Your vacations in the Bahamas

The Bahamas – officially, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas – is an independent, English-speaking country consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 rocks. It’s located in the Atlantic Ocean, southeast of the United States of America, north of Cuba, the Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), and the Caribbean Sea, and northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Its size is almost 14,000 km², with an estimated population of 330,000. Its capital is Nassau. It remains part of the British Commonwealth.

Official language

English (with a distinct Bahamian dialect); Bahamian Creole is also spoken by local inhabitants.

Currency

The currency in Nassau is the Bahamian dollar, which is generally at par with the American dollar, and whose value is quoted in the business section of major newspapers. Traveler’s cheques are accepted by most hotels and stores. U.S. dollars are imperative for travel to the Bahamas. Canadian currency is not accepted, but can be exchanged at all banks.

Electricity

110/120 volts, 60 cycles same as Canada

Shopping

The best buys are imported goods, such as cameras, Swiss watches, Scottish tweeds, French perfumes and leather goods. Bahamian craftsmen also produce handmade straw goods, wood carvings and shell jewelry – all of which you can bargain for at the straw market. However, please do not attempt to bargain for goods inside the stores of the market; this is simply not done nor allowed.

Useful information

Most restaurants add 15% to the bill which covers all services. If not, tipping is at client’s discretion.

The climate in the Bahamas

The climate of the Bahamas is subtropical to tropical, and is moderated significantly by the waters of the Gulf Stream, particularly in winter. Conversely, this often proves very dangerous in the summer and autumn, when hurricanes pass near or through the islands. Average temperatures in the Bahamas range from 27 to 32 °C in the summer to 21 to 27 °C in the winter. The northern Bahamian islands can be even a little cooler. Winds across The Bahamas keep vacations cool in the daytime and help lower the temperatures at night.

Come visit the Bahamas – where it’s always balmy, but pleasantly breezy.

Official language

English (with a distinct Bahamian dialect); Bahamian Creole is also spoken by local inhabitants.

Currency

The currency in Nassau is the Bahamian dollar, which is generally at par with the American dollar, and whose value is quoted in the business section of major newspapers. Traveler’s cheques are accepted by most hotels and stores. U.S. dollars are imperative for travel to the Bahamas. Canadian currency is not accepted, but can be exchanged at all banks.

Electricity

110/120 volts, 60 cycles same as Canada

Shopping

The best buys are imported goods, such as cameras, Swiss watches, Scottish tweeds, French perfumes and leather goods. Bahamian craftsmen also produce handmade straw goods, wood carvings and shell jewelry – all of which you can bargain for at the straw market. However, please do not attempt to bargain for goods inside the stores of the market; this is simply not done nor allowed.

Useful information

Most restaurants add 15% to the bill which covers all services. If not, tipping is at client’s discretion.