Getting There

Lying off the east coast of Florida, the archipelago of The Bahamas is the easiest and most convenient foreign destination you can fly to from the U.S. (unless you live close to the Canadian or Mexican borders).

Nassau, on New Providence Island, is the busiest and most popular point of entry (this is where you'll fly if you're staying on Paradise Island). From here, you can make connections to many of the more remote Out Islands. Freeport, on Grand Bahama Island, also has its own airport, which is served by flights from the U.S. mainland, too.

Flight time to Nassau from Miami is about 35 minutes; from central Florida, 1 hour and 10 minutes; from Atlanta, 2 hours and 5 minutes; from Charlotte, 2 hours and 10 minutes; from New York, 2 1/2 hours; from Philadelphia, 2 hours and 45 minutes; and from Toronto, 3 hours.

The Major Airlines

From the U.S. mainland, about a half-dozen carriers fly nonstop to the country's major point of entry and busiest airline hub, Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS; tel. 242/377-1759; www.nas.bs), formerly known as Nassau International Airport. Some also fly to Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO; tel. 242/352-6020) in Freeport, the archipelago's second-most-populous city. Only a handful fly directly to any of the Out Islands.

American Airlines (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) has several flights per day from Miami to Nassau, as well as four daily flights from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau. In addition, the carrier flies three times daily from Miami to Freeport. It also offers three flights daily from Miami to George Town and one flight daily from Miami to Marsh Harbour.

Bahamasair (tel. 800/222-4262 or 242/377-8451; www.bahamasair.com), the national airline of The Bahamas, flies to The Bahamas from Miami and Fort Lauderdale, landing at either Nassau (with seven nonstop flights daily) or Freeport (with two nonstop flights daily).

Continental Airlines (tel. 800/231-0856; www.continental.com) has greatly expanded its link to The Bahamas from South Florida through its regional affiliate, Gulfstream International. Continental operates four round-trip flights per week between Fort Lauderdale and Andros Town on Andros. It offers daily service from Fort Lauderdale to both George Town and Governor's Harbour. In addition, it maintains frequent links between Fort Lauderdale, Freeport, Marsh Harbour, North Eleuthera, and Treasure Cay.

Delta Air Lines (tel. 800/221-1212; www.delta.com) has several connections to The Bahamas, with service from Atlanta, Orlando, and New York's LaGuardia.

JetBlue (tel. 800/JET-BLUE [538-2583]; www.jetblue.com) has one direct flight daily to Nassau from New York's JFK.

US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com) offers daily direct flights to Nassau from Philadelphia and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Winair (tel. 866/466-0410; www.fly-winair.com) flies three times a week from Fort Lauderdale to Rock Sound and Governor's Harbour, and four times a week to North Eleuthera.

Air Canada (tel. 888/247-2262; www.aircanada.com) is the only carrier offering scheduled service to Nassau from Canada. Direct flights from Toronto and Montreal leave daily; additional flights from Toronto and Montreal, as well as other Canadian cities, make connections in the U.S.

British travelers can opt for transatlantic passage aboard British Airways (tel. 800/247-9297 in the U.S., or 0844/493-0787 in the U.K.; www.britishairways.com), which offers four weekly direct flights from London to Nassau. The airline also has at least one flight daily to Miami. From here, many connections are available to Nassau and other points within the archipelago on several carriers.

Flying to the Out Islands -- Many frequent visitors to The Bahamas do everything they can to avoid the congestion, inconvenience, and uncertain connections of Nassau's airport. A couple of U.S.-based airlines offer service directly to some of the Out Islands. American Eagle (tel. 800/433-7300; www.aa.com) has frequent service from Miami to the Abacos, Eleuthera, and the Exumas. US Airways (tel. 800/428-4322; www.usairways.com) flies nonstop every day from Fort Lauderdale to Eleuthera, usually making stops at both Governor's Harbour and North Eleuthera. US Airways also flies every day from West Palm Beach to the Abacos, stopping in both Treasure Cay and Marsh Harbour.