Love At First Sight Hotel

Stafford Creek Queen's Highway Andros
Love At First Sight Hotel
Traveller (26)
beach
Pool & Beach (5)
This is the amazing view of Stafford Creek from the waterside rooms and the dining deck.
Room & Suite (5)

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About

4.5
#7 of 9 hotels in Andros
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
We are located at picturesque Stafford Creek on North Andros. Our waterfront lodge offers relaxing & plush accommodations,vistas from the creek to the sea, garden landscape, gorgeous sunrise, a freshwater pool, and we also have a full service restaurant on premise. Love At First Sight Hotel & Restaurant is perfect for your tropical vacation, fishing or diving adventure, romantic getaway, weddings or honeymoons, corporate or group retreats.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool
Bar / lounge
Beach
Children Activities (Kid / Family Friendly)
Business Centre with Internet Access
Non-smoking hotel
Wifi
Outdoor pool
Restaurant
Laundry service
Room features
Air conditioning
Refrigerator
Good to know
HOTEL CLASS
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Mid-range
Quaint

Location

Stafford Creek Queen's Highway Andros
Getting there
Nassau Intl Airport
49.3 km
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Bimini Intl Airport
162.2 km
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1 Restaurant
within 10 kilometers
31Reviews1Q+A5Room tips
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Detailed Reviews
albula15 wrote a review Apr 2016
Sydney, Australia
I visited as a solo fisherman sussing out what North Andros has to offer.

If you want to experience a Bahamian island as the locals do, essentially untouched by the loud, flashy tourism of Nassau then get to North Andros island and stay at Love at First Sight (LAFS). There is much to experience: mysterious blue holes rumored to be inhabited by monstrous octopus like creatures; vast forests and culturally significant places like Red Bays and the artist community there; great fishing both fly and spin fishing on flats and reefs and blue water and the amazing snorkeling and potential spear fishing.

LAFS is at a secluded location beautifully positioned at the mouth of Stafford Creek where there is no hustle and bustle of tourism. It is geographically in a great location to explore the island (but you must hire a car to get around).

The quiet at LAFS at night with a massively starry sky and rising moon with just the sound of the tide moving in or out of the creek and quite frequent loud boofs of surface feeding jacks and tarpon, was just plain good for the soul. There are no night clubs, tourist shops, traffic or real danger of theft or worse (as there is in Nassau) and it felt like if I had visited 20+ years ago, it would have looked much the same - which is a plus!

Sheila is owner and chef and is an awesomely nice and genuine person. Other staff included the excellent Authlin (sorry if I spelt your name wrong mate!) who is also a professional spear, cray and conch fisherman, which was excellent as I got to eat fresh crayfish and conch often during my stay. He is renowned on the island for his ability to catch alot of crayfish from secret reefs and he would come back daily with big bags of crayfish tails and big fish he had speared like hogfish and other snappers. He was very busy catching lots of crayfish for big orders as the crayfish season was closing, but I could possible envision him being able to take people to reefs for snorkeling, and even spear fishing potentially (sorry if I've put you on the spot, Authlin!). The snorkeling here rivalled the best snorkeling I have experienced in terms of visibility and unspoilt coral, including comparing it to the world class snorkeling off Cay Ambergris in Belize - just without the 20 other snorkeling boats on the same reef.

The rooms at LAFS are clean with AC and positioned around a pool with an amazing wood sculpture of a mermaid. Rooms 1 to 4 have views of the creek. Getting back after a long day fishing in the sun, then rinsing off in the pool with a Kalik (local beer) is nice to say the least.
Some of the rooms have a TV/DVD and Sheila has actually got an incredible choice of dvds including some very recent movie releases. Definitely the best motel/hotel/resort collection I've ever seen.

There is also a house that can be rented as well. A very well known New York fishing guide Captain Barry Kanavy and his wife were staying there for an extended stay and apart from their excellent company they gave me some invaluable tips about how to fish the creek! They've been coming and staying at LAFS for years. It definitely says something that this is a place where well known professional fishing guides come to stay.

Sheila's restaurant is well known across the island and the food is literally made to order and delicious - you request what you want and she cooks it at the time you request. Incredible conch salad, cracked conch, cray fish tails with butter sauce, baked snapper fillets with an asian sauce (the cubera snapper I caught from the creek), getting hungry just thinking about it. At the time of my visit, an eggs, bacon, fruit, toast, coffee breakfast was US$12, packed lunch (2 sandwiches, water, drink) US$14 and dinners ~US$20+. She also does packed lunches for when you do go out exploring and have guided fishing days as I did.

You can drink the tap water but Sheila provides gallon bottles of water for drinking at no cost. Alot of the locals choose not to drink the tap water and drink only bottled water.

Wifi is reliable but available around the restaurant area only at the time of my visit.

Kayaks are available for hire from Forfar research base across the creek - a 5-10 minute walk. At the time I was there it was US$25 for the first 2 hours then US$10 for every hour after this. I got one of my biggest barracuda dragging a green Umpqua needlefish fly on a spin rod behind the kayak. It was awesome.

Sheila is in the process of renovating a stand alone huge self contained studio, separate from the main building area with amazing views over Stafford creek and the flats beyond, where you could conceivably fish off the balcony into the creek - definitely worth asking about it's availability when you plan to go.

Regarding the Fishing.
There are lots of flats (see DIYbonefishing website with google maps for detailed information) within 15-45 minute walking distance from the hotel if you want to try for bonefish but alas, whilst I was there, they did not want to play, none were seen by me but that certainly does not mean they weren't there! The weather had not been great and the tides did not have alot of variation (I was told it is better on bigger tides that occur around the new moon or full moon) which I think played a big role.

Luckily I had hired Bonefish Bradley for 3 of the days I was in Andros and he put me onto bones up to 8 pounds (at Red Bays) and one day reef fishing and a brief offshore stint where I caught striped tuna. Along the edge of the reef we caught barracudas and a large grouper trolling. He is in the process of trying to get his 10m offshore boat fixed to offer proper off shore blue water sessions. During my time there I heard of sailfish hooked, marlin seen, dolphin fish up to 80lb caught. Bradley works hard to put you onto fish and I highly recommend his services. He is also good company too. He picks you up and drops you back after the day's fishing.

Fishing from the hotel itself into the creek was quite excellent though, and persistence was usually rewarded. This fishing was usually done at night with lures including surface lures. I caught cubera snapper to 5kg (not a common capture here) amongst other snappers, and horse eye jacks up to 60cm long. Some of the surface boofs from feeding fish at night were simply ferocious. There were also tarpon 2-3 feet long sitting under the balcony light of the hotel, head and tail rising like trout for shrimp. Incredible! Yes, one of them was even caught during my stay but not by me.

Notes on visiting North Andros Island.
It is a very large island and there is essentially no public transport (beyond one worker's bus that leaves early in the morning from North Andros to take workers to Fresh Creek. It then goes back up north between 1500-1600. I am not sure if they allow tourists to use the bus as I never used it.

If you want the freedom to explore you must hire a car for about US$80-90/day. It is essential if you want to explore the island and make the most of your time there. There are no shops that I came across in easy walking distance of LAFS. Ask if the car hire company has insurance as some of the roads are awful with massive potholes and unfinished sections but whilst I was there many road works were occurring.

A taxi from Fresh Creek airport to LAFS was US$50 one way (about a 30mile distance).
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Date of stay: March 2016
Rooms
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: Motel rooms 1-4 have river views, ask if the massive studio has been rennovated
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ArmyBratAngela wrote a review Aug 2011
Maryland
+1
My husband and I and our two kids spent four nights at the Love at First Sight Hotel. We chose it because of the pool and the air-conditioning (my son has asthma).

I absolutely adored this place - it's not on the beach, but on a creek that feeds into the ocean. There were always breezes and I don't ever remember being truly hot, even in July. It's a one-woman operation and she truly takes pride in her hotel and the surroundings.

Rooms: very simple, but very clean. We had two-full beds in each room (we rented two rooms). The air-conditioning worked fine. My husband said he had a problem getting the light to go out in their room so he unscrewed the bulb. There were also fridges in the rooms which did work. I was very comfortable and content to read in my room during the sunburn/antibiotic incarceration. Hummingbirds around the flowers outside were gorgeous.

Sheila has a restaurant / bar on the property and we can't say enough good things about her cooking. My son especially liked the conch fritters and the fried fish. Off the restaurant is a deck that looks onto the creek. Depending on the tide you can see all the little fish that come for treats off the deck. My two kids had a blast tossing leftovers to them. You'll probably see more fish looking over the deck than snorkeling.

Disadvantages: You really need a car to get around or you'll have to depend on taxis like we did. Sheila was nice enough to drive us to another spot for snorkeling and she was very helpful with whatever we needed.

Pros: Seriously...each room was $110. After throwing away tons of money in Atlantis, I loved the price. The pool was the most wonderful thing! It felt sooooo cool after a day of putzing around Andros. The owner was most helpful with anything that we needed. She hooked my kids up with some fishing line so they could it a whirl. The location on the creek had beautiful views and it was just so peaceful there. Also - you simply MUST go to Captain Bill's Blue Hole. We had the whole place to ourselves and I'll try to get some pics up...needed to get a taxi to take us. Please e-mail if you have questions, I'm sure I'm leaving a lot out of this review.
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Date of stay: July 2011
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phoebeselden wrote a review Dec 2016
If you are looking for a clean and safe vacation in an authentic Bahamian setting, look no further. With a setting at the bridge over Stafford Creek the views couldn't be better, looking out to the ocean. The beach is about a five minute walk away and is totally secluded - saw two boats in two days of swimming and snorkeling. Be sure to try snorkeling in the creek during high tide or as the tide is going out - parrot fish, sergeant major, gar, barracuda, jack, flounder, bone fish, and many more.

Sheila, the owner is a fantastic cook.

Also of note - one of the guys here caught 16 bone fish today.
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Date of stay: December 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jessica R wrote a review Mar 2017
Nassau, New Providence Island
We stayed here one night as part of a Bahamas National Trust expedition to Andros. The hotel is basic, but clean and safe - we never bothered to lock our doors. Only 4 rooms have views of Stafford Creek, but they all open up to the pool. We enjoyed a few meals here and the food was always delicious! The shaded porch swings with a nice breeze were a heavenly way to relax.
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Date of stay: March 2017
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kevin L wrote a review May 2016
I recently visited for a week to do some guided and unguided bone fishing throughout North andros. This is the best place to make a home base operation for the following reasons:

1. Sheila is an amazing cook and will cater to your diet and schedule. We were worried about having to be back at a certain time when she was going to make dinner, but she was very flexible. She also made sandwiches for us to bring out during the day. She really is an incredible cook. Won't find a better meal on the island.

2. The location is fantastic for exploring the area in a rental car. Tons of flats close by. And you don't see many people up there at all-you won't feel too uncomfortable about doing bonefishing yourself where it has become less and less acceptable it seems. The dock on Stafford creek has great fishing after dinner too.

3. The grounds and rooms are clean and well maintained. Sheila takes a lot of pride in her place and it shows. Well kept, air conditioned rooms with refrigerators and a nice pool. Such a pleasure to come back to after a long day on the flats

4. Sheila's cooking
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Date of stay: May 2016Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Debbie K wrote a review Jan 2015
Brooklyn, New York
We just got back from six nights at Love At First Sight, a quiet, beautiful, secluded place in the middle of Andros Island. If you are looking for the anti-Nassau experience, this is it. Our mornings were sunny and stunning on the patio overlooking Stafford Creek. Renting a car is essential and the roads are terrible, so leave time for slow and careful drives in both directions. The Rainbow Blue Hole, south of Stafford is a great little hike through thick tropical woods. Stanyard Creek (also south) beach was our favorite. It's about a 30 minute drive from Stafford. There's a tiny food store there and a sports bar where you can get fried fish and fries. Food is not a reason to visit this island. We brought our own coffee and snacks and were happy we did. Sheila is a doll and made us dinner every night. There are no good maps of the region. Loads of fishing, boating, snorkeling, and diving excursions are available. Everyone was SO friendly on Andros. Waving to strangers is common practice. There are so few tourists, we felt warmly welcomed. There is nothing to do at night, but the stars are amazing. Thank you Sheila for a lovely week. Happy New Year!
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Date of stay: December 2014
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kait r wrote a review Jun 2012
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Unequivically the best part of my trip the the Bahamas. Sheila is simply an amazing host with a beautiful property. Her conch fritters and cracked conch were soooo good and the restaurant/ bar are reasonable and relaxing. She should do all inclusive weddings. I will go back every chance I get.
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Date of stay: May 2012
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Avery B wrote a review Dec 2016
We spent four full days here and it's been wonderful. The staff cooked us fresh meals, sometimes with fish other guests caught off their deck. They treated us like family and went out of their way to be accommodating. It's a different pace of life, it can be hard to find the local attractions or get good directions but It's worth it (if you have a sense of adventure).

It's a journey getting here, we rented a car a that seems like the way to go. My suggestions for attractions are:

Kayaking next door at the fourfar field station, you can go out to small cays and snorkel off them. Cost is about $40-65.

Driving to the north east corner of the island and going to conch sound. There's a blue hole off the beach the locals call Charlie's and it's full of marine life. It's about 20 yards from shore and easy to get out to.

If you're a diver go to Small Hope Bay about 830 am and ask to go on a dive. The crew there is incredible. Available spots go to their guests first but I imagine they're usually open. Cost is about $150 for a single dive. The diving here is aces.

Blue holes national park.. We're on our way to go as I write this. It's midway between Andros Town and the hotel and highly recommended. There's trails and a dive platform into the fresh water below.

Love these guys I'll be back again. Not a Starbucks on the island.. Also not a clear sign haha but YoY adjust to the Andros way pretty quickly!
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Date of stay: December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mvalbies wrote a review May 2016
Edgartown, Massachusetts
Just returned from a week of bonefishing with friends , and stayed at Love at First Sight Hotel . Aside from being the best cook in the Bahamas , Sheila takes lots of pride in her hotel and making sure her guests are happy . She prepared us some delicious meals when we returned back from a long day on the water . Sheila even baked me a cake when she found out I was having a birthday during my stay . Rooms were clean , and neat and beds are comfortable . The hotel grounds are well kept , and the pool is a great way to cool off after a long day on the flats .
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Date of stay: May 2016
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rick s wrote a review May 2016
Miami, Florida
Love at First Sight, aka Sheila’s, is a unique, special place. It is located within sight of the ocean on Stafford Creek as it moves inland from the sea. The creek is wide, resembling a river, as it passes by Sheila’s restaurant deck where we ate our personally catered breakfast and dinner each day. (A beautiful beach is available to Sheila’s guests within easy walking distance.)

Most reviews mention Sheila’s superb cooking skills and attention to each guest’s personal likes and dislikes but few mention her personal interest in your recreational goals and her willingness to assist you in attaining them. Her concierge skills may equal her cooking capabilities but they all stem from her genuine caring for every guest.

The motel is bright, cheerful, clean and meets all basic needs. No TV reception but there was a DVD player and a large DVD library upon request. (We took our own.) Internet is available. The room air conditioner did the job as did the large half-size refrigerator. No microwave was available in the room.

The motel is located in the quietest part of Central/North Andros. Peace, quiet, relaxation, “back to nature” all describe this lovely place. Plus it is convenient to great fishing, the Blue Hole National Park and other great blue holes and coppices. It was perfect for us.
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Date of stay: April 2016
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Crystal B wrote a tip Feb 2019
Acarau, CE3 contributions2 helpful votes
"Ask for the sunrise rooms if you are an early riser."
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albula15 wrote a tip Apr 2016
Sydney, Australia15 contributions33 helpful votes
"Motel rooms 1-4 have river views, ask if the massive studio has been rennovated"
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Life_on-Vacay wrote a tip Feb 2016
Nassau, New Providence Island23 contributions19 helpful votes
"Rooms 1 to 3 have view of the creek, other rooms have a view of a wooded area."
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Michelle S wrote a tip May 2015
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada2 contributions3 helpful votes
"Well all the rooms but i love room 1-3 the best.I'll have pictures next time."
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Michelle S wrote a tip Dec 2014
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada2 contributions3 helpful votes
"Go I promise you this will be a awesome trip."
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LOCATION
CaribbeanBahamasOut IslandsAndros
NUMBER OF ROOMS
10
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Love At First Sight Hotel - Reviews & Photos

Frequently Asked Questions about Love At First Sight Hotel
What are some of the property amenities at Love At First Sight Hotel?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, a pool, and an on-site restaurant.
What food & drink options are available at Love At First Sight Hotel?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant and a lounge during their stay.
Is parking available at Love At First Sight Hotel?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Love At First Sight Hotel?
Yes, guests have access to a pool during their stay.
Is Love At First Sight Hotel accessible?
Yes, it offers wheelchair access. For specific enquiries, we recommend calling ahead to confirm.
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