Glistening streets and white beaches of Bahamas are always ready to welcome travellers from all around the world. The rich culture fills the atmosphere with excitement. Fascinating colonial architecture surrounds one with a sense of rich heritage of the city. The wonderfully inescapable theme of Bahamas immerses you in a world of beautiful beaches, seaplanes, speed boats and casino nights, all of which set the scene for enjoying the very best things to do in the Bahamas. If you’re in Bahamas, it doesn’t get better than the beach. The island nation’s pink and white-sand beaches are famous for their stunning looks, casual island vibes, and exciting sounds and sights. That makes the beaches of Bahamas the ideal spot to spend time with family.
Surrounded by the sparkling turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean, the Bahamas are a collection of islands that have become world-famous for their stunning sights and tropical beauty. To visit one of these islands and experience the exceptional accommodation and surroundings is to treat yourself to a perfect vacation.
We have listed some travel tips that can come in handy for travel enthusiasts when travelling to the Bahamas:
1. No need to pay extra tips at restaurants
In restaurants in the Bahamas, 15% gratuity is already included in the main bill. You don’t need to give extra tip unless you are really very happy with the staff service or the food and want to be extra thankful to them. Always check to see if the service fee is included in your bill, otherwise, a 10 to 15% tip is customary.
2. Camp out on the beach to save some money
Camping along the beach coast will give you some amazing experiences like staring the night sky, stargazing, and even enjoying the bonfire. There are so many beaches in Bahamas that allow you to camp by the beach at a cost-effective rate. This is very affordable as compared to the hotel fees and also much more exciting and fulfilling.
3. Never take the unmarked taxis
Whether you need to get to your hotel from the airport or want to explore any place in the Bahamas, you should always avoid taxis that appear unlicensed. Never hop in any unlicensed taxi without negotiating a fare first. Most taxis in the Bahamas do not use meters, which can make the payment process tricky. Instead of getting yourself into a tricky situation with your taxi driver, make sure to negotiate a rate upfront, especially when you’re out of the town drinking and enjoying the night life. We recommend that you ask the front door staff at your hotel or the restaurant or the club you’re visiting, to arrange a licensed taxi for you.
4. Stick to the Grocery Store in the Bahamas
Buying basic snacks, especially bottled water, at most of the restaurants is exorbitantly expensive. Though it’s probably not the first thing you’ll want to do upon arrival, hitting up a local grocery store will help you save major bucks during the long run. You’ll find better prices at grocery stores, so just ask your licensed taxi driver to take you there on your way to the hotel or after you’ve checked in. If you stock up on a few cases of bottled water and snacks, you will be able to avoid shocking prices like $9 for a 1 L bottle of water.
5. Do not transact with beach vendors in the Bahamas
If you are planning to visit popular beaches, there’s a good chance you’ll have an encounter with beach vendors selling everything from jet ski rentals to water bottles or even illicit drugs. Before handing over your cash, consider these precautions. In the Bahamas water sports are not regulated, and some of the rental equipment might not be in proper working conditions. Most of the vendors also do not have the proper knowledge of training to come to your rescue if things go wrong out in the ocean. Illicit drugs, including cocaine, are also major no-no’s and you can get in serious trouble. If you are offered anything for sale or as a gift, it’s best not to accept it. If nothing else just see a polite ‘no thank you’ and start conversing about something else. Locals respect visitors who are kind and humble plus they consider joking and light teasing as a form of affection, so enjoy the humorous exchanges.
6. Make advance bookings for accommodations
When you are in the Bahamas, booking a hotel may cost you a lot of money. To avoid that, you can make discounted pre-bookings from various sites, like ours at Travelgooru.com. This price includes basic hotel amenities like free Wi-Fi, private bathrooms, television, etc. You can also go for couch surfing in which you can stay with locals who have extra beds and couches, get free accommodation and find yourself a local tour guide. The community is small and consists of 50 active hosts so make sure that you get your research done in advance.
7. Steal the best deals by traveling during off season
The climate of Bahamas is equable and does almost the same throughout the season. But there are a few months in which Bahamas experiences a massive inflow of visitors, much more than the average. As a result, prices of everything increases by a large scale. To cut down your expenses there, you can plan to go to the Bahamas during the off-season, which is from the end week of April to the second week of December.
With this list of handy travel tips while visiting the Bahamas, you now have a small base for an itinerary. The Bahamas is a land that will fill you with wonders at every turn and you must definitely go explore it. If you desire to have a great trip and make amazing memories in the Bahamas, connect with us at TravelGooru today. We help clients search for cheap hotels and rental cars at their vacation destination. We instantly compare prices and provide precise details to make it easy for our clients.
