Is it the Caribbean’s hottest culinary scene? Or the pristine, sparkling turquoise beaches (including the recently-voted Best Beach in the Caribbean)? Maybe it’s the historic hotels or the growing cocktail movement. Maybe it’s Barbie.
Whatever the reason, travelers continue to flock to Nassau Paradise Island, making the twin-island destination one of the buzziest places to visit in the wider Caribbean.
And next week, Nassau is about to get another lift out of one of the United States’ most important travel markets: Chicago.
American Airlines is set to launch daily nonstop service between Chicago and Nassau next week, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The nonstop service expansion will kick off on Dec. 5, in another big boost for one of the Caribbean’s hottest destinations.
““Our long-standing relationship with Chicago is built on deep historical connections, with the city serving as a vital gateway for Midwest travelers to The Bahamas,” said Latia Duncombe, director general of The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.
Chicago has been “instrumental in bringing both leisure and business visitors to our shores,” she said in a statement provided to Caribbean Journal.
But new tourists aren’t the only ones coming to The Bahamas from Chicago.
The uber-popular Carnival restaurant in Chicago is opening its new Paradise Island location next month. The eatery will be set within the new Hurricane Hole Superyacht Marina on Nassau Harbour, with a “fusion of vibrant Latin American flavors and Bahamian culinary traditions.”
So what do the new American Airlines daily flights cost?
You can find roundtrip fares in the main cabin on American for about $703, according to its website. That goes up to $1063 in business class.
Are you planning a vacation to Nassau? There have never been more great options for a vacation in the capital, whether you’re staying at the world-renowned Atlantis Paradise Island and Baha Mar, both of which we’ve stayed in recently and loved.
Looking for something new? Try the transformed British Colonial in the heart of historic downtown Nassau (rooms from $212), where we just stayed and were seriously impressed with the new look and the hospitality.
There’s also the sleek residential-style Goldwyn resort (rooms from $239 right now), which his helping to bring back Cable Beach’s jet set-ear glamour to modern Nassau.
And did you know about the secret resort-within-a-resort at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar? Check out our recent feature on this elevated experience at the Cable Beach megaresort.