The Best Time to Travel to the Bahamas

The Bahamas enjoy a busy tourist season that extends from mid-December to mid-April. Many resorts require reservations three or more months in advance. Hotels charge full price during in-season travel times. Don't be surprised if rates skyrocket during the holiday weeks of Christmas, New Year's and Easter. Courses will be busier as travelers take advantage of the year-round perfect golf weather.

Offseason begins in mid-April and extends until mid-December. Hotel and accommodation rates decline considerably, and searching out good deals becomes the norm. Crowds lessen, although the weekends often see an increase in three-day getaway travelers visiting the casinos and resorts. Excursions tend to cost less, and you might even get into the most popular restaurants without reservations. This offseason time offers a more peaceful atmosphere than during the busy months of the winter.

The Bahamas have a very slight range of temperatures due to the subtropical climate. The winter months feature temperatures ranging from 70 to 75 degrees. The summer months (offseason) typically warm up to between 80 and 85 degrees each day, with temperatures sometimes slightly higher. Summer days can be quite hot when the trade winds aren't blowing.

The Bahamas have the dubious honor of being located near the Atlantic Ocean weather engine that generates hurricanes. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30 each year. Choosing to travel to the Bahamas during hurricane season requires balancing the desire for a vacation that you've planned months in advance with the chance of having the vacation ruined by a hurricane. See additional resources for hurricane information on the Bahamas.

The months of March and April often feature a crush of high school and college students celebrating spring break in the Bahamas. Unless you prefer throngs of screaming teenagers, avoid traveling to the area during this time. Legal drinking and gambling age in the Bahamas is 18. Check with your hotel for planned groups, activities, parties and events, so you can avoid the chaos if you prefer.