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CUSTOMS
Visitors may bring in certain items free of customs and stamp duty. They include apparel, toiletries and similar personal effects; one qt of alcoholic beverage; one qt of wine; one lb in weight of tobacco or 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars (adults only); and any other articles up to the value of $100.
For more information call Customs House at 242/326-4401.
Also see the section in General Info: Illegal items.
IMPORTING ANIMALS
To temporarily import a pet dog, cat or bird you must obtain permission from the Ministry of Agriculture in advance of your arrival. Upon arrival the animal must be at least six months old and you must provide a certificate of vaccination, dated within the past 24 hours, from a veterinarian in the country of export.
For detailed information contact The Bahamas Department of Agriculture at 242/325-7502.
GETTING THERE
BY AIR
Numerous regional airlines and charter companies offer direct access to many Out Islands from Florida in the US. Otherwise, most international flights arrive at Lynden Pindling International Airport, formerly the Nassau International Airport (airport code NAS; tel 377-7281), which is eight miles west of the capital of Nassau on New Providence Island. From Nassau a number of smaller airlines operate to various Out Islands (see the section on Getting around: By air below). Flying time to Nassau from Miami is about 40 minutes and from Toronto about three hours.
Islands with airports include Acklins Island (Delectable Bay), Andros (tel 369-2640, Congo Town; 368-2030, Fresh Creek; 329-2140, San Andros), Bimini (tel 347-3100), Berry Islands (tel 325-5788, Chub Cay; Great Harbour Cay), Cat Island (tel 342-2016, New Bight; 354-6001, Bennet's Harbour), Crooked Island (Colonel Hill), Eleuthera (tel 332-2250, Governor's Harbour; 334-2183, Rock Sound; 333-4760, Spanish Wells), Great Exuma (Moss Town), Great Inagua (Matthew Town), Long Island (Deadman's Cay and Stella Maris), Mayaguana (Abraham's Bay), Ragged Island (Duncan Town) and San Salvador (Cockburn Town).
Airlines that service the Out Islands from Florida include American Eagle (tel 800/433-7300), Bahamasair (tel 800/222-4262), Bimini Island Air charters (tel 954/938-8991), Continental Connection (tel 800/231-0856), Florida Coastal Airlines (tel 888/I-FLY-FCA), Gulfstream Air Charters (tel 954/359-8043 ext 3278), Gulfstream International Airlines (tel 800/523-3273), Lynx Air (tel 888/596-9247 or 954/772-9808), Professional Air Charter (tel 877/938-9508), Sky Limo Air Charter (tel 866/759-5466), Stella Maris Resort Air Service (tel 800/426-0466), Twin Air (tel 954/359-8266) and Watermakers Air (info@watermakersair.com).
For carriers that fly between the various Out Island see the section on Getting around: By air below.
Airlines that service Nassau include Abaco Air (tel 367-2205), Air Canada (tel 800/776-3000 or 377-8220), American Airlines/American Eagle (tel 800/433-7300), Bahamasair (tel 377-5505 or 377-8451), British Airways (tel 377-2338), Chalk's Ocean Airways (tel 363-3114), Continental Airlines/Continental Connection (tel 800/231-0856 or 394-6019), Delta Airlines (tel 377-7774), Jet Blue (tel 377-1174), LynxAir (tel 954/772-9808 or 888/596-9247), Spirit Airlines (tel 800/772-7117), US Airways (tel 800/622-1015) and Virgin Atlantic (tel 800/744-7477 or 377-1220). Note: The phone numbers listed above are local access numbers in Nassau unless otherwise stated.
BY CRUISE
Cruise lines that call on The Bahamas include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Dolphin Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America, Majesty Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Premier Cruises, Premier Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Radisson Seven Seas Cruise Line, Regal Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourne and Silversea Cruises.
BY PRIVATE YACHT
Visitors arriving by private boat must clear Customs and Immigration at the nearest designated port of entry. You should contact the Harbour Control/Marina Office on VHF channel 16 prior to your arrival. Fly the yellow quarantine flag and Customs and Immigration will come to your vessel. Only the captain can leave the boat until you've been cleared. Everyone on board must fill out an immigration card and provide proof of citizenship.
The entry fee for vessels up to 35 ft is $150 and for those more than 35 ft it's $300. The fee covers four people and is valid for two entries during a 90-day period. For each additional person an additional $15 must be paid.
GETTING AROUND
If you're walking where there is no sidewalk, face oncoming traffic.
BY CAR
Most rental cars have the steering wheel on the left, which is the North American standard, although driving is on the left, which is the British standard. To rent a car you can use your valid driver's license from home or an international driver's license.
Driving is on the left. Seat belt use is mandatory.
CAR RENTALS (country code 242)
Acklins Island: Airport Inn Carrental (Spring Point Airport), 344-3600
Andros: R&M Car Rental (Lowe Sound), 329-7562; Rahming's Enterprises (Johnson Bay), 369-1608
Berry Islands: Happy People's Rentals (Great Harbour Cay), 367-8117
Crooked Island: C&S Car Rental (Landrail Point), 344-2526; Daxon's Car Rental (Cripple Hill), 344-2197; Sonsette Villas & Car Rental (Major's Cay), 344-2041
Eleuthera: Island Rentals & Import Services (Upper Bogue), 335-1661; Reliable Courteous Taxi Service (Governor's Harbour), 332-2216
Exumas: Airport Car Rental, 345-0090; Don's Rent a Car (airport), 345-0112; Exuma Jeep Rentals (Farmers Hill), 358-4084; Ike's Rent-a-Car (Mount Thompson), 358-7052; Thompson's Rental (George Town), 336-2442; Up-Town Rent-a-Car (George Town), 336-2822
Inagua: Ingraham's Rent-A-Car (Matthew Town), 339-1677
Long Island: Coral Garden Inn and Alfred's Carrental (Stella Maris), 338-5009; Ophelia's Rent-A-Car (Deadman's Cay), 337-1042; William's Car Rental (Glinton's), 338-5002
San Salvador: D&W Rent A Car (Cockburn Town), 331-2184
BY TAXI
Look for the Bahamahost decal in the vehicle's window for knowledgeable and courteous drivers who have completed the Ministry of Tourism's Bahamahost program.
All taxis are required to have working meters. Taxi fares are set by the government, although they may vary by island. For example, on New Providence, the first 1/4 mile costs $3 and each additional 1/4 mile, 40¢. For each additional passenger over two it costs an additional $3. There is no charge for accompanied children under five years. Having a taxi wait (except when hired by the hour) costs 30¢ per minute. There is no charge for up to two pieces of hand baggage, plus small bags and packages carried by each passenger. For each additional piece of regular-sized luggage there is a charge of 75¢; for large duffel bags and boxes, $1. Tour cars may be hired for sightseeing at $45 per hr, (five or fewer persons). For each additional 1/2 hr or part thereof, $22.50; large cars, $60 per hr (up to twelve persons), $30 for each additional 1/2 hr.
TAXI SERVICE
Cat Island: C&O Taxi Service (New Bight), 342-3134; Ellemae Or Hensel Rolle Taxi Service (Tea Bay), 342-8041, 464-6197 or 359-2768; Well's Taxi Service (Smith's Bay), 342-2005
Crooked Island: Island Pride Transportation (Cripple Hill), 344-2051 or 344-2415
Exuma: Exuma Taxi Association (airport), 345-0232
San Salvador: Livingston William Taxi (Long Bay), 331-2025
BY FERRY
Most islands have a local ferry service that operates between their main harbour and neighbouring cays.
Bahamas Ferries (tel 242/323-2166 or 394-9700, Nassau) offers regularly scheduled service from Nassau to Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera and Exuma. The ferries leave from the main terminal at the western end of Potter's Cay (turn left under the bridge for Paradise Island) in Nassau.
Between Nassau and Eleuthera (Governor's Harbour, Harbour Island and Spanish Wells) the fare for adults is $65 one way and $110 return, and for children 2-12 years, $45 one way and $70 return.
Between Nassau and Abaco (Sandy Point) or Exuma (George Town) the fare for adults is $55 one way and $95 return, and for children 2-12 years, $35 one way and $60 return. Vehicles, motor bikes and bicycles cost extra.
Between Nassau and Andros (Current, Fresh Creek, Governor's Harbour and Morgan's Bluff) the fare for adults is $40 one way and $75 return, and for children 2-12 years, $25 one way and $40 return. Vehicles, motor bikes and bicycles cost extra.
Schedules and rates are subject to change.
BY AIR
Numerous airlines provide air service to and/or between the Islands of The Bahamas.
Islands with airports include Acklins Island (Delectable Bay), Andros (tel 369-2640, Congo Town; 368-2030, Fresh Creek; 329-2140, San Andros), Bimini (tel 347-3100), Berry Islands (tel 325-5788, Chub Cay; Great Harbour Cay), Cat Island (tel 342-2016, New Bight; 354-6001, Bennet's Harbour), Crooked Island (Colonel Hill), Eleuthera (tel 332-2250, Governor's Harbour; 334-2183, Rock Sound; 333-4760, Spanish Wells), Great Exuma (Moss Town), Great Inagua (Matthew Town), Long Island (Deadman's Cay and Stella Maris), Mayaguana (Abraham's Bay), Ragged Island (Duncan Town) and San Salvador (Cockburn Town).
Airlines that service the Out Islands from various Out Islands include Bahamasair (tel 242/300-8359, toll free from the Out Islands), Stella Maris Resort Air Service (tel 242/338-2050, Long Island), Twin Air (tel Abaco - 242/365-8660, Treasure Cay and 242/362-0140, Marsh Harbour; Eleuthera - 242/333-4041, Spanish Wells; 242/333-2444, Harbour Island; 242/332-3340, Governor's Harbour; and 242/334-2795, Rock Sound) and Western Air (tel 242/329-4000, Andros).
Airlines that service the Out Islands from Nassau include Airstream (tel 242/356-6666), Bahamasair (tel 242/377-5505), Caribbean Aviation (tel 242/328-6539 or 377-3317), Diving Safaris Ltd (tel 242/393-1179), Four Way Charter (tel 242/377-5751), Island Helicopters (tel 242/363-4016), Leair Charter (tel 242/377-2356), Sky Unlimited (tel 242/377-3276 or 377-8993), Southern Air Charter (tel 242/377-2014 or 377-8993), Take Flight Air Charters (tel 242/362-1877 or 362-2561) and The Travel Club (tel 242/362-1606).
| Disclaimer: Information is provided as a service to visitors and is updated regularly. All
information should be verified prior to travel. |
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