American Airlines Is Launching New Daily Nonstop Service To Nassau, The Bahamas

The signature pool at Nassau's historic Graycliff Hotel.

Is it the Caribbean’s hottest culinary scene? Or the pristine, sparkling turquoise beaches (including the recently-voted Best Beach in the Caribbean)? Maybe it’s the historic hotels or the growing cocktail movement. Maybe it’s Barbie.

Whatever the reason, travelers continue to flock to Nassau Paradise Island, making the twin-island destination one of the buzziest places to visit in the wider Caribbean.

And next week, Nassau is about to get another lift out of one of the United States’ most important travel markets: Chicago.

American Airlines is set to launch daily nonstop service between Chicago and Nassau next week.

The nonstop service expansion will kick off on Dec. 5, in another big boost for one of the Caribbean’s hottest destinations.

The Queen’s Staircase is a Bahamian landmark that just got a makeover.

““Our long-standing relationship with Chicago is built on deep historical connections, with the city serving as a vital gateway for Midwest travelers to The Bahamas,” said Latia Duncombe, director general of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

Chicago has been “instrumental in bringing both leisure and business visitors to our shores,” she said in a statement provided to Caribbean Journal.

But new tourists aren’t the only ones coming to The Bahamas from Chicago.

The uber-popular Carnival restaurant in Chicago is opening its new Paradise Island location next month. The eatery will be set within the new Hurricane Hole Superyacht Marina on Nassau Harbour, with a “fusion of vibrant Latin American flavors and Bahamian culinary traditions.”

You can find roundtrip fares in the main cabin on American for about $703, according to its website. That goes up to $1063 in business class.

Are you planning a vacation to Nassau? There have never been more great options for a vacation in the capital, whether you’re staying at the world-renowned Atlantis Paradise Island and Baha Mar, both of which we’ve stayed in recently and loved.

The Goldwynn Resort and Residences in Nassau.

Looking for something new? Try the transformed British Colonial in the heart of historic downtown Nassau (rooms from $212), where we just stayed and were seriously impressed with the new look and the hospitality.

There’s also the sleek residential-style Goldwyn resort (rooms from $239 right now), which his helping to bring back Cable Beach’s jet set-ear glamour to modern Nassau.

And did you know about the secret resort-within-a-resort at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar? Check out our recent feature on this elevated experience at the Cable Beach megaresort.

https://www.caribjournal.com/author/alexander-britell/

JetBlue To Launch First Ever Nonstop Service From Los Angeles To Nassau, Bahamas

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) welcomes the announcement by JetBlue to launch its first-ever nonstop flight from Los Angeles to Nassau. The new service connecting the United States West Coast to the Islands of The Bahamas will debut on 4 November, with a once- weekly Saturday flight from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Nassau's Sir Lynden Pindling Airport (NAS).

"Over the past nine months, the Ministry has been in constant dialogue with key international aviation stakeholders, including JetBlue to increase airlift capacity to meet the demand for travel to our destination." said the Honourable I. Chester Cooper, Bahamas Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments & Aviation.

"We are thrilled that within a few short months, travellers will be able to board a JetBlue flight in Los Angeles and be in The Bahamas within a matter of hours, to enjoy the beautiful beaches, the rich culture and the myriad of experiences on offer in Nassau and Paradise Island," said DPM Cooper.

JetBlue's announcement of the launch of nonstop service from Los Angeles to Nassau comes only days in advance of the Ministry of Tourism's "Bringing The Bahamas to You" Global Sales Mission Tour scheduled for California 12th – 15th June. The 3-day tour will make stops in Los Angeles and Costa Mesa, to showcase the 16-island destination's latest tourism offerings and developments, spotlight The Bahamas' longstanding film legacy and celebrate the milestone 50th Anniversary of Independence.

The Los Angeles/Nassau nonstop route will also allow for more connectivity from major markets in Asia and the Pacific, putting The Bahamas' 16 destinations in easier reach for new visitors. The new Los Angeles/Nassau route will also feature JetBlue's award-winning Mint premium service.

Los Angeles International Airport is the world's fifth busiest airport, with 645 daily commercial flights to 162 destinations.

ABOUT THE BAHAMAS

The Bahamas has over 700 islands and cays, as well as 16 unique island destinations. Located only 50 miles off the coast of Florida, it offers a quick and easy way for travellers to escape their everyday. The island nation also boasts world-class fishing, diving, boating, and thousands of miles of the Earth's most spectacular beaches for families, couples and adventurers to explore. See why It's Better in The Bahamas at www.bahamas.com.

Hilton World Sale Happening NOW In The Caribbean, Now Through September 6th 2016

With its’ blue skies and warm beaches, it’s no surprise that one of the most sought after regions for summer travel, the Caribbean, attracts over 20 million visitors annually.

Booking your summer trip to the islands just got easier with the release of Hilton’s World Sale. Now through September 6, 2016, HHonors members (free to join) have the opportunity to earn up to 25% off at participating hotels in the Caribbean, including destinations like Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cartagena, Curacao, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Trinidad, among others.

A sample of Hilton’s Caribbean resorts participating in the world sale include:

·         Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino – an unforgettable getaway or family vacation in Aruba with tropical activities, several restaurants, casino and spa. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwMmo_Ni2qs)

·         Caribe Hilton - where the original Piña Colada was invented, Caribe Hilton offers guests a true taste of Puerto Rico serving as an ideal base to explore rainforests, pristine beaches and taste the finest rum in the region. And no passport required.(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCW3PrMN4C4)

·         Hilton Barbados Resort - Barbados is home to turquoise waters and coral reefs, making the island a scuba diving haven. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lz8zcxjmfSw)

·         Hilton Curacao - a hidden gem of the Caribbean, guests can explore an eclectic mix of culture, history, bustling city life and some of the region’s best diving.

You can join HHonors for free and start enjoying instant benefits including the lowest price anywhere, free wi-fi, points towards free nights and digital check-in.  Stays can be booked by Sept. 2, 2016 at www.hiltoncaribbean.com/world-sale/.

Conde Nast Traveler's Top 15 Places to Go in 2015

Cartagena, Colombia

Cartagena, a perfectly preserved 17th-century port city on the Caribbean coast of Colombia, has had a rough ride over the centuries. From pirates to prostitutes (aren't they synonymous?) the city has weathered its fair share of drama—thanks to everything from Gabriel García Márquez's remarkable novels of "magical realism" to the less-than-palatable shenanigans of U.S. Secret Service agents in 2012. Tips: Don't take a carriage ride through town, and avoid very late night stumbles through San Diego and Centro. Do, however, explore the up-and-coming Getsemaní neighborhood for its raucous Wednesday-night parties and interesting graffiti art. The chic Viceroy hotel group may deliver a new bolt-hole soon in a converted convent.—David Jefferys




Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

New direct flights into Liberia, in Guanacaste (like JetBlue’s route from Boston), slash the drive time to this resort town, which has attracted the likes of Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady. In Playa Hermosa, Koji’s serves the best sushi and Japanese food in Costa Rica at wooden tables under strings of fairy lights. The ginger pork and super-fresh sushi rolls are a light alterna- tive to plantains and gallo pinto in the heat(506-2640- 0815; entrées from $20).—Alice Newell-Hanson*

Photo courtesy JTB Photos/Getty Images

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The furnaces are long gone, but this city’s on fire. Pittsburgh reinvigorates my love of art every time I visit. The Carnegie Museum of Art, The Warhol, Mattress Factory, and Wood Street Galleries have been on a curatorial tear in recent years. The restaurant scene is also alight, led by Cure and Bar Marco, but hit the old school Primanti Brothers for the best sandwich of your life.—Brent Burket

Mexico City, Mexico

Mexico City has had a hard time divesting itself of a reputation for being crime-ridden, traffic congested, and highly polluted. And though traffic and air quality are ongoing problems, this sprawling metropolis of over 20 million inhabitants has successfully transformed itself into a vibrant and relatively safe place to visit with a great restaurant scene, world-class museums, and a sophistication befitting its position as one of the world's top cities. —Stephen Orr

Rwanda

I'm very interested in going to Rwanda. The horrific inter-tribal genocide of the 1990s is a thing of the past but still remains the event most identified with this country in the mind of Americans. Instead, it should be more known for its beautiful high-altitude forests, its lakes, and Kigali, its capital city. Paul Kagame, Rwanda's highly effective if controversially autocratic president, is credited with putting the country's economy on the rise. And most of all, I want to see the mountain gorillas in their home in the Virunga Mountains.—SO

Myanmar

Myanmar is like Southeast Asia's last frontier, where almost everything still feels undiscovered and off the beaten path after decades of military rule. But go now—luxury hotels are springing up in Yangon (the capital), and it probably won't be long before tourist hordes descend on temple-studded Bagan, making it feel (unfortunately) like another Angkor Wat in terms of the insane crowds. —John Wogan

Nassau, The Bahamas

The islands’ busiest airport, Lynden Pindling International, in Nassau, completed a $410 million expansion last year, and the 988-acre Baha Mar resort opens on Nassau’s Cable Beach in 2015, just in time for spring break. Of the four hotels within the complex, we’re most excited about the Rosewood(1 Baha Mar Blvd.; 242-677- 9750; bahamar.com; doubles from $800). Play croquet on is U.S.– regulation lawns, then head to the hotel’s Riva Bar for a Dark ’n’ Stormy made with Bahamian rum. —ANH

Photo courtesy Fallbrook/Getty Images

Belgrade, Serbia

The former capital of Yugoslavia has a tough reputation that belies a vibrant culture that seems both ancient and modern. Visit the Palace of Serbia and the Hotel Jugoslavija (pristine examples of mid-century modernism), check out the Nikola Tesla Museum, walk the old-town neighborhood of Skadarlija, or explore St. Sava—the world’s largest Orthodox church. The nightlife scene is also one of Europe’s most underrated. —Calder Quinn

Helsinki

Helsinki always gets outshined by Scandinavian siblings Stockholm and Copenhagen, but the Finnish capital is an underrated (and more reasonably priced) joy. From the gorgeous Helsinki Cathedral (pictured) to the Rock Church and the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum, there's no shortage of striking design. Start the day with Karelian rye pastries stuffed with hearty rice pudding and end it with long drink, a gin-and-grapefruit-soda cocktail invented specifically for the 1952 Summer Olympics and so beloved by locals that it stayed well past its temporary run.—Lilit Marcus

Berlin

The Berlin Wall came down 25 years ago, but you can still see hints of the former East and West cities as you walk through the German capital. There are tasteful, well-thought-out museums about the Stasi, the Holocaust, and the city itself, but there's also plenty of light amid the darkness. By day, have coffee and cake in a cool, design-focused coffee shop like Westberlin; by night, check out a band or DJ set at iconic live music venue Lido and dance til the wee hours atBerghain, which is so cutting-edge that there are no phones allowed.—LM

Cape Town

Industry insiders are abuzz about this vibrant South African city, where striking mountainous scenery, gorgeous beaches, and the chance to get up close to amazing marine and wildlife now competes for travelers’ attention with an elevated shopping, dining, and nightlife scene. The V&A Waterfront is a must for exploring and taking a boat ride to visit Robben Island’s rich history; adventurers shouldn’t miss taking a cable car ride up the spectacular Table Mountain or driving a rented sidecar—our favorite way to view Cape Town.

Houston

Don't get us wrong: Traveler enjoys a long weekend in Austin as much as the next guy. But if Austin is the hipster-cool college party of Texas, Houston is the adult dinner party where we prefer to be wined and dined. Is Houston the new "it" city?, we asked in September—it seems that way, with plenty of hip places to eat, stay, and play in the bustling Texas city. —Katherine Shilcutt

Cuba

Under Obama, traveling to Cuba legally from the U.S. has gotten much easier—whether on a group tour or a"people-to-people" trip. Beyond the embargo, the art scene in Cuba thrives—it's full of exciting and experimental work, and much of it is largely affordable. You can even bring artwork back with you to the States without much hassle. —Liz Dosta

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Thirteen years and six films later, Peter Jackson’s re-imagining of Tolkien’s tomes is complete. (We think.) As the stand-in for Middle-earth, New Zealand may never be the same again—but now that filming is over, the hobbit-seeking hordes might go elsewhere. Now’s the time to plan a trip to Milford Sound in the South Island, where you can hike the Routeburn or see locations that appeared in the Lord of the Rings films. (Milford Sound, for example, stood in for Fangorn Forest.) —Laura Dannen Redman

Guangzhou, China

China Southern Airlines has launched direct flights between JFK and the trading port of Guangzhou—a blessing for business travelers. Plus, Guangzhou’s arts scene is growing almost as quickly as its economy. Check out the Rem Koolhaas–designed Times Museum, then fill up on dim sum in the buzzy Taojin Lu neighborhood. —Alice Newell-Hanson

Photo courtesy Luxizeng/Getty Images

The Bahamas Are A Perennial Favorite Weekend Destination. Here’s Where To Go To Escape The Crowds (Or Join Them)

Alexandra Penney

This beautiful cluster of Atlantic islands are not only an easy flight from the U.S. mainland, but they offer a little something for every type of traveler.

Contributed by Sarah Wildman

The Bahamas are a perennial favorite weekend destination. And with mega-luxe resort Baha Mar slated to open later this year, the destination, we predict, will be more popular than ever. But as always in the Bahamas, it’s easy to escape the crowds. That’s good news for travelers looking to get away from it all without going very far at all.

Stephen Frink/Corbis

Adventure on Cat Island

On every island in the Bahamian chain there’s something for adventure-seekers, but why not go where no one else is—and have the waters, mountainsides and swimming holes all to yourself? Cat Island calls.

Dry Heads Reef: Go snorkeling in some of the shallowest waters in the Bahamas, reached through Fernandez Bay.

Mount Alvernia: Climb the highest point in the Bahamas and check out Hermitage, a former religious retreat.

Mermaid Hole: The blue holes of Cat Island—natural limestone pools and tunnels where the ocean flows in and out—are great to explore. Mermaid hole is rumored to be home to a fantastical longhaired she-fish.

Fernandez Bay Village: Featuring cozy cottages or private villas, Fernandez Bay also offers kayaks to guests for exploring the shallow waters around the island, as well as paddle-boarding tours, and hiking itineraries. 7744 Peters Rd. (242) 342-3043; fernandezbayvillage.com; doubles from $250.

Shane Pinder / Alamy

Romance on Eleuthera Island

Eleuthera Island is practically synonymous with honeymoons, with its white sand beach and 80-degree water. It’s the ideal place to de-camp for a romantic getaway.

Glass Window Bridge: From this natural “bridge” north of Gregory Town—the narrowest point on this narrow island—you can see the Atlantic on one side, and Exuma Bay on the other.

Lighthouse Beach: This stretch of sand in South Eleuthera, near Cape Eleuthera, is known for pink sands and its eponymous lighthouse.

Beachhouse Tapas: At Governor’s Harbor, this open-air Spanish tapas restaurant flaunts its views of pink sand and blue blue sea. Banks Road; (242) 332-3387.

Oceanview Farm: Horseback riding tours of the island depart twice daily; $100 per person. oceanview242.com.

The Cove, Eleuthera: Take your pick of private villas or sumptuous rooms at this island resort 50 miles east of Nassau, which features bicycles, free wi-fi,  iPod checkouts, and kayaks. Gregory Town; 93-23-335-5143;thecoveeleuthera.com; doubles from $319.

Courtesy of One&Only Ocean Club

Family Getaway in the Bahamas

A plethora of all-inclusive resorts make the Bahamas typical family fare, but there’s plenty for parents and kids to do off campus here.

Dolphin Experience: On Blue Lagoon Island, across the bay from Nassau, even the most timid of swimmers can play with the dolphins. dolphinencounters.com.

Yoga Babies: Across the bay from Nassau, Sivanada Ashram offers yoga retreats with programs oriented specifically to young yogis. sivanandabahamas.org.

UNEXO: Underwater Explorers Society, in the Port Lucaya Marina, offers dolphin swimming and scuba exploration for all ages.unexo.com.

One & Only Ocean Club: Not just for honeymooners, this family-friendly all-inclusive has a kids-only pool and a Jean-Georges restaurant with children’s menu. Casino Drive, Paradise Island, Nassau; (242) 363-2501;oneandonlyresorts.com; doubles from $600.

National Geographic Image Collection / Alamy

Affordable Getaway on Long Island, Bahamas

Islands are never cheap, importing, as they do, much of their produce and dry goods. But Long Island, Bahamas, especially off the beaten path, offers some wallet-friendly options.

Max’s Conch Bar & Grill: This thatched roof haunt has some of the best (and cheapest) conch fritters in the islands. Queens Highway, Deadman’s Cay.

Dean’s Blue Hole: You’ll find the deepest “blue hole” (a 663-foot-deep sinkhole), which also doubles as an amazing natural swimming pool, just west of Clarence Town. It’s a major draw for snorkelers and scuba divers alike.

Long Island Museum: Mapping Long Island from pre-Columbian era to the present, this institution shines the spotlight on local music, indigenous peoples, and shipwrecks. ammcbahamas.com.

Conception Island: Weather permitting, charter a boat from the water sports office Stella Maris Water Sports at Stella Maris Marina (Ocean Drive; (242) 338-2055; stellamarisresort.com) to sail 1.5 hours north of Long Island out to this beautiful deserted isle known for its birds, exceptional snorkeling, and isolation.

Gems at Paradise Bay: All of the rooms at this beachfront property have balconies overlooking the bay.Clarencetown; (242) 337-3016; gemsatparadise.com; doubles from $50 (two night minimum).

Courtesy of Graycliff

City Tour of Nassau, Bahamas

This paradise city—the capital of the Bahamas—has a rich culture scene, and lots of great places to eat and drink.

John Watlings Rum Distillery: Try a tasting or tour at this two-acre garden-filled estate named for a pirate. 17 Delancey St.;johnwatlings.com.

Graycliff: Known as both a posh hotel and restaurant, but this grand dame also has an on-site chocolatier with tours (and samples!) of the chocolate making. 8-12 W. Hill St.;graycliff.com.

Arawak Cay Fish Fry: Have a beer and do as the locals do here, have a conch fritter or a fried snapper sandwich. W. Bay Street.

Café Matisse: Italian dining for when you’ve had your fill of fried conch. (242) 356-7012; cafe-matisse.com.

MELIA Nassau Beach Resort: With its excellent beach front, three pools, and a sunny gym, this Bahamas resort is a smart choice in Nassau. 4914 W. Bay St.; (242) 327-600; melia.com; doubles from $200.

From http://www.travelandleisure.com/

Follow us on Twitter:@TraveloreReport