BAHAMAS TRAVEL TIPS
A collection of important information that can make your trip more enjoyable.
Here you will find the most important informations about Bahamas |
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Planning a vacation takes much more than booking a flight and hotel. Take a moment to brush up on the travel tips that will help you be more prepared for travel anywhere in The Islands of The Bahamas.
BAHAMAS GENERAL INFORMATION
Area: 13,939 sq km (5382 sq miles).
Population: 303,000 (official estimate 2000).
Population density: 21.7 per sq km.
Capital: Nassau. Population: 172,000 (1997).
Language: The official and national language
is English.
Religion: The three main Christian denominations are Baptist, Anglican and Roman Catholic.
Electricity: 110 volts AC, 60Hz. An adaptor is required for 220V appliances. |
THE ISLAND OF BAHAMAS
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Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence in 1973. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Dame Ivy Dumont since 2001. Head of Government: Prime Minister Perry Christie since 2002.
GEOGRAPHY: The Bahamas consist of 700 low-lying islands, mostly islets (cays or keys) and rocks. The whole archipelago extends 970km (500 miles) southeastward from the coast of Florida, surrounded by clear, colourful waters. The soil is thin, but on the more developed islands, cultivation has produced exotic flowers. On other islands are large areas of pine forest, rocky and barren land, swamp and unspoilt beaches. The Bahamas are divided into two oceanic features, the Little Bahama Bank and the Great Bahama Bank.
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BAHAMAS ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
For visitors, entry requirements differ slightly depending upon place of birth, length of stay and what items accompany the traveller. U.S. and Canadian citizens entering The Islands Of The Bahamas as visitors are required to show proof of citizenship with either a passport (current or expired within five years) or two forms of identification, one of which has to have a photo. For example, you may bring your birth certificate and a driver¹s licence.
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BAHAMAS IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS
Upon your arrival to the Islands of the Bahamas, you will be asked to fill out an ImmigrationArrival/Departure Card, which you will keep part of until your departure.
• All visitors are required to be in possession of a return ticket.
• U.S. visitors staying for eight months or less need a return ticket plus a passport (passports expired up to five years may also be used) or a certified birth certificate with an official photo identification.
• Naturalized citizens require naturalization papers (photo identification is not required).
• Alien residents in possession of a U.S. Alien Registration Card may enter The Islands Of The Bahamas without a visa for visits not exceeding thirty days. Presentation of a current national passport, or one that has been expired for five years or less, facilitates processing.
• Permanent residents (green card holders) require their green card and a valid passport from their place of birth.
• Canadian visitors staying less than three weeks need the same identification as those from the U.S. and do not require a visa.
• Landed immigrants in possession of the Canadian Immigration Record Form 1000 should follow the same requirements as Alien residents.
All others need a valid passport.
• British subjects from the United Kingdom and colonies may enter The Islands Of The Bahamas as visitors without passports or visas for periods not exceeding three weeks. For longer stays they must present a passport.
• A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age coming rom the following countries: Angola, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ecuador, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Peru and Sudan. Travellers are required to be vaccinated 10 days prior to entering The Islands Of The Bahamas and must have a valid certificate of vaccination against Yellow Fever.
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BAHAMAS DEPARTURE REQUIREMENTS
Departure from a foreign country can be stressful and intimidating, but in The Islands Of The Bahamas, it is usually a pleasant experience. You will find that on average, departure procedures are as "smooth as glass."
Before leaving the islands, you will present the disembarkation card that you received on your arrival and pay a small tax of $15 or $18. If you are a United States citizen, you will most likely then go through U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance before you board your plane. Then, you will find yourself on your way home!
Departure Tax: Before you leave The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will need to pay a departure tax. The tax is B$15 for all islands, except Freeport on Grand Bahama, which charges B$18. Children under the age of six are exempt from this tax. You may substitute United States dollars for Bahamian dollars since American currency is accepted everywhere and the exchange rate is the same.
U.S. Customs Pre-Clearance: If you are a United States citizen returning to America on a regularly scheduled airline, you will be pre-cleared through U.S. Customs and Immigration before your departure from Nassau or Freeport International Airports. This means you do not have to go through customs once you enter the United States.
Whether you clear U.S. Customs in Nassau, Freeport or the United States, the duty-free allowance is $600. (The allowance is $400 for travel to other countries.) In other words, United States residents (including minors) may take home newly acquired items with a retail value up to $600 if they have been out of the United States for more than 48 hours and have not taken the exemption in 30 days. The exemption may include up to one U.S. quart (32 U.S. oz.) of liquor per person over 21. If a family is from the same household, they are permitted to pool their exemptions.
If, as an individual, you exceed the $600 exemption (or if a family exceeds its allocation), the United States government will tax the amount that is over the limit.
To facilitate your way through customs, it is always a good idea to carry with you a list of the items you have acquired and all your receipts. It will make it easier for you to fill out the Customs Declaration Form at your departure, and it will provide customs with documentation in case it wants to challenge your declaration of goods.
Canada Customs Pre-Clearance: The following duty-free allowances apply to residents of Canada returning to Canada:
(a) Residents who have been absent from the country for 48 hours or more may import up to $200 (Canadian) worth of duty-free merchandise, which must accompany the passenger. The exemption must be claimed through a written declaration.
(b) A person who has been outside Canada for seven days or more may claim duty-free goods valued at not more than $750, once each calendar year. Goods acquired in The Islands Of The Bahamas or any area must be declared on arrival in Canada. The $500 exemption may be claimed regardless of any $200 exemption claimed on any previous trip, but the two cannot be combined. The exemption under (a) and (b) may include 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes, 200 grams of manufactured tobacco and up to 1.5 litres of liquor, if the person meets the required limits set by the province.
United Kingdom Customs Pre-Clearance: United Kingdom residents returning from any country outside EEC may take home duty-free, 60 ml (2 fluid ounces) of perfume, 9 fluid ounces of toilet water and other goods, up to a total worth of £145. In addition, persons 17 years or over may take home 250 grams (1/2 pound) of tobacco or 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (double the tobacco goods if you live outside Europe), plus a litre of spirits or 2 litres of fortified sparkling wines or 2 litres of still table wine. The importation into the United Kingdom of some goods is prohibited or restricted. These include counterfeit coins, copied goods, dangerous firearms, flick-knives, explosives, indecent or obscene books, magazines, films or other articles, CB radios, cordless telephones, microphones, plants, trees, fruits, potatoes and certain vegetables, live animals, birds and certain articles derived from rare species, e.g., ivory, reptile leather and all goods made from it.
No animal can be landed unless the owners have in their possession a valid rabies license by the British Government department.
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BAHAMAS CUSTOM ENTRY & DUTY
When you enter The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will be asked for a verbal baggage declaration. However, your luggage is also subject to customs inspections. If you are carrying dutiable items, you will need to fill out a Baggage Declaration Form.
Baggage declaration by temporary visitors is oral, but baggage is subject to Customs inspection. In case there are dutiable articles, the visitor will be required to complete a Baggage Declaration Form. Each adult is allowed 50 cigars or cigarettes or one pound of tobacco and one quart of spirits free of Customs Duty, in addition to personal effects. In addition, purchases up to a value of one hundred dollars ($100.00) are permitted by all arriving passengers.
Household effects, such as small appliances (such as blender etc.) are dutiable at 45% of the cost. Linen and china are duty free for each arriving visit. Computers such as laptops are considered a part of your personal effects and therefore are duty-free.
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WHAT TO BRING TO BAHAMAS
Try to pack light so you'll meet the baggage restrictions. The turboprop commercial planes flying to The Islands Of The Bahamas often have tighter requirements and your excess or overweight luggage could get "bumped" from your flight. The planes that fly to The Out Islands are even smaller. They may restrict you to one bag and one carry-on bag.
Besides lightweight garments and comfortable shoes, you'll probably want to bring a camera, sunscreen, sunglasses and a beach towel. You can also bring your own fishing or scuba diving equipment, although these items can be purchased or rented at most beach resorts. Whatever you do, remember to leave enough room for souvenirs!
It's a good idea to set aside B$15.00 to cover the departure tax, unless you are leaving the Islands of the Bahamas from Freeport on Grand Bahama, where the departure tax is B$18.00. You may substitute United States dollars for Bahamian dollars since American currency is accepted everywhere and the exchange rate is the same. You will also need to have the appropriate documents for entry into The Islands Of The Bahamas. Please click here to view entry document requirements.
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BAHAMAS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BAHAMAS
When travelling to The Islands Of The Bahamas, you will need to fill out certain forms. You can download some of these documents by following the links below. Although most visitors don¹t need these forms prior to leaving for The Islands Of The Bahamas, you may find it helpful to have some of these documents beforehand.
Inward declaration and cruising permit for private aircraft entering The Bahamas
If you are interested in arriving in The Islands Of The Bahamas by your own boat or plane, youcan download this permit (above), which allows private vessels to enter the country.
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BAHAMAS PET IMPORTATION DOCUMENT
You may bring your pet into The Islands Of The Bahamas, but you need to make preparations before your departure.
The Bahamas Humane Society is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Phone: 242-325-6742. Emergency after-hours phone: 242-323-5138.
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BAHAMAS COMMUNICATION
Cellular Services: The Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation (BaTelCo) has automatic roaming agreements with cellular carriers in the United States, Canada and Mexico. BaTelCo's roaming partners include Aliant Cellular, Ameritech Cellular, BCTEL Mobility, Bell Mobility, Bell Atlantic NYNEX Mobile, BellSouth Mobility, Blue Ridge Cellular, Cantel, Cellular Holding, Cellular One Bay Area Cellular, Cellular One of Illinois, Cellular One of Southwest Florida, Comcast Cellular, Crowley Cellular, Dansbury Cellular, Pioneer/Enid Cellular, MT&T Mobile, NBTel Mobility, Radiofone, 360° Communications, Telcel, TELUS Mobility U.S. Cellular and Western Wireless.
If your home carrier has a roaming agreement with BaTelCo and your cellular number is active in The Islands Of The Bahamas, you can enjoy cellular service. Simply ensure that your phone is switched to system B and dial away!
To place a call, dial 7 digits for local calls and 10 digits for calls to the United States and Canada.
To receive a call, the caller must dial BaTelCo's access code (242-359-7626), wait for the second dial tone and dial the roamer's cellular number including the area code.
Billing is a breeze ... There are no activation fees for Roaming in The Bahamas and you will be billed via your home carrier at a rate of $3.00 per day and $0.99 per minute (plus toll charges for long distance calls).
Note: Roaming agreements are subject to change without notice. Additionally, a carrier may have a Roaming agreement with BaTelCo but opt to disallow Roaming in The Bahamas for some of their markets.
Emergency Numbers: The visitor emergency number for travellers in distress is 242-326-HELP.
Mail: If you are sending letters or postcards from The Islands Of The Bahamas, be sure to use only Bahamian stamps. Mail travelling to The Out Islands will arrive a bit more slowly than to Nassau and Grand Bahama Island since it goes by mailboat.
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BAHAMAS CLIMATE & CLOTHING
Plan to wear spring and summer attire. The Islands Of The Bahamas have a semitropical climate with temperatures ranging from 70°F to 80°F.
Casual summer wear can be worn during the day anytime of the year, but be sure to bring a jacket or sweater for cooler evenings from December to February. Most hotels / restaurants / casinos require jackets for men in the evening, especially in cosmopolitan Nassau. Though walking the streets in swim trunks in mid-January might sound irresistible, beach clothing is inappropriate on the streets of downtown Nassau, in churches, restaurants and casinos. On the more laid-back Out Islands, dress codes are more flexible.
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BAHAMAS WEDDINGS
The wedding and honeymoon of your dreams await you in The Islands Of The Bahamas. Our staff can help you plan your fantasy wedding: on a beach at sunset, by the picturesque columns of the 14th century French Cloisters or on a party boat where you'll dance the night away. Whatever you do, getting married in The Islands Of The Bahamas is an experience you'll treasure forever.
Planning Your Ceremony: We can help you plan your wedding by assisting you in organizing your own ceremony or, by acting as a facilitator between you and on-island wedding consultants. Give us a call at 800-330-8272 and we will be happy to help you to plan any type of wedding. If you want something besides a traditional church wedding, perhaps a tropical garden setting would fit your dreams. How about a romantic wedding beneath the palms on the beach. Imagine sailing off into the sunset on the sparkling crystal Bahamian seas as you lovingly exchange your nuptial vows on a boat. Then dancing the night away under the twilight stars with friends and relatives. You are only limited by your own imagination.
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BAHAMAS PEOPLE
Most Bahamians are of African descent -- about 85 percent. The remaining white population is directly descended from Loyalists, Eleutheran adventurers and sailors. Some families have been Bahamian for over two centuries.
Bahamians are a dynamic, independent and friendly people who love music. Religion is an important part of their lives and churches are plentiful. English is spoken throughout the islands.
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BAHAMAS COMMERCE
Are things expensive in The Islands Of The Bahamas? Prices in The Islands Of The Bahamas are comparable to other destinations. Prices vary in relation to the product. Some luxury items, for example, liquor, perfume, watches and photography equipment can be more reasonably priced than in the Unites States. Breadbasket items tend to be more expensive than in the United States. Can I spend U.S. dollars in The Islands Of The Bahamas? Yes. The United States dollar is on par with the Bahamian dollar.
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BAHAMAS CURRENCY
The legal tender is the Bahamian dollar (B$1), which is equivalent in value to the U.S. dollar. Both U.S. and Bahamian dollars are accepted interchangeably throughout the islands.
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BAHAMAS ATM MACHINES & BANKING HOURS
Most of the larger islands have ATMs located in airport terminals, branch banks, most casinos and other convenient locations. Most machines dispense local currency. Machines in casinos and at Rawson Square in Nassau dispense U.S. dollars.
Banking hours are 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on Fridays. Most automatic teller machines (ATMs) are open 24 hours. Queries relating to banking regulations may be addressed to the Bank Supervision Department, Central Bank of The Bahamas, P.O. Box N-4868, Nassau, Bahamas, or call 242-322-2193.
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BAHAMAS TIPPING
Tip according to quality of service. Bellboys and porters usually receive $1 per bag, while most other servers (waiters, taxis, etc.) receive 15%. Many establishments include the gratuity in their bills.
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BAHAMAS SHOPPING
Special purchases include china, cutlery, leather, fabrics, spirits from Britain, Scandinavian glass and silver, Swiss watches, German and Japanese cameras and French perfume. Local products include all types of straw artefacts, seashell jewellery and woodcarvings. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
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BAHAMAS DRIVING
British rules apply, so please drive on the left and watch those roundabouts! Persons entering a roundabout (traffic circle) must give way to traffic coming from the right already on the roundabout. Visitors may use their home license for up to three months and may also apply for an international driver's license. Pedestrians should remember to look right before crossing streets.
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BAHAMAS SPORTS & ACTIVITIES
The Islands Of The Bahamas have a variety of water sports activities, such as scuba diving, snorkelling, parasailing, water/jet-skiing, windsurfing, fishing, sailing and boating. Land sport activities include tennis, golf, cricket, soccer, bowling, squash, track and field events, basketball, American football, baseball, volleyball, roller-skating and field hockey. And big game fishing.
Eight 18-hole and one 9-hole golf courses are available and the islands are host to major tournaments. Grand Bahama Island is the golf capital, offering five world-class courses, two being at Lucaya Golf & Country Club. There are gyms and fitness centres which are open to visitors on Nassau/Paradise Island and on Grand Bahama Island. Good spa facilities and yoga tuition exist throughout the islands. A variety of new age therapies are available.
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BAHAMAS TRANSPORTATION
Buses, rental cars, motor bikes, bicycles, tour cars and limousines. Taxis are accessible from all areas at all times. Jitney buses run from downtown and Cable Beach in Nassau/Paradise Island and from several depots at Freeport/Lucaya on Grand Bahama Island at ten minute intervals for 75 cents per ride.
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BAHAMAS TIME ZONE
Eastern Standard Time is used on all islands. April to October is Eastern Daylight Time, in conjunction with U.S. summer hours. Bahamas - Local Time Standard Time is GMT-5.
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