Most visitors to the Bahamas see New Providence, home to Nassau and Paradise Island, often from a cruise ship docked for the day, or Grand Bahama around Freeport. Others fly on to the Out Islands, also called the Family Islands, such as the Exumas, Eleuthera and the Abacos, for quieter beaches and diving. The Bahamas are outside the EU's Roam Like at Home area, so a European SIM roams there at its operator's own rates.
Key facts for the Bahamas
- EU roaming: not covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: BTC (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 911 or 919 for police, ambulance and fire
- Embassies: the US in Nassau; the UK, Spain and Canada provide consular help from Kingston, Jamaica
Nassau and Freeport: where to take care
The US rates the Bahamas at level 2, exercise increased caution, because of crime, and most of it happens in Nassau and Freeport. In Nassau, the US singles out the Over the Hill area south of Shirley Street, where gangs have killed residents. The UK reports violent crime and armed robberies, sometimes fatal, in residential and tourist areas of New Providence and Grand Bahama, while the Out Islands have lower crime rates. Sexual assaults have occurred on and near the downtown Nassau beaches, and US officials note that crime tends to rise over the Christmas holidays.
Jet skis, boats and sharks
Water sports are poorly regulated, and women have reported sexual assaults by jet ski operators in Nassau, often after being approached on beaches such as Junkanoo, Saunders and Cabbage Beach. US government staff are not allowed to rent jet skis from independent operators on New Providence or Paradise Island. By law, operators may not rent to anyone under 18 or ride with the renter. Book boat trips only with licensed charters. Shark attacks, including fatal ones, can happen without warning: avoid swimming at night and never get into water that has been baited to attract sharks.
Hurricanes
The hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November. The government sends wireless emergency alerts straight to mobile phones, but during a hurricane telecommunications degrade and mobile connections suffer, so download maps, charge a power bank and agree on a meeting point before a storm arrives.
Getting around the islands
Traffic drives on the left, although most cars, hire cars included, are left-hand drive models imported from the US. On New Providence, jitneys (minibuses) and taxis are the usual way to get around; agree the fare before you set off. Bahamas Ferry Services and the mailboats link the main islands, and scheduled and charter flights reach the rest. Carry cash in the Out Islands, where ATMs are found mostly in banks on the larger islands and medical facilities are limited: serious cases are flown to Nassau, Freeport or Miami.
Entry, laws and money
Your passport should be valid for at least six months. There is no online travel authorisation, but travellers who have recently been in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda or South Sudan currently face entry restrictions and health screening. Cannabis and CBD products are illegal even with a medical card, and firearms and ammunition are banned, with checks even at the airport on departure. The Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar, and both are accepted everywhere.
Getting connected
A travel eSIM installed at home connects when you land or when your ship comes in. A Caribbean plan covers the Bahamas and many other islands, which suits a cruise; a Bahamas plan is enough for a stay in one place. Keep your usual SIM for texts and bank codes, with data roaming turned off.
Local SIMs: BTC and Aliv run the two mobile networks. BTC sells a tourist SIM to visitors who show a government-issued ID.
Consular protection: who to call in the Bahamas
- Call 911 or 919 for the police, an ambulance or the fire service.
- The US has an embassy in Nassau. The British High Commission in Nassau does not provide consular services, so British nationals contact the High Commission in Kingston, Jamaica. Spain's embassy in Kingston also covers the Bahamas and has an honorary consul in Nassau, and Canada has an honorary consul there too.
- EU citizens whose country has no embassy or consulate in the Bahamas can turn to that of any other EU country, which must help them on the same terms as its own nationals (Article 23 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU).
- English is the official language.
Questions travellers ask about the Bahamas
Will my EU tariff work in the Bahamas?
Only on roaming at your operator's own rates, because the Bahamas are outside Roam Like at Home.
Is Nassau safe for visitors?
Most visits pass without trouble, but crime is concentrated in Nassau and Freeport: stay away from the Over the Hill area, avoid quiet beaches after dark and keep valuables out of sight.
Which network does a Telcomia eSIM use in the Bahamas?
BTC, with 4G where available.
Should I rent a jet ski?
Be careful: the industry is poorly regulated and assaults by operators have been reported in Nassau. If you do, use an established operator and never go out with an operator riding along.
The short version
Install the eSIM before you travel, avoid the Over the Hill area in Nassau, think twice before renting a jet ski, carry cash in the Out Islands, follow the alerts from June to November, and save 911 and 919.
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