Bahamas Travel Guide by Brooke Mcauley

Tell us a bit about yourself.

Hola! I’m Brooke, 24 years old from Melbourne, Australia. Wherever the sun shines, that’s where you’ll find me! I’m definitely not cut out for Winter weather, always seeking a good dose of vitamin D with a constant urge to explore a new destination.

I’m a huge family girl and I really enjoy meeting new people. On the weekends I love spending time with my boyfriend Brenton, or catching up with my close group of girlfriends for a wine. The best things in life :) 

I am currently working in a few different industries which I absolutely love as it always keeps me busy and motivated. One of these industries is Ballet dancing, which is a very special part of my life as it lead me to work as a professional Ballerina in Dresden, Germany. Another industry is the Blogging world, which always has new and exciting opportunities unfolding almost every day! I love being able to publicly document the things I'm passionate about through chaptersbybrooke.com and have the chance to tap into my creative side. I’ve recently signed with Silhouette Models so I'm super excited to see how that new chapter unfolds, I’ll keep you posted! ;)

Where in the Bahamas did you travel to?

I traveled to a little island called Exuma, a beautiful and untouched slice of heaven.

How many days did you stay for and was it enough?

I stayed in Exuma for 7 days which was plenty of time to relax and explore. It really is quite a small island so I’d recommend just a 5 day stay to anyone thinking of traveling there. 

What was your favourite place in the Bahamas? 

The winner for me was definitely ‘Chat ’n’ Chill’ beach club. An absolute must visit! A 15 minute water taxi ride from Exuma located on a beautiful secluded island. Spend your day soaking up the sun with beachy reggae tunes playing over the speakers, while friendly stingrays brush past your feet in the shallows. Make sure you grab a fresh conch salad from the beach bar to top of your day!

What was the first thing you did when you arrived?

Whip on the bikinis and soak up the sunshine from our back deck which looked straight out onto the bluest ocean I've ever seen! It was honestly the colour of Windex surface cleaner! 

Where did you find the best beach?

Right outside our Air BnB! Literally, there was a perfect white sand beach just steps from our back door! Waking up to that view every morning was pretty special.

What were some of your favourite places to eat/drink and types of food.

Can I say Chat ’n’ Chill again? They seriously served the best grilled fish in the world! We went back there three times and I got the fish on every visit ha ha. I assure you there are other yummy options on the menu too! 

Best place for sunset cocktails?

Tropic Breeze! A super casual and relaxed beach bar which has a never ending view of the ocean. Make sure you order the seafood nachos, they are the perfect sunset snack, but beware, the cocktails are strong! 

Best places to stay?

There is a myriad of fantastic Air BnB options in Exuma! If you can, try and stay as close to central George Town possible, the convenience of being nearby the grocery store, bank and water taxi dock comes very in handy when cabs aren't so easy to get a hold of! 

What are some of your packing essentials? 

Bali Body tanning oil always comes with me to tropical destinations, as well as my favourite Ete Swimwear crochet bikinis. A good quality shampoo & conditioner to look after those sun drenched strands, my trusty denim shorts and a huge supply of contact lenses, nothing worse than running out and not being able to see the beautiful views! 

5 tips for others travelling to the Bahamas:

1) Pre book a day trip to Pig Island, a one of a kind experience which you’ll never get anywhere else in the world!

2) If you can, hire a car! Exuma is so spread out and it is really tricky getting a cab! (they are crazy expensive too!)

3) If you’re staying in an Airbnb, ask your host to pre buy your groceries for you. There is only one delivery of fresh fruit and veg per week to Exuma! So first in best dressed!

4) Pack a jumper! Suprisingly, it did get a little chilly at times with that beachy breeze.

5) Enjoy the bliss of such an untouched island, it’s hard to come across locations that aren't swamped with tourists and marketed for tourists as well! 

I was pleasantly surprised with….

The colour! I was not expecting Exuma to be such a colour vibrant place. Every front door, beach bar, bank and grocer was a different shade of soft pink, baby blue or minty green. Even the hospital was bright pink! It was just gorgeous, you can’t help but smile. 

Describe your trip in 3 words.

1. Untouched 

2. Exotic

3. Hakuna Matata!

To see more from Brooke head to her Instagram @brookemcauley_ and her blog chaptersbybrooke.com 

For more travel inspo read our Nice Travel Guide by Matilda Djerf.