Bahamas

With over 700 islands, 2,500 cays, crystal-clear waters, spectacular coral and deep ocean trenches, the Bahamas are a little slice of Caribbean paradise on earth. The archipelago’s islands range from deserted to covered with swanky resorts, and the region is known as a playground for American tourists looking for sun, sea and relaxation.

The Bahamas is full of natural beauty, including the deep vertical caves of the Blue Holes National Park, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the world’s first land-and-sea nature reserve and one of the best diving spots in the world, and the leafy, tropical Garden of the Groves. The pink sand beaches of Harbour Island are fringed with colonial houses, boutique hotels, and pastel cottages. On Nassau island, a chaotic village of bars, seafood restaurants, conch stands and jerk joints, with a reggae soundtrack and a colourful, funky vibe, is known as “The Fish Fry”. It’s a great place to hear DJs and live music, meet new people, and eat cheap, delicious food. The best-known islands include Grand Bahama and Paradise Island, and Thunderball Grotto, used as a filming location for James Bond movies. Beaches aside, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained here, such as the wonderful Pirates of Nassau museum, complete with animatronics, a real pirate pacing outside, scale replicas of famous pirate ships and a host of interactive exhibits.