Tours to the Bahamas departing from Moscow and other regions are not just an elite vacation, but a sign of luxury and good taste of travelers. The Bahamas have been successfully developing tourism in their island state only since 1973, but in this short period they were able to build the most elite hotels, luxurious restaurants, and prepare kilometers of white sand beaches for travelers. The authorities of the country have done everything to make the rest in the Bahamas become for travelers from all over the world the personification of paradise on Earth.
Currency: Bahamian dollar
Language: English
Capital: Nassau (New Providence Island).
Money:
The Bahamian dollar (B$, BSD), which is equal to 100 cents, is firmly pegged to the US dollar. In circulation there are banknotes of 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 3 and 1 dollars (in total there are more than 40 different denominations of all denominations in circulation), as well as coins of 1 and 2 dollars, 50, 20, 15, 10 and 5 cents.
American coins and banknotes also circulate freely.
All types of credit cards are accepted for payment. ATMs are located in major tourist centers everywhere, on the outlying islands there are much fewer of them.
Currency exchange:
Currency can be exchanged at bank offices, hotels and large stores. Although the Bahamian dollar is firmly pegged to the US dollar, the exchange rate can vary greatly between institutions. The most stable exchange rate is in the offices of international banks in Nassau and Freeport, in tourist areas the exchange rate is often less favorable, although there you can freely pay in US dollars.
Estimated exchange rate
Barbadian Dollar (BBD) / United States Dollar (USD)
1 USD = 1 BBD
Barbadian Dollar (BBD) / Euro (EUR)
1 EUR = 1.38 BSD
10 BSD = 7.23 EUR
Time:
Behind Moscow by 8 hours.
Official holidays and days off:
January 1 – New Year.
March-April – Easter.
First Friday of June – Labor Day
July 10 – Independence Day.
The first Monday of August is Liberation Day.
October 12 – American Discovery Day.
December 25 – Christmas.
December 26 – Boxing Day.
Communication and communications:
International country code – +1-242. Cities do not have their own telephone codes.
Cellular communication of the GSM 900 standard covers all the islands and is well developed. The Batelco operator provides full coverage of the country’s territory. Roaming with Russia is available to subscribers of the largest Russian operators.
Entry:
Russian citizens do not need a visa to visit the Bahamas for a period not exceeding 90 days. When crossing the border, you must present the following documents: a passport valid for 6 months from the date of entry, return tickets or tickets to a third country (for cruise ship passengers – ship tickets), confirmation of sufficient funds for the trip.
When departing from the Bahamas, a fee of $ 18 is charged at the airport, children under the age of 6 are exempt from paying the fee.
Flight: from 13 hours + time for connection (depending on the schedule of the airline)
Customs rules:
There are no exchange controls and restrictions on the import and export of foreign currency. The export of local currency in excess of BSD70 per person must be authorized by the Central Bank of the Bahamas. Persons over the age of 18 are allowed duty-free import of up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 450 gr. tobacco, up to 0.94 liters of strong alcoholic beverages and up to 0.94 liters of wine, as well as any other goods and products worth $100. The transit of narcotic and explosive substances, objects of historical and cultural value and weapons without appropriate permits is prohibited. The export of agricultural products, plants of all kinds and wood carvings requires permission from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the country.
Tipping:
Tipping is usually 15% on most services, including taxis. Some hotels and restaurants, however, include service charges on the bill. Messengers, guides, porters and porters usually expect up to $1 per piece of luggage or excursion, maids, depending on the hotel, $1-2 dollars per day. Many hotel bills are subject to government taxes ranging from 10% (Nassau and Grand Bahama) to 8% (Family Islands).
Safety:
The tourist areas around Nassau, Cable Beach, Paradise Island and Freeport are fairly safe. However, petty crimes are not uncommon, such as theft in hotel rooms and pickpocketing. Tourists walking around Nassau after dark should take the usual precautions and avoid visiting suburbs like Over the Hill or Fox. The streets of Nassau and Freeport empty quite early in the evening, so visitors to the country, especially women, are advised to avoid walking alone after dark.
Medical:
It is recommended to have international health insurance with you.
Vaccinations are not required to enter the country, they will only be required if you arrive in the country from a focus of infectious diseases.
Bottled water is recommended.
The level of medical services and the quality of services on the islands are quite high and are based on US standards. More than 20 modern hospitals and clinics, located in such a small area as the island, provide almost every possible type of healthcare.
Electricity:
Mains voltage 110 V., 60 Hz. The plugs are usually American style.
