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At 04:06:57 PST on 03-02-99, Julie wrote:
>At 20:08:52 PST on 03-01-99, Nick wrote:
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>>We just returned from Nassau Beach. Overall, I give it is a good value for the money and we had a wonderful time. The property itself is very attractive, especially the architecture, the gardens and pool and the gorgeous beach. Make sure you get a renovated room -- ours was nice and spacious and had a wonderful partial ocean view/partial pool view. No problems with smells or dirty rooms. Tennis courts were in good shape. We did see the unrenovated rooms and they are a big step down, but not awful.
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>>One mixed spot is the service. The pool/beach bar has only one guy on duty for most of the day and he couldn't fill orders quickly enough. Sometime would take 15-20 minutes to get a drink (or burger for lunch). We ended up making our own drinks (took 1 gallon jug of rum punch to the beach with room ice cooler) so we could just help ourselves and save money (50 cents/drink instead of bar price of $5.50) For lunch we recommend Johnny Canoe's (great food at low prices) or the pool restaurant at the Crystal Palace next door (good views and reasonable food/prices). Room cleaning was fine. People in the front desk could be a little more helpful at times, but they were fine for most part. Being nice to them seemed to help a little.
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>>We had full access to Marriott Crystal Palace facilities, but really only used their restaurants and casino. Nassau Beach Hotel beach and pool were nicer and/or less crowded (although it pays to stake out your spot/lounge chairs on the beach by 11am or so.
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>>So, bottom line is good value, beautiful property, mediocre service.
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>Thank you for the update. We are going to the NBH the end of March and had heard mixed reviews. I have been there twice before and always had a great time but the last time was two years ago so I was a little leary when I read some of the bad reviews. Glad to hear that it is still the quaint hotel (on a beautiful beach) that I remember. About the Rum Punch - can you post the recipe? I am assuming that you can buy all the ingredients at or near the hotel, is that true. Also, let me know if you did or found anything else interesting during your trip (neat restaurant, tourist attraction) or something to stay away from. Thanks for the info!
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Julie --
Our recipe is pretty simple: mix cranberry and grapefruit juice half and half, then add as much rum as you like. Pour over cup with ice. This is a nice crisp, not too sweet, punch I learned at the Bacardi factory in Puerto Rico a few years ago (they called it the Windjammer). But I'm sure there are other punch recipes out there.
The hotel has a liquor store and we bought some Bacardi there for $3.75. For reasonably priced juice, the grocery store is down the road a bit (a good hike -- bus is another option). Or you can buy 16 oz bottles of juice at the cafe in the hotel for a pricey $2.50. We went with the latter. 4 bottles of juice and 1/3 of the bottle of rum (so $12) produced about 14 drinks.
Other recommendations? For a fabulous but expensive meal, make reservations at "Sun And..." in Nassau. Service and food was exquisite. Get a table by the pool.
Also, go up to Fort Fincastle and climb up the water tower (50 cents) for a fabulous view of Nassau, Paradise Island and the harbour.
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