“Bahamas Itinerary Guide” – Visa-Free Bahamas Practical Guide, Encounter the Pink Sands Beach on the Caribbean Coast &…

Many people told me that going to the Bahamas is expensive and a hassle. There are so many fun islands and beautiful beaches in the world, why go to such a hassle place?
Haven’t you heard? The more beautiful the scenery is, the more difficult it is to get there.

So let’s go to the Bahamas for a vacation, swim with the internet-famous pigs, chase the sunset on the pink sand beach, and enjoy the Caribbean style.

The Bahamas, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Florida, north of Cuba, is an archipelago with Nassau as its capital.

This archipelago consists of over 700 islands and 2,400 cays, of which only 30 are inhabited. The islands have a population of 360,000. 85% are black or mixed race, 12% are white, the rest are Spanish, Indian, and Native American minorities, as well as a small number of Chinese. The official language is English.

On December 19, 2013, China and the Bahamas signed a comprehensive visa waiver agreement in Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas.

Bahamas and Pirates

From the late 17th century to the early 18th century, the Bahamas were the golden age of pirates and privateers. Most people have heard of Sir Francis Drake and Blackbeard, who frequented the Bahamas as their base of operations.

The islands of the Bahamas were the ideal place for pirates and privateers. The complex terrain, countless islands and islets, and the numerous shoals and straits provided an excellent hiding place for those who plundered ships. In addition, the Bahamas’ proximity to busy shipping lanes gave pirates ample opportunities to steal from merchant ships.

Most of the Bahamas enjoy a mild subtropical climate, with pleasant temperatures. August is the hottest month, with average temperatures of 24-32°C; January and February are the coldest months, with average temperatures of 17-25°C. The annual average temperature is 23.5°C, and the annual average rainfall is 1000mm.

Clear skies are the norm, with an average of 7 hours of sunshine per day in the capital, Nassau. The rainy season is from October to April, with usually short, heavy showers. The Bahamas is affected by hurricanes, which generally occur from June to November. Based on 90 years of data, the capital Nassau is likely to experience a strong hurricane every 9 years on average.

From February 12, 2014, Chinese citizens with valid Chinese passports can enter the Bahamas for tourism without a visa, with a stay of no more than 30 days. An immigration form will be filled out on the plane to the Bahamas. Print out your itinerary and hotel reservation in advance. The Bahamas customs officers may ask some questions. The Bahamas is a popular tourist destination in North America, and during peak season there are long queues at the border, which can take about 1 hour to clear.

The currency of the Bahamas is the Bahamian dollar, which is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 1:1. Therefore, it is advisable to bring enough US dollars in cash before going to the Bahamas. You can also use Mastercard or Visa to pay.

It is generally not recommended to use credit cards to pay, because firstly, many stores do not accept credit cards, and secondly, there is a risk of credit card information being stolen. Many hotels have ATMs that dispense US dollars, so you can withdraw a small amount of US dollars. You will need paper money to take taxis, so be sure to have small denominations handy for tipping.

Sim cards and WiFi. You can buy a Sim card at the airport after you have cleared immigration. Walk to the domestic departures area, where there is a small convenience store. Ask the staff for a Sim card.

The Sim card costs $10 and you can top up and add a package. Packages usually include unlimited data and calls. The internet speed is fast and the signal at sea is also good.

Most hotels have WiFi, but guesthouses may not. WiFi availability in other public areas is unknown. It is recommended that you purchase a SIM card for convenience.

The official language is English. The voltage is 120V, and the plug sockets are US standard. You need to bring a plug adapter in advance.

There are no direct flights from China to Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas. You will need to transfer through the US, Russia, Europe, or the Middle East. There are usually many flights from Miami to Nassau, and the price is also reasonable (provided you have a valid US visa).

When returning to the US, you will need to clear US customs in Nassau first, which requires queuing. You need to allow extra time to get to the airport, but it’s not as long as the internet rumors. Depending on the time and flight, we only spent less than half an hour getting to the gate.

The Bahamas is an archipelago country, and besides Nassau, many beautiful attractions are located on other smaller islands. Therefore, airplanes or boats are the most common means of transportation between the islands of the Bahamas, and are also the most expensive part.

There are daily flights from Nassau to other islands, which saves time and is efficient, but the downside is that it is expensive.

The Nassau airport is very small. There is one terminal for international flights and one for domestic flights.
Here are some airline websites that you may use:

Here are some airports in the Bahamas that you are most likely to use:

Pink Sands Beach, Harbour Island
North Eleuthera Airport (ELH)

It is about 20 minutes from Nassau. Be careful not to get off the wrong plane. There is another airport on the island called Governor Harbour Airport (GHB), which is on the same island but further from Pink Sands Beach.

Pig Beach
Exuma International Airport (GGT)

There are also many early morning and late evening flights, but the airport is a distance from Pig Beach itself. You will need to take a bus and then a boat. If you are flying, it is best to book a local day tour in advance to confirm the pick-up time before booking the round-trip flights.

Safety

The Bahamas is generally very safe. The taxi drivers will try to get your attention, but if you say no, they will not bother you again. However, it is not safe to walk at night. It is not safe to walk at night, even if you are going to a nearby supermarket.

Taxi

Most taxis in the Bahamas are 7-seater cars. They will have “Taxi” written on the door. Taxis do not have meters, so you should agree on the price with the driver before getting in. Then they will set off. You should tip about 10% extra before getting out.

There are fixed prices for major locations. You can do some research in advance.
When you get out of Nassau airport, you can take a taxi to your hotel. It costs around $30 for a taxi from the airport to a hotel in the city center. It’s roughly that price.

Consumption

The Bahamas is expensive, everything is basically expensive. Transportation is expensive, food is expensive. Restaurants charge about 7.5% government tax and a mandatory tip of about 15%. Be careful when looking at the prices of dishes.

Hotels on Paradise Island

For example, the Atlantis Hotel charges an extra $15-$20 per person per day for energy fees, 7.5% government tax, and 10% resort fees. If you have a big budget, you can stay at Atlantis for a few days. If your budget is tight, you can stay in Nassau and pay a small fee (around $30 per day) to visit Atlantis.

When booking hotels in the Bahamas on various platforms, make sure you check the price displayed on the website to see if it includes resort fees and government taxes. You will need to use a credit card to settle the bill for other fees when you check in.

The city center is mostly small shops, which close early, basically at 5pm. The street along the coast by the cruise ship terminal will be lively, with many restaurants.

Recommended restaurant: Twin Brothers, especially the local conch salad, which is big and flavorful. Two people can share one, or three girls can share one. You can pay by card. The average consumption is between $35-40.

Pirates of Nassau Museum

There are many pirate models and scenes, recreating the scene of rampant piracy from 1690 to 1720. It’s in the city center, you can wander around.

Opening Hours:

Monday to Saturday 9:00-18:00, Sunday 9:00-12:00

Tickets:

Adults $13, one adult can bring 2 children under 12 years old.

Atlantis Paradise Island

The Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau, Bahamas, is a sister hotel to the Atlantis Palm Island in Dubai, it’s the most important landmark in Nassau and one of the most expensive hotels in the world. It’s a resort that combines hotels, beaches, aquariums, and various entertainment and leisure facilities.

Although expensive, there are no admission fees to visit the public areas of the hotel, shop, or enter the casino. Entertainment facilities are also open to non-hotel guests.

Aquaventure Water Park boasts one of the tallest and most thrilling water slides in the world. You can slide down the slide while overlooking the beautiful Caribbean coastline.

In addition to the slides, there are various other facilities such as rafting, aquariums, and more. You can swim with dolphins and float through glass aquariums, watching deep-sea tropical fish circle around you.

The Dig is Atlantis’ underground aquarium, located underground in the Royal Towers area. It’s the largest aquarium in the world and home to thousands of species of marine life.

Pink Sands Beach Day Trip

Go to Harbour Island [approximately 3 hours by yacht one way, 30 minutes by plane one way]. The yacht or plane will depart at around 8am. Please arrive 30-60 minutes in advance.

Pink Sands Beach is located on Harbour Island in the Bahamas. It was voted one of the sexiest beaches in the world by US News & World Report. It is about three miles long and one of the top diving destinations in the world.

The beach is lined with a luxurious resort of 25 colorful villas, blending Moroccan, Indian, and Indonesian Balinese styles.

Pig Island Day Trip

Nassau – Swim with nurse sharks – Feed American iguanas – White sand beach – Cuddle with internet-famous pigs

Get up early and take a flight to Staniel Cay Airport on Exuma Island. You’ll have the chance to see the sunrise over the island and get a bird’s eye view of the beautiful Bahamas from the morning plane.

Take a boat to meet the world’s cutest “pigs”. Then, get up close and personal with the friendly nurse shark babies and feed the cool American iguanas.

The iguanas on the Bahamas are ugly, a little scary, but very gentle. They are true vegetarians, and they are very satisfied with plant roots, fruits, petals, and bread.

The mysterious white sand beach finally emerges from the sea. If you have time, you can jump directly from the yacht into the crystal clear waters for a swim or snorkel.