A little information to share on the Bahamas for everyone. 700 Islands, 350 Cays & 50 Shades Of Blue You don’t go to Bahamas. You go to The Bahamas. The difference is what makes this destination unique. The islands of The Bahamas, many of them uninhabited, are scattered through 470,000 sq. km. of Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and southeast of Florida. The name is thought to derive from the Spanish ‘baja mar’ meaning ‘shallow waters.’ In terms of the status of The Bahamas as a tourist destination, those shallow waters between islands are just as important as the land. They are crystal clear and come in more shades of blue than you could imagine, making up a large part of the allure. “The Bahamas is unlike other destinations because there are distinctly different islands offering distinctly different experiences,” says Paul Strachan, Director, Canada for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. “When Canadians get to know what we have to offer, they can’t believe that something so exotic is just a 3 hr. flight away.” The waters are crystal clear and come in more shades of blue than you can imagine. The 3 most important Bahamian destinations for Canadian travellers are Nassau/Paradise Island, Grand Bahama and Exuma. Strachan defines the attributes of each. “Nassau/Paradise Island has the large hotels, nightlife, casinos, shopping and great beaches,” says Strachan. “It’s our biggest destination, but by no means our only one. In recent years, more Canadians are discovering 2 of our other destinations – Grand Bahama and Exuma, and each offers a distinctive appeal.” Strachan says Grand Bahama offers attractions similar to Nassau/Paradise Island, including a few large hotels, a casino, clubs and lounges and a variety of dining choices. “So it has a little bit of the glitz and excitement, but it’s also a place for soft adventure and ecotours. Activities include kayaking, snorkeling, diving, biking, hiking, bird-watching or horseback riding on the beach. There are excellent car and jeep tours and you can have an ‘Out Island’ experience but also enjoy the nightlife of Freeport.” Exuma, or more correctly The Exumas are something different altogether. An archipelagos of 365 cays and islands - yes, one for every day of the year - The Exumas are located southeast of Nassau. The cays are a playground for the rich and famous, but small hotels and tiny towns make for an ideal family vacation environment too. The beaches are extraordinary,” says Strachan. “It’s a very family-oriented destination with sleepy towns, little boutique hotels and the amazing shallow waters are crystal-clear and every shade of blue. Despite the fact that ACV offers non-stop flights from Canada twice a week in season, this to me is still an undiscovered destination. But Strachan wants Canadian consumers to know that there’s more to The Bahamas than the glitz and glitter of Nassau. “With increased air service from Canada to Grand Bahama this winter, and ongoing flights to Exuma, there’s a different kind of Bahamian experience available to Canadians. We’re very proud of these destinations and we want to get the word out about our lesser-known gems that offer an exotic experience just a short flight away from a Canadian winter.”
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 18:21:56 +0000
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