In short
Nassau sits on New Providence, the island holding two thirds of the Bahamian population. The archipelago has more than seven hundred islands, around thirty of them inhabited.
The Exumas, forty minutes away by air, hold the turquoise water of the photographs and a tiny population. Nassau itself is a port capital.
What it really costs
The Bahamas are among the most expensive destinations in the Caribbean. Almost everything is imported and value added tax applies across the board.
The Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar, which circulates interchangeably. There is no currency to change and no arbitrage to find.
What nobody tells you
Nassau receives several cruise ships a day. Between nine and five the centre and Junkanoo Beach are saturated; the rest of the time the city is quiet.
The genuinely beautiful beaches are not in Nassau but on the Out Islands, which need a domestic flight or a fast ferry. Internal transport is the underestimated budget item.
Safety needs attention in some Nassau neighbourhoods, away from the tourist areas and after dark.