2 in Governor’s Harbour, 15 minutes away, one in Tarpum Bay, 20 minutes away and a larger one in Rock Sound called the Market Place, about 30-40 minutes away. You can get pretty much anything in the way of food, toiletries and other basic items you might need. There is also Island Farm on Queens Highway about a mile south of Palemtto Point that has certain fresh produce throughout the year.

Are there good restaurants near by? Yes – you have a variety of restaurants in Palmetto Point, Governor’s Harbor and surrounding area:

Tippy’s –  Palmetto Point - On the Atlantic / Very popular

Mate and Jenny’s – Palmetto Point / good food

Dolcevita - South Palmetto Point / Italian food

Unique Village – North Palmetto Point / good food

Sunset Inn – Governor’s Harbour / good Bahamian food

Cigatoo Inn – Governor’s Harbour

Captain Jack's – North Palmetto/ American type food

Cove Eleuthera – Gregorytown

What should I use for money – cash, credit cards? The currency in the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar, which is equal to the US dollar. US dollars are accepted anywhere. There are a few places that are starting to accept credit cards but plan on bringing cash. If you need extra cash you can go into several banks in Governor’s Harbour and use your credit card at the ATM machine or inside the bank.  There is a new gas station near Palmetto Point on Queen's Highway that accepts credit cards.  There is also a new food store in North Palmetto point that takes credit cards for payment.

Are there phones in the house? Yes you can make local calls only. You can make long distance phone calls by purchasing a Batelco phone card. There are several grocery stores and gas stations that sell them. For your convenience we also offer a cell phone where you can also make long distance calls. You would need to purchase a Quick Cell phone card for pre-paid minutes. 

What about internet service? There are several public places to use the internet. The closest is the Computer Lab/Library/Museum in South Palmetto Point. They charge is $5 an hour to use their computers. There is the Haynes Public Library in Governor's Harbour for the same fee. For wireless laptop users you can go to the Cigatoo Resort in Governor's Harbour and have breakfast, lunch or dinner and use your laptop.

Can I buy fresh fish, lobster, seafood nearby? If you go to the boat ramp in Governor’s Harbour after 3:00 pm in the afternoon when the boats come in you can buy a variety of fish or lobster from the fisherman cleaning them. You can also go to Tarpum Bay at the docks and get your fresh seafood there also in the afternoon.

What are no-see-ums and what can I do to protect against them?  No-see-ums are very small biting gnats - sometimes called sand fleas.  The appear mostly around dawn and dusk.  Some people have a reaction to them as their bite shows up like a mosquito bite and is very itchy.  Mosquito repellent can help if you apply it around dawn and dusk.  To help with the reaction to the itch, an allergy type medicine like Claritin or Benadryl taken daily reduces the itch.

What ID do I need to enter the Bahamas ? A passport is recommended but you can use a birth certificate and a photo ID. As of January 1, 2007 you will need a passport to enter back into the US .

What is the beach like in Double Bay and how accessible is it? Double Bay is one of the most pristine beaches on Eleuthera extending for about 3 miles. To the north of Double Bay you have an endless set of beaches you can also explore. Castaway is at the north end of Double Bay proper. The sand is pink and you can enter the water barefoot just about anywhere along the bay. You have numerous coral reefs in the bays accented by two gorgeous cays (Diamond & Gut) which provide an incredible amount of sea life for the snorkeling or scuba diver enthusiasts. In the winter months occasional tropical storms and currents can shift the sands in front of Castaway exposing smooth limestone rocks. If you go south for 100 yards or so there will always be plenty of sandy beach to enjoy. Each year is different depending on the currents in the Atlantic . If you can find the energy to pull yourself off the deck there is a set of about 10 stairs for easy access to the beach.