The Bahamas are called paradise islands not only because of the azure water and white sand, but also due to the fact that you can go here on vacation even all year round. The streak of annual Caribbean hurricanes does not often pass through the archipelago. The most comfortable time to visit the Bahamas is the high season. It runs from November to May.
Accordingly, the low season in the Bahamas begins with the arrival of summer. At this time it becomes not only very hot, but humid. The air temperature can reach + 33 ° С. If you do not know when is the best time to go to the Bahamas, then due to the trade wind, tropical climate, the air temperature here never drops below + 17 ° C.
Features of rest in the Bahamas in winter
Winter is the most comfortable time to fly to the Bahamas. Despite the fact that tropical air masses often change their course, during the climatic winter, vacation in the Bahamas will seem very pleasant.
Due to the fact that the islands of the archipelago are very low above sea level, the weather in the Bahamas in winter can seem pretty windy. However, this is common in the Bahamas. There are practically no heavy rains and thunderstorms from December to February. The humidity level at this time is quite low.
Features of rest in the Bahamas in spring
Holidays in the Bahamas in spring are associated not only with a paradise and secluded vacation, but also with a secret place for pirate treasures. Here, every new day is different from the previous one. It is very easy to forget about the time of day in this archipelago, because during the day you will tirelessly stroll through the picturesque and colorful area, and enjoy parties every night.
If you don't know when is the best time to relax in the Bahamas to get the most vivid and dizzying emotions, then rip out the spring. At this time, several national holidays are held on the territory of the archipelago, combining your vacation with them, you will get even more positive emotions.
With the arrival of spring, the weather in the Bahamas changes somewhat. The air temperature rises to + 27 ° С, and the air humidity also becomes higher.
Features of vacation in the Bahamas in summer
Holidays in the Bahamas in the summer may not seem as favorable as it might seem at first glance. This is due to the fact that with the arrival of the calendar summer, the wet season begins in the country. During the climatic summer, the weather in the Bahamas is influenced by the southeast trade winds, which at least occasionally bring hurricanes to the archipelago.
Summer is a period when only those tourists who love the sultry sun should go to the Bahamas. The temperature index at this time reaches + 33 ° C, and 100% humidity makes the heat unbearable. When deciding to spend your summer vacation here, be sure to bring your skin protection products.
Several times a year, since the travel time does not take too much, and the quality of the tourist infrastructure allows you to enjoy the ideal seascapes conveniently and comfortably. A Russian tourist in a distant archipelago is not seen so often: a long flight and the opportunity to enjoy the local pleasures cost a pretty penny. And yet, search queries "when is the best time to relax in the Bahamas" are found on the Internet, which means that the Caribbean is of interest to a potential tourist, despite the thousands of nautical miles separating the continents.
Let's take a look at the map
The Bahamas archipelago is made up of coral islands, islets and reefs of all sizes and shapes. The largest inhabited islands, where the best resorts in the country are located, are New Providence with the capital of Nassau, Andros and Grand Bahama with the second largest city of Freeport.
The weather and climatic features of the islands allow tourists to relax here almost all year round, but the Bahamian calendar also has periods most suitable for beach relaxation, and a "low" season:
- The islands lie in a tropical climate zone, the formation of which is especially influenced by the warm ocean current and the constant trade winds blowing from the southeast.
- The highest probability of rain on the archipelago occurs in May-June and the first half of autumn. Although July and August refer to the rainy season, they can boast of a relative calm and not too high rainfall.
- In the period from May to October in the Bahamas, air humidity increases significantly - up to 90%. At this time, the intense heat is very difficult to endure, and in the summer in the Bahamas it is better not to rest for those who have problems with the lungs or blood vessels.
- The average air temperature in the resorts in January is about 21 ° С, in July - from + 30 ° С and above.
With the arrival of summer, hurricane season begins in the archipelago, as in the entire Caribbean region. Officially, it lasts until the last days of November, but the greatest likelihood of a gusty wind and a strong storm falls in August and September. Hurricanes are quite frequent in the Bahamas, but most often they do not cause serious damage to either the tourist infrastructure or the holidaymakers themselves. And yet, if you want to relax in peace, sunbathe and swim - comfortably and safely, choose the time when to fly to the Bahamas, especially carefully.
Beach holiday features
The beaches of the Bahamas archipelago await guests throughout the year. Even in January, thermometers rarely drop below + 25 ° C during the day, and the water warms up to + 23 ° C during the Christmas holidays. The warmest weather on the southern islands is Small and Large Inagua and Mayaguana, slightly cooler in the northwest, in Grand Bahama and New Providence.
You will find the most comfortable beach holiday from September to May. At this time, the probability of rain is reduced to almost zero, although at night strong and powerful tropical rainfall can fall in winter. Usually they last only a few minutes and freshen the air, making the morning and the first half of the next day more comfortable for a beach holiday.
Do not forget about the special activity of the sun in tropical latitudes. Even in cloudy weather in the Bahamas, protective equipment should not be neglected to avoid sunburn. Bring sunglasses and hats to Bahamian beaches and limit exposure to the sun, especially in the early days of your vacation.
Colorful calendar
Going to the Bahamas for a beach vacation, the most curious tourists do not forget to look at the schedule of local holidays in order to diversify their vacation by participating in interesting events and colorful events.
The most famous holiday in the Bahamas is the Jonkonu Festival, celebrated widely and on a grand scale on the first day of the new year and again - immediately after Christmas. Carnival processions fill the streets and squares of Bahamian cities these days, and cows with bells around their necks become their main participants. The highlight of the entertainment program is dance shows that are in no way inferior to Brazilian ones. In the evening of each day, the winners are awarded prizes, and the sky is colored with dozens of fireworks.
On the rest of the year, the Bahamas also do not let its many guests get bored:
- In January, you can take part in golf competitions, or at least become a spectator and make sure that there are rules in this game, and that it itself may seem boring only at first glance.
- Tourists are offered to get acquainted with the customs of local aborigines in July. At this time, a festival is held, the meaning of which is the preservation of national culture, folklore and customs. If you have conquered the Bahamas and stayed until the end of summer, take part in the fishing tournament in August.
- The end of summer flows smoothly into the September Bahamian Food and Wine Festival. You can taste local drinks and dishes of national cuisine both in hotels and at street vendors.
Music fans will be delighted to be on vacation in the Bahamas at the end of May. The Caribbean Music Festival runs for a whole week, and within its framework not only concerts are held, but also incendiary dance lessons are given. All comers will certainly be taught to dance bachata, lambada and reggae.
Four times a year, a magnificent musical ceremony is held at Rawson Square in the center of the capital, organized by the Nasau Police Department. The police orchestra is one of the favorite musical groups of local residents and visitors to the islands.
Useful observations
If you love sailing or just enjoy watching yachts, book your tickets to the Bahamas from April to November.
- The sailing season on the island of Big Abaco lasts all summer and autumn, and several local regattas are quite capable of quenching the thirst of a person who missed the flapping of canvas in the wind.
If you are not too fond of the noise and crowding on the beaches, do not choose the end of March and the first half of April for a vacation in the Bahamas. At this time, many Americans come to the islands with children, whose spring break begins.
- You will hardly be able to sunbathe calmly even at Christmas, but the end of November can be quite deserted. On the fourth Thursday of the month, the States celebrate Thanksgiving, which is traditionally the gathering of the whole family. During this period, almost all American tourists stay at home.
The "low" season in the Bahamas does not become an obstacle to travel for tourists who have decided to save a little. During the rainy season, prices for hotels and flights can be significantly reduced, and therefore the vacation will cost less. In the rainy season in the Bahamas, you can get an inexpensive complex of spa treatments for face and body care. In summer, the owners of the salons make huge discounts for visitors who are not afraid to fly to the islands during hurricanes.
- And yet, when deciding to fly to the Bahamas during the rainy season, carefully study the offers of hoteliers. Many hotels are completely closed from May to September.
Diving in the Bahamas is another popular pastime for Americans who come here on vacation. There are schools for the study of the art of diving in almost every resort and in many hotels. When choosing when is the best time to relax in the Bahamas, if you are a diver or just want to learn the art of diving, book tickets for the dry season. At this time, the water is the most transparent, and the sea is calm. You will be able to observe the underwater inhabitants completely freely.
- The water temperature in January can drop to + 23 ° C, and if such values \u200b\u200bseem to you not too comfortable, try to fly to the Bahamian resorts in November-December or April-May, until the next season of tropical showers begins.
When choosing the Bahamas as your long awaited vacation destination, book your flights and hotel rooms as early as possible. The Caribbean is very popular with residents of the Western Hemisphere, who tend to plan their trips in advance, and therefore tickets and hotels for the dates you need a few days or even weeks before the trip may not be available at all.
700 islands, washed by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, are able to present an ideal vacation for even the most sophisticated traveler.
The impeccable climate, golden sand, tropical greenery and blue waves will make a trip to the Bahamas an unforgettable experience.
But what to prefer - a package tour or an independent trip - is up to you.
Prices and features of tours to the Bahamas
Several dozen tour operators offer trips to the Bahamas, and the announced prices fall in the range between $ 2,000 and $ 4,000. It wouldn't be so bad if everything you need was included in the price. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights to the Bahamas (even charters), so all travel agents leave the path to the traveler himself. The cost of a flight from Moscow to the Bahamas with a transfer will also be at least $ 2,000.
As a result, the amount of the trip includes only hotel accommodation, transfer from the airport to the hotel and back, as well as medical insurance. You will have to pay for the rest yourself.
Independent trip: prices, documents, season
As for an independent trip - and it can hardly be called cheap, but still you will not have to overpay for services. The same ticket prices are waiting for you from 50,000 to 70,000 rubles in both directions, but you can save on the hotel. Of course, 5-star options start at 10,000 rubles per day for a double room, but decent 3 stars can be found for 3,000-4,000 per night.
Meals will also become one of the budget items, because if breakfasts are included in the cost of living in almost all hotels, then you will have to have lunch and dinner at your own expense. You can order a full lunch with wine and seafood for $ 40-50, although there are also luxury establishments where dinner will cost you at least $ 200.
Russian citizens do not need a visa if they travel to the Bahamas for a period not exceeding 90 days. As for money, both Bahamian dollars and American dollars are in circulation on the islands. Almost all institutions and organizations accept all types of credit cards, but it will not be so easy to exchange traveller's checks.
But travelers are not limited in travel time. Thanks to the warm current that flows around the islands, excellent weather reigns here all year round. The maximum peak of popularity among the Bahamian holiday is in the period from September to May, when the air and water temperatures are practically equal and reaches + 26 ... + 28 ° C. In summer, the islands are also warm, but showers and hurricanes are possible. However, if you like to relax without a crowd of tourists and are ready to take a chance, then summer will be the most opportune moment.
As you can see, the tour is not the most profitable way to visit the Bahamas. If you are planning to go to this paradise on earth, then it is better to book your tickets and hotel yourself, and then enjoy excursions and sights of your choice. So you can not only see what usually goes unnoticed by most tourists, but also save a lot.
Capital: Nassau.
The Bahamas has long been considered a symbol of luxury and relaxation and is one of the largest resort areas in the Western Hemisphere.
Customs and traditions: The traditional culture of the Bahamas is far removed from the American-influenced urban centers of Nassau and Freeport. The island folk art is reflected in a large number of fairy tales, natural medicine, music and religious rituals brought here by slaves from Africa. Despite the fact that the Bahamas has not yet produced world-famous writers, and visual art is also developing slowly, the islands have formed a distinctive musical culture. Several traditional forms of music were born in this country, including gumbey, a synthesis of calypso, sap and English folk songs, as well as a scratching-scraping working class style, with a characteristic guitar sound, accordion, and rattles made from Poinsiana tree pods.
Bahamian children enjoy playing basketball. They literally live on a basketball court, and most townships have their own small basketball court with makeshift baskets. The Bahamas are following the American basketball (and baseball) teams with great zeal.
Holidays and non-working days: New Year (January 1), Good Friday (at different times), Second day after Easter (at different times), Spirits Day (seven weeks after Easter), Labor Day (first Friday in June), Independence Day (July 10), Day Liberation (first Monday in August), America's Discovery Day (October 12), Christmas (December 25), Boxing Day (December 26).
One of the most colorful celebrations to coincide with the celebration of Christmas and New Year is the Junkanoo festival. This is a carnival, and a theatrical procession, and a folk festival at the same time. Participants show off fantastic costumes that delight the audience. Big things to do are the regatta held annually in April at Elizabeth Harbor on Family Island and The Goombay Summer Festival, which is held for tourists in June.
Geography: In the western part of the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the Florida Peninsula, there is the vast Bahamas archipelago. It has more than 700 islands, of which only 30 are inhabited. Most of the islands are small and are coral reefs. These are the northernmost islands of the Caribbean. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe islands is 13.9 thousand square meters. km. The largest islands are Big Bahama, Andros, Eleuthera, New Providence, Big Inagua.
Climate:Beautiful beaches, lush vegetation, colorful coral reefs make the Bahamas one of the most popular winter resorts in the Western Hemisphere. The Bahamas has a tropical and subtropical climate. The western coast of the islands is washed by the warm Gulf Stream, and a mild equatorial wind blows constantly from the southeast. Therefore, in winter, the temperature rarely drops below + 15C, and in summer it does not exceed + 32C. The temperature of the crystal clear sea in winter is usually around + 23C, and in summer about + 27C. The greatest probability of precipitation is from May to October, although there is no pronounced rainy season.
Population: The population of the island is about 280 thousand people, most of them are descendants of black slaves and mulattos (85%), the white minority is from England, Canada, and the USA. Inhabitants of the islands under 15 years old make up 15% of the population, over 60 - 5%. The population density per square mile is about 50.
Language: The state language is English. The Bahamians speak with a local accent and use a number of words derived from the Arawak Indian as well as African languages.
Religion: Freedom of religion, the majority of the population belongs to the Christian church.
Currency: The national currency is the Bahamian dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar. Both currencies are in circulation on the islands. There are coins in circulation in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 15, 25 and 50 cents and 1, 2 and 5 dollars; banknotes in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 dollars.
Currency exchange: It is better to change money in banks. Opening hours: Monday to Thursday - from 9.30 to 15.00, on Friday - from 9.30 to 17.00. Credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club, etc.) are accepted in many places. Traveler's checks are also common. To avoid additional exchange transactions, take checks in US dollars.
Customs regulations: In addition to personal belongings, you can bring with you 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 1 pound (~ 0.450 kg.) Of tobacco, as well as 1 liter of alcoholic beverages. Only persons departing on flights to the United States (US Customs) pass through customs. There is an airport tax of $ 15 when departing from the Bahamas.
Transport: The easiest way to get to the Bahamas is from the USA. The flight from Miami to Nassau will take about 35 minutes, from New York to Nassau - 2.5 hours, from Philadelphia - 2 hours 45 minutes, from Toronto (Canada) - 3 hours. If the cost of air tickets seems too high for you, you can purchase tickets for charter flights or use the services of rebators, which provide discounts of up to 30% on the cost of tickets and hotel rooms. Flights for charter flights can be booked with Nassau / Paradise Island Express and Carnival Airlines. Discount tickets and rooms - at Travel Avenue, Smart Treveller, Travel Management International.
Car rent: The movement is left-sided. Dudget Rent-a-Car rental prices range from $ 42 to $ 54 per day, depending on the class of the car and the type of transmission. All car rental rates include:
- unlimited mileage;
- third party liability insurance;
- document on waiver of obligations to pay compensation in the event of a collision;
- accident insurance;
- insurance against theft;
- Additional airport taxes and all local taxes.
Necessary requirements:
- the driver's age is at least 21 years;
- availability of an international driving license;
- driving experience of at least a year.
Electricity: The voltage and frequency of the electrical network in the Bahamas are in accordance with the US standard and are 120 volts and 60 hertz. The sockets and plugs are also of American design, so tourists from Europe need a special converter and adapter to use electrical appliances made in Europe.
Communication: The international code for the Bahamas is 809. If you are calling from Russia, dial 8, then 10, followed by 1809, area code and local number. You can order a conversation through the operator, tel. in Moscow - 8-194, 8-196. AT&T provides free telephone calls to travel agents, cruise lines, and airlines serving tourists traveling to the Bahamas within the United States. The AT&T US phone number is 800 / 874-4000.
Accommodation: Hotels in the Bahamas for the cost of a two-room suite in the winter season can be roughly divided into expensive (from $ 190 to $ 300), medium (from $ 95 to $ 190) and cheap (from $ 65 to $ 95). All hotels and guesthouses below $ 55 are in the budget category.
Prices: The Bahamas is a test of the strength of your wallet. Moderate expenses will cost you about $ 100 per night (an inexpensive hotel room - $ 30-75, dinner in an inexpensive restaurant - $ 25). In winter, hotel accommodation costs 30% more.
Tip: The country has adopted a "tip" system for the services provided. The receptionist expects to receive $ 1 for each suitcase delivered to the room, $ 2 per day you can pay the maid for additional service, for example, for a washed and ironed shirt or blouse. In most cases, "tips" to taxi drivers, waiters, and servants are 15% of the cost of services (in the most luxurious restaurants - 20%).
Emergency phones: If you are in danger, call the police or the fire brigade on 919. The Bahamas has a well-functioning health care system for Bahamians and visitors. The islands have hospitals and clinics equipped with modern medical equipment. Ambulance call:
New Providence, Tel: 322-2121;
Freeport, Tel: 352-2689.
If you love nature in all its manifestations, then you will definitely find where to go in the Bahamas. The local island resorts will amaze the imagination of even experienced tourists. Without knowing anything about the rest in the Bahamas, you can find out where to go thanks to. With this resource, you will learn that panoramic views of the Bahamas are not disfigured by urban smog and dust. No matter which island you find yourself on, you will not find negative marks of civilization.
Beach holidays in the Bahamas
Before going to the island archipelago, you need to decide on the purpose of the visit. Most tourists are attracted by the beach resorts of the Bahamas, where you can forget about all the pressing problems. The most popular resorts are:
- Grand Bahama
- Big Abaco
- Harbor
- Eleuthera
- Andros
Read all the details about a beach holiday in the Bahamas.
Excursion cities in the Bahamas
To diversify your beach vacation in the country, you can learn the historical facts of the emergence of the island state, enjoy the beauty of natural attractions and entertainment facilities. To do this, you need to go on a tour of the excursion cities of the Bahamas. Unfortunately, there are not as many of them as we would like, but quite exciting excursions can also be found if you visit:
- Freeport
For more comprehensive information about excursions in the Bahamas, read
