SUMMER 2021
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10
What to Know Before You Go
Cars travel on the left side of the road
The Bahamas have heavy Spanish,
British, and African heritage, and were
once a British Crown Colony. They
retain some British culture including
driving on the left side of the road.
Unless you have experience driving on
the left side, I would recommend just
staying away from driving motorized
vehicles while you’re there. There are
plenty of taxis available to get you
wherever you need to go.
If you’re worrying about your Spanish
not being up to par, take a load off
because the offi cial language of The
Bahamas is English. Many local resi-
dents speak a Bahamian Dialect, but
you shouldn’t have a problem commu-
nicating with anyone.
The offi cial currency of The Bahamas is
the Bahamian Dollar. However, the Ba-
hamian Dollar is pegged to the US dol-
lar on a one-to-one basis. Because they
are equal to one another, US dollars
are widely accepted everywhere in The
Bahamas. Especially if you are sticking
to the traditionally touristy areas (such
as Nassau). Which leads perfectly into
my next point…
One of the best things about travel-
ing in Southeast Asia was that the
exchange rate on the US dollar was
amazing, making everything dirt cheap
by American standards. Because the
US dollar is equal to the Bahamian dol-
lar, things are just as expensive in The
Bahamas as it would be in a touristy
place in the US. If you’re counting on a
killer exchange rate to help lessen the
costs of your trip, trade in your fl ight to
the Caribbean for a fl ight to Thailand.
Because The Bahamas is so much like
America in their hospitality standards,
you should also tip like you would in
the States. The standard 15%-20% tip
should be used, especially in touristy
areas and at resorts.Some places auto-
matically add in a 15% gratuity to the
total of the bill. Make sure to confi rm if
the tip has been added automatically
to your bill before you shell out more
money for a tip.
Countries like The Bahamas that have
tropical climates have two seasons.
The wet or rainy reason, which runs
from June to November, and Dry
Season, which runs from December
to May. It should also be noted that
Wet season coincides with hurricane
season. If you are traveling during this
time be aware that hurricanes can de-
velop quickly and go from bad to worst
extremely fast. Hurricane season is not
a reason not to travel, but you should
always be aware if you’re traveling
during that time that it is a possibility.
Be ready to be bombarded with peo-
ple trying to sell you things
Ok, every country I’ve traveled to there
is always locals there trying to sell
you things. It’s not normally anything
to mention, but the struggle is real
in The Bahamas. There were times I
was laying on the beach at the resort,
SLEEPING. Yes, eyes shut, visibly trying
to sleep, and there were still people
coming up to me and vigorously
asking me if I wanted to buy their shell
necklace. I love supporting the local
economy, but it was so excessive and it
was annoying at times.
Don’t leave without trying local conch
Conch is the national food of The
Bahamas, and you can enjoy it in
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WORDS
PHOTO
CHRIS MILLER
KELLY BAKER
Stretching more than 190 miles in length, the An-
dros Barrier Reef in The Bahamas is one of the
biggest barrier reefs in the world
BAHAMAS
VACATIONS
AMAZING