Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Money
The Bahamian dollar is linked one-to-one with the US dollar, so you can use US currency
everywhere. You'll often get change back in Bahamian coins. Major commercial banks
maintain branches throughout the islands, although in the Family Islands they are scarce
and may only be open once a week for a few hours. Most hotels and car-rental companies
will take credit cards on the Family Islands, but do have some ready cash just in case.
ATMS
Automated teller machine (ATM) cards are a good way to obtain incidental cash. There are
plenty of ATMs in the leading tourist centers, but they become rarer in the Out Islands. If
you're headed away from Nassau or Grand Bahama, be sure to find out if there's an ATM
in your destination, or bring plenty of cash. Most machines accept Visa, MasterCard and
American Express via international networks such as Cirrus and Visa/PLUS.
CREDIT CARDS
Major credit cards are accepted at most hotels and tourist-oriented restaurants in major cen-
ters such as Nassau and Freeport. On the Out Islands, some hotels and most restaurants
accept cash only. You can use your credit card to get cash advances at most commercial
banks. Companies that accept credit cards may add an additional charge of up to 5%.
TRAVELER'S CHECKS
These are widely accepted throughout the Bahamas, except on more remote Family Islands,
although some hotels, restaurants and exchange bureaus charge a hefty fee for cashing trav-
eler's checks.
To report lost American Express traveler's checks in the Bahamas, contact
Destinations
(
242-322-2931; 303 Shirley St, Nassau).
Post
Mail from the islands is slow. Airmail to North America usually takes about 10 days. Allow
about four weeks for mail to Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Postcards to the UK, US, or Canada cost $0.50. Airmail letters cost $0.65 per half-ounce
to the US and Canada; $0.70 to the UK and Europe; and $0.80 to Africa, Asia, or Aus-
tralasia.
Express mail services are listed in the
Yellow Pages
. Note that 24-hour service is not
usually guaranteed from the Out Islands, as the express-mail services tend to rely on air-
charter services.
You can have mail addressed to you 'Poste Restante' care of 'The General Post Office,'
East Hill St, Nassau, The Bahamas. Mail should be marked 'To be collected from the Gen-
eral Delivery desk.' All correspondence is retained for three weeks.
