The Bahamas are a group of more than seven hundred islands, located close to Florida. They are an area rich in natural
beauty and history. It was in the Bahamas, on the island of San Salvador that Christopher Columbus first set foot on
the new world. He looked around at the shallow, sparkling blue waters and named them Baja mar, which translates as
the, ~low sea~.

During the time of sea trade and piracy the Bahamas became a favorite launching site for many pirates, including the
legendary Blackbeard. Belonging to the British Empire, tourism first became important to the economy of the
Bahamas in the mid 1900s. American tourists to the Bahamas greatly increased after Cuba was denied as a travel
location in 1961. During this time the Bahamas progressed from a British colony, to a member of the British
Commonwealth, and finally achieved complete independence on July 10th, 1973.

As a former British colony you can expect much of the British culture to be reflected in the culture of the
Bahamas. The inhabitants speak the Queen~s English (albeit with an unusual accent) and drive on the left side of the
road. The currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar, which is roughly equivalent to the American dollar.
American money is widely accepted in the Bahamas. American travelers need nothing more than a valid passport to enter
the Bahamas.

The Bahamas have a mild tropical climate compared to other tropical areas du to the fact that a fresh breeze is
usually blowing. In the summer time the average temperature is between eighty to eighty five degrees
Fahrenheit. In the winter the temperature is about ten degrees cooler in the Bahamas.

The most hazardous months to travel to the Bahamas are the months of June to November. In these months it is not
uncommon for hurricanes to rage across the Bahamas. Booking a trip during hurricane season is not advisable; however,
if you are the gambling type, you could save a bundle on your vacation. Most resorts offer a money back policy
during the off hurricane season. If you are forced to cancel your trip due to a hurricane they will refund your
money immediately. This hurricane refund policy is certainly worth checking out if you plan to visit the
Bahamas between June and November. If you happen to be caught in the Bahamas during a hurricane your resort will
most likely offer you reduced rates, and attempt to make your stay as pleasant as possible under the circumstances.

Reese Ilan