Frequently Asked Questions

Where on Eleuthera is Double Bay? 

Double Bay is located near the center of Eleuthera on the Atlantic side. It is between the towns of Governor's Harbour and Savannah Sound. See map  

 Peter Loud Eleuthera map

How do I get to Veselka?

 Veselka is about 30 minutes south of Governor's Harbour Airport (GHB). Rock Sound Airport (RSD) is about 30 minutes south of Bahamas Castaway. Travelers usually make a connection through Ft. Lauderdale (FLL) Airport or Miami Airport (MIA). There are also connections through Nassau (NAU). JetBlue flies from New York and Boston to Nassau. From Nassau you can use the Bahamas Fast Ferries as another option.

Money? 

The currency in the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar, which is equal to the US dollar. US dollars are accepted anywhere. There are a few places that accept credit cards (e.g. the liquor store on Cupid's Cay) but you will need cash. Dollars can be obtained from the banks in Governor’s Harbour and credit cards can be used  at the ATM machine or inside the bank. Yiu will need cash for fuel.

Phones? 

Veselka does not have a phone. You can use the public phone boxes in Palmetto Point or Governor's Harbour. Batelco phone cards can be purchased at most grocery stores or petrol stations. To phone the US it costs 47 cent/min . Most U.S. cell phones do not work on Eleuthera, but you may be lucky.

Internet service? 

There are several public places to use the internet. The closest is the Computer Lab/Library/Museum in South Palmetto Point. They charge is $5 an hour to use their computers. There is the Haynes Public Library in Governor's Harbour for the same fee. For wireless laptop users you can go to the Cigatoo Resort in Governor's Harbour and have breakfast, lunch or dinner and use your laptop.

Seafood? 

Unfortunately there is no fish market. The closest you will get is at Tarpum Bay (20 mins drive south on QH from Veselka) where local fishing boats bring in their catch. Buy directly from them off the dock (snapper, lobster, grouper). Sometimes a similar sort of scenario occurs at the boat ramp in GH. In Tarpum Bay you can usually get a conch salad from a roadside stall for $8.

No-see-ums and mosquitoes? 

No-see-ums are sand flies that bite, mostly around the ankles. The appear mostly around dawn and dusk. Some people have a reaction to them as their bite shows up like a mosquito bite and is very itchy. Don't scratch and after a short while the itch will go away. Use Off! if you like, it seems to work. Mosquito repellent can help if you apply it around dawn and dusk. To help with the reaction to the itch, an allergy type medicine like Claritin or Benidryl taken daily reduces the itch. You can also apply a gel made by Band Aid (in one of the house's bathroom cabinets)

Entry documentation ? 

You need a passport, or proof that you have applied for one..

The beach?

 Double Bay is one of the most pristine beaches on Eleuthera extending for about 2 miles. To the north of Double Bay you have an endless set of beaches you can also explore. Veselka is at the north end of Double Bay. The sand is pink and you can enter the water barefoot just about anywhere along the bay. You have numerous coral reefs in the bays accented by two small islands (Diamond & Gut) which provide an interesting amount of sea life for the snorkeling or scuba diver enthusiasts. In the winter months occasional tropical storms and currents can shift the sands in front of Veselka exposing limestone rocks. If you go south for 100 yards or so there will always be plenty of sandy beach to enjoy.  The path from the house to the beach is a rustic one made of palmetto logs.