Bahamas Country

Overview
Search out the backwater quays or sun bake with the terrifically tanned. The Bahamas has successfully promoted itself as a destination for US jetsetters, and a lot of it is Americanized. Yet there are still opportunities among its 700 islands and 2500 cays to disappear into a mangrove forest, explore a coral reef and escape the high-rise hotels and package-tour madness.

Destination Facts
Capital: Nassau
Governor General: Arthur Dion Hanna (representing Queen Elizabeth II)
Prime Minister: Hubert Ingraham
Government: independent state within the British Commonwealth
Time zone: GMT -5
Area: 5380
Population: 323.000
Languages: Baptist (32%), Anglican (20%), Roman Catholic (19%), other Protestant (24%), other (5%)
Currency: Bahamian Dollar (B$)
Weight System: Imperial
Country Dialing Code: 242

Weather
Lasting from May to October, the wet season in the Bahamas contains the hottest months of the year and, as the rainfall is quite low (by Caribbean standards) this low-season is a good time to visit. If you're not partial to hot-and-sticky then try March to April and November to December, when the maximum temperature usually sits just below 30 ° C (86 ° F). Occasionally cold North American winds sweep down on the Bahamas during winter and spring.

Places of Interest
The Bahamas has successfully promoted itself as a destination for US jetsetters, and a lot of it is Americanized. Yet there are still opportunities among its 700 islands and 2500 cays to disappear into a mangrove forest, explore a coral reef and escape the high-rise hotels and package-tour madness.

Getting There
The Bahamas is a year-round destination. Constant trade breezes ensure pleasant temperatures, so unless you're visiting the southern isles, which get infernally hot in summer (June to August), weather isn't a major factor in determining when to go. Climate-wise, the best time to come is the warm, breezy summer, when the water is so warm you can linger in it for hours. Mid-winter temperatures in the northerly and westerly isles can be surprisingly cool. On the plus side, there are less mosquitos. In summer, the rainy season extends from May to November, when hurricanes are a slim possibility. The so-called 'peak season' runs from mid-December to mid-April, when hotel prices are highest and some hotels are booked solid, especially around Christmas and Easter.

Getting there and away
The Bahamas is well served by plane from north America. Its proximity to Florida means relatively inexpensive flights run regularly from Miami, Ft Lauderdale and Orlando, as well as other East Coast gateways like New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Boston and Washington DC. Bahamasair, the national airline, flies between Miami and Nassau and Freeport; West Palm Beach, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale and Nassau; and West Palm Beach and Marsh Harbour. Air Canada flies between Nassau and Toronto and Montreal. British Airways flies directly between London and Nassau or Freeport. American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic connect the UK and The Bahamas via Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. From within the Caribbean, Air Jamaica flies four times weekly between Nassau and Montego Bay. Cubana has flights between Havana and Nassau. Travellers pay a 15.00 departure tax when leaving The Bahamas 18.00 from Freeport). The Bahamas is by far the most popular port-of-call in the Caribbean for cruise ships; they anchor at Nassau and Freeport. The sheltered waters of the 1200km (750mi) archipelago attract scores of yachties each year. There are ports of entry on every island. The Bahamas has six international airports, but the bulk of flights land at the two major hubs: Nassau International Airport and Freeport International Airport. Some flights also land at Marsh Harbour (Abacos), North Eleuthera and Governor's Harbour (Eleuthera), and George Town (Exumas). Private planes and charters fly throughout the islands. Even on the more remote Out Islands, a taxi usually shows up to meet incoming flights (if not, someone at the airport will radio for a taxi on your behalf).

Getting around
Travelling by bus will cost a bomb, except for Nassau and Freeport, where private 'jitneys' (minibuses) operate within the city (but not to the airport), and there is no public transport on any of the Family Islands. This leaves car rental as the best transportation option. Several major international car rental companies have outlets in Nassau and Freeport, supplemented by small local firms. On the Family Islands, there are few established agencies. Although the minimum age to obtain a driver's license in The Bahamas is 17, renters must be 21 (some companies only rent to those 25 or older). You can drive on your foreign license for up to three months; an International Driver's License, required for longer stays, can be obtained from the Road Traffic Department in Nassau or the AAA office in the USA or UK. Remember to drive on the left. Other transportation rental options include motorcycles, scooters and bicycles (usually only one gear), which are available primarily in Freeport and Nassau. There's no shortage of taxis in Nassau and Freeport, where they can be hailed on the streets. Taxis are also the main local transportation on the Family Islands, though you'll need to summon one by radio or telephone. Intra-island flights offer the only quick and convenient way to travel between islands. Bahamasair serves Grand Bahamas and the larger Out Islands. The schedules change frequently and at short notice (no attempt is made to notify passengers with advance reservations of schedule changes). The airline operates on a hub-and-spoke system, to and from Nassau. Thus, if you want to fly between adjacent islands, such as Cat Island and Long Island, you'll have to return to Nassau. If you plan on a lot of island-hopping, you begin to feel like a yo-yo. Worse, you may need to stay overnight in Nassau between flights. You can also charter a small aircraft - which, if you plan to do a lot of island hopping and can get a few people together, is cost effective and time saving. Inter-island ferries are not as ubiquitous as you may imagine, but there are a few. Water taxis, for example, ply between Nassau and Paradise Island. Bahamas FastFerries is the only high-speed ferry in the islands; it links Nassau, Andros, Abacos, Eleuthera and the Exumas. Government-run ferries also link islands that are a short distance apart, such as North and South Bimini; Mangrove Cay and South Andros; and Crooked and Acklins Islands. Mail boats leave Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau, usually on twice-weekly trips, serving all the inhabited islands under government contract. Marinas are strewn about the islands like confetti at a wedding, and yachts for hire are easy to find.

Visa:
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all visitors to the Bahamas to have a valid passport. US, Canadian, UK and most Western European travelers do not need a visa for stays up to three months. Citizens of most Central and South American countries, including Mexico, do not need visas for stays up to 14 days. Citizens from Dominican Republic, Haiti, South Africa and all communist countries need to obtain visas for any length of stay. All air passengers must have a return or ongoing airline ticket.

Getting There
The Bahamas is a year-round destination. Constant trade breezes ensure pleasant temperatures, so unless you're visiting the southern isles, which get infernally hot in summer (June to August), weather isn't a major factor in determining when to go. Climate-wise, the best time to come is the warm, breezy summer, when the water is so warm you can linger in it for hours. Mid-winter temperatures in the northerly and westerly isles can be surprisingly cool. On the plus side, there are less mosquitos. In summer, the rainy season extends from May to November, when hurricanes are a slim possibility. The so-called 'peak season' runs from mid-December to mid-April, when hotel prices are highest and some hotels are booked solid, especially around Christmas and Easter.

Getting there and away
The Bahamas is well served by plane from north America. Its proximity to Florida means relatively inexpensive flights run regularly from Miami, Ft Lauderdale and Orlando, as well as other East Coast gateways like New York, Atlanta, Charlotte, Boston and Washington DC. Bahamasair, the national airline, flies between Miami and Nassau and Freeport; West Palm Beach, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale and Nassau; and West Palm Beach and Marsh Harbour. Air Canada flies between Nassau and Toronto and Montreal. British Airways flies directly between London and Nassau or Freeport. American Airlines, Delta Airlines and Virgin Atlantic connect the UK and The Bahamas via Miami, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale. From within the Caribbean, Air Jamaica flies four times weekly between Nassau and Montego Bay. Cubana has flights between Havana and Nassau. Travellers pay a 15.00 departure tax when leaving The Bahamas 18.00 from Freeport). The Bahamas is by far the most popular port-of-call in the Caribbean for cruise ships; they anchor at Nassau and Freeport. The sheltered waters of the 1200km (750mi) archipelago attract scores of yachties each year. There are ports of entry on every island. The Bahamas has six international airports, but the bulk of flights land at the two major hubs: Nassau International Airport and Freeport International Airport. Some flights also land at Marsh Harbour (Abacos), North Eleuthera and Governor's Harbour (Eleuthera), and George Town (Exumas). Private planes and charters fly throughout the islands. Even on the more remote Out Islands, a taxi usually shows up to meet incoming flights (if not, someone at the airport will radio for a taxi on your behalf).

Getting around
Travelling by bus will cost a bomb, except for Nassau and Freeport, where private 'jitneys' (minibuses) operate within the city (but not to the airport), and there is no public transport on any of the Family Islands. This leaves car rental as the best transportation option. Several major international car rental companies have outlets in Nassau and Freeport, supplemented by small local firms. On the Family Islands, there are few established agencies. Although the minimum age to obtain a driver's license in The Bahamas is 17, renters must be 21 (some companies only rent to those 25 or older). You can drive on your foreign license for up to three months; an International Driver's License, required for longer stays, can be obtained from the Road Traffic Department in Nassau or the AAA office in the USA or UK. Remember to drive on the left. Other transportation rental options include motorcycles, scooters and bicycles (usually only one gear), which are available primarily in Freeport and Nassau. There's no shortage of taxis in Nassau and Freeport, where they can be hailed on the streets. Taxis are also the main local transportation on the Family Islands, though you'll need to summon one by radio or telephone. Intra-island flights offer the only quick and convenient way to travel between islands. Bahamasair serves Grand Bahamas and the larger Out Islands. The schedules change frequently and at short notice (no attempt is made to notify passengers with advance reservations of schedule changes). The airline operates on a hub-and-spoke system, to and from Nassau. Thus, if you want to fly between adjacent islands, such as Cat Island and Long Island, you'll have to return to Nassau. If you plan on a lot of island-hopping, you begin to feel like a yo-yo. Worse, you may need to stay overnight in Nassau between flights. You can also charter a small aircraft - which, if you plan to do a lot of island hopping and can get a few people together, is cost effective and time saving. Inter-island ferries are not as ubiquitous as you may imagine, but there are a few. Water taxis, for example, ply between Nassau and Paradise Island. Bahamas FastFerries is the only high-speed ferry in the islands; it links Nassau, Andros, Abacos, Eleuthera and the Exumas. Government-run ferries also link islands that are a short distance apart, such as North and South Bimini; Mangrove Cay and South Andros; and Crooked and Acklins Islands. Mail boats leave Potter's Cay Dock in Nassau, usually on twice-weekly trips, serving all the inhabited islands under government contract. Marinas are strewn about the islands like confetti at a wedding, and yachts for hire are easy to find.

Visa:
The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative requires all visitors to the Bahamas to have a valid passport. US, Canadian, UK and most Western European travelers do not need a visa for stays up to three months. Citizens of most Central and South American countries, including Mexico, do not need visas for stays up to 14 days. Citizens from Dominican Republic, Haiti, South Africa and all communist countries need to obtain visas for any length of stay. All air passengers must have a return or ongoing airline ticket.