THE BAHAMAS
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The Bahamas are actually an archipelago, not exactly in the Caribbean but considered as part of it - with more than 300 islands and cays. Two of those islands, New Providence and Gran Bahamas attract a huge amount of tourists and cruise ships, and offer all the amenities - and often a luxury lifestyle - that you can dream off. The capital of the Bahamas, Nassau, is located on New Providence.Then, you have the outer islands, also called "family islands": some of them have decent or very good hotels and marinas, other are not much more than a cay formed by white coral sand and surrounded by reefs and an impossibly turquoise and transparent sea. A paradise for romantic nature lovers, where life is really a beach! |
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New Providence, with Nassau and its famous Paradise island, will be your holiday dream if you love luxury, great restaurants, casinos, lots of boutiques, top class marinas and generally, being pampered non stop. This of course if you can afford it, since this James Bond movie setting is not exactly cheap.In that case, you can opt for one of the first class hotels - the famous Atlantis is on Paradise Island, or rent a wonderful villa somewhere on the island. But like everywhere, there are cheaper accommodation on the island, and great beaches where you can enjoy cheaper food, like the typical Bahamian conch. And especially in New Providence, yo may want to buy some of the most exclusive villas with private beach in a fully gated community. Many millionaires have done so. Live next door to Sean Connery... How charming! |
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Gran Bahamas is a bit less shiny and more earth to earth than New Providence, but here too, you will find luxury hotels, marinas and great shopping centers. More family oriented, Gran Bahamas has many beautiful beaches, some of them very quiet. It has a lot of pine forests - also to be found on New Providence - , but do not expect mountains and tropical forests: The Bahamas are generally flat coral islands, although some islands like Andros have hills.
But if you look for empty dream beaches, then your destination are the Outer Islands. You can fly to them from Nassau or Gran Bahamas., But of course, those islands are a destination of choice for sailors from all over the world. |
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Some of those islands are cays without even water and electricity: others are more populated - like Andros, Bimini, Columbus Island, the Eleutheras, parts of the Exumas, Abacos and others.Those islands have a varied topography: Some are not much more than sand and sea, others have hills, caves and blue holes to dive in. Many of them offer great natural or historic attractions, for instance old Protestant settlements in the Abacos..Columbus island is where Christopher Columbus supposedly made its first landing in the new world. Generally, The Bahamas are great if you are interested in the history of the region and there are enough museums to testify about it. |
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Those who love shopping will be quite happy in New Providence and Grand Bahamas. Shopping is duty free but not that cheap. On the other side, there are lots of nice local souvenirs and local artwork to take home. Entertainment varies, from very upscale evenings in the first class resorts, to the numerous casinos, or if you like island life, there are many opportunities to enjoy street and beach parties, folkloric events and local Bahamian bands to keep you dancing late.
Furthermore, The Bahamas are among the Caribbean islands offering offshore services. |
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And last but not least, the Bahamas are a favorite destination for sailors and divers. There are modern marinas everywhere on the archipelago, and diving in the Bahamas is really great. The water is transparent, the visibility is amazing, and you don't have to dive deep for fascinating encounters! Among the favorite spots are wrecks used in James Bond movies. And for those seeking an adrenaline rush, don't worry, sharks are everywhere: They won't bother you, they are peaceful Caribbean reef sharks, but it is still impressive to dive among a dozen of them. Dive shops like UNEXSO on Gran Bahamas and Stuart Cove in New Providence have a reputation of being among the best and most serious in the world and have participated in many movies. |
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In summary, there is a lot to do and see in the Bahamas, although having some money to spend won't hurt. Beaches, entertainment, folklore, history - the former British colony keeps a British touch -,financial services, good restaurants, it's all there. And if you can afford to travel from island to island, by plane or yacht, then you really can have holidays in paradise, or nearly. Activities like diving shopping, beach and visits of special sites can more than fill your vacation in style .But really, you should like water, beaches and some aquatic activity to make your stay really unforgettable! |
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