Is The Bahamas Expensive? What to Know Before You Go

by Chris Heckmann
A view of Cabbage Beach in the Bahamas on a sunny day

Are you planning a visit to The Bahamas and wondering how expensive your trip to the stunning island nation is gonna be? This post answers that question as well as many others related to the cost of traveling in The Bahamas.

Whether or not The Bahamas is an expensive place to visit does not have an easy answer. It depends on the type of traveler you are, what you’re looking for, and what you want to do once you arrive. We will get into all of that here, and by the end of this article you will have a clear understanding of how expensive it is to visit The Bahamas.

If you’re familiar with The Bahamas  you know that the islands are known for their beautiful beaches with turquoise water and their outlandish resorts. The Bahamas have some of the nicest beaches in the Caribbean and most visitors leave completely satisfied with their decision to travel to the island nation, regardless of how much money they spent. So let’s get into it now, shall we?

Note: this article contains affiliate links, which means that should you purchase something or get a quote through them I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the site running with up to date information. I do not represent World Nomads, Booking.com, GetYourGuide, or Rentalcars.com. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy the product mentioned in this article.

Prices in The Bahamas

So just how expensive is The Bahamas? Let’s go over that now. The Bahamas has its own currency that is pegged to the US dollar at 1:1 and widely accepts the US Dollar, so all prices in this article are given in USD. 

Keep in mind that the purpose of this article is to discuss the costs associated with visiting The Bahamas, not living in The Bahamas. So we are not going to discuss real estate prices or electricity bills here. 

Flights 

The very first purchase for your trip to The Bahamas is the flight. Flight costs vary greatly depending on where you’re coming from. But if you’re coming from the east coast of the United States, it’s pretty affordable, and cheaper than flying across the country. 

We paid $258 for a direct flight from Washington DC to Nassau on United. That was for basic economy, which I didn’t mind since I’m United Gold and get a checked bag and an upgrade anyways. The Bahamas is the kind of place where you can live with just a carry on anyways. No pants or jackets needed!

The flight is usually more in peak winter season, but you shouldn’t have to pay more than $500 to get to The Bahamas if you’re on the east coast. 

If you’re coming from the west coast or elsewhere in North America expect to pay a bit more, though there are still numerous direct flights. And, of course, if you’re coming from outside of North America you’re flying overseas so expect to pay considerably more. 

An island in the Bahamas as seen from a plane
Flying over The Bahamas
A distant view of Baha Mar in the Bahamas
Baha Mar is one of the nicest resorts in The Bahamas

Hotels and resorts 

Hotel rates are wide ranging in The Bahamas. You can find everything from budget hotels to ultra luxury. Going for a budget hotel can make your trip to The Bahamas more affordable. While going with a top end hotel can set you back thousands of dollars. 

It might sound surprising but there aren’t actually that many hotels and resorts in The Bahamas. A big chunk of the market share is taken up by just two properties: Atlantis and Baha Mar in Nassau. Each has multiple hotels and thousands of rooms. So when it comes to hotels, if you’re not staying there, your options are relatively limited.  

Budget hotels

The Bahamas does have a few budget options. These are primarily in and around the cities like Nassau and Freeport and they are usually pretty outdated. I can’t say I’ve personally stayed in any of them, and judging by the reviews on booking.com I’m okay with that. Budget in this sense means anything under $100 USD. You’re not going to find anything in the $25-50 range in The Bahamas. This isn’t Southeast Asia!

Budget option: 

There are more budget options but I can’t in good faith actually recommend them to you, my reader. 

Mid-range hotels 

The Bahamas has its fair share of mid-range hotel options as well. Let’s call this anything with a nightly rate of $100-200 USD. Again, these are mostly in and around Nassau and Freeport, but mid-range options can be found in Exuma and the more exclusive islands too. These places are not exactly amazing either, but you can find a few smaller resorts near the good beaches in this category. 

Mid-range options: 

Luxury hotels 

The vast majority of hotel rooms in The Bahamas fall into the luxury category and that’s mainly thanks to Atlantis and Baha Mar having so many damn rooms. Atlantis alone has 3,805 hotel rooms. Baha Mar adds on another 2,200 for a total of over 6,000 individual rooms between the two massive properties. 

To be fair, however, most of Atlantis is not really a luxury hotel. The rooms are nice, but hardly worth the $400 per night they usually go for alone. The Cove at Atlantis is the most luxurious of the hotels at the property. The amenities and amazing property is what you’re paying for when you stay at Atlantis. 

Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island
Atlantis is the largest resort in The Bahamas and one of the largest in the world

Baha Mar features a Grand Hyatt, an SLS Hotel and a Rosewood. Of those the Rosewood is the most luxurious, with most rooms going for about $1000 per night and some up to a whopping $13,000. 

If that doesn’t sound snazzy enough for you, the Four Seasons Ocean Club in Paradise Island usually goes for around $1600 per night. You can be sure that one is pretty damn luxurious!

Away from Nassau, on the other islands you can find a few luxurious options, especially in Exuma and Harbour Island. Quality varies greatly on the other islands, however, so be sure to thoroughly read reviews before booking anything. 

Luxury options: 

So as you’ve seen now, there is a wide range of pricing and a wide range of quality in the hotels. Rates also vary depending on the season, so be sure to check booking.com for the latest prices and listings.

All-inclusive resorts

There are a few all-inclusive resorts in The Bahamas. It’s not exactly as known for all-inclusive options as say Cancun or Punta Cana, but if pounding cocktails and not having to worry about the bill is your thing, then you’ll find something you like in The Bahamas. Many of the all-inclusive resorts are adults only, so if you’re bringing the kids make sure to check the hotel’s policy on children first.  

The Sandals boat in Nassau Bahamas
Sandals features its own private island they will take you to on their boat

The all-inclusive places start at around $400/night for the more basic places, such as Breezes Resort & Spa to over $1000/night for a place like Sandals Royal Bahamian (FYI Sandals’ are couples only). Sandals has a couple resorts in The Bahamas and the one in Nassau has its own private island, which is pretty neat and looks beautiful. We didn’t stay there but went to the public beach right next to Sandals and the island looked pretty tempting!

Airbnb

There are no fewer than 8 billion Airbnb options in The Bahamas. Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but the fact remains that there are tons of options on Airbnb. It’s like everyone in Nassau rents out a spare room or apartment on Airbnb. If none of the hotels strike your fancy you are bound to find an Airbnb to your liking. 

We typically avoid Airbnb these days, given the hefty cleaning fees and all the other hidden fees, but in The Bahamas Airbnb is an affordable option and offers a much more local experience than staying at a resort. You can find anything from a basic no-frills room to rent in someone’s house to luxury villas on Airbnb and everything in between. And with so many options, there is always something available, even during the busiest times of the year.

After a ton of research we decided to stay at Seagrape Studio with locals Kate and Ky. We had a nice little studio a few minutes walk from the beach and our hosts provided us with a lot of valuable information that helped us have an amazing time in The Bahamas. 

There are plenty of Airbnb options under $100/night as well and you can easily find places for under $80/night. The competition among Airbnb hosts keeps the prices in check and means that you can visit The Bahamas and have an affordable stay even if you’re on a strict budget. 

Groceries

Groceries in The Bahamas are on par with US grocery prices, meaning that if you’re from the US you will find them affordable and if you’re not, you’ll probably think they are expensive. Some things are pretty expensive, like non-native fruits and vegetables. But things like packaged foods and local seafood can be pretty damn affordable. 

An example would be like watermelons being sold for $16 each, but a standard jar of barbecue sauce was only $2. You can find most of the products you’d find in an American supermarket, which is to say just about anything. If you’re planning on cooking on your trip, buying groceries locally is not going to break your bank. 

Is The Bahamas expensive? Watermelon prices would make you think so
Watermelon at the supermarket in Nassau
barbecuase sauce prices in the Bahamas
Barbecue sauce and ketchup prices aren’t bad

Alcohol

Alcohol prices in The Bahamas are a bit pricey in liquor stores when compared to the US or Canada, and the options are more limited. You have to go to a special liquor store to buy beer, wine, and hard liquor, as supermarkets cannot sell alcohol. Most of the liquor stores also close at 6:00 PM and only a couple are open on Sundays, so be sure to be aware of that if you’re trying to get some local booze.  

Beer options in The Bahamas are pretty limited. You’ll see various versions of Kalik and Sands, which are the Two Bahamas beers, as well as Heineken, Corona, Guinness, and some terrible American exports like Coors Lite. 

A 6-pack of any of these beers goes for around $15, and, oddly enough, they don’t actually sell six packs. The beers are priced individually and you just buy six of them. There are a few other beer options depending on which store you go to, but don’t expect any craft beer at the liquor store. There are two craft breweries in Nassau – Rip Tyd and Pirate Republic – but they are not sold in stores. 

Wine options are also limited, but there is a wide price range. You can find cheap mass produced wine for under $10 per bottle, all the way up to fine reserve wine. As much as I love wine, I don’t drink it when I’m in the tropics, so I can’t say I tried any of the wines they had available at the liquor stores. 

Hard liquor is probably the most affordable and comparable to the US and other major countries. The Caribbean is known for rum, and The Bahamas is no exception. You can find numerous rum options at liquor stores and they are pretty affordable. Imported liquors are more expensive but not outrageous. 

In summary, going to the liquor store in The Bahamas will probably be a bit more expensive than you’re used to, but it won’t break the bank. Drinking out at a restaurant can be pricey, though. We will get into that next.    

Kalik beer on the beach in the Bahamas
Kalik is the “beer of The Bahamas”
A beer flight at the Rip Tyd brewery in the Bahamas
There are microbreweries in The Bahamas, but you won’t find their beer in stores

Restaurants

Unless you’re looking to try the local version of American fast food chains, eating out in The Bahamas will be expensive. In general, restaurant menu prices are on par with major American cities, i.e. pretty damn expensive. So if you’re from the US or Canada or another expensive country, you’ll probably have no issues with the cost of eating out in The Bahamas. 

But if you’re from a low cost country you’ll really feel it when the bill comes. If you’re from mainland Europe you’ll probably find it expensive, but not too much more than popular tourist destinations like Paris and London. 

The restaurant industry in The Bahamas is heavily influenced by American culture. This means that tax is not included in the menu price and tipping is customary. Food tax is 10% in The Bahamas and just about every restaurant adds a mandatory 15% service charge. 

Unfortunately, very little of that service charge usually goes to the servers, so many people choose to leave additional tip. So essentially, add at least 25% and up to say 40% to the published menu price and that’s what you’re paying. 

Main meals at decent restaurants are usually $20-40 but vary depending on the cuisine, location, and other variables. Sandwiches and burgers are usually in the $15-20 range and appetizers and salads are usually $10-20. All these prices do not include tax and service charge. 

Menu at an up-scale restaurant
Menu at a casual restaurant

Drinks are not cheap either, but far cheaper than going out in New York City or really any major North American city these days. A standard Kalik beer goes for $5-7 and cocktails like a Bahama mama start around $10. Again, prices vary on the establishment, but this is a good baseline. 

Now, if you’re going to restaurants at Baha Mar or Atlantis you can expect to pay considerably more than what I just discussed. The restaurants at the resorts are severely overpriced. There are tons of local restaurants away from the glitzy resorts though, and I highly recommend hitting one of the smaller, independent restaurants.

Lastly, if you want to eat like a local, there are two fish fries in Nassau. These are basically areas of seafood shack restaurants on the water that serve mostly fried, steamed or grilled seafood. They are located here and here. They’ve become quite touristy but the locals still eat there and you’re likely to see more locals than tourists. The prices are only slightly cheaper than what I mentioned above. 

Rental Cars

Rental car prices in The Bahamas are affordable if you go with a local rental company. Going with one of the international companies like Avis or Budget will cost more, though they are more convenient since they have the cars directly at the airport. 

There are a number of locally owned car rental companies and their rates start at $40/day for a bare bones hatchback. The car will probably be 10 years old. But hey, it’s not like you’ll be driving great distances in The Bahamas. They’ll get you from point A to point B. 

We rented a car with Virgo Rental Car for $40/day plus $4/day of taxes. For the ability to go anywhere we wanted in Nassau we thought it was more than worth it. If you do want to rent a nicer car, there are plenty of options, but you’re looking at more like the $80-100 daily range. 

Either way, rental cars are pretty affordable in The Bahamas if you go local. Expect to pay 1.5-2x as much with a big international company. 

Gas (petrol)

Gas/petrol is on the expensive side in The Bahamas. It’s on average a bit more than you’d pay in California, which has the most expensive gas in the United States. Since gas prices are constantly changing, you can refer to this website for current gas prices in The Bahamas.

You can’t really drive far in The Bahamas, so gas really should be a negligible cost on your trip if you’re renting a car. 

Tours and experiences 

Tourist activities and experiences can be pretty pricey in The Bahamas. These include things like snorkeling, sunset cruises, and watersport adventures. But by far the most popular tour in The Bahamas is swimming with the pigs. This is a truly unique Bahamian thing to do on your visit, and you will be charged over the top for it. 

You’ll be hard pressed to find a “swimming with the pigs” experience for less than $140, and if you do, it’s likely only about 2 hours. Most of them range from about $140-250 for between 3 and 6 hours, though they do usually include snorkeling and lunch. 

It should be noted that the pigs at Rose Island near Nassau – where the majority of people go for swimming with pigs – are not wild. They are put there for tourists. The only island that has true wild pigs is Big Major Cay in the Exumas, which is southeast of Nassau. 

calm water in Nasssau, the Bahamas
Calm water in The Bahamas

It’s possible to visit Big Major Cay – and many people do – but it’s costlier and takes a while to get to unless you’re staying nearby. All the tours linked below go to Rose Island.  

Other activities like sunset cruises or speed boat rides also start at around $100. The Bahamas gets a ton of visitors on cruises – up to 5 ships a day at Port Nassau – so these 4-5 hour excursions are super popular. You’ll never not be able to find one available. 

Some examples of tour prices: 

Longer tours and private tours are obviously more expensive. But this should give you a good idea of what to expect when you’re booking tours and excursions in The Bahamas. 

Shopping

There is not a huge shopping culture in The Bahamas. You won’t find Louis Vitton and Zara or fancy shopping streets, though there are a few high end shops in Nassau. Mainly there are just souvenir stores and local goods stores and markets, but that’s about it. 

Casinos

What you will find in The Bahamas is casinos. Baha Mar and Atlantis have huge Vegas-like casinos. And there are smaller local casinos all over Nassau and the other populated areas. So if you’re looking to spend some money gambling, you’re in luck.  

Beaches

One nice thing about The Bahamas is that there are plenty of public beaches to choose from if you’re not staying at one of the resorts and they are free to visit and park. If you want to rent a beach chair and umbrella that will cost you (typically $30 for an umbrella and $20-30 per chair), but if you have some beach towels and you don’t mind getting some sun, you’re golden (pun intended). 

Why is The Bahamas Expensive? 

As we have seen by now, a trip to The Bahamas can be very expensive. Prices are similar to the United States, one of the most expensive countries in the world. You can blow through money really quick staying at one of the fancy resorts. 

A trip to The Bahamas can also be affordable if you stay in an Airbnb and avoid eating out too much, but you’re on vacation… do you really just want to sit around cooking in your apartment? 

So why is this island nation in the Caribbean expensive to visit if you actually want to get out and do things? Let’s go over that now.  

The US Dollar

The US Dollar is one of the strongest currencies in the world, and by pegging their currency to the US dollar at a 1:1 ration, The Bahamas in effect made their currency one of the world’s strongest too. So for Americans, who make up the bulk of the visitors, you don’t get any benefits from the exchange rate when visiting. The Bahamas also receive a lot of visitors from Canada, who will find it especially expensive given the exchange rate to the Canadian Dollar.

Many tropical destinations around the world are found in developing countries or countries that are just cheap in general. Some examples would be Thailand, Mexico, or Tanzania. And while The Bahamas isn’t exactly a global powerhouse, its relationship to the US dollar keeps the economy stable and prices high. 

Imports

The Bahamas is home to only about 412,000 people, so needless to say most goods are imported. There is a small manufacturing sector, mainly in agriculture, that makes up about 5-7% of national GDP. But this is peanuts compared to the tourism industry, which makes up about 70% of the GDP and employs half the country. 

A major source of revenue for the government is import tariffs and value added tax (VAT). There is no income tax or capital gains tax in The Bahamas, so the government pretty much gets all its money from these taxes and tariffs, which can be as high as 80% on some things. That drives us the cost of goods and food/drink. 

Americans

Americans love The Bahamas. I mean, you can almost see Grand Bahama from Florida. It’s less than a three hour flight for over 100,000 million of them. And while most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, thanks to our rampant income inequality the ones who do have money have a lot of it. Given how little Americans on average travel compared to other nationalities, when they do travel, they go big. 

This tendency to spend a lot of money on vacation is like inflation. Give people more money and they will spend more. Americans with money go to The Bahamas and spend that money, and when combined with the other factors listed here, it drives up costs. While Americans also go to Mexico and spend a lot of money, the Mexican economy is far more complex than the Bahamian economy and that keeps prices more in check. 

So in essence, Americans with money to spend come to The Bahamas and spend it. There are plenty of other nationalities that visit The Bahamas, especially as part of cruises, but the majority of visitors are from the States.  

5 cruise ships parked in the cruise port in Nassau
Every day numerous cruises full of mostly Americans dock in Nassau

How to Visit The Bahamas on a Budget

So now that we’ve gone over the cost of everything related to tourism in The Bahamas, let’s get down to how to visit this beautiful country on a budget. It is possible, but you’re going to have to accept that you’re not going to be staying right on the beach and gonna have to cook a few meals at home. 

If budget is your number 1 concern, then you’ll want to go on Airbnb and search for rooms to rent in someone’s house or apartment. You should be able to find a few for as cheap as $60/night. Aside from that, here are some other money saving techniques for your visit:

  • Visit during hurricane season – room rates are even cheaper in the summer, which is off season for The Bahamas and carries the risk of deadly hurricanes. 
  • Cook your own meals – groceries are not horribly expensive and most Airbnbs will either come with a kitchen or access to a kitchen. 
  • Eat at low key restaurants or fast food when eating out. 
  • Avoid excursions and organized tours – visit the many free beaches instead. 
  • Rent a car from a local car rental agency instead of the big international names. 
  • Take the local bus instead of taxis if you don’t have your own car. Local buses are called “jitneys” and do not have a set schedule. Routes can be found in the link above. The cost is $1.50 per ride and exact change is required. 

There are, of course, many other things you can do to reduce the amount of money you spend on your trip to The Bahamas. These are just a few of the best examples. 

What to do in The Bahamas

There must be some amazing things to do in The Bahamas if so many people spend so much money visiting, right? There sure is! The main lure of The Bahamas is the endless miles of beautiful white sand beaches. With over 700 islands, there is no shortage of amazing beaches. 

This article is not intended to explain everything there is to do in The Bahamas, but I’ll give you a little rundown of why it’s worth your money. And for this part we will just focus on Nassau, where the vast majority of visitors spend their time. 

Beaches

Most beaches in The Bahamas are flat out gorgeous. The water is turquoise and clear, everything you could ever imagine. Going to the beach is the single most common and popular thing to do in The Bahamas (okay so I don’t have the data to back that up, but it must be true!). 

There are tons of amazing beaches, but if you’re going to choose just one, then Cabbage Beach on Paradise Island is the one you want to hit. It’s at the other end of the beach at Atlantis but seems a world away. It’s a primitive beach, so there are no bathrooms or water taps to rinse your feet. There is a little restaurant and convenience store just inland from the beach with a bathroom, though. Plus you can park on the street. The beach itself is just stunning!

Swimming with the pigs

The most popular excursion in The Bahamas is a trip to Rose Island to swim with the pigs. This is a super Bahamas thing to do and something unique that nowhere else in the world offers. As mentioned before, the pigs at Rose Island (near Nassau) are not wild but are placed there for tourists. 

There is an island with wild pigs – which is where the idea came from – but it’s down the Exumas and much harder to get to. If you’re staying in Exuma, however, it’s not difficult to take a boat tour there too. There are options to visit the wild pigs if you’re in Nassau, just expect a long day. 

a close up of a pig in the Bahamas
Swimming with the pigs is the most popular activity in The Bahamas

Swimming with the pigs literally means just that. The pigs are friendly and they chill on the beach and swim in the water. You can pet them and stuff. There’s nothing particularly complicated about it, you just have to take an organized tour to the island. Some options are below. 

Adventure activities

There are tons of other activities you can do in The Bahamas as well. These include jet skis, windsurfing, speed boat rides, and ATV rides, among others. With the amount of cruise visitors that dock at Nassau every day, these types of excursions are very popular.  

You can view and book some of these types of activities on GetYourGuide:

Sightseeing and history 

The Bahamas also has some cool stuff to do away from the shores. In Nassau, the most famous sites are the Queen’s Staircase and Fort Fincastle, which are right next to each other. 

The Queen’s staircase is a long stone staircase that was carved into the solid limestone rock of the earth’s surface in 1793 by enslaved people to provide an easy escape route from the fort above. The staircase and the fort can get pretty crowded, so if you can get there early before the cruises dock that is your best bet. 

There are also a few things to see south of Nassau near the southern coast, including Primeval Forest National Park, Jaws Beach (where scenes in the famous movie Jaws were filmed), and Clifton Heritage National Park 

The Bahamas – Important Information 

Where is The Bahamas 

The Bahamas is a chain of Caribbean islands north of Cuba and southeast of Florida. It’s the closest country to the United States that does not border it.  

How to get to there

About 70% of visitors to The Bahamas arrive on cruise ships. Nassau is one of the most busy cruise ports in the entire world and can see up to 5 ships per day. The other 30% fly in, mostly to Nassau from the east coast of the United States and Canada. 

Many US destinations – such as Miami, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington DC, and Los Angeles – offer direct flights to Nassau. The only intercontinental flight is from London. There are quite a few inter-Caribbean flights, to Turks and Caicos, Jamaica, and Grand Cayman. So basically, if you’re not coming from one of these major cities, you’ll be laying over in them. 

How to get around The Bahamas

For the sake of this section I’m going to assume you’re going to Nassau. If you’re not, I’d definitely consider renting a car if you’re not going to be confined to a resort.

Depending on where you stay in Nassau, you may or may not want to rent a car. If you’re doing the whole resort thing, then you don’t really need a car. There are some places on New Providence island where you can stay and not need a car either, like Cable Beach, downtown Nassau, or Paradise Island. There are enough walkable restaurants and stores (and beaches) that you don’t need a vehicle.

That being said, my personal recommendation is to rent a car if you’re not at a resort. Having a vehicle gives you so much freedom to go wherever you want. The island is small so you can literally explore the whole thing with a car. 

Getting around by taxi in The Bahamas is possible, but very expensive for the distances you travel. There are also no Ubers or Lyfts or any ride sharing services. There is a local bus service but it doesn’t exactly have a set schedule. It is by far the cheapest way to get around, however, with each ride being just $1.50 (if you’re going from one side of the island to the other, however, you might be charged up to $3.50). 

So in summary, we found a car super useful, but you don’t need one if you don’t plan on getting out and exploring much. Just remember you drive on the left side of the road in The Bahamas. So if you’re not comfortable with that, then you’re stuck with taxis or the bus. 

Many of the big rental car companies operate from Nassau Airport. But I recommend supporting the local economy and going with one of the two local rental agencies. 

Best time of year to visit The Bahamas 

The Bahamas is a year-round destination, as the temperature doesn’t vary too much month-to-month. Winter is peak season and summer is hurricane season. Summers can be brutally hot and humid, but bring mostly calm waters (when a hurricane isn’t coming through!) 

Chris Heckmann and Nimarta Bawa holding a baby in The Bahamas
It’s always a great time to visit The Bahamas!

The best time to visit to avoid peak season while also assuring you won’t get caught in a hurricane is probably March-April. But if you’re okay with the chances of a hurricane and the heat and humidity summer can be a great way to avoid the oppressive crowds.   

Weather in The Bahamas

The weather in The Bahamas is pretty consistently hot and humid all year-round, though it’s not really that hot in peak winter season. It’s sunny most of the time, with tropical downpours common in the summer. 

The average January high temperature is 79 degrees (26 C) while the average July high is 91 degrees (31 C). Nighttime lows are chilly enough in winter – about 65 degrees (18 C) – that you might actually consider being a light jacket on your trip. 

These temperatures provided are for Nassau. Exact weather depends on the island you’re on. But this is a good baseline.

Language

English is spoken in The Bahamas. The locals have their own dialect, but you’re not going to have trouble understanding anyone, provided you speak English. If you’re reading this through Google Translate, you better make sure to have the Translate app on your phone! 

Friendliness 

People in The Bahamas are ridiculously friendly and welcoming. They have to be in the top 5 of the friendliest people in all the countries I’ve been to. 

Travel insurance

Before visiting The Bahamas, be sure to purchase travel insurance so that you’re protected for the unexpected. We use World Nomads when we travel abroad. World Nomads provides coverage to travelers in over 100 countries. You can search for a coverage plan using the link below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Bahamas cheaper than Hawaii?

The Bahamas is definitely cheaper than Hawaii. Hawaii (with the exception of off-coast on the Big Island) is literally one of the most expensive places to visit in the world. Getting to The Bahamas is cheaper and considerably closer for people on the east coast or midwest of the US. 

Once you’re there, if you’re going to pay $900/night for a hotel room at least in The Bahamas it will be all-inclusive or ultra-super luxury! Not a damn normal room at the Marriott on the beach in Maui that barely has enough space to store your luggage!

What is the cheapest month to go to The Bahamas? 

The cheapest time to visit The Bahamas is during the low season, which, not coincidentally, aligns with hurricane season in the Caribbean. If you don’t mind the chance of your holiday potentially getting ruined by a deadly hurricane, then August through October are the cheapest months.  

What kind of food do they eat in The Bahamas?

Bahamians love to fry up the local catch of the day and enjoy it with a side of Bahamian peas and rice. Not everything is fried in The Bahamas, but friend seafood is incredibly popular, especially among tourists. Conch is the local speciality, but good luck finding it not fried at a restaurant (try a conch salad for that). The locals also love a steamed or grilled conch, but the restaurants don’t seem to think you’d like it, as you’ll only find it fried. 

Peas and rice is a typical Bahamian side dish with dark peas and spiced rice. It’s pretty delicious. Other than that, most food you’ll find around The Bahamas is pretty Americanized (burgers, sandwiches, fries, steaks, etc). 

Is The Bahamas water safe to drink? 

Technically speaking, the water in The Bahamas is potable and can be consumed. However, it’s not as clean as you might be used to if you’re from a western country like the US or somewhere in Europe. The locals advise to not drink it unless you’re from a country with similar quality water (like say Thailand or Malawi). Your stomach might be able to handle it, but why take the risk?  

Final Word

By now you should have a pretty good idea of the answer to the question of whether or not The Bahamas is expensive. The truth is that it’s a pretty expensive place to visit, but you can do it on a budget if that’s your priority. Either way you’ll love the beautiful beaches and heavenly views in paradise. Enjoy your trip!

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