Travel to Bahamas

ÂBahamas, residents tend to abide by 'island time', an
Newcomers to The Islands of The Bahamas quicklyaffectionate term used to describe the Bahamians'
realize that they have stumbled upon not one, butlaid-back demeanour and their slow-moving way of
many destinations. Between the "poles" of Grandlife. It isn't too hard to fall into this habit: many of
Bahamas and Great Inagua are 23 inhabited islandsislands are either uninhabited or sparsely populated,
and thousands of unpopulated islets and caysand from beaches strewn with beautiful seashells to
(pronounced "keys"). Cosmopolitan Nassau, once ruledhomes painted in soft pastel shades, serenity is easy
by pirates, seems a world away from the desert-liketo find.
wildlife sanctuary of Inagua. On many of the islands,Weather
tiny villages seem lifted from the MassachusettsThe Bahamas' temperatures are moderated by the
coast and set down amongst palms and pines andwarm waters of the Gulf Stream. And because The
iridescent sands. These beautiful islands lie only 50Bahamas are closer to continental North America -
miles off the Florida coast - far closer than anyand thus more easily effected by North American
destination in the Caribbean.cold air systems - they are slightly cooler than other
The Bahamas has successfully promoted itself as aCaribbean islands. Average temperatures in the
destination for US jetsetters, and a lot of it isBahamas range from 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit
Americanised. Yet there are still opportunities among(27 to 32 degrees Celsius) in the summer to 70 to
its 700 islands and 2500 cays to disappear into a80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degrees Celsius) in
mangrove forest, explore a coral reef and escapethe winter. The northern Bahamian islands can be
the high-rise hotels and package-tour madness.even a little cooler. Winds across The Bahamas keep
Originally a harbour base named Charles Town,vacations cool in the daytime and help lower the
NASSAU is the modern-day face of the Bahamas,temperatures at night.
visited by most everyone who comes down thisBackground:
way, not least for its service as a transport hub.The Bahamas extends 760 miles from the coast of
Though dingy in parts, enough historical flavour hasFlorida on the north-west almost to Haiti on the
been preserved to make such a stop heresouth-east. The group consists of 700 islands, of
worthwhile. Much of this atmosphere comes from itswhich 30 are inhabited, and about 2,400 cays (coral
development during the so-called Loyalist period fromreefs). When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492 on
1787 to 1834, when many of the city's finest colonialSan Salvador, The Islands Of The Bahamas were
buildings were built. Before this build-up, Nassau hadinhabited by Lucayans, a subgroup of Arawak indians.
largely been a haven for pirates, privateers andSlavery, disease and other hardships wiped out the
wreckers, situated as it was on key shipping routesentire tribe within 25 years of Columbus' arrival.
between Europe and the West Indies.Getting There
Islands of the BahamasThe Bahamas' national airline is Bahamas air (UP).
According to the Bahamas Tourism office the IslandsOther airlines with regular flights to the Bahamas
of the Bahamas is unique with their individualinclude American Airlines Air Canada Air Jamaica
character and charm--and there is some truth to this.Continental Airlines Delta Airlines British Airways US
Visit the main islands like beautiful Grand BahamasAirways.
Island (Freeport/Lucaya) and bustling New ProvidenceBahamas air will be the main interisland airline of
(Nassau and Paradise Island). Or, if you really want tochoice. Bahamas air also fly to Miami, Ft. Lauderdale
get away from the crowds, visit one of the manyand Orlando. American Airlines flys to Nassau from
out islands like Abaco, Andros, Acklins and CrookedMiami, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando and Tampa. Also they
Island, Biminis, Berry Islands, Cat Island, Eleuthera,serve Freeport and Marsh Harbour from Miami. Gulf
Exumas, Inaguas, Mayaguana, Long Island and Sanstream International/Continental Connection serves
Salvador.many islands of the Bahamas from Ft. Lauderdale and
Throughout the 700-plus islands that constitute TheMiami.