Travel in Bahamas

The Bahamas saw a January slowdown in short-term rental bookings — and, to a lesser extent, hotel reservations — following news reports about an uptick in murders and a U.S. State Department alert to travelers.

It’s clear from the sign on the wall of the patisserie Bisou Bisous at Albany Bahamas, the luxury resort community, that the guests and residents there are often different than most: it warns to not take photos of anyone not at your table. That no photos/no autographs rule applies to other places on the 600 acre property as well whether it relates to Tiger Woods, one of the shareholders and members, on the golf course or Alicia Keys and Mick Jagger, two recent occupants of the new recording studio apart from Justin Timberlake, another shareholder.

Famous for being a “first mover” in the all-inclusive space, Sandals Resorts has tweaked its model many times over its more than four decades of operation. In its latest reboot, the resort brand is leaning into local experiences and culinary culture at its destinations to appeal to vacationers looking for more immersive experiences.

Acclaimed Bahamian fashion designer Theodore Elyett has designed new looks that Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and other Disney characters will wear on Disney Cruise Line’s newest island destination, Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point on the island of Eleuthera. He shared some of the special things about his journey as a designer and his collaboration with Disney Cruise Line, and it’s clear that Elyett has created his own fairy tale as a designer.

If you've been holding out on booking a vacation for this upcoming spring break, know that you aren't too late. While you might have to be slightly more flexible with your dates and destination, there's still time to plan that awesome spring break getaway — all on points.

JetBlue is turning 24 years old, and to celebrate, its offering a week of deals starting with a one-day-only fare sale with tickets going for as low as $49.

The U.S. State Department has issued a travel advisory for travelers to Jamaica.

The U.S. Department of State is warning travelers to be careful when visiting the Bahamas due to crime and safety issues on the water.

Atlantis Paradise Island has announced its new culinary talent and events for the 2024 Nassau Paradise Island Food & Wine Festival.

The industry’s most innovative host agency, Avoya Travel, has just unveiled its highly anticipated calendar of events for 2024, offering a blend of in-person gatherings and virtual experiences aimed at empowering Independent Agencies within the Avoya Travel Network (IAs) with enhanced networking opportunities and educational resources.

Norwegian Cruise Line passengers will have a new homeport to choose from when the company moves to Jacksonville, Florida, next year.

The American government recommends that tourists “reconsider travel” to Jamaica and “exercise increased caution” when traveling to The Bahamas, recently raising the official travel advisory for both destinations.

Travelers seeking a last-minute escape to a warm or international destination during the winter can now take off without breaking the bank. Delta Air Lines' “New Year, New Adventures” promotion offers discounted deals on flights with cash or SkyMiles. Listed on Delta’s Current Flight Deals webpage, it's complete with a helpful filter where travelers can select their desired departure city to easily find discounts from their airport of choice. Travel + Leisure found that some of the roundtrip flight deals include:

American Airlines now offers nonstop service to Eleuthera — an island touted as the best-kept secret in the Bahamas by Travel + Leisure.  

It’s a season of savings for travelers looking to take a new vacation. JetBlue Vacations recently announced the ‘Be Mine’ vacation package sale, with discounts up to $500 off of trips booked. The deals are available for travel between Jan. 31, 2024 and Dec. 20, 2024 and vary by amount spent on the vacation and have various promotional codes for each discount, which can be redeemed on the JetBlue Vacations site: 

The nine-year tax-free status enjoyed by many cruise lines with private islands in the Bahamas is about to end.The changes are slated to take effect on March 1 and are aimed at leveling the playing field, according to a report in The Tribune.The publication broke the news based on a Bahamas Department of Inland Revenue document it had obtained and later confirmed with local officials.Under the plans outlined in the document, in just a few weeks the tax treatment for goods and services provided to the millions of tourists who visit private islands in the Bahamas maintained by cruise ships will change. Moving forward, transactions on the island will be taxed the standard local rate of 10 percent.

PERFECT DAY AT COCOCAY, Bahamas -- I listened to the leaves of palm trees flap in the wind as I swayed in an orange hammock.

On Tuesday, in a ceremony that, of course, involved a soccer ball, the Argentine soccer superstar Lionel Messi pressed a button and a bottle of champagne smashed against the bow of Icon of the Seas, christening the world’s largest cruise ship at its home port of Miami. Like an A-list celebrity stepping onto the red carpet, the arrival of Royal Caribbean’s 250,800-ton ship has captured the world’s attention, with some marveling over its cutting-edge features, like the largest water park at sea, while others criticize the gigantic ship’s potential to damage the environment.

A Canadian couple expected three days of peace when they booked a stay at an all-inclusive resort, but said it was anything but that.

After the travel frenzy of 2023, all signs point to increasing interest in far-flung destinations, villa rentals, private jet bookings and personal pilgrimages in 2024.

The bigger the better, the more the merrier: The world's two largest cruise ships have finally met.