About The Bahamas
The Bahamas is made up of 700 islands that are spread out over 100,000 square miles. These islands are a popular vacation retreat for millions and millions of visitors each year, in particular American citizens and cruise ship guests. The islands start about fifty miles from Florida. The Bahamas boasts the third largest barrier reef in the world. It has the clearest water on the whole earth, and has a visibility of more than two hundred feet.
Music is a huge role in the Bahamian culture, throughout the whole country. You will hear bits of Caribbean calypso, African rhythms, Bahamian goombay music with English folk songs. The music combines European colonial influences with the African musical traditions. As for Bahamian cuisine, visitors can find any type of food there, in addition to Bahamian food, which is quite spicy and flavored. If you are a seafood lover, the Bahamas is a good choice as seafood is a staple in the Bahamian diet.
Family Activities in The Bahamas
The islands of the Bahamas lure visitor to their beautiful beaches, clear water, duty free stores and scuba diving excursion as well as luxurious accommodations. There are mega resorts on the islands that attract families but those are not the only activities that families can participate in on the islands.
- Grand Bahama
Grand Bahama is a natural paradise, sprinkled with popular tourist spots. For instance the Lucayan National Park was used as the backdrop for the beach scenes in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” by Disney. There are nature tours that take travelers by kayak through the mangroves in the park, out to the beach. As well, the Dolphin Experience offers families a chance to interact with bottlenose dolphins in one of the Caribbean’s largest dive programs.
- Exuma
The Thunderball Grotto can be found in Exuma. This is a top scuba diving and snorkeling spot that appeared in 2 of the James Bond movies. The Thunderball Grotto is an underwater maze that is intricate and inticing. It is enclosed by cave ceilings that are sky-high and have holes that are just large enough to let a bit of sun in and provide reflections off the water. Kids will have a ball feeding bread crumbs to the fish.
- Nassau
Nassau is home to the official Junkaroo night parade that occurs on December 26, New Year’s Day as well as during the summer. It is the biggest celebration of the year, with parades, costumes, dancing and music. If these times don’t suit your vacation schedule, then Paradise Island’s Marina Village offers mini versions of Junkaroos on a weekly basis.
Family Vacation Packages in The Bahamas
Family vacation packages in the Bahamas are plentiful. Do a bit of research though before booking, considering all of your options that are available to you.
Atlantis is a world-renowned resort in the Bahamas, offering loads of things for families to do. There is a massive underwater world with sea creatures and fish, waterfalls, fountains and waterslides among ten swimming areas plus seven acres of saltwater swimming areas. There is a watersports lagoon, a kids club for children, a teen club that offers computer games as well as a dance floor. Visitors to Atlantis will be hard-pressed to find another resort that will offer anything more for children than Atlantis does.
Another option is the Comfort Suites Paradise Island. This hotel is adjacent to Atlantis and allows all its visitors to use the Atlantis amenities, free of charge. This hotel is perfect for those who want to experience all that Atlantis has to offer without the busyness and noise of staying at Atlantis.
If you are looking for a quieter vacation package than a resort like Atlantis, the Hut Pointe Inn may be a good choice. These vacation packages include two bedroom suites with full kitchens – perfect for families. This boutique resort allows families to fully enjoy the island of Eleuthera. The resort is close enough to attend the local events that are family-friendly.
How much will The Bahamas cost?
There is no way of getting around it – the Bahamas is an expensive travel destination. It is popular with honeymooners, cruise ships and resorts, meaning that visitors should expect to pay more. Accommodations is expensive, even if you are planning on staying at a hostel or budget hotels. You are still looking at about $75 a night. As for food, expect to pay about $8 for a meal that includes fish, side dish and a dessert. If you are looking to eat American fare, these will be much more expensive – up to $25 a plate. Water taxis are frequently employed as a method of transportation. A simple ride on a mail boat between islands could be up to $45 each way. These are infrequent so many people turn to inter-island flights which are fairly reasonably priced and more time conscious.