This blog starts a weekly series of posts on getting to know the Bahamas. Why should you visit? Why should you invest in real estate in the Bahamas? Why and how could you move to Bahama? Over the next few weeks, we'll try to give you the basic information and links to answer those questions.
Many thanks to
BahamasGuide.com and
Travel.State.Gov for help with these facts and figures.
Where are the Bahamas?
The islands that make up the Bahamas are about 100 miles off the coast of Florida, 20 minutes by plane, or a few hours by ship. The main islands are Grand Bahama, New Providence-Paradise Island, and the larger Out Islands of Abacos, Acklins-Crooked Island, Andros, Berry Islands, Bimini, Cat Island, Eleuthera-Harbour Island, Exumas, Inaqua, Long Island, Mayaquana, and Rum Cay-San Salvador.
Nassau, the capital, on New Providence, is connected to Paradise Island by 2 bridges. The total land area of the Bahamas is 10,070 sq km, slightly smaller than Connecticut.
What currency is used in the Bahamas?
The Bahamas' unit of currency is the Bahamian dollar ($B) which is based on the U.S. dollar. One Bahamian dollar equals 100 Bahamian cents (pennies). As the Bahamian and U.S. dollars are equivalent (1 $B = 1 $US), residents or visitors may spend either Bahamian or U.S. dollars in the Bahamas. Outside the Bahamas, Bahamian money is not too valuable (trading at times at nearly half its face value), except as a popular collector item, so make sure to get rid of all your Bahamian dollars before you leave.
What time zone is used in the Bahamas?
All the islands use EST, and they do observe daylight savings time, which starts March 8, 2009.
Which language is most widely used in the Bahamas?
The main language is English, with some colorful native terms, and there is no official 2nd language. Visit the
Bahamas Guide for popular slang words.
What medical services are available in the Bahamas?
High-quality medical care is generally available, but expensive, in Nassau and Freeport. Medical care is limited outside of Nassau and Freeport. Bahamian doctors and hospitals do not usually accept U.S. medical insurance policies and typically expect immediate cash payment for professional services. It is the patient's responsibility to seek reimbursement later from their insurance companies. Serious health problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Persons with serious or life-threatening conditions who wish to return to U.S. medical facilities for treatment normally must be airlifted.
When is the best time to visit the Bahamas?According to
PlacesOnline, the best time to visit the Bahamas is from March to July as the weather becomes too hot after July. The calm, relaxing weather of late spring and early summer is ideal for outdoor activities. The period from January to February is quite cold.
Will my cell phone work iin the Bahamas? According to
Bahamas Travel Info, you can purchase a a "Cybercell" Bahamas Prepaid SIM Card from BTC (The Bahamas Telecommunications Company). The SIM card, together with a tri-band unlocked GSM cell phone, will allow you to have a local cell phone number for the Bahamas while paying local rates - no roaming charges and no service contract. Many shops will unlock your US cell phone for a small fee and without much of a wait
About 75% of US cell phone plans have roaming in Nassau and Grand Bahama. Fewer are operational in the Family Islands. Most other foreign cell phone service plans will not usually work within The Bahamas.
How's the internet service in the Bahamas?The Bahamas government monopoly and regulation of the telephone communications sector, effectively granted a monopoly to the government-owned and controlled BaTelCo. With the introduction of broadband competitors, like Cable Bahamas, the situation has improved drastically for Internet users.
You can see from these basic facts that the Bahamian Islands are modern and want you to visit. Check our blog next week for a post on the history of the Bahamas.
.png){kind=logo}