The island nation in the Atlantic, synonymous with pirates and buccaneers, is a winter haven of pink beaches, historical towns, and fine sailing options. Nassau is the charming archipelago capital, with its historical forts and belle-epoque buildings, while Freeport and Lucaya on Grand Bahama are slightly tacky yet popular with visiting Americans. The beaches of Grand Bahama are pink and beautiful, while those of the Abacos chain of islands are picture-postcard perfect. The Biminis Islands are another laid back option in the Bahamas and were one of the favoured haunts of writer Ernest Hemingway. The Bahamas is fairly safe although pickpockets do operate in places. Getting here is made easy by international airports on the main islands with direct flights from centres in Florida, such as Miami.
