Bahamas

Why go

Go for the stunning white sand beaches, which you’ll find on all the islands, and the bluest, clearest waters that you can imagine.

When to go

Warm trade winds make the Bahamas a great hot spot year round, though it’s best from September to May when the weather’s less humid and visitors can escape the British winter. Christmas, New Year, and June and July are great times to visit and let your hair down with thousands of revellers in street parades and dances as part of the annual Junkanoo festivals.

Best for

Romance , Beaches , Shopping

How to get there

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic offer regular flights to Nassau from Heathrow and Gatwick, respectively. This is the quickest and most direct way to get to the islands, but an alternative is to fly via a US city, such as Miami, as there will be more airlines to choose from and they will fly to other Bahamian islands apart from Nassau.

Shopping

Bargain-hunters will find plenty to tempt them in the many duty-free outlets in Nassau’s Bay Street area and in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. The absence of sales tax and low tariffs mean some luxury items are around 50 per cent cheaper than in the US. Best buys are cameras, jewellery, crystal, china, leather goods, fine linen, clocks and watches.

Alternative Perspectives

The Bahamas name comes from the Spanish words ‘baja mar’ meaning shallow sea. The waters here are also the clearest in the world with visibility levels of more than 200ft.

Must see

Soak up the history of Nassau’s Georgian government buildings or haggle to your heart’s content in the city’s Straw Market. On Grand Bahama, get out of town and discover pretty remote fishing villages. Jump on a ferry to the Out Islands and discover the pink sand beaches on Harbour Island.

Family activities

Sun, sea and sand makes the Bahamas a great place for family holidays. For those wanting to do more than laze on the beach there are plenty of distractions whether it’s playing tennis, sailing, fishing, diving or swimming with dolphins.

Sports activities

Golf , Diving , Windsurfing , Sailing

Local customs

Tipping. When it comes to tipping, the Bahamas takes its cue from the Americans, so remember to leave at least 15 per cent.

Lifestyle. Life moves at a slower pace on the islands, particularly on the Out Islands – so don’t expect things to be done too quickly. Bahamians move at their own speed.