Move over Nassau! Americans can now fly to the lesser-known island of the Bahamas from four U.S. cities

While pumpkin concoctions are still in full force and invading restaurant menus across the US, it’s not too early to start dreaming of a sunny escape from the winter chill, right?

Here at Travel Off Path we certainly don’t think so. We’re big fans of traveling the world every season and even embracing winter wonderlands.

But there’s no denying that most travelers want to escape scraping the ice off their windshield and packing up every day, and there’s no better place for a reliable sunny escape than the Bahamas.

So close, yet so far away, this Caribbean island is the perfect holiday destination to use your passport in winter.

With the addition of a new flight to perhaps the most underrated island in the Bahamas this holiday season, Americans can now fly nonstop from four major U.S. cities.

100+ miles of overlooked coastline

If you hear friends or family say they’re heading to the Bahamas, chances are they haven’t mentioned Eleuthera.

More often you hear about Nassau, the vibrant capital and most accessible gateway to this Caribbean country with more than 700 individual islands.

Slowly but surely Eleuthera is gaining strength. If more travelers knew it existed, it would become an overnight success faster than Twista could rap about it.

Located about 60 miles east of Nassau, it’s too far for a day trip, hence its ‘hidden gem’ status.

But if you fly straight here, you won’t regret passing Nassau. You will find a slice of paradise here with incredibly pristine beaches ranging from shiny white sand to seemingly unspoilt coves with turquoise waves.

Better yet, you don’t have to sacrifice any luxury. There are plenty of beachfront accommodations along the top of this barrier, known as North Eleuthera, and more seclusion on the south side, where Cape Eleuthera Resort & Marina is the ultimate hideaway.

More than meets the eye: don’t miss Harbor Island!

Not that lounging in glamorous resorts gets boring, especially if you overspend yourself, but adventure awaits wherever you are in the Caribbean

If you want to tap into your adventurous side, Eleuthera is also known as an easy gateway ferry to his little neighbor Harbor islandwhere you will find sandy beaches.

Perfect for a weekend getaway or even an epic day trip. There are plenty of exciting excursions to book while you’re here, or you can choose to base yourself here as there are even more resorts here than the island of Eleuthera.

We’ve seen it all, so it’s no surprise that the famous swimming pigs are the top-rated must-do attraction on TripAdvisor‘s latest rankings.

When it comes to the best place to stay, Harbor Island has no shortage of luxury, with nightly rates typically in the mid-4 figures, whether it’s the 5-star Dunmore Hotel or Pink Sands Resort, among others.

Bahamasair launches new flight to North Eleuthera (ELH)

If you’re looking for the best excuse not to make Thanksgiving dinner and hear your crazy uncle’s recycled story again, let him know that Bahamasair had other plans for you.

Set to launching on November 23 (four days before Thanksgiving this year), the Bahamas’ flagship airline welcomes a new U.S. route for an easy ride through the Caribbean.

Fort Lauderdale (FLL) is the big winner for the new trip to Eleuthera, but Americans also have a few other options.

Although this is the newest route, Bahamasair is giving its passengers an early Christmas gift at a very reasonable price promotional rates as low as $316 (return).

You’ll want to score this one while you can, as this is a seasonal route only offered every Wednesday and Sunday, just after the calendar change, which ends on January 4.

According to FlightConnections, Americans can now fly nonstop to North Eleuthera (ELH) from 4 US cities:

• Fort Lauderdale (FLL) – Bahamasair
• Atlanta (ATL) – Delta Air Lines
• Charlotte (CLT) – US Airlines
• Miami (MIA) – US Airlines

For what it’s worth, those unfamiliar with Bahamasair may be interested to know that it is a certified three-star airline and has a perfect safety rating of 7/7 on Airline ratings.

Sam Sears

Sam, our lead writer and San Diego-based journalist, has visited 36 countries and written more than 1,000 articles with an emphasis on sharing his own travel experiences and highlighting lesser-known gems.