With almost 700 islands, 2,400 cays, white-washed shores, duty-free shops, and outdoor sports, the Bahamas attracts millions of visitors each year. Between the beaches, forests, historic towns, and reeds, the Bahamas has so much to be discovered. It’s no wonder that the Bahamas is a popular honeymoon destination and family vacation spot. Here’s your guide to your Bahamas vacation.
Best Time to Visit
While temperatures in the Bahamas are great year-round, the best time to visit the Bahamas is from mid-December to mid-April, which avoids hurricanes and the rainy season. Keep in mind that from mid-December to mid-April, prices are higher because it’s the country’s peak season.
How to Get Around
Jitneys (public buses) are the best way to get around in central Nassau. Jitneys run every day from 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., with reduced hours on Sundays. Depending on the distance traveled and the island, they cost between $1.25 to $8 per person. To get around other islands, you’ll need to hail a taxi or rent a car. If you plan on traveling between the Bahamian islands, you’ll have to fly from Nassau’s airport with the inter-island air service, take a water taxi, or book a boat tour or cruise.
Where to Stay
Rosewood Baha Mar
The Rosewood property is within Baha Mar, a 1,000-acre development that is on Nassau’s Cable Beach. The development also has to other hotels and guests at all three of the properties have access to all of Baha Mar’s amenities including a casino, a golf course, and more than 40 restaurants and bars.
Sandals Emerald Bay
This all-inclusive adult-only secluded resort found on Great Exuma Island in the Bahamas has a golf course, a spa, a marina, three pools, and unlimited land and water sports.
Grand Isle Resort & Spa
Grand Isle Resort & Spa overlooks Emerald Bay from the island of Great Exuma in the Bahamas. This modern boutique situated along a mile-long stretch of sand is super romantic with its couples spa treatments and private oceanfront diners, making it perfect for honeymooners.
What to Do
Bahamas Beaches
We can’t mention the Bahamas without talking about the country’s clear blue water beaches. The beaches range from water sport-focused sands to quiet sanctuaries on private islands. Whether you’re into sunbathing, snorkeling, or horseback riding, you’ll find the beach perfect for you.
Bahamas Boat Tours
If you’re into water sports, you won’t regret going on a boat tour. You’ll get to go diving, snorkeling, spear fishing, and swimming with wild pigs. Many tours offer access to private islands, where you can sunbathe and enjoy a picnic lunch on the beach.
Bahamas Diving & Snorkelling
Take advantage of what lies beneath the surface of the Bahamas’ water like the reefs, underwater caves, and sinkholes. Get up close and personal with aquatic animals like sea turtles, stingrays, dolphins, sharks, and Nassau grouper.
What to Eat
Even though you’ll find everything you need at the upscale Bahamian hotels and resorts, these places rarely have Bahamian cuisine and they’re expensive. If you want to eat like a resident, you’ll have to go outside of the hotel district.
Johnnycakes
Similar to cornbread, johnnycakes are made of milk, butter, flour, and sugar and they’re served with stews and curries.
Conch Salad
This ceviche-style dish serves uncooled conch spiced with spicy pepper and citrus salt. It’s common to find it mixed with green peppers, cucumbers, celery, and tomatoes.
Guava Duff
This sweet treat is guava-filled pastry topped with a rum or brandy butter sauce.
Rock Lobsters
Also known as spiny lobsters, these crustaceans are a main export of the Caribbean and they can be enjoyed boiled, in salads, as patties, or in a Creole-style sauce.
