If you enjoy casinos you will want to ensure that Paradise Island is on your list of places to visit, ensuring that you will have the opportunity to pay a visit to the Atlantis Casino and Resort. It is a casino like any other, but the glittery contrast to the casual atmosphere of the islands during the day presents tourists with the opportunity to enjoy the complete experience. In addition to the casino, Atlantis is also the home of the Joker’s Comedy Club, offering alcohol and comedic relief (which are often related) to tourists seeking a quiet spot to sit back and relax at the end of a busy day.

While on the island of Nassau, take the time to stop and pay a visit to the Rain Forest Theatre. Here you will be able to sit back in the lush greenery of the rainforest and enjoy live entertainment on stage. You will have the opportunity to see magicians, comedians, musicians and dancers marketing their trade to the tourist population-just be careful you do not find yourself chosen to be a part of it! If you find yourself wanting to kick up your heels a bit after the show you can hop a taxi to the Paradise Palace Hotel and enjoy an evening of music and entertainment in their social club.

The Yellow Bird on Grand Bahama island also has a great deal to offer the tourist by way of entertainment; you will have the opportunity to watch professional fire and glass eaters and Bahamian musicians celebrating their natural rhythms while enjoying some of the finest cuisine the island has to offer. The prices here are extremely reasonable as well, a rarity on an island chain that is run primarily based on its tourism trade. If you prefer unfettered fun to structured social events you should take the time to visit Port Lucaya and take the time to hop on board the Bahama Mama Booze Cruise, which will allow you to happily dance and drink the night away while sailing on the Atlantic under a tropical sky.

If the concept of hopping on board a “Booze Cruise” is enough to shock your sensibilities, you will be happy to know that Port Lucaya is also home to the Sunset Cruise and Show, which sails just as the sun begins to sink into the horizon and affords you an opportunity to see the true beauty of the ocean and its wildlife while relaxing with a cocktail and an evening’s entertainment. As you can see, there is something in the Bahamas for everyone-what are you waiting for?

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• The Straw Market on Nassau-Regardless of where you are from, there is nothing quite like the straw market on the island of Nassau. Local craftsmen come together to create their wares out of straw-and you’ll be amazed at what you find!
• Lucayan National Park-Lucayan National Park on Grand Bahama Island is home to one of the world’s largest underwater cave systems, and offers an opportunity for tourists to try their hand at exploring while at the same time coming to appreciate the fact that there is no limit to the flora that can be found on a tropical island-Lucayan National Park is home to a vast population of pine trees that put those found on the mainland to shame.
• Grand Bahama Island-If you want to visit the hustle and bustle of a busy city, take the time to visit Freeport on Grand Bahama Island. Eager scuba divers can take the time to visit Theo’s Wreck, the main diving attraction of the island, and to enjoy a bonfire on the beach with all of the local cuisine they can eat.
• The Out Islands-For tourists looking to get away from the insanity of mainland life there is nothing like the Out Islands. Offering sanctuary for groups of up to 200 in their resorts, the Out Islands are ideal for anyone suffering from burnout at the hands of their busy lifestyle.
• Pelican Cay National Park-Scuba divers can have a field day at Pelican Cay National Park located in the Abacos Islands. Night diving, a dangerous and exciting pastime among the people of the islands, offers tourists the chance to see what the sea looks like when the fishermen have put away their nets at the end of the day.
• Bimini-If you are a literary nut then you are familiar with the island of Bimini; it was home to Ernest Hemingway for many years. It is also home to some of the finest beaches and fishing spots in the world.
• Blue Lagoon Island-No island vacation would be complete without taking a swim with the local marine life, and on Blue Lagoon Island tourists can dance with the dolphins through the clear coastal waters.
• San Salvador-History buffs will have a marvelous time touring the island of San Salvador, the original landing spot of Christopher Columbus. This island was also home to buccaneer George Waiting, allowing tourists to appreciate the rich and diverse past that the island has enjoyed.

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a) Passports-Regardless of what country you are coming from you must have a valid passport before entering the Bahamas, and you must be able to present that same passport upon your departure. If your passport is lost during your vacation it will be necessary for you to contact the nearest embassy representing your country; they will be able to assist you in obtaining a new one and arranging for passage home. Even if you do possess a valid passport you will still be required to fill out an immigration arrival and departure card before you will be allowed to officially begin your vacation.

b) Cell Phones and Other Communication-Cellular coverage on the islands is spotty, so it would be best not to rely on your cell phone as your sole means of communication. There are a number of land lines that will allow you to make use of a calling card, and you can make arrangements to have Internet access and a fax machine at your disposal during the course of your stay. If you are intending to bring your laptop computer, cell phone charger or other form of electronic you should have no need of an adapter; outlets in the Bahamas are the same as those in the US.

c) Packing-The weather in the Bahamas is generally very warm, so lightweight summer clothes will suffice. If you are going to be in the city you may want to bring dress clothes for any formal functions you may wish or need to attend; otherwise, casual is the name of the game. Be sure to bring your beachwear! The beaches on the Bahama coastline are exquisite and not to be missed. Be advised, however, that beachwear is not considered appropriate attire while on the city streets, so it would be wise to carry a casual cover-up at all times in case you should have need of it.

d) Language-English is the official language of the islands, although it is British rather that American (a fact that can confound unwary American travelers). Creole and a native dialect are also spoken on some parts of the island, and a smattering of native words are thrown in whatever the language to identify many of the foods, flora, fauna and residents of the island.

e) Money-The currency in the Bahamas, the Bahamian dollar, is equivalent to the US dollar (which is accepted in most establishments). Foreign currency can be exchanged for the Bahamian dollar upon arrival. Traveler’s checks are also an accepted currency; however, expect your personal check to be rejected. You will have access to an ATM while on the islands, so you will never be far away from your home bank.

f) Driving-European driving rules apply, so if you are unfamiliar with driving on the left side of the road and dealing with the traffic circles it may be wise to take advantage of public transportation rather than getting behind the wheel yourself.

The most important thing for you to remember is that the Bahamas is founded upon its tourism base, so the local population does its best to be hospitable to their foreign visitors. If you find yourself out of your depth, so to speak, take the time to ask rather than trying to muddle through it yourself. Not only will this give you the opportunity to enjoy your vacation without making an inexcusable gaffe, it will also give you a chance to get to know the people of the islands.

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As you would imagine, since the islands are surrounded by water a large amount of their sustenance comes from the ocean. Crawfish, conch, land crabs and fish can be found in a number of the local delicacies and are a favorite of tourists (therefore generally considered safe for consumption); however, this also means that they are found in a majority of the dishes served on the island. If you have an allergy to any form of seafood it would be wise to speak with your server prior to ordering and enquire as to what items on their menu are safe to eat.

If you have spent any portion of your life on the southern portion of the mainland, you are familiar with the concept of having fish and grits for breakfast. Boiled fish and grits is as ordinary a breakfast on the islands as toast and eggs would be elsewhere, and grouper is often served alongside a helping of the local island bread. An ordinary meal in the Bahamas, regardless of the time of day, contains some form of seafood; however, conservative land lubbers will be happy to find such familiar dishes as potato salad, baked macaroni and cheese and rice right alongside.

If you are stepping onto the islands on a limited budget you would be wise to tackle establishments serving local specialties, such as peas and rice (pigeon peas with salt, pork or bacon, tomatoes, celery, rice, thyme and pepper) and Johnny bread, rather than international cuisine. Fast food options are also available at a low cost, and serve the busy traveler well by allowing them to get back to their vacation as quickly as possible.

If you find yourself on the islands for a holiday such as Christmas and are a bit hesitant about what cuisine you are going to find on your plate when you sit at the table relax. Shark and eel have not yet made it onto the list of holiday favorites. Instead, you will probably find yourself looking at such familiar favorites as baked ham and turkey, yams and sweet potatoes, peas and rice and steamed vegetables and potato salad, allowing you to feel as though you never left home.

If you prefer not to take a step out on the wild side when you are eating in the Bahamas rest easy; there are a vast quantity of options available for international cuisine that will allow you to find dishes you are more familiar with. A number of world-renowned chefs have set up shop on the islands, allowing travelers to find the dishes that they are so familiar with. Regardless of your tastes, there is something on the island to appeal to your taste buds and ensure that you do not walk away from the Bahamas with an empty stomach.

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The first thing you should be prepared for is the difference in dress, particularly if you are going to be there for a festival or celebration for which formal costume will be worn. These costumes generally consist of brightly colored outfits and headdresses which would seem greatly out of place elsewhere in the world but which are as accepted as Mardi Gras beads in the Bahamas.

Everyday wear on the islands is the same casual summer wear enjoyed elsewhere in the world; however, be aware that despite the island heat and the quantity of tourists that come to town each year beach dress is considered to be unacceptable on the city streets. Also, be aware that whatever you may heard, nude and topless sunbathing are strongly frowned upon; if you consider this to be a part of your complete vacation experience you are going to want to take the time to search out abandoned stretches of beach near the beginning of your visit.

The official language of the islands is English (British, not American), with a mix of words from their native heritage and a dialect all their own thrown in for good measure. Creole is also spoken in parts of the island primarily inherited by those whose families came over from Haiti. A familiarity with basic Creole will serve you well if you plan on traveling far from the central urban areas of the islands.

One major change between the islands and the mainland is that the legal drinking and gambling age is 18 rather than 21, a fact which causes many tourists to stop in their tracks as they see men and women who appear barely old enough to drive happily lifting their glass. If you are planning on traveling with younger members of your family you should be prepared for this and discuss your policies concerned gambling and alcohol consumption prior to your arrival, for there will be no policy on the island to stop them from spending their vacation as they choose

Despite the fact that many aspects of the islands vary greatly from life on the mainlands you should not find it difficult to fit in. Tourism is a major part of the economy of the Bahamas, and because of this the people as a whole are extremely hospitable. If you find yourself  out of your depth, take the time to ask-and let yourself enjoy! The whole point of taking a vacation is to step away from your daily life, so be prepared to embrace the cultural differences of the island and to have the vacation of a lifetime.

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