Social ConventionsThe pace of life is generally leisurely. Informal wear is acceptable in the resorts with some degree of dressing up in the evenings, particularly for dining, dancing and casinos in Nassau or Freeport. Further from the main towns, dress is more casual, although there is still a tendency to dress up at night. Small outposts like Green Turtle Cay, for example, will not require more than a shirt and long trousers. It is not acceptable to wear beachwear in towns.
International Travel:Getting There by AirThe Bahamas’ national airline
is
Bahamasair (UP) (website:
www.bahamasair.com).
British Airways (website:
www.britishairways.com) and
Virgin Atlantic (website:
www.virgin-atlantic.com) run direct flights from the UK.
Departure TaxB$18 for passengers leaving from Freeport. Children under six years of age are exempt.
Main AirportsNassau International (NAS) is 16km (10 miles) west of the city.
To/from the airport: Taxi services are available.
Facilities: Banking, car hire, post office, bars, restaurants and duty-free shops.
Grand Bahama International (FPO) is 5km (3 miles) from the city.
To/from the airport: Taxis are available.
Facilities: Banking, car hire, car parking, bar/restaurant and a duty-free shop.
The international airport at Moss Town,
Exuma, also offers a runway.
There are scheduled turbo-prop services between several airports in Florida and
Treasure Cay (TCB) and
Marsh Harbour (MHH), Abaco Island;
Rock Sound (RSD) and
Governor’s Harbour (GHB), Eleuthera; and
Georgetown (GGT), Exuma.
Getting There by WaterMain ports: A large number of international cruise ships call at
Nassau. Nassau also has direct passenger–cargo connections with the USA, the UK, the West Indies and South America.
Discovery Cruise Ferry (tel: +1 888 213 8253, in the USA; website:
www.discoverycruise.com) runs a daily service from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to
Lucayan Harbour on Grand Bahama Island.
Travelers arriving in The Bahamas by
private boat must pay a Customs and Immigration fee.
OverviewThe following goods may be imported into The Bahamas by persons aged over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty:
200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 454g of tobacco;
1.136l of spirits and 1.136l of wine;
goods up to the value of B$100; personal effects (clothes, camera etc).
Note: Permission to import pets must be obtained from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Firearms and fireworks, unless authorized by the Commissioner of Police. Plants, flowers and fruit, unless approved by the Ministry of Agriculture.
Internal Travel:Getting Around By AirBahamasair (website:
www.bahamasair.com) operates a few domestic routes. Several charter services also run inter-island flights; details are available from the Bahamas Tourist Office (see
General Info.)
Getting Around by WaterThe Out Islands are served by leisurely mail boats which leave Nassau several times a week carrying mail and provisions to the islands. Passengers share facilities with the crew. Arrangements should be made through boat captains at Potters Cay.
Bahamas Fast Ferries (tel: 323 2166; website:
www.bahamasferries.com) operates daily air-conditioned ferries from Nassau to North Eleuthera and Harbour Island and a twice weekly service to Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, as well as services from Nassau to Exuma, Andros and Abaco. There are also local ferries available.
Getting Around by RoadTraffic drives on the left.
Bus: Jitneys (minibuses) provide inexpensive touring and operate in the hubs of Freeport and Nassau; exact change is required. However, there is no public transport on any of the smaller islands. Paradise Island is served by a bus service which stops at every hotel. Horse-drawn rides are available along the streets of Nassau. Care should be taken when using a bus service after dusk on routes away from the main tourist areas along Cable Beach and East and West Bay Streets.
Taxis are readily available and are the main form of transport on the smaller islands. Taxis in New Providence are metered and the rates are government controlled. For real Bahamian hospitality, keep an eye out for taxis with a Bahamahost sticker in the window. Surcharges often apply for more than two people and for extra luggage.
Bicycles can be rented by the day or by the week at popular tourist centers and hotels.
Car hire: International car hire firms are represented at the airports and in Nassau and Freeport. Drivers must be aged 25 or over to hire a car. Motor
scooter hire is also available. The typical cost is B$25-B$35 per day. Helmets must be worn.
Regulations: British driving rules apply.
Documentation: National licenses are valid for up to three months.
Journey TimesThe following chart gives approximate journey times (in hours and minutes) from
Nassau to other major centers.
| Air | Sea |
| Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera | 0.30 | 2.00* |
| Freeport, Grand Bahama | 0.30/0.45 | 12.00 |
| Marsh Harbour, Abaco | 0.45 | 11.00 |
| George Town, Exuma | 0.45 | 13.00 |
NoteJourney Times Note* By Bahamas Fast Ferries; all other travel times are by mail boat.
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