Who Needs a Valentine When You Have The Bahamas?

I’ve never been in a relationship on Valentine’s Day. Instead of waiting for someone else to make the day special, I’ve always made it a point to do something for myself. Sometimes I’ll do dinner and a movie, a little shopping, or treat myself to something I’ve been wanting like an outfit, perfume or books.

In 2023, though, I decided I wanted to leave the country for Valentine’s Day.

Almost on a whim, I booked a solo trip to The Bahamas for the week of that holiday. I just figured a week of sunshine, being in walking distance to the beach, and some adventure would be a great way to celebrate myself.

I didn’t expect that the island would fully love on and celebrate me in return.

A Little Love From the Bahamas

I’ve traveled solo enough times to know that so much of the experience is what you make of it. You plan your own adventures, find ways to entertain yourself, and always leave room for a little spontaneity.

This trip was different, though.

Almost immediately after arriving in Nassau, I began experiencing a level of kindness and generosity that I hadn’t anticipated.

Taxi drivers wouldn’t let me pay for my rides. A local sat down and ate with me plus paid for my dinner every night. I met a very kind man who gave me a tour of the island, treated me to a waterfront dinner, and then took me to Atlantis.

It seemed like everywhere I went, someone was extending a kind gesture.

I hadn’t come to the Bahamas looking for romance, attention, or even companionship. I just wanted to enjoy a beautiful destination and spend Valentine’s Day doing something I loved, but I found myself on the receiving end of so much unexpected care.

The Cutest Valentines Had Four Legs

On actual Valentine’s Day, I had plans to spend the day with some very special dates.

Pigs.

Swimming with pigs in the Bahamas had been on my travel bucket list, and I couldn’t think of a better way to spend Valentine’s Day than enjoying one of the island’s most popular experiences.

They truly were the cutest Valentines. Some loved to be held and others not so much. They were just there for the food, and that’s okay too.

When you think about it, it’s almost ridiculous to spend a holiday dedicated to love swimming in turquoise water with pigs, but that’s exactly the kind of experience that makes solo traveling so memorable for me.

Planning your own Bahamas adventure? Swimming with pigs is one of the most memorable experiences you can book while visiting Nassau.

Even the tour guides made the day special.

Leaving the beach, one of the guides took the time to wash the sand off my feet. Then, shockingly, he picked me up and carried me back to the tour bus so my feet wouldn’t get sandy again.

There was no way for me to predict or even ask for things like this to happen. They just did and I was grateful.

Somehow, that wasn’t even the single most thoughtful gesture of the trip.

Another tour guide mentioned that his family owned a catering business. After dropping me off at my hotel, he went home, had his family prepare a plate of food they’d cooked, and brought it back to the hotel for me to enjoy for dinner.

I didn’t ask him to do that. In fact, I asked him not to because I thought he would have to go out of his way to return to the hotel. He did anyway just because he wanted to.

It was such a small but meaningful gesture, especially considering I was spending Valentine’s Day alone in another country.

Valentine’s Day at Junkanoo Beach

For this trip, I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach, which turned out to be another unexpected source of Valentine’s Day fun.

The hotel hosted a Valentine’s Day celebration for guests, complete with heart-shaped arches for photos, candy, streamers, and festive decorations everywhere.

We were even given two complimentary drink vouchers to enjoy that evening.

It was a simple but sweet touch that made the holiday feel special, even for those of us who weren’t traveling with a significant other.

I appreciated that the hotel created an opportunity for everyone to participate in the festivities.

Between the swimming pigs, the thoughtful tour guides, and the hotel’s celebration, I’d had a pretty incredible Valentine’s Day.

Where I Stayed

I chose the Courtyard Marriott Nassau Downtown/Junkanoo Beach, which is located directly across from Junkanoo Beach. It’s a convenient option for people may want to be relatively close to the airport, stay near the beach and be in walking distance of town while exploring Nassau.

One Last Adventure Before Heading Home

Before leaving the Bahamas, I had one more thing I wanted to do.

Parasailing.

It was another experience I had on my bucket list, and I decided there was no better time to cross it off than during this trip.

So, I went parasailing by myself.

It was so freeing to be suspended high above the water, looking out over the ocean, and realizing that you’re doing something you’ve always wanted to do.

No one had to invite me and having a partner wasn’t a requirement to experience it. I did it just because I wanted to.

It felt like the perfect way to end a trip that had already given me so much more than I expected or could have asked for.

Want to experience Nassau from above?

Showing Up Alone Doesn’t Mean Feeling Alone

When I talk about the fulfillment that comes with solo travel, I often think about this particular trip.

I spent about a week in the Bahamas, and although I arrived alone, I never really felt alone.

That’s what made the experience so special.

When you travel solo, you generally expect to make your own fun. You expect to be responsible for creating the experiences and spontaneity that make a trip memorable.

But in the Bahamas, I felt so considered and cared for.

People went out of their way to be kind to me. They shared their time, their food, their generosity, and their island with me.

None of it was something I could have planned.

Love doesn’t always show up in the ways we expect. Maybe sometimes it’s a stranger buying you dinner, someone making sure your feet don’t get sandy, or a family preparing a meal for someone they’ve never met.

Sometimes it’s having the freedom and resources to book a flight, explore somewhere beautiful, and experience life on your own terms.

I truly didn’t need a Valentine to have an unforgettable Valentine’s Day. I had the Bahamas, and that was more than enough for me.