Travel Tips Bahamas

Picture perfect beaches make the Bahamas a popular destination for millions of tourists every year, especially Americans and cruise ship visitors. There are a huge range of historical, cultural, and natural attractions in this country, but like most islands in the Caribbean, the Bahamas are an expensive destination. Smart planning can help you get more bang for your buck as you indulge in everything the Bahamas has to offer and, while this travel guide can help, be prepared to spend money on your trip here.

Typical Costs

Accommodation – Lodging is expensive. There are very few hostels, but there are reasonably priced guest houses and budget hotels with ensuite rooms for around 65 BSD per night. For the best value, check out Airbnb where you can rent either a spare room or an entire place from a local. Often times these are located in central neighborhoods or right on the coast at a much better cost per night than a hotel.

Food – You’ll pay around 8 BSD for fish, a side dish, and dessert, which is fairly reasonable for local fare. However, most restaurants also specialize in American and British meals that can cost between 17-25 BSD a plate. There is often also a compulsory service charge of 15% on your bill, so keep in mind as you settle a check.

Transportation – If you’re staying in Freeport or Nassau, a minibus trip for 1.25 BSD is the cheapest way to get around, but they stop running at 6 pm. Another option is the wildly popular water-taxi that runs every hour for 6 BSD from Nassau to Paradise Island. In terms of inter-island travel, there are frequent and affordable mail boats going from Nassau to the outer islands that cost about 45 BSD each way, but plan accordingly because these can take anywhere from 12-48 hours and offer little in the way of modern conveniences. Inter-island flights (via Bahamas Air or other local carriers) are a much more efficient option, and if you buy ahead of time, the fare usually won’t break the bank.