Getting There -- A commercial flight on Bahamasair (tel. 800/222-4262 in the U.S.; www.bahamasair.com) leaves Nassau for Arthur's Town on Friday and Sunday at 10:30am. There is also an airport near New Bight, the most scenic village on the island. Flying to New Bight from Fort Lauderdale is Lynx Air International (tel. 888/596-9247; www.lynxair.com), which has service between Fort Lauderdale and Cat Island three times a week.
Cat Island is also serviced by mail boat. The MV Worth Cat Island Special (tel. 242/393-1064) departs Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau weekly, heading for Bennett's Harbour and Arthur's Town. It leaves on Tuesday at 1pm and returns to Nassau on Thursday. Another vessel, the MV Lady Emerald (tel. 242/393-1064), departs Potter's Cay in Nassau on Tuesday at 3pm, going to Old and New Bight, and returns on Sunday.
Getting Around -- Limited, but quite adequate, taxi service is available on Cat Island. Hotel owners, if notified of your arrival time, will have someone drive to the airport to pick you up. You can, however, rent a car from Bridge Inn Car Rentals, Bridge Inn, New Bight (tel. 242/342-3014), to go exploring on your own. Prices begin at $70 (£37) daily, with unlimited mileage. Hours are daily from 6:30am to 7:30pm.
Fast Facts -- There are three medical clinics, each of which is among the simplest in The Bahamas. They are found in the settlements of Arthur's Town, Old Bight, and Smiths Bay, and they're not always open. In case of an emergency, notify your hotel staff immediately. Someone will try to get in touch with a medical person. Serious cases are flown to Nassau. If you're not in good health and might require medical assistance on vacation, Cat Island is not the island to choose. There is no central number to call for help.
Special Events -- The island's annual Three-Day Regatta takes place every summer, usually at the end of July. It attracts the largest collection of visitors to Cat Island; the inns prove inadequate to receive them. Call your local Bahamas Tourist Office for more information.
