Planning a trip to the Bahamas sometime soon? It is hard not to imagine yourself sitting beachside with a cold pina colada in hand watching the turquoise tide come in after a long day snorkeling in the vibrant sea with your family. Hanging right above your head, you hear the rustling of palms in the sea breeze. The smell of fresh ocean air and a lingering sunset top off your evening to really make it a memorable Bahamas vacation.
The Bahamas are a chain of 700-plus islands which make up the country. Vacationing in Bahamas has become quite popular for residents of the United States because of its ease of access from big cities in Florida such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale. There are popular islands situated less than 100 miles from Florida’s coast and there are also the ever-breathtaking Exuma Cays under a few hours away. This collection of 365 islands is known as the out islands of the Bahamas and give you a gentler, quieter Bahamian experience. Even taking a day trip to Bahamas has never been easier than nowadays, so, what are you waiting for?
Bahamas Air Tours will help when planning a trip to the Bahamas whether it is figuring the best time to visit Bahamas, finding the best beaches in Bahamas, and how to make your trip to Bahamas as fun as possible for the whole family by booking the right Exuma day trips. Next time you are traveling from Florida to Bahamas with the family, remember to fly on our Cessna Grand Caravan Bahamas air charter. Book one of our flights to Bahamas for the best experience of your entire trip.
Vacationing in Bahamas will feel like a dream.
What to know when planning a trip to the Bahamas
Through the years of traveling to Bahamas just like you, we have realized what planning a trip to the Bahamas requires starting with the time you visit, what you pack, where to stay, what to visit, and more. We are even a little bias about the best way to get to the Bahamas! Read on to follow us on planning a trip to the Bahamas.
Best time to visit Bahamas
It is necessary to note that there is no bad time to visit the Bahamas. It is a tropical destination which sees what most of the world would consider early summertime weather year-round. Sunny, rarely rainy, with a consistent breeze and low humidity every day. That is exactly how you want your island vacation.
With that being said, there are times when we believe the Bahamas are better to visit. For example, we tend to suggest avoiding the Spring Break rush. Usually, this is a six week period spanning from the beginning of March through mid-April. Take this advice if you are not big on party atmospheres or if traveling with your family. Though there are so many islands to avoid the school break rush, it is probably you will run into the crowd at least at some point during your holiday.
For the best weather, we suggest visiting between the beginning of November and the end of February. The weather stays consistent around a balmy mid-70’s degrees (Farenheit), but this is known as the tourist high season on the islands.
During peak season, prices are usually higher and attractions busier. If your budget and sanity can handle that, then this is probably the best time to visit Bahamas. However, our suggestion is to visit in the traveling off-season because, like mentioned, there is never consistently poor weather in the Bahamas. Even if it rains, it is usually a short afternoon rain and that is it.
Generally, right after Spring Break (end of April) is the best weather of the off-season with fewer long queues and crowded beaches. That is our favorite time for planning a trip to the Bahamas.
Prepare your packing list for a Bahamas vacation.
What to pack when vacationing in Bahamas
Packing for the Bahamas is very individualized. If you are a light packer, you may be able to get away with using a 40-liter backpack for all the necessities. After all, you will probably be wearing your swimwear most of the time while you are at some of the best beaches in Bahamas.
Among the things that are most important to bring on your vacation to the Bahamas are things that you can’t easily find or that are extra expensive because of import fees. This includes sunscreen and aloe gel (locals don’t use these things and therefore the prices are hiked up for tourists). Don’t be left out in the sun searching for sunscreen.
Most things, if forgotten, you can find in the Bahamas. But why would you want to spend your precious vacation time tracking these items down when it is entirely possible to bring them with you? Below is a list of other things you may not have thought of:
- Outlet adaptor
- Rechargeable power bank
- 4-wheel suitcase
- Beach blanket
- Mask and snorkel
- Waterproof passport pouch
- Copy of passport
- Dry bag
- Mosquito spray
- Sea sickness medication
- Refillable water bottle (let’s save the planet!)
- Luggage lock
Planning a trip to the Bahamas has never been easier.
How long should I stay in the Bahamas
We could take you island hopping for months in the Bahamas. That is why your itinerary depends heavily on what you want to do, how in-depthly you want to explore, and how much time you have available.
Of course, there are some islands which are more easily accessible and, therefore, more often visited. They are no-less spectacular than many of the lesser visited out islands. However, if you have a desire to explore deeper, you will want to set away at least a week in the Bahamas.
For a weekend itinerary, you would be much better off around Nassau (Providence Island, Paradise Island) or even Bimini. From either of these locations, you could take a day trip to Bahamas Exuma Cays to see the world-renowned swimming pigs up close and personal. Plus, in these locations, it is easier to find other day tour attractions and tourist favorites.
How long you stay in the Bahamas is dependent on your desires for the trip. There is plenty of things to do in Bahamas for any and all kinds of travelers.
Aerial view of the beautiful Bahamas.
Cell phone service in the Bahamas
Many U.S. carriers make it easy to access their network while vacationing in the Bahamas. To be sure, contact your service provider before traveling to know if you will have data service. If not, no worries, if you have an unlocked cell phone, it is easy to purchase a local SIM card upon arrival in the Bahamas.
Tipping in the Bahamas
The Bahamas has taken up the tip culture similar to North America. A gratuity charge at the end of your bill is common in most tourist places.
The best time to visit Bahamas is tomorrow.
One Day Cruise to Bahamas Day Trips by Plane
Planning a trip to the Bahamas can be as simple as you want to make it. Whether it is one of our one day Staniel Cay day trips where you can pick from our tours to Pig Beach to see the Exuma pigs in the Bahamas at Pig Island (Big Major Cay) or if you are planning a trip to the Bahamas for multiple days — our experts can help you cultivate the best trip.
After all, the only way to see the best of the country is to island-hop the right way; by air! Being a smaller, private plane, we are allowed to fly into smaller airfields which the large airline companies can’t enter which means we will take you further into the out islands of the enchanting Bahamas archipelago.
Get our FREE Bahamas Guidebook
Discover the Bahamas Out Islands
With beautifully illustrated maps and informative destination guides.
Download the Guidebook
