The Bahamas is open for business after Hurricane Melissa — and the islands have never been better. From Nassau to San Salvador, flights are running, resorts are open, and the sea is that impossible shade of turquoise that never stops changing color. Travelers are finding the country at its most balanced moment: lively but uncrowded, polished but easy, sophisticated yet simple at heart.

It’s the season when mornings start with the sound of the surf and end with warm air drifting off the water. Every island is distinct, from the pulse of downtown Nassau to the solitude of Cat Island, from the flats of Bimini to the coral walls of San Salvador. These are the places to visit right now — and the islands that show The Bahamas at its best.

One Particular Harbour Residences (left) and the Margaritaville Beach Resort Nassau.

Downtown Nassau
Nassau is vivid, walkable, and full of texture. And its downtown is thriving. The pastel buildings, the scent of fried conch, the laughter spilling out of the straw market — it all feels effortless. Downtown is an easy mix of culture and comfort: cafés overlooking the harbor, legendary eateries with world-famous wine cellars, and the easy pulse of local life on Bay Street. At Margaritaville, you can swim in an infinity pool that looks straight out over the ships in port, then stroll back through streets where every block tells a story. It’s the place to start any Bahamas journey — familiar, colorful, and endlessly alive. There’s also the magnificently-transformed British Colonial right next door.