Bahamas Holiday
While the Bahamas has gained something of a reputation as a playboy holiday destination over the years, this archipelago of over 700 islands is much more than just a playground for US jetsetters.
While the Bahamas has gained something of a reputation as a playboy holiday destination over the years, this archipelago of over 700 islands is much more than just a playground for US jetsetters.
Whether you visit to splash some cash at fine hotels and restaurants or just want to kick back at a beach hut and enjoy the wonderful (and free) sunsets, the Bahamas can capture any imagination.
Since 30 of the 700 islands are inhabited, the Bahamas offers visitors a unique opportunity to switch off and seek out their very own corner of paradise.
Located just 55 miles east of Florida and north of Cuba and the Caribbean, the Bahamas is an English-speaking Commonwealth country.
With a population just under 295,000, the Bahamas attracts over three million holiday makers a year - explaining the proliferation of hotels and resorts in some of the more built-up areas.
The island of San Salvador in the south eastern Bahamas is believed to be the first land that Christopher Columbus discovered on his voyage to unearth the New World in 1492.
English settlers from Bermuda arrived in the Bahamas in 1650, while the set of islands became a British crown colony in 1718 - Bahamians gained independence in 1973 whilst remaining a member of the Commonwealth.
With a population of 190,000, the capital of Nassau is the transport hub of the Bahamas - and most likely will be your first port of call.
The city's history and position on the main shipping routes between Europe and the West Indies mean the formally named Charles Town is steeped in heady tales of pirates and prostitutes.
Nowadays, Nassau offers holiday makers a great mix of harbour location and Old World Architecture that originated from the 18th and 19th centuries when a number of impressive colonial buildings were created in the city.
Long Island is a fantastic destination where visitors can see crashing waves rolling in from the Atlantic juxtaposed with tranquil, shallow bays on the west of the island.
Travellers to Long Island will enjoy a relatively untouched Bahamian island and the town of Stella Maris cannot be beaten for scuba diving and sport fishing.
Cape Santa Maria on the western shore is beautiful and the inviting shacks on the beach are the perfect place to grab a beer and watch the sun set.
Inagua National Park is one of the best examples of the eco-tourism trade that is springing up in the Bahamas.
Lake Windsor dominates the 743 sq km park, as does the fabulous collection of 50,000 West Indian flamingos - the largest colony in the world. holiday makers must be accompanied by a ranger but can enjoy a host of wildlife including Louisiana herons, roseate spoonbills and reddish-pink egrets.
The Bahamas is a great destination offering as much or as little activity as any traveller could want - watching life go by on the world-class beaches with a rum in hand, this is simply not a holiday to be missed.
