Expert: Barry Benjamin - 9/7/2006

Question
My wife and I are travelling to Long Island for a week long stay at Cape Santa Maria in May 2007.  We are already making arrangements.  I have some questions:

1)  We will stay one night in Nassau before heading to Long Island.  We are considering staying at the Hilton British Colonial.  Have you heard any information about whether tourists who have stayed here have had good or bad experiendes here or what the good features and bad features of this hotel might be?

2)  Which airline do you recommend to fly from Nassau to Long Island.  We are conidering Bahamas Air.

3)  We heard that the airport in the southern part of Long Island (Deadman's Cay) is open to regular passenger airlines but the airport in the northern part of Long Island (Stella Maris) is closed at this time to passenger air traffic (although it has re-opened to private pilots and commercial traffic).  We would much rather fly into Stella Maris as we would have to travel a lot further from the airport to Cape Santa Maria if we have to fly into Deadman's Cay.  Do you know when the Stella Maris Airport will re-open (or do you know someone we could contact to find out)?

4)   What are the best places to snorkel in Long Island?  What are some of the best sites to see?

5)  I have heard that Conception Island near Long Island is a very beautiful small secluded island near Long Island.  Is it possible to reach this island during a day sail from Long Island?

Answer
I can only answer part of your question. I have forwarded your question to someone else who can help you on the the Long Island part.
the British Colonial has been restored to its previous grand state when it was first built. I have stayed there myself and like it quite a bit. Some of the good features: close to downtown and many governement offices, close to the docks, lots of shops in and around the hotel, just on the edge of the traffic (I won't lie to you and say there is no traffic but I have found it to be better back and forth to the airport than staying on Paridise Island), beach and the view of the cruise ships coming and going.
Some of the negative features: it is not cheap, it is not really kid oriented, the traffic noise can be bad in the afternoon, the lounge can get crowded, the rooms are neither drab nor spectacular.
I hope I can help with some of the other questions as soon as my friend replies to me.