Short
Description Grand Bahama Island provides its visitors with miles of white sand and aqua water on its beautiful beaches, great shopping and dining, exciting live entertainment and night life as well as all watersports one can imagine.
Destination
Highlights Many Beautiful Beaches;
Dolphin and Shark Encounter;
Diving and Snorkeling;
Boating and Sailing;
Watersports;
Golf;
Great Duty Free Shopping;
Las Vegas-style Casino;
Great Nightlife;
Local Straw Markets;
Duty Free Shopping;
Dolphin And Shark Encounters;
Numerous Day Trips and Cruises;
Eco-Tours And Bird Watching;
Horseback Riding;
Numerous Marinas;
Helitours
Local
Weather The Bahamas are sub-tropical, with average highs that range from the upper 70's F (26 C) in the winter to the upper 80's F (31 C) during the summer. Average lows range from the mid 60's F (18-19 C) to the mid 70's F (24 C). During the winter the islands get about 2 inches of rain a month, with the rainy season being May through October.
Other
Destinations
Description The fourth largest and second most populated island in the Bahamas, Grand Bahama Island is a 90-mile long island, located east-southeast of Palm Beach, Florida. Port Lucaya is the center of Grand Bahama. The cruise ships dock here, the activity boats depart from here, and the night life is concentrated here for the most part, in the Port Lucaya Marketplace. The Marketplace is perhaps the best shopping center on the island, with about 85 specialty stores and restaurants, not to mention a hopping Straw Market. The Straw Market is the place to haggle for local goods and cheap souvenirs. The town of Freeport, on the other hand, is home to the island's casinos as well as the International Bazaar. The Bazaar is a great choice for shopping. It has nearly 100 specialty shops and restaurants, many of them purveying duty-free goods such as liquor, perfume and fine jewelry. When shopping begins to become tiresome, several restaurants and sidewalk cafes are nearby. There are also numerous bars and clubs to choose from to dance the night away.
The number one attraction of Grand Bahama is the beach, with its miles of white sand and aqua water. The island offers numerous beaches for you to soak up the sun. Xanadu Beach is a very popular swimming and sport beach, with two water sport companies located onsite as well as its own restaurant and bar. Mather Town and Fortune Beach, a seven-mile strip of beach with a few restaurants, are located about a ten minutes driving distance from Port Lucaya. The West End and the East End of Grand Bahamas are both very secluded areas. Paradise Cove on the western tip offers some of the best snorkeling on the island, while the East End Safari Adventure Tour explores the underbrush and the open sea. The easternmost beach on the island, Gold Rock Beach, is also the island's most famous. With transparent aqua water that is shallow for a mile out and dusty-fine white sand, it's a breathtaking spot. The largest underground surveyed cave system in the world is located a bit north of Gold Rock Beach; the caves are popular with scuba divers the world over.
Local Information The local currency is the Bahamian dollar (B$1), which is equivalent in value to the US dollar. Both US and Bahamian dollars are accepted interchangeably throughout the islands.
The official language of The Bahamas is English, more British than American, and generally intertwined with a special Bahamian dialect.
Electricity is normally 120 volts AC. and is compatible with most US appliances, however UK appliances will need an adapter.
As far as driving, British rules apply, so please drive on the left and watch those roundabouts! Visitors may use their home licenses for up to three months and may also apply for an international driver's license. Pedestrians should remember to look right before crossing streets.
Eastern Standard Time is used within The Islands of The Bahama. April to October is Eastern Daylight Time, in conjunction with US summer hours.
Airport
Information To get to Grand Bahama Island you would fly into The Freeport International Airport (FPO), located 7 miles from Lucaya. Major carriers serving Freeport with multiple daily flights from various Florida cities include Continental, American Eagle and Bahamasair. In addition, several charter carriers, including Laker Airways, offer services from major U.S. and European cities. Each person leaving Bahamas must pay $15 departure tax. Children under 6 years old are exempted.
Entry
Requirements Effective December 31, 2006, the U.S. Department of State and Homeland Security requires all travelers to and from the Americas, the Caribbean, and Bermuda to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality. This information should be used only as a guideline and non-U.S. citizens should contact the airline they are traveling on, or their local consulate regarding the specific entry requirements that apply to their nationality.
