TRAVEL
TIPS
| Driving |
U.S
Driving Permit accepted |
| Currency |
(BSD)
Bahamian Dollar |
| Electrical |
120 Volts |
| Telephones |
Country
Code 1 242 |
Time:
GMT - 5.
Electricity:
120 volts AC, 60Hz.
Telephone:
IDD is available. Country code: 1 242. New Providence and all
islands have automatic telephone systems. The state telephone
company, BaTelCo, offers both manual- and automatic-dial mobile
radio telephones which allow callers to contact ships at sea.
Phone cards can be purchased at discounted rates for international
calls.
Climate:
The Bahamas are slightly cooler than other Caribbean island groups
owing to their proximity to the continental North American cold
air systems.
Required
clothing: Lightweight or tropical, cottons all year round.
Light raincoats are useful during the wet season.
Food & Drink: There is a wide choice of restaurants
and bars. Specialities include conch, grouper cutlets, baked crab
and red snapper fillets in anchovy sauce. Fresh fruit is available
from the Out Islands, including sweet pineapple, mango, breadfruit
and papaya. Table service is usual in restaurants.
Local drinks are based on rum. The local liqueur is Nassau Royal,
served alone or in coffee.
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, sea-shell jewellery and woodcarvings.
Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700.
Tipping: Fifteen per cent is usual for most services
including taxis. Some hotels and restaurants, however, include
service charge on the bill.
Currency:
Bahamian Dollar (B$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of
B$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 3 and 1, and 50 cents. Coins are in denominations
of 25, 15, 10, 5 and 1 cents. The Bahamian Dollar has parity with
the US Dollar and the latter is also accepted as legal tender.
Currency
exchange: Available in banks and at exchange bureaux
and hotels. ATMs are located on the larger islands in airport
terminals, at banks and casinos and at other convenient locations.
Credit
& debit cards: Diners Club, MasterCard, Visa and
American Express are accepted. Check with your credit, or debit,
card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services
which may be available.
Travellers
cheques: To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers
are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars.
