Car Hire Bahamas - Mini guide to Bahamas
Although formerly a British colony, this archipelago of flat, dry islands scattered across the extreme northern reaches of the Caribbean is now quite American in character. Despite flagrant commercial development on the more popular ‘winter hideaway’ islands, many of the out reaching islands are perfect for ‘getting away from it all’.
Nassau, on New Caledonia, is a bustling town with a fascinating history that includes pirates, buccaneers, racketeers and sponge barons. Today many of its grand belle epoch colonial buildings stand empty and the focus has shifted to the million dollar hotels on Paradise Island, just offshore. There is a good market to cater for the dozens of cruise ships and several interesting old forts.
Grand Bahama’s main settlements of Freeport and Lucaya are overrun by American retirees (of all ages) idly spending their winters gambling, sunning, and sipping rum punch. The Rand Memorial Nature Centre, boasts an excellent horticultural display of over 5000 species. The Lucayan National Park has an extensive underground cave system.
Eleuthera attracts the high society members to its exclusive private resorts on Harbour Island, while the Abacos comprise of a series of Cays dotted with private homes and best explored by private yacht.
The Biminis are pretty remote and appear to be non descript above the water but were made famous by Hemingway’s ‘Island’s in the stream’, and thus attract deep sea fishermen.
Long Island is perhaps the most scenic of these typically low and dry islands, and is hardly overrun by tourists. The only development is found around Stella Maris.
Similarly, Cat Island is enjoyed by the few lucky enough to have their own yacht to get there. But these can be chartered from mariners on the busier islands.
Nassau has the busiest airport with frequent flights to many North American cities and selected European destinations, however it is possible to fly directly from the US to several other islands. Connections are frequent to the outer islands. Ferries don’t generally run between islands.
