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Twenty-nine islands, more than 600 cays, and over 2,000 islets make up the alluring archipelago of the Bahamas. While the Bahamas is famous all over the world for its sugary white sand beaches and clear blue waters, this country just off the east coast of Florida is definitely more than a beach paradise. From its major islands of New Providence and Grand Bahama to its smaller faraway cays, the Bahamas is dotted with numerous resorts, hotels, shopping centers, casinos and other stunning attractions. It is also one of the busiest and most advanced financial centers of the world, protecting the assets of some of the wealthiest and most influential people across the globe. With all these astonishing qualities, there is no place else to realize your dream tropical island vacation but in the Bahamas.
Geography and Government of the Bahamas
The Bahamas is located in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the United States, northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands and north of the Caribbean Sea, Hispaniola and Cuba. The nearest island to the US is Bimini while the farthest is Andros. Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is home to a plethora of attractions and business institutions that attract droves of tourists and other travelers year after year.
American and European tourists feel safe in the Bahamian archipelago because its government closely follows legal and political traditions of the Westminster system and the United Kingdom. The Bahamas is an independent sovereign nation with a very stable political system and economy offering a refreshing break for people who are tired of the restlessness of their normal lives in their countries.
Banking in the Bahamas
Photo by Jessice Lucia |
Aside from its mesmerizing beaches, the Bahamas is also famous the world over because of its highly developed banking system that absolutely secures its clients. For over 50 years, offshore banks in the Bahamas has protected enormous amounts of assets through its banking system that offers confidentiality, privacy, anonymity, political stability, and no direct taxation to clients.
According to Bahamian law, the government cannot levy taxes on corporate or personal income, dividends, capital gains, estates, royalties, inheritances, sales, interests or even payrolls. Furthermore, repatriation of foreign assets, investment funds, dividends and profits from investments is allowed tax-free. What’s more, financial records cannot be released or subpoenaed in even in times of political or economic instability, which has never happened.
Vacation in the Bahamas
When it starts to get chilly in the United States, droves of Americans fly to the Bahamas to enjoy its warm tropical climate. Most tourists enter through Nassau, the most popular place in New Providence Island. From Nassau, it is easy to go to the more faraway cays and islets of the archipelago. During the cool season from September to May the temperature averages 75F and people quickly snatch up almost all accommodations, from the most luxurious to the cheapest.
It’s easier to book hotels and resorts during the off-peak season from May to October where rain is more likely to fall but still infrequent enough for people to frolic for long hours or days in the beach. Major airlines in the US such as Continental and American Airlines, US Airways, JetBlue and Delta Air Lines have trips to the Bahamas. There are many oceanfront hotels in the islands offering dazzling views of the clear blue waters and impeccable services, such as Atlantis, Rock House Hotel, Coral Sands Hotel, and One and Only Ocean Club.
Attractions in the Bahamas
Photo by Dave Allen Photography |
It’s virtually impossible to list all of the amazing attractions you’ll see in the Bahamas. Just to give you a taste of how wonderful this beach paradise is, here’s a very short list of spectacular sites you can visit:
Balcony House
– Built in 1788, Balcony House is the oldest colonial residence in Nassau with a rich and colorful history. Personalities like Princess Michael of Kent, Lord Mountbatten of Burma and James Bond author Ian Fleming once owned this grand house with brass valences, swan-neck chairs, and other interesting features. Packs of tourists tour the house every day, taking in its air of history and culture.
Atlantis Resort
– Technically, Atlantis Resort is not an attraction but a resort. However, some of the best attractions in the whole Bahamian archipelago can be found in this massive resort with 3,769 guest units between hotel rooms, oceanfront villas, cottages and suites. Huge amounts of money are lavished every day in grand casinos in this epic resort as top artists perform on numerous spots.
Perfume Factory
– The Bahamas also has unique attractions that you are hard to find anywhere else in the world, such as the Perfume Factory in Freeport. This 19thd century Bahamian mansion is a favourite among tourists who are allowed to sniff a wide array of fragrances, including: cinnamon, jasmine, ginger, gardenia, lavender and honeysuckle. You can also concoct your own signature perfume by combining two or three essential oils, then bottling and labelling the final mix.
Unlike other vacation spots, the Bahamas surprises you with a new and greater wonder at every turn. Here, you don’t only get the usual white sand beaches, but also lots of places where you can have tons of fun or opportunities to relax and unwind. Do not delay another moment in turning your dream vacation into reality. Book your flight to the Bahamas now where paradise awaits. |
