Bahamas Travel Tips
The Bahamas are one of the best destination wedding locations in the Caribbean for North American couples and their guests due to their close proximity to Florida. While the entry requirements have become a bit stricter than they were in the past, it is still very simple and straightforward for North American travelers to enter and exit the Bahamas.
Passport Requirements for Destination Wedding Travelers in the Bahamas
U.S. citizens traveling to the Bahamas by air are required to have a valid passport or other WHTI-compliant document for entrance. It will also become regulation for U.S. citizens traveling by sea to present a passport or WHTI-compliant document by June of 2009. Canadians have the option of entering with their passports, birth certificates, or original naturalization/citizenship certificates.
Flight Times between North America and the Bahamas
The most popular and busy airport of the Bahamas is in Nassau. If you are planning your destination wedding on Paradise Island, you have to fly to Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport. Flight times to Nassau are 3 hours from Toronto, 35 minutes from Miami, 2 hours and 45 minutes from Philadelphia, and 2.5 hours from New York City. The second largest airport in the Bahamas is in Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. Airlines that fly directly to the Bahamas from North America include American Airlines, Delta, Bahamasair, and US Airways.
Getting to the Out Islands is a bit trickier however. There aren’t flights available to all of the Out Islands so sometimes you have to rely on mail boats. The national airline Bahamasair has connecting flights from Nassau to 12 Bahamian Out Islands, including Abaco, Andros, Cat Island, and San Salvador.
Rental Car Companies in the Bahamas
What better way to explore all that the Bahamas has to offer than in your own rental car? Rental car companies abound in Nassau and Freeport. It’s very convenient to rent a car with one of the agencies that operates at the airports. AVIS, Dollar Rent a Car, and Hertz Rent a Car have offices at both the Nassau and Freeport international airports. That being said, it’s quite easy to get around Nassau or Freeport in taxis and local transport. It’s especially unnecessary to rent a car if you plan to spend most of your time at a resort. However, it’s a great idea to rent a car if you want to get off the beaten path on Grand Bahama Island.
Destination Wedding Packages in the Bahamas
Every destination wedding couple can find a destination wedding package to suit them in the Caribbean. The Bahamas caters to Caribbean wedding couples from all walks of life, whether you are on a budget or can afford deluxe accommodations and service. In the Bahamas, destination wedding couples can exchange their vows under a garden gazebo overlooking the bay, at a private beach only accessible by boat, or at a historic church in downtown Nassau. Whatever your dream destination wedding ceremony may be, you can fulfill it in the Bahamas. Resorts offering budget destination wedding packages include the The Pelican Bay Hotel in Lucaya, Grand Bahama Island and the Nassau Palm Hotel. Luxury resorts offering destination wedding packages with all the frills include The Four Seasons Resort in Emerald Bay, Great Exuma and The British Colonial Hilton in Nassau.
So there you have it. Planning a destination wedding in the Bahamas is easy because it is such a popular and oft-visited location for Caribbean weddings. With its proximity to North America, excellent facilities, and top-notch tourist infrastructure, the Bahamas is a wonderful choice for anyone who wants to plan a hassle-free destination wedding that’s convenient and modern without a losing even a hint of exotic, tropical romance. |
