Greenwood Beach Resort

The Hotel Greenwood Beach Resort and Dive Center is a perfect spot for the no-frills, budget-minded traveler. This get away from it all beachfront inn, on the southeastern end of Cat Island, has a private eight-mile sandy beach with pinkish hues most noticeable at dusk. This low-key, family-run retreat attracts divers but also caters to non-divers and is a pleasant place for children. It has a European clientele, especially German tourists.

In the true spirit of escape, there are no phones or televisions in the rooms. Scattered on the property are deck chairs, poolside tables, beach side gazebos and several hammocks to veg out in. If you want hustle and bustle, you've come to the wrong place.

The main building holds a restaurant, an informal library and a casual lounge/bar (with satellite TV and telephone). Twenty full or partial ocean view rooms are positioned around the small pool, housed in a group of basic single story modern buildings, approximately 200 feet from the beach. Each reasonably sized room is furnished simply, with one king size or two queen size beds, a ceiling fan, a shower stall, colorful paintings on the wall, and a small terrace.

Dine at the enclosed oceanfront restaurant or at the casual open-air tables (al fresco). The European and Bahamian menu changes daily and special requests are no problem. Excellent local chefs prepare an abundance of fresh seafood. They hold specialty buffets with
entertainment occasionally. Because of the lack of nearby dining facilities, most guests choose the meal plan. The dinner hour is the social highlight of the day. The lounge/bar, simply an extension of the dining room, is a favorite pre-dinner gathering spot.

This do your own thing resort has no organized activities but the front desk can arrange optional excursion tours, boating trips, bicycle and car rentals. Guests have free use of Hobie Cats. A top notch on-site PADI dive operation, The Cat Island Dive Center, offers equipment rentals, scuba certification courses, specialty dives, snorkeling trips, bonefishing and sportfishing trips. Coral heads right off the beach make swimming, offshore snorkeling and diving convenient.

There are no commercial banks, tourist offices or taxis on Cat Island. To properly arrange transportation from New Bight Airport to the hotel, inform the hotel a few days ahead of your arrival.

No major car rental agencies exist on Cat Island but a few entrepreneurs own a number of beat-up used American cars. It is worth the effort to rent a car to visit some natural and historical attractions. Some intriguing sites include Mount Alvernia, at New Bight and Deveaux Mansion, at Port Howe.