Destination Guides & Maps - the Bahamas

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Capital City: Nassau, on New Providence Island

Language: English is the official language. Creole is also spoken by immigrants from Haiti.

Area: 5,382 square miles

Population: 294,982

Currency

The Bahamian dollar is pegged to the American dollar - US$1 = B$1. Notes come in B$100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 3, 1 and 50 cent denominations.

Coins come in 25, 15, 10, 5 and 1 cent denominations. US dollars are also widely accepted.

24-hour ATMs are available on the major islands - so as long as your card is part of the Cirrus or Plus networks, you can withdraw money there just as you would here.

ATMs are not so common in the Out Islands, where traveller's cheques (best carried in US dollars) are more useful.

Major credit cards, including Visa and MasterCard are widely accepted, as is American Express.

Counterfeit B$100 notes are not unknown: check for a ship watermark and metallic strip on genuine notes.

Visa

British nationals do not require visas for visits of up to three months, but you must have a return ticket and your passport must be valid for at least six months.

Geography

The Bahamas is an archipelago of 700 low-lying coral islands, stretching over 100,000 square miles of sea.

Almost all the islands are ringed by white sandy beaches, and surrounded by coral reefs.

Inland are some low hills. The highest natural point - at a mere 63m / 206ft - is Mount Alvernia on Cat Island.

Although often featured in Caribbean guides, the islands are not actually in the Caribbean - to their North and East is the Atlantic Ocean; on the other side the Gulf Stream.

Religion

The main religions are Baptist (32%), Anglican (20%) and Roman Catholic (19%). Others include Methodist (6%), Church of God (6%) and other Protestant (12%).

Time

Five hours behind GMT.

Electricity

120V AC, 60Hz. You'll need a flat two-pin adapter, as most sockets are US-style.

Emergencies

Call 919 or 911 for all emergency medical services. For the fire service, call 411.

Telephone

To call the Bahamas from the UK: 001 + 242 + local number.

To call the UK from the Bahamas: 001 + 44 + local number.

Phone cards are available giving discount rates for international calls.

* When making a call, bear in mind that if the number rings more than five times, you'll be charged for the call, even if the other person doesn't answer.

Post

Post offices are open Monday to Friday 8.30 to 5.30, and on Saturday mornings from 8.30 to 12.30. It takes up to 10 days for post to reach Europe.

Business hours

Bank opening hours are 9.30am -3pm, Monday to Thursday, and 9.30am-5pm on Fridays.

Shops generally open 9am to 5pm, but they may extend their hours if there's a cruise ship in.

Tipping

Waiters, taxi drivers and other service staff expect a 15% tip (20% in particularly upmarket restaurants).

In hotels and restaurants, the service charge is usually included in the bill.

Porters expect a tip of $1-$2 per bag, and it's customary to tip the maid around $2 a day.

BBC World Service

MHz 17.72, 15.22, 6.195, 5.975

Want to get a closer look at the Bahamas? http://earth.google.com/

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