Country guide

The Bahamas

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Seven hundred islands, thirty minutes from Florida.

The Bahamas offers the shortest international beach trip from the US East Coast, with Nassau and Paradise Island handling most visitors.

Best cities to visit

Colonial architecture, Paradise Island resorts and a 30-minute flight from Miami.

Constant trade winds, reliably dry, outside the hurricane belt.

Calm west-coast beaches and a well-developed tourism infrastructure.

English-speaking Central America with the hemisphere's best barrier reef.