The Grand Bahama Island

The Grand Bahama Island is situated in northern Bahamas. The name may suggest this island to be the grandest and biggest amongst the Bahamian islands, but that is not the case here, the Grand Bahama Island doesn’t rank as the largest island, this distinction goes to the island of Andros.

In the present day, the city of Freeport, which is part and parcel of the Grand Bahama Island, grabs all the headlines. This city is in the news for its cosmopolitan nature and is growing very rapidly vis-à-vis other cities in the area. Not so long ago say around 40 years ago, Freeport never existed, today, the city is set to scale new heights that have never been witnessed in Bahamian history.

Nevertheless, the Grand Bahama Island has many attractions for travelers to explore besides the Freeport area. To the rest of the world, this island is just about casinos, tropical environment and resorts, but that’s not the case, the island is filled with gorgeous beaches and several natural wonders, national parks and an abundant marine life.

The beaches of the island are broadly classified as activity beaches and secluded beaches. In short, both beaches are associated with fun with a slightly different meaning. You will find loads of games and fun on activity beaches. The most popular among these beaches are Smith’s Point beach and Paradise Cove beach.

As regards to secluded beaches, half the fun is discovering these beauties. An example of these types of beaches is the Fortune beach and William’s Town beach.

Besides the beaches, there are various towns in and around the Grand Bahama Island. The West End locality is probably the oldest town on the island.

The Deadman’s Reef is one place wherein you can swim to some of the most spectacular reefs.  Other attractions include Pinder’s Point, Old Freetown, Lightbourne Cay, Eight Mile Rock and Deep Water Cay for bone fishing.

A unique feature of the island is its friendly locals. In fact, the natives of the land are probably the easiest going people in the whole world. They are known for their entrepreneurship skills worldwide.

A prominent attraction of the island and the entire Bahamian nation as a whole is the People to People program. This program was started courtesy the Ministry of Tourism in Nassau in 1975, and later extended to the Grand Bahaman Island a year later. This program is unique and brings Bahamian residents and visitors together. The main purpose of the program is to make the tourists feel at home and secure.

The island is also hosting weddings on a large scale now. The scenic Grand Bahama Island is also becoming an ideal place for honeymoons. Some of the popular wedding sites on the island are Parrot Jungle’s Garden of the Groves. This place is characterized by lovely winding paths, milk-like waterfalls, duck ponds and beautiful gardens. Besides, there are a number of hotels, which provide the special place for the once in a lifetime occasion. The Old Bahama Bay situated on the islands west coast has gone a step further and designed a program where a couple can design their own celebrations.

The Royal Oasis Golf Resort and Casino is also popular for wedding ceremonies. The beautiful running streams along with poolside areas make this resort a favorite.

Weddings are also held on the white sands of the various outdoor beaches of the island.

Among the festivities, the Junkanoo festival is undoubtedly the biggest festival in the island. This festival dates back to the days of slavery, when the slaves were given a day off on 26 December.

Which is the best time to visit the Grand Bahama Island?

It is recommended you travel to this region anytime between October and May. If you’re traveling in the December-January period, please take a jacket along with you as it can be very chilly during these months.

Listed below are some questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach the Grand Bahama Island?

The Grand Bahama Islands is relatively easily accessible via air and water.  A number of prominent airlines such as American Eagle, Spirit Airlines, and Bahamasair offer non-stop flights to the Grand Bahama International Airport and Freeport International Airport. There are sea options as well; private boats are allowed to enter nation’s waters at the Lucayan Marina village. Besides, there are a number of cruise ships operating between Florida in the US and the island, and the travel time is also very impressive at less than five hours.

Where do I stay during my Grand Bahama Island trip?

As seen in the entire country, the Grand Bahama Island also offers a wide choice to its visitors in various budgets. Some of the more popular ones though are Bell Channel Inn, Pelican Bay at Lucaya, Freeport, Old Bahama Bay, Deep Water Cay Club, Bishop’s Bonefish Resort and Royal Islander.

In conclusion, the Grand Bahama Island is not limited to just the up and coming and cosmopolitan city of Freeport. There is much more to explore, there are virgin beaches, gardens, adventure activities and the all important People-to-people program. As always, please book your tickets well in advance as you may be disappointed at the last moment, besides, booking in advance will also help you save some important bucks, which you can always utilize when on holiday. So, do not waste any more time and start planning your holiday to this wonderful island.