Are you one of the travel buffs who wait for the rainy season? If you ask me, I’d honestly say, I’m guilty of this too. Why? Because it is during the rainy season when airline companies offer affordable airfare promos.
You can avail of huge discounts, rebates and other travel benefits. It’s the perfect time of the year to plan for the family holiday expedition too to save some budget, right mothers?
Actually, I have something in mind for the family this coming Christmas. I want to bring them to one of the islands on the other side of the earth – we’re from the east side, so I want to bring them to the west side like the North or South America. I was in awe of the beauty of the Carribean hot spots after reading from National Geographic. So, I vigorously searched on places to visit at the Caribbean islands, however, I learned about a friend’s bad experience while visiting Cuba, so I think it’s not the best place to be with the family.
I continue searching for other islands until I saw The Bahamas in North America. Upon browsing the internet, I chanced upon the Albany Aqua Villa in Nassau vacation rentals. The villa has seven bedrooms, a private pool and yes, very near the white sand beach.
What’s more interesting info about the resort? It was named for the central Albany House, famous for its cameo in the 2005 Bond film Casino Royale. Dad will surely be surprised if he will learn that we will stay in a place featured in the movie of his favorite character actor, James Bond.
Our family loves to eat so this simply elegant dinning table will surely be served with sumptuous meals, love and laughter.
Know more about the Bahamas
According to WikiPedia, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is an archipelagic state within the Lucayan Archipelago. It consists of more than 700 islands, cays, and islets in the Atlantic Ocean, and is located north of Cuba and Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, southeast of the United States state of Florida, and east of the Florida Keys. The capital is Nassau on the island of New Providence. The designation of “the Bahamas” can refer either to the country or to the larger island chain that it shares with the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Royal Bahamas Defence Force describes the Bahamas territory as encompassing 470,000 km2 (180,000 sq mi) of ocean space.
The Bahamas is the site of Columbus’ first landfall in the New World in 1492 and it became a British crown colony in 1718. In 1973, The Bahamas became and independent Commonwealth realm, retaining the British monarch and currently Queen Elizabeth II, as its head of state.
The Bahamas is one of the richest countries in the Americas (following the United States and Canada), with an economy based on tourism and finance.
But it’s not all about beaches and white sand in the Bahamas, because you can find the brightly colored colonial buildings of the capital Nassau, the exciting diving spots and historical cays of the Abacos, the over-the-top Atlantis Paradise Island, to Eleutheria’s long stretches of pink sand beach. There’s plenty to discover within its 700 islands and 2400 cays.
Long-term planning for the trip to Bahamas
I know it’s rainy season now in the country, so I’m waiting to buy tickets for long-haul flights. It’s a big group trip too that’s why I’m lucky if I bagged some seats for budget carriers. Did you know that for most travelers, it seems that less is more. Nearly three-quarters (70%) would rather sacrifice the extras typically found on long-haul flights in order to save money with budget carriers.
Yes, there are a lot of travelers these days who would rather go for a no-frills plane ride to get to their destinations. I am one of them. I am open to go on long-haul flights with a local airline. However, with kids around, I am also open to shell out some more money just to make sure we will be having a convenient and no-hassle trip.
Preparing for the Visa
Some family members already have a US visa while sister and his husband are permanent residents of US so they are not required to obtain a visa for the Bahamas.
Upon reading, I learned that citizens from countries other than the US and Canada are required to present a valid passport To enter The Bahamas, which must be current up to your travel period, and some countries are also required to have a Bahamas visa.
If you are departing The Bahamas for a country that has the passport validity requirement of six (6) months beyond the dates of departure, then that requirement will be enforced. You must also have a return, or onward journey ticket, hotel confirmation (if staying at a hotel, or name and address of residence) and proof of funds to support your visit. To view the entry requirements for your country of birth, please visit the link below.
Important Documents to remember
- Passport
- Plane tickets
- Copy of travel itinerary and ticket number
- Identification Card
Of course, money, credit cards are a must too.
Side-trip Ideas
If possible, maybe I’ll try to fix a side-trip to Cancun, Mexico. Aside for being a tropical beachside, it is home to one of the most advanced civilization in history – the Mayan Empire. Mayan ruins around Cancun and the Walled City, the ruins of Tulum are a must-see.
I’m really looking forward to this family trip. As much as possible, my sister and I are privately talking about this vacation so the kids and our parents will be surprised.