Are you dreaming or have already planned to make a tour to the Bahamas? Information about the Bahamas is essential.
Bahamas: location. The Bahamas are almost 700 small islands and reefs! They are located near the United States (Florida) and Cuba. Bahamas: the capital. The capital of the Bahamas is the city of Nassau, which is located on the island of New Providence. This is where 80% of the country's population lives! The Parliament Palace and the square, the famous royal gardens and the royal staircase, the Bay shopping street and other interesting sights are also located here. You can also relax in the capital - the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island will gladly accept all tourists! Bahamas: language. The official and widely used language in the Bahamas is English.
Bahamas: features of customs control. The customs regulations of the Bahamas allow the import of 200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 450 grams of smoking tobacco (your choice!). Regarding alcohol, it is limited to a volume of 0.94 liters for both spirits and wine. It is forbidden to bring any narcotic and explosive substances into the islands. When exporting any agricultural products, plants, wood carvings, an export permit issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Bahamas will be required. Bahamas: climate and seasonality. The climate on the islands is quite comfortable for recreation, from +23 to +31 depending on the island and the month of the year. It is best to relax in the Bahamas from September-October to May.
Bahamas: currency. The official currency on the islands is the Bahamian dollar. For 1 US dollar on the islands, you can get approximately 0.99-1 Bahamian dollar (the ratio is almost always 1:1). Bahamas: tips. You can leave a tip in the Bahamas in the amount of 10-20% of the check amount (in most cases, almost 15% is left “on top” for almost all services). Bahamas: telephone. As for mobile communications, it is better to buy a prepaid SIM card (for example, from The Bahamas Telecommunications Company Ltd), especially for using the Internet. If you only need to call home a few times, it will be cheaper to buy a payphone card, which can be found in most large stores and gas stations.
Bahamas: official holidays. Be sure to try to plan a tour to the Bahamas so that you get to one of the local festivals or holidays. The most interesting holidays for tourists will be:
Christmas (25.12)
Jonconu carnivals (December 26 and January 1-2) - processions of thousands of people in amazing and colorful costumes;
New Year (1.01); In January - windsurfing championship (boarding with a sail);
In late May-early June, there is a week-long Caribbean Music and Dance Festival, and in late November, the Bahamas Music Festival (dates change annually, so it's best to look just before planning tour dates). July 10 - Independence Day.
So, 22 facts about... The Bahamas!
ReplyDelete1. Once the Bahamas were the territory of Spain. It is even believed that these islands are the first land where Columbus landed in 1492. Then for a long time the islands were an English colony. But today the Bahamas is actually a US enclave.
2. The Bahamian dollar BSD circulates in the country on a par with the US USD. Course 1:1
3. In the country, cards of the European payment system MasterCard are not accepted everywhere. Many places only accept US VISA
4. The official language in the country is English. It is very unexpected, of course, to find yourself in a country where every beggar (and the standard of living is not high) speaks good English
5. The vast majority of the population 85% - blacks. This explains the revolt of the population against the ruling white elite in the 60s. Now both the governor general and the prime minister of the Bahamas are black
6. The country has left-hand traffic, as in England, whose colony was the Bahamas for a long time. However, cars are found with both right and left-hand drive. Even more often with the left
7. American sockets with flat plugs and American voltage standard 120 V / 60 Hz
8. Cellular communication (Batelco operator) is available. Roaming agreements with Russian operators are also said to be in place. True, I have not "seen" any of the two Russian phones of the local operator
9. Unlike neighboring Cuba, there are no problems with the Internet. Most establishments and hotels have wi-fi.
10. In general, the Bahamas is a tourist paradise. Half of the population is employed in tourism, and a tourist in the city will not be offended, since he brings money to the island
11. But no one has canceled the rule "fool the tourist". At the airport, the cost of a taxi, as a rule, will be overpriced. They will try to sell you more expensive at the Straw market flea market. In restaurants and on the beach, they will try to put wicker bracelets on your or your children’s hands and ask for money for them.
12. Ideal Bahamas are, of course, islands. The beaches in the capital are small
13. The most famous attractions in the Bahamas are the island with swimming pigs Exuma and the island with pink sand Harbor
14. Russians do not need a visa to visit the Bahamas, but if you are not flying with a tour, but on your own, especially through the USA, then they may ask questions at the border
15. Border control with the United States is located at Nassau airport, and not in the United States, as usual. That is, US border service officers are physically located in the Bahamas. This means that you should leave for the airport in advance, laying time for border control. But upon arrival in the USA - just get out of the airport
16. Upon arrival (or on the plane), an arrival card is filled out, where, for the purpose of the visit, among other things, there is "play in the casino." Casino in the Bahamas, on about. Paradise is truly considered one of the best