Getting To

Nassau and Freeport house the major international airports of the Bahamas, and are usually reached via connecting flights from North American cities. A few carriers offer flights from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to Family Island airports, and some hotels offer charter connections to the island's resorts. However, most Family Island travellers fly through Nassau, or take ferries and boats to the more remote destinations.

Several American and Canadian carriers fly to Nassau or Freeport from hub cities or connect to the islands through Miami. Delta and US Airways offer direct flights to Nassau, and connecting flights to Eleuthera, Treasure Cay, Paradise Island and other locations. Air Canada has direct connections to Nassau from Toronto and Montreal, and many other flights to the Bahamas via US hubs. American Eagle serves Nassau from Miami with regular daily flights. Smaller carriers typically fly a Florida-to-Bahamas route and include Pan Am Air Bridges, Lynx Air International, Twin Air and Chalks International.

From the UK, the major carrier is British Airways , offering direct flights to Nassau at least twice weekly from London Gatwick, while British West Indian Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Bahamasair and Caledonian also offer competitive fares for flights to Nassau through Miami. Similarly, other European travellers most often connect to the Bahamas via Miami.

Getting Around

By plane
Inter-island transportation is usually done by air, especially on the national carrier Bahamasair, which flies regular routes between Nassau and the Family Islands, while smaller, Nassau-based carriers offer air charter services to the Out Islands and other destinations. Many hotels and resorts have their own charter services to bring passengers from Florida and elsewhere.

By boat
The traditional way of exploring the Bahamas is by ferry or mailboat , the latter a form of transit still favoured by locals. Inter-island mailboats depart from Nassau and run weekly roundtrip to and from all islands. Round trip passage can cost up to $140.00, but one-way passage to just about anywhere costs around $35.00. Remember, these mailboats run on Bahamas time, so they're a great way to slow down to the steady rhythm of the islands. Visit The Islands of the Bahamas Mailboat Service page for a list of mail boats listed by which island they travel to and then check with the Dockmaster's office in Nassau for schedules, Tel: 1-242-393-1064.

Ferries are a common mode of transportation in The Bahamas for locals and travelers. The Fast Ferry service is designed to help you island hop between designated main islands, while local ferries serve as water taxis that take you and locals to and from neighboring cays of a main island.