Travel Guides: All Countries / Caribbean / Bahamas
 |  | Destination Guide : Bahamas |
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| | | Islands in the sun |  | Why go on holiday to the Bahamas?
To chill out. This place claims to have invented the hammock! Take your pick from more than 700 islands - some virtually undiscovered - and enjoy a mix of American, Caribbean and British culture.
Relax on the white-sand beaches or if you're feeling more adventurous try yachting, fishing, diving or kayaking. Play the casinos and take in a cabaret or enjoy a local goombay band after the sun goes down.
How much does it cost?
The Bahamas lies at the pricier end of the Caribbean. It's unlikely to find two-week deals for under £1,500 in summer but you should get cheaper deals at other times of the year.
When should I go?
The Bahamas has 320 days of sunshine each year. Even in winter, the average daytime temperature is 70F (24C) and the clear, blue sea is warm year-round. The best time to go is summer when temperatures can reach 81F (27C), tempered by a lovely cool breeze.
Watch out for the hurricane season which peaks in August and September - although the Bahamas are rarely hit as badly as the nearby Caribbean islands, it can still be a problem.
The most colourful time (but also the coldest - 50F/10C on some islands) is Christmas, when communities throughout the islands celebrate Junkanoo, the local equivalent of Mardi Gras.
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| | | Swim with dolphins |  | What should I do when I'm there?
The sea obviously plays a major role in island life so when you're not chilling out on the beach, you could go snorkelling off the Exumas, swim with the dolphins off Blue Lagoon Island or take a trip in a glass-bottomed boat.
Where's best for quiet beaches?
Most of the islands boast beautiful beaches, but some are more touristy than others. Long Island is particularly scenic and the beaches are fantastic as well as being virtually undiscovered. It's also excellent for diving.
The Crooked Island District is remote, unspoilt and perfect for anyone who wants to get away from it all.
There are a few magnificent beaches here, but not many facilities for holidaymakers and you could easily find yourself with only the flamingoes and turtles for company.
Andros is also relatively undeveloped and is excellent for diving in blue holes and along the world's third-longest barrier reef.
And which islands are more lively?
New Providence is the main island and home of the historical capital of the Bahamas, Nassau.
This is where you'll find all the large hotels, casinos and vibrant nightlife as well as beautiful beaches and quaint old buildings.
Grand Bahama is another busy island, renowned for its sports facilities (especially golf courses) duty-free shopping opportunities and casinos, although it has been described as "unsophisticated and soulless".
The Abacos island group is the third most visited area in the country - its mixture of picturesque villages, museums, art galleries and yachting culture makes it the perfect holiday destination.
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| | | Duty-free shopping | | Where's good for nightlife?
It depends what your thing is. The nightlife ranges from a few English-style pubs and swanky nightclubs with their dress codes and ridiculously expensive prices in Nassau, to hundreds of American-style "sports bars".
The four main casinos are dotted over the islands. Foreigners can gamble, Bahamians may not.
Traditional "rake 'n' scrape" music can be enjoyed in many a local bar while you are sampling some of the local brews - Kalik (a lager-style beer) and, of course, rum.
What's the food like?
Like a lot of aspects of life on these islands, typical Bahamian food is a mix of different ethnic traditions.
It's heavy on the seafood, especially conch - a large marine snail - and also incorporates spices, sweet potatoes from the Caribbean and meat stews and hot cross buns, a hangover from the days when the islands were governed by the British.
However, traditional Bahamian food has been overshadowed in the past 10 or 20 years by the introduction of North American fast food.
What should I buy?
The markets and duty-free shops in Nassau and Freeport are paradise for shopaholics. You can get almost anything duty-free here - perfume, cigars, clothes, jewellery and leather goods.
At the other end of the scale are the traditional straw markets, where you can purchase baskets, mats, dolls, bags and hats made by Bahamian weavers from palm leaves.
The largest market is in Bay Street, Nassau, and there are several in Freeport and Long Island, but local crafts including batik material, sculpture and traditional art are for sale on most of the islands.
What is there for children to do?
Of course children can amuse themselves for hours on a beach, but if they do get bored easily, the best way to make sure that they're catered for is to go on an all-inclusive package at a large hotel or resort.
Most of these provide facilities and entertainment for children, as well as babysitting and childminding services.
Tourist office
The Bahamas Tourist Office, 10 Chesterfield Street, London W1J 5JL. Tel: 020 7355 0800.
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