General Information
-
Time Differences
Europe: – 6 hours
North America: Eastern Standard Time, the same time zone as New York City is used on all islands.
-
Language
Official language: English.
Creol is spoken too in areas heavily populated by Haitian-Bahamians.
-
Currency
Bahamian dollar Exchange rates (please note that all currencies are subjected to market fluctuation):
1 US$ = 1 B$
Both U.S. and Bahamian dollars are accepted interchangeably throughout the island.
-
Credit Cards
The following credit cards are widely accepted at the major shopping center, restaurants, hotels etc…
American Express
Master Card
VISA
Please note: Due to technical problems, Guanahani Beach Club is unable to accept Credit Cards. Payments only by CASH ( USD).
-
Banking hours
Monday- Fridays: from 9,30 to 2,00 pm
In San Salvador ATM service is still not available.
Visitors – VISAs
To enter The Bahamas, citizens from countries other than the U.S. and Canada are required to present a 6 months validity passport at least. Some countries are also required to have a Bahamas visa (for further details, please, enter: www.mfabahamas.org).
You must also have a return, or onward journey ticket, and proof of funds to support your visit.
Permits (=VISA) are issued on arrival to visitors who hold the correct documentation.
Validity: Usually three months. Applications for extension should be made to the Director of Immigration.
There is no cost for the extension of the permit.
Driving
The drive is on the left-hand-side of the road. If you are not used to it, than we suggest a taxi!
-
Driving license
Foreign driver permits will allow drivers to navigate Bahamian streets for up to three months, after which time visitors will need to obtain an International Drivers License (IDL).
-
Transports
Scooter rental: K’s scooter rental.
Car Rental: price upon request.
Driver’s minimum age must be 25.
Health
Vaccinations: no particular vaccinations are required.
-
Water
The water is generally drinkable.
-
Electricity
Standard US: 110-120 volt AC 60 hz.
Plug type: British and/or American.
-
Climate
Tropical climate. It is quite constant all the year.
Day temperature: 27-31 C
Night temperature: 18-24 C
In the rainy season (July – October) short showers.
For updated forecasts:
www.weatheronline.com, www.windfinder.com
-
Tipping
The standard tip is 15% but…it’s up to you!
-
Dress code
Casual summer wear can be worn during the day, any time of the year, but be sure to bring a jacket or sweater for cooler evenings from December to February.
-
Business hours
Grocery stores :
From Mondays to Saturdays 7,30 am to 7,30 pm
Sunday: from 7,30 to 10,00 am
-
Cell phone in the Bahamas
You can purchase a “Cybercell” Bahamas Prepaid SIM Card from BTC (The Bahamas Telecommunications Company). The SIM card, together with a tri-band unlocked GSM cell phone, will allow you to have a local cell phone number for the Bahamas while paying local rates – no roaming charges and no service contract. Please, note that without purchasing the prepaid card is not possible to make phone calls from Bahamas to Europe. Nevertheless, comunication by messages works. How do I make overseas calls from the Bahamas? You will find that most pay telephones in The Bahamas have discontinued accepting quarters. To use these pay phones you require a prepaid phone card issued by BTC (The Bahamas Telecommunications Company). The cards are readily for sale at grocery stores and at BTC offices. They come in denominations starting at $5.00. If you use a pay phone you can access the following long distance carriers toll free (but you will need the card to initiate the call).
-
What taxes will I pay?
The guests of the hotels pay:
Government tax 10% + house-keeping service charge 6%
Departure tax is generally included in the ticket price.
Flights schedules season 2019-2020
-
From MIAMI (MIA) to SAN SALVADOR (ZSA):
BAHAMAS AIR
Saturday
MIA 12.00pm – ZSA 1.15pm
-
From PARIS (ORLY AIRPORT) to SAN SALVADOR:
AIR CARAIBES
Thursday (Starting from November 2018)
ORLY 10.00am – ZSA 1.40pm
-
From LONDON HEATROW (LHR) to NASSAU (NAS):
BRITISH AIRWAYS
Monday-Thursday-Friday-Sunday
LHR 09.55am – NAS 3.00pm
-
From NEW YORK (JFK) to NASSAU (NAS):
JET BLUE
Daily morning flight
-
From NASSAU (NAS) to SAN SALVADOR (ZSA):
BAHAMAS AIR
Daily morning flight
Please, note:
Departure – arrival times might be subjected to change; therefore, we invite you to check the Airlines website.
Bahamas
“The beauty of these islands surpasses that of any other and as much as the day surpasses the night in splendour.” — Christopher Columbus
The islands of the Bahamas sprinkle over 14.000 km2 of Atlantic Ocean just 50 miles off the coast of Florida.
This tropical archipelago is an ecological oasis consisting of two thousand cays (pronunced “key”) and 700 hundred breathtaking islands (of which 30 inhabited.) and boasts the clearest water on the planet with a visibility over 60 meters. Nassau ( population 300.000) the Capital city of the Bahamas , is located on New Providence island. It is the commercial and government center of the Bahamas.
New Providence and Gran Bahamas are the most known but the so called “ Out islands” are the real “ultimate escape”.
These secluded islands are home to some of the world’s most amazing pristine and unbelievably white beaches with sand so fine that feels soft and warm under your bare feet.
The beaches of The Bahamas are often coupled with shallow transparent water for hundreds of meters out to sea, rising gently to sandbars before finally dropping into the depths. About 80 percent of the beaches of The Bahamas, if not more, are virgin. There won’t be any motorboats or crowds, so you can enjoy the most subtle nuance of the surf’s music in peace.
Look to either side of you…the only colors in the world will be infinitely varied shades of blue, green and white.
San Salvador
San Salvador is a precious gem in the Bahamas archipelago.
Originally called Guanahani by the native Lucayan Indians, it is the first site where Christopher Columbus landed when he discovered the new world in 1492.
Located about 200 miles southeast of Nassau, almost a 1-hour flight from Florida, San Salvador is the most exposed island to the Atlantic Ocean, “kissed” by the Trade Winds which blow consistent and steady from November to May. Besides being a kitesurfing, windsurfing and sailing paradise, it is surrounded by 4000 meter deep waters with a visibility of about 50 meters, which makes it extremely attractive to divers, snorkelers and fishermen.
Thanks to the variety of the reef and underwater life, San Salvador is the object of studies from underwater biologists who regularly come to the island. Although being relatively small (25 km long, 8 km wide), it is home of long, marvelous, idyllic, secluded, unspoiled, powdery white beaches and the emerald-turquoise-blue sea is a magnet for your eyes.
Popular beaches include Bonefish Bay, Long Bay, at the Columbus Monument site; Grotto Beach, at Sandy Point; Snow Bay, where the sand is fine like snow, located near the entrance to Pigeon Creek; Dim Bay Beach, near the Chicago Herald Monument; East Beach, a three-mile beach near United Estates, a great site for snorkeling; and North Victoria Hill.
The luxuriant vegetation and numberless sparkling lakes cover the center of the island.
San Salvador is the perfect spot that satisfies anybody’s tastes from those who want to experience steady wind, exciting kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing and great diving to those who want to enjoy an amusing and relaxing holiday.
Wind air and water
Temperature
Wind
