Your Ultimate Guide To The Bahamas
May 22, 2011
The Bahamas is a small, beautiful country that is made up of islands and cays. It can be a bustling, busy place during the high season and a perfect example of the laid back Caribbean lifestyle in the summer. It was a former colony of Great Britain and gained its independence in 1973.
Many of the British forts from the 1700’s like Port Charlotte in Nassau can still be toured today. The Bahamas has a history of discovery, pirate tales and pink sands. Christopher Columbus landed on what is today the island of San Salvador and met the original inhabitants of the Bahamian islands, the Lucayan Indians. Edward Teach who may be better known as Blackbeard the pirate cruised the Bahamian waters convincing merchants to surrender their boats by setting his beard on fire and the Bahamas’ Harbor Island has one of the only pale pink sand beaches in the world.
The closest Bahamian island to the coast of the United States is Bimini. Many boat owners start their Bahamian exploration this way by crossing the Gulf Stream from Florida with their sail or powerboats. If you like larger boats, cruise ships sail into the Bahamian ports of Nassau and Freeport every day. The cruise lines also own some of the smaller cays like Princess Cay and Great Stirrup Cay and make calls to those ports too. It’s easy and quick to fly to the Bahamas if you are coming from the Eastern half of the United States. The main international airports in the Bahamas are on Grand Bahama Island in the city of Freeport and Nassau on Paradise Island. Many large and small carriers shuttle vacationers back and forth several times a day. If you are planning your Bahamian vacation in the winter months, it is advisable to book your flights and hotel rooms at least three months in advance.
The Bahamas is very close to the continental United States and it is an affordable place to plan a wedding or major event abroad. Weather in the Bahamas, like most places in the Caribbean, is consistent and warm. Afternoon rain showers can almost be timed and bring with them the promise of a beautiful sunset. Engaged couples can feel comfortable reserving a beach destination wedding knowing that it’s just a short plane ride for their guests. English is the official language of the Bahamas and the Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar and is interchangeable. Most of the resort hotels are set up for such events and the actual planning can be effortless.
