Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
lands, offices may be understaffed, keep irregular hours, or generally show surprise to see
tourists. But even on smaller islands, the visitor centers put out helpful brochures and maps
that are often more useful than talking to an actual person.
The
Bahamas Ministry of Tourism
( 800-422-4262;
www.bahamas.com
) has a
central information office in the US that sends out literature. There are also regional offices
across the USA and in other countries that can also help with information.
Also in the US is the
Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board
(US 954-475-8315;
www.boipb.com
;
1200 South Pine Island Rd, Suite 750, Plantation, FL 33324, USA) .
Additional Bahamas websites include the following:
GOVERNMENT TRAVEL ADVICE
The following government websites offer travel advisories and information on
current hot spots.
»
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs
(
www.smarttraveller.gov.au
)
»
British Foreign Office
(
www.fco.gov.uk/countryadvice
)
»
Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs
(
www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca
)
»
US State Department
(
http://travel.state.gov
)
Travelers with Disabilities
Disabled travelers will need to plan their vacation carefully, as few allowances have been
made for them in the Bahamas.
New construction codes mandate ramps and parking spots for disabled people at shop-
ping plazas and other select sites. Larger hotels are beginning to introduce features such
as Braille instructions and chimes for elevators, bathrooms with grab bars, and ramps.
However, only the most recent structures in Nassau and, to a lesser degree, Freeport have
adopted these features.
The tourism boards can provide a list of hotels with wheelchair ramps, as can the
Ba-
hamas Council for the Disabled
( 242-353-7720; 11A Kipling Bldg, Freeport, Grand
Bahama) and the
Bahamas Association for the Physically Disabled
( 242-322-2393;
Dolphin Dr, Nassau, PO Box N-4252, Nassau) . The latter can also hire out a van and port-
able ramps for those with wheelchairs.
