There are six villas at Lofty Fig Villas, in three single storey buildings around a small freshwater pool, and that is the bare facts of the place, but immediately you start to investigate further you will realise what a great family inn Lofty Fig Villas is, a superb base for a family vacation on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas. Insofar as Marsh Harbour is concerned Lofty Fig Villas is about at the epicentre

To return to the description, each building that houses the villas is painted in island yellow with aqua trim. Each of the villas comes with a fully equipped kitchen, queen bed, sofa, and a dining table.

The kitchen has a full size fridge and freezer, and importantly the air conditioning works, and works well.

Cable TV, even a proper bath, and daily housekeeping service, and if you cannot stay away, there is also internet access in the office.

Right next to the pool is a gazebo which is very handy as shade, with a secondary role as the place for the family barbeque. All around you are well maintained grounds strewn with multicoloured flowers, plants and coconut trees.

The comments from other guests who have stayed at the Lofty Fig Villas are always very important, and the one thing to note is that there is hardly one negative thing said. One of the consistent themes is that guests only disliked having to leave.

Other remarks, and they are obviously true because so many people have reiterated it, is that you might be a guest but you are made to really feel part of the family. The Lofty Fig Villas seems to work for family groups, couples, or families with children. Everyone agrees that the owner Sid is awesome, in fact a legend might be a better description.

The next question is what exactly does everyone do on a family vacation on Great Abaco Island, staying at the Lofty Fig Villas.

The answer is probably not a lot, and for the first few days you’ll probably have gone to the big grocery store over the road, and got in supplies, so you can barbeque by the pool, walk to Marsh Harbour over the street and watch the sun go down and drink a cocktail, or just sit on your patio and watch the world go by.

Having unwound, you’ll want to go to the beach, and Mermaid Beach is about a pleasant mile walk away. A tip here is to bring your own snorkelling gear.

It would be fair to say that Marsh harbour is kind of a stopping off place. Boats come in and out all the time to pick up supplies, so you’ll probably want to do some exploring of Great Abaco Island. Taxis are expensive and limiting so you’ll need to rent a car. Beware the island is a great deal bigger than you think.

You’ll find some good places to eat, however they aren’t cheap, but you have to remember that outer islands in the Bahamas have to import virtually everything, but you’ll find the seafood very fresh.

Leaving the best reasons to stay at Lofty Fig Villas to last it appears that experienced travellers in and around the Bahamas swear blind that it is easily the best for comfort and value.