Bahamas

The Bahamas is one of those destinations that sounds obvious but rewards those who look past the obvious choices. Nassau and the mega-resorts of Paradise Island are well-documented. What we cover is different: the Out Islands, the quieter archipelago of smaller Bahamian islands where the water is impossibly clear, the pace is slow, and the hotels are actually interesting.

Everything here is based on real visits. No hotel paid to be featured, and no review is sponsored.

Where we cover in the Bahamas:

Harbour Island — A tiny island off the northeast coast of Eleuthera, and one of the most quietly extraordinary places in the Caribbean. Harbour Island is famous for its Pink Sand Beach — three miles of pale rose-colored sand on the Atlantic side of the island — but it’s the overall character of the place that makes it special. The main town of Dunmore Town is full of pastel-painted clapboard houses, bougainvillea-draped lanes, and some of the best boutique hotels in the Caribbean. Golf carts are the primary mode of transport. There are no chain hotels and no all-inclusives. It’s the anti-Nassau, and it’s wonderful. See our full Harbour Island travel guide for where to stay, eat, and spend your time.

Boutique Hotels — The Bahamas has a genuinely strong boutique hotel scene, particularly across the Out Islands. These are small, independently owned properties with real character — a world away from the massive resort complexes of Nassau. See our guide to the best boutique hotels in the Bahamas for the properties worth knowing.

For a broader overview of the islands, beaches, and where to go depending on what kind of trip you’re planning, start with our Bahamas travel guide — it covers the full archipelago and helps you figure out which island is right for your trip.

Best time to visit the Bahamas: Mid-December through April is peak season — dry, sunny, and reliably warm without being oppressively hot. May and June are excellent shoulder months with fewer crowds and lower prices. Hurricane season runs July through November, with September and October carrying the most risk; the islands can still be beautiful during this period but travel insurance is essential.