Travel to Bahamas

British Airways offer direct flights to The Bahamas from London Heathrow, with typical journey time being just over 10 hours. However, this doesn't come cheapin fact, it could cost more than two or three times as much as going indirect. So if you're willing to take connecting flights and spend many more hours in the air, savings are considerable.

Lynden Pindling International Airport is where your holiday in The Bahamas will begin, and it's located around 16 kilometres from the capital city of Nassau. Getting between the various islands in The Bahamas is simple, thanks to the extensive inter-island ferry services. If time is of the essence, then you can always fly with Bahamasair. If you want a cost-effective way to get around Nassau and its island, look out for jitneys, which are the local buses and look like large white vans.

Due to the sheer popularity of the islands, and their deserved reputation as some of the most idyllic holiday destinations in the world, accommodation doesn't tend to come cheap. That said, you can always be a savvy tourist and shop around online for the best possible deals for cheap hotels in The Bahamas. It's also worth bearing in mind that you can get big discounts if you travel there during the off-peak period, which spans all of summer. As well as being much cheaper, the islands are also far more relaxed and tranquil, the various boutiques offer huge sales and you won't have to reserve restaurants days or weeks in advance. The potential downsides are hotels doing renovation work and fewer big events to enjoy.

Another way to save money during your holiday in The Bahamas is to give the big swanky hotel restaurants a miss and head for the more humble but very traditional places, where you can indulge in national dishes like cracked conch (a deep-fried fish) and rice and peas. When it comes to drink, avoid imported beers which can be rather pricey in placesin fact, it's worth indulging in rum-based drinks instead, as rum is extremely cheap and is the national drink of the region. What more excuse do you need to have a taste?

• Nassau
• Grand Bahama