by Lorelle Noble

Created on: September 06, 2008

Travel Destinations: The Bahamas

Would you like to enjoy a fantastic vacation in the Bahamas but can't afford the ever-popular Atlantis resort? Well, consider The Westin at Our Lucaya. For much less you can fly into Freeport, enjoy deluxe accommodations, and have your fun on the immaculate grounds of this well-maintained resort on Grand Bahama Island.

I had heard that the Bahamians were not the friendliest of peoples before my trip but I did not find that to be the case in my experience. The Westin resort was well appointed and upon exiting our cab we were greeted promptly by a bell hop that collected our things and ushered us into the Manor House where we checked in. The staff was very accommodating as we had to twice push our reservation back a day due to problems with our flight. They gave us no trouble at all with this. The view from the Manor House is so intoxicating. Huge picture windows give way to the beautiful Bahamian ocean which sparkled like a sea of turquoise gems. May sound corny and clichd, I know, but it was oh so true. First words out of my mouth: "I can't believe the water is really that blue!"

The entire property is beautifully landscaped with plenty of paths if you just want to take a stroll. A nice cool gazebo or a comfy rocker awaits you if you need to rest. There are three large pools with more than enough loungers to go around as well as plenty of places to eat on site. We even splurged one night at Churchill's Chop House, the resort's most elegant restaurant, where the food and service exceeded our expectations. Our deluxe ocean view room was clean and nice on the inside, though not exceptionally decorated, the outside view however made up for this. Our terrace was wide and deep so we had a clear view of the ocean side and the port side. More expensive accommodations existed in the Lanai Suites and less expensive at the Sheraton. All rooms share the same immaculate grounds and amenities.

Many shops exist on site and also close by. It's hard to tell where the resort shops end and the other shops begin. Across the street, bargain hunt at the Port Lucaya Marketplace which consists of a local straw market and duty-free boutiques. Shop around. Prices vary considerable between vendors. We found that eating in this area was much cheaper than eating at the resort. All of the establishments we visited were clean and staffed with friendly natives. This is also the area to book activities such as the glass bottom boat ride and other tours. Water sports

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