Travel information

Surface area : 5382 square miles.

Population : About 310 000, the islands of the Bahamas consists of about 700 islands, only about 20 islands of which are inhabited

Time difference: -5 hours in winter, -6 hours in summer. (CET)

Language : English is the official language of the Bahamas.

Formalities : Valid biometric passport (6 months after departure date).

Health : No vaccination is required. Hospitals have good standard but are expensive, a full service travel insurance is highly recommended (insure plan including all medical cost and expenses)

Taxes and gratuities : In restaurants and hotels, gratuities are about 10 percent of the overall amount of the check. Most hotels will charge a tourist tax (about 20 to 40$ per person, payable on premises)

Power : 110 Volts. Bring a universal adapter to be able to charge 100-240V units .

All major hotels and restaurants accept Visa and Mastercard. Although the Bahamas are a member of the Commonwealth, the Bahamian Dollar is pegged to the US-Dollar on a one-to-one basis. Bring US-Dollars (cash and traveller’s cheques), as they are readily accepted everywhere.

Currency exchange rate (10/11/2015) :
1 Bahamian $ = +/- 0.92 €
1 € = +/- 1,08 Bahamian $

Phone & Internet :

• To call a Bahamian phone number from Europe:

Dial 00 + 1 242 (country code) then the phone number.

• To call a European phone number from the Bahamas:

Dial 00 + 33 + then the phone number (omitting the “0” if present).

Crooked Island : Cell phone service is reasonably available on the entire island. The lodge bar/restaurant also has WIFI service available.

Airports

The Bahamas have but one international airport, located in Nassau/New Providence. It is the hub for all the domestic flights to the Outer Islands. Two airlines service many Bahamian islands on a daily basis, Bahamasair services Crooked Island on Saturdays and Wednesdays, some of the flights will include a stopover at Spring Point (Acklins) before continuing to Crooked Island. Do not disembark and make sure to step off the plane only once you have landed at Crooked Island!