How to Bae-Cation in the Bahamas

“It must be so hard to be in a relationship when you’re always traveling” 

No matter which way you slice it, travel blogging is a fabulous job that does simultaneously take you away from friends, family, and even potential partners. So when you find someone worth the wait, you make it happen… Even long distance. 

This is where Bae-Cations become extremely important…

Bae-Cation: A trip you take with your significant other to reconnect, relax, and remember the reasons you fell in love. 

So as my birthday, which falls on Valentine’s Day, was fast approaching… we scoured destinations together to find the perfect getaway. 

We decided on the beautiful islands of the Bahamas… the cerulean waters, fresh seafood, and warm weather was all we needed to know before booking our flights. 

Having never been there before, I had no idea where to start, which islands to visit, or what there was to do. So I have put together a guide below of how to do a proper bae-cation in the Bahamas. 

Enjoy! 

Where We Stayed: 

The Cove, Eleuthera 

As you pull into the paved drive, framed with lush palms... you're handed a chilled Bahama Mama as you settle into your new island home away from home. The warm smiles of the hotel staff welcomes you to the paradise that is The Cove, Eleuthera. 

Sweeping views of cerulean sea run along two private beaches within the properties expansive estate. The bight and luxurious guest rooms, suites, and villas have all the modern amenities needed to fully relax and recline during your stay. With flat-screen TV's, in-room wifi, and an impeccable room service menu... you'll find it hard to leave the comforts of your new home.

Just outside your slated wooden doors, lies a beautiful infinity pool, sunset bar, restaurant, gym, spa, entertainment room, hammocks and more all at your leisurely disposal. Take a paddle board out for a spin, or snorkel the beautiful coral reefs just a short swim from the sandy shoreline. 

Dine in for lunch at the lovely Gregory Town Grill to try fresh local favorites including tuna tartare and citrus conch salad. After days spent soaking up the sun, grab a drink for happy hour as the sunsets from the comfort of your own hammock (servers come to you!). In the evening, the onsite Freedom restaurant serves up a wide array of fare from fresh sushi and the catch of the day, to perfected steaks and pork chops. 

The Cove Eleuthera is one of those rare gems in the Caribbean that truly understand the meaning behind an experiential and personalized stay. The staff feel like family, the resort feels like home, and the beach is your playground. This is the perfect place to get away from it all with style, sophistication, and thoughtful detail.

The Pink Sands Resort

Arriving into the lush, open-air lobby edged with impressive Banyan trees, one would immediately get the impression they were arriving into the jungle more closely related to Costa Rica or Bali. 

Yet, the Pink Sands Resort on Harbor Island is a rustically quaint getaway, just a short boat ride from the island of Eleuthera. 

On over 20 acres of land, this resort lays on one of the most iconic stretches of pink sand beaches in the Caribbean. Their beach bungalows are minimalistic in style, with a clean neutral palette. 

Hungry? Head on over to their Blue Bar for a conch salad, or fish tacos, or opt for more formal dinner at Malcolm 51, serving everything from the freshest catch of the day to a delectable slow roasted chicken. 

This beach resort is great for disconnecting from the outside world, while allowing yourself to truly reconnect with the natural beauty of the Caribbean.

What We Did: 

Conch Diving: 

Maybe it’s seeing him with his shirt off, freediving for his life to get you lunch but conch diving with bae is certainly a way to get the blood pumping and emotions building. Basically you go out on a half-day boat (tanning, anyone?) and then pull into a cove to snorkel around and find conchs. Once spotted, you or most likely bae will free dive down, grab the shell with conch inside, and bring it back to the boat for a lovely shore lunch. I mean is there anything more manly than watching him hunt and gather? #justsaying.

Biking: 

Some of the best adventures we’ve been on this trip have been when we just jumped on our bikes and went for a ride. We ended up at an old-school ice cream parlor. Hey, carbs don’t count on the islands, especially when biking! We also came across a fun reggae club with cheap beers and hopping music – Daddy Dilly’s Club and Ice Cream Parlor, neither of which are Google Map-certified, hence the surprise run-in while biking.

Have a Hammock Happy Hour:  

At the end of a hard day we transition into night with the hammock happy hour, where waiters at The Cove bring you whatever you want straight to your hammock at half price until sundown. I mean, is there anything better?

Kayaking & Snorkeling: One of the days we set off on an excursion that included kayaking and snorkeling together. It was so incredible, for one… you get a work out, there are plenty of strong currents and it’s an amazing way to be active while still catching some rays. Also, the marine life we saw was second to none. From dolphins, eagle rays, and tropical fish to various sponge and fan coral. This is a great activity to do as a couple as well because you can kayak, swim and see everything together. 

The Queen of the Adriatic

With only my haphazardly packed weekend luggage, a oneway ticket for the boat to Lido, and a fresh batch of jet lag… I started my journey through the canals of the majestic city of Venice. I had just returned from my jaunt through Asia via Bangkok, Bali, Singapore, and Tokyo, when the opportunity to start my summer off in Europe quickly materialized. My first stop on my trip, was the Queen of the Adriatic, the sinking city… Venezia. 

I had only seen this cities marvelous setup in the likes of big hollywood movies. The scenes of acquiring keys to a wooden boat just in the knick of time to escape a plotted ambush or visions of James Bond perusing the canals after sending in his “resignation” flashed through my mind as we weaved past gondolas, under bridges, and eventually up to our charming hotel on the Grand Canal. 

The city was buzzing from the Architecture Biennale that was taking place on the east end, and the streets were filled with the throngs of summertime tourists scarfing down gelato and skipping across the pedestrian bridges, selfie sticks in hand. For me, I didn’t find the real Venice during a simple serenade of “That’s Amore” in my overpriced gondola ride. And it wasn’t in the square of Saint Marco, with its large bell towers and sea of pigeons. 

No. 

I found the real Venice in all her beauty in the misty morning, far before any tourist had opened their sleepy little eyes. The night before, a vigorous thunderstorm rolled in over the city sending travelers and locals scurrying for an awning, a cafe, or whatever form of shelter was nearby… I on the other hand snuck back to my hotel and was put almost immediately to sleep from the cooing of the raining and the booming of thunder.    

I woke at 5:30am the next day, flustered that I had crashed so early the night before. With the sun lightly peering in through my venetian window… I was summoned to the damp streets below. I walked along the corridors of my sleepy hotel until I reached the Grand Canal exit. I begin meandering down small streets with no direction, maps, or cares. And that's when I saw her. 

The real city, her real beauty was then and there for me to admire. I mindlessly followed the sounds that interested me, from a morning phone call taken from the balcony overlooking the small canal, to the sound and smell of the fresh fish being loaded into the Rialto Market before the big day ahead.

I followed three men in striped shirts until they turned off to their respective gondola stations, where they slowly unwrapped their protected, precious boats like christmas presents. I said “Buongiorno" to the street cleaner who was happily humming as he cleaned up the debris from the nights storm. I admired the buildings, freshly washed in the rain, that were vibrant in hue and elaborate in decor and to me, this was the real Venice, a regal queen wise and beautiful, filled with charm and subtle romance. 

I got to see a glimpse of her knowing face before she turned back into the bustling city of hopeless lovers, tourists, and lackluster cuisine… and to be honest, I wasn’t even mad. Because I got to see her, and I knew how she really was.

The Magical Island of Vieques

My recent trip to Vieques was booked 8 hours before my plane took off. After a long weekend of hosting my annual Christmas dinner party and a Caribbean Yacht Week brunch, I took the opportunity to decompress and get some much needed alone time. 

During the holiday season, I love to sneak away to find a little time for myself to reflect on what worked and what didn’t over the year and the fact that this trip was dreamed up the day of departure made it all the more exciting and spontaneous. 

So many people I know find the thought of traveling by yourself extremely scary and overwhelming and are given even higher levels of anxiety by last minute travel plans with minimal thought… I find the combination of these two elements exceptionally exhilarating and makes the trip not only memorable but also magical. 

For those that may not know, Vieques is an island 20 minutes by flight off the coast of Puerto Rico. So in less then four hours… bringing only a few bikinis, a backpack, my camera and a drivers license, I found myself in 80 degree weather on a white sandy beach, drinking a rum runner in the Caribbean. 

After editing a few projects on the balcony of my hotel room, at the W in Vieques. I ordered a green smoothie and passion fruit juice to take a break. When my order arrived, I got to chatting with a Vieques local that worked at in-room dining about my blog and my love of travel after he noticed my FujiFilm camera and tripod. He explained to me that photography was also one of his biggest passions and that he loved shooting and exploring new parts of the island. 

So the next day I rented a red jeep, and Wally and I drove down to Esperanza, on the south side of the island, and ate lunch at an amazing local spot called Bili’s. We ordered seafood paella and ended up shooting a couple looks at Sun Bay, Corona’s and coconuts in hand. 

He told me about the history of Vieques as an island, what it was like growing up there and showed me everything from the best place to snorkel (mosquito pier) to a completely overgrown sugar mill that resembled something out of the movie Tarzan. 

If I had been traveling with other people or didn't trust my instincts to explore and travel on my own, I would have never experienced and learned all about the magical nuances and intricacies of the island. Sometimes, the best way to see new places is to go unapologetically alone to the destination, as it forces you to come out of your shell, ask around and start to emerge with the other travelers and locals around you. 

Vieques really is one of the most beautiful and easy to get to places from the East Coast, while still remaining organically cultured without the over saturation of trying tourists.

Treehouse Glamping in Tvärred

A few weeks ago, I stepped back in time. I traded in the luxuries of high-speed Internet and movies on-demand for a rural and romantic rendezvous in a treehouse in Northern Sweden. 

On our way up from Malmo, after landing in Copenhagen we picked up fresh cheese, sausages, ingredients for a killer salad, and of course marshmallows. Armed with old gas lanterns, a deck of Uno cards older than me, lots of wine, and a trusty axe... we setup camp under the full moon in an incredible treehouse complete with an in-ground grill/fireplace and wood floors.

It's so important to digitally detox every once and a while to appreciate the simple things around you. The fresh air, fresh food, and great wine suddenly made the monotonous trials of our daily, chaotic lives fade to a silence.