I was born and raised in The Bahamas. Here are 11 of the biggest mistakes I see tourists make.
New Providence and Paradise Island (the home of Atlantis Bahamas) are world-famous vacation destinations, leading many people to assume that the islands are the only places worth visiting here.
However, there's much more to see and do in The Bahamas.
The Bahamas are an archipelago of 700 islands and 2,400 cays across the Atlantic Ocean, and only 30 of those islands are inhabited and open to visitors.
Some of those islands include The Exumas, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Bimini, Andros, Long Island, Grand Bahama, Abaco, and San Salvador. Each of the eight Bahamian islands I've visited in my lifetime has a distinct and unique feel.
Not island-hopping during your trip
Tourism is The Bahamas' biggest industry. Even though interacting with travelers is part of daily life, New Providence, specifically, can feel overcrowded by visitors.
So instead of settling in one place, I recommend island-hopping to more remote locations.
Travelers can visit salt deposits in Inagua, swim with pigs in Exuma, and dive over 600 feet into the ocean to explore Dean's Blue Hole off of Long Island.
As long as visitors are willing to explore beyond New Providence (Exuma and Rose Island are just a day trip away), they'll find that The Bahamas has something for everyone.
Eating fast food instead of local Bahamian cuisine
Like many Western countries, The Bahamas has a lot of fast-food places like McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC.
Still, I get disheartened when I see tourists eat at these spots in downtown Nassau instead of grabbing a table at a local Bahamian eatery.
The Bahamas has a rich cuisine, from fresh fish to ceviche made with a sea mollusk called conch (pronounced "conk").
Visitors who try to find real Bahamian food often fall into the trap of going to places that are marketed as authentic but are actually commercialized shells of what they used to be.
Luckily, there are still restaurants that serve great Bahamian food, like Gone Fish'n, Drifters, Frankie Gone Bananas, and Curly's. I always tell newcomers to find real, local dishes under the Paradise Island Bridge.
The Family Islands, the name for the islands outside New Providence, are also filled with excellent Bahamian food, like grouper fingers and fries.
Never leaving your resort to explore the surrounding areas
I've seen many travelers check into grand resorts — like Baha Mar, Atlantis, or Sandals — and remain there for the duration of their trip.
This hotel-centric itinerary is excellent for the properties, but isn't great for the island. Plus, it's a missed opportunity for visitors to explore.
Nassau has so many sites to see, so much culture to experience, and so many locals to interact with. Staying within the confines of a hotel is a common yet significant misstep.
Not preparing for prices that may be higher than what you're used to back home
The Bahamas is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Things like hotel rooms, groceries, and restaurants are more expensive here than they are in places like the US or Canada.
Many tourists who don't research The Bahamas beforehand complain about the high cost of food, taxis, and cocktails upon arrival.
However, so much of what we have here is imported, which can result in high costs. Eating out at restaurants can be pretty pricey, especially considering most places add gratuity and VAT (value-added tax) on restaurant bills.
Definitely do some number-crunching ahead of time so you can better budget for your trip.
Skipping local heritage sites and monuments
A lot of tourists fail to carve out time to learn about The Bahamas, but missing out on the local culture and history does them a disservice.
In Nassau, you can visit places like Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle, The Water Tower, The Queen's Staircase, Clifton Heritage National Park, and more. Many museums, like the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, house works created by talented local artists.
A visit to John Watling's Distillery, a historic building that's been converted into a rum distillery, is also a crucial stop in Nassau.
Only going to downtown Nassau for duty-free shopping and luxury items
Many visitors walk through downtown Nassau in search of duty-free luxury items, but the area has more to offer than just designer handbags, Cuban cigars, jewelry, and fancy perfumes.
Instead, check out the locally crafted goods and souvenirs. Nassau has a well-known straw market. Plus, Bahamian artisans sell authentic straw bags, conch-shell jewelry, and handmade wood carvings, and other items.
Planning a visit during hurricane season, then complaining about the weather
A lot of the visitors who arrive on our shores during the summer months (June through November) have no idea they're coming in the middle of hurricane season. Ergo, it's going to rain a lot.
When I worked at a souvenir stall in Nassau in the summer, I'd hear lots of tourists complain about the rain. To assuage their misgivings, I'd tell them the precipitation was "liquid sunshine."
Underestimating how easy it is to get a sunburn
The Bahamian sun's strength shouldn't be underestimated. Since we tend to have a high UV index, people can get sunburned pretty badly by just walking around the island.
It's a good idea to wear (and reapply) sunscreen throughout the day. Additionally, remember to wear reef-safe sunscreen and avoid aerosol versions to protect the natural environment.
Not staying vigilant and aware of their surroundings
Travelers, particularly female solo travelers, should always remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings as they explore new places.
Like any big city, New Providence has crime, ranging from petty attempts to swindle tourists at the local straw market to armed robberies.
To mitigate these issues, the government of The Bahamas and The Royal Bahamas Police Force have stationed officers in downtown New Providence.
Of course, it's always a good idea to stay alert wherever you go.
Forgetting to carve out plenty of time to watch the gorgeous sunsets
Visitors should build plenty of time for sunsets into their itinerary.
Every island in The Bahamas offers its own special vantage point of the sunset. My all-time favorite place to watch the sun go down is on a beach in western New Providence.
There's nothing more calming and tranquil than listening to the waves crash, watching the colors change across the sky, and seeing the sun dip beneath the horizon.
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I was born and raised in The Bahamas. Here are 11 of the biggest mistakes I see tourists make.
Only visiting New Providence and Paradise Island New Providence and Paradise Island (the home of Atlantis Bahamas) are world-famous vacation destinations, leading many people to assume that the islands are the only places worth visiting here. However, there's much more to see and do in The Bahamas. The Bahamas are an archipelago of 700 islands and 2,400 cays across the Atlantic Ocean, and only 30 of those islands are inhabited and open to visitors. Some of those islands include The Exumas, Cat Island, Eleuthera, Bimini, Andros, Long Island, Grand Bahama, Abaco, and San Salvador. Each of the eight Bahamian islands I've visited in my lifetime has a distinct and unique feel. Not island-hopping during your trip Tourism is The Bahamas' biggest industry. Even though interacting with travelers is part of daily life, New Providence, specifically, can feel overcrowded by visitors. So instead of settling in one place, I recommend island-hopping to more remote locations. Travelers can visit salt deposits in Inagua, swim with pigs in Exuma, and dive over 600 feet into the ocean to explore Dean's Blue Hole off of Long Island. As long as visitors are willing to explore beyond New Providence (Exuma and Rose Island are just a day trip away), they'll find that The Bahamas has something for everyone. Eating fast food instead of local Bahamian cuisine Like many Western countries, The Bahamas has a lot of fast-food places like McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC. Still, I get disheartened when I see tourists eat at these spots in downtown Nassau instead of grabbing a table at a local Bahamian eatery. The Bahamas has a rich cuisine, from fresh fish to ceviche made with a sea mollusk called conch (pronounced "conk"). Visitors who try to find real Bahamian food often fall into the trap of going to places that are marketed as authentic but are actually commercialized shells of what they used to be. Luckily, there are still restaurants that serve great Bahamian food, like Gone Fish'n, Drifters, Frankie Gone Bananas, and Curly's. I always tell newcomers to find real, local dishes under the Paradise Island Bridge. The Family Islands, the name for the islands outside New Providence, are also filled with excellent Bahamian food, like grouper fingers and fries. Never leaving your resort to explore the surrounding areas I've seen many travelers check into grand resorts — like Baha Mar, Atlantis, or Sandals — and remain there for the duration of their trip. This hotel-centric itinerary is excellent for the properties, but isn't great for the island. Plus, it's a missed opportunity for visitors to explore. Nassau has so many sites to see, so much culture to experience, and so many locals to interact with. Staying within the confines of a hotel is a common yet significant misstep. Not preparing for prices that may be higher than what you're used to back home The Bahamas is one of the most expensive countries in the world. Things like hotel rooms, groceries, and restaurants are more expensive here than they are in places like the US or Canada. Many tourists who don't research The Bahamas beforehand complain about the high cost of food, taxis, and cocktails upon arrival. However, so much of what we have here is imported, which can result in high costs. Eating out at restaurants can be pretty pricey, especially considering most places add gratuity and VAT (value-added tax) on restaurant bills. Definitely do some number-crunching ahead of time so you can better budget for your trip. Skipping local heritage sites and monuments A lot of tourists fail to carve out time to learn about The Bahamas, but missing out on the local culture and history does them a disservice. In Nassau, you can visit places like Fort Charlotte, Fort Fincastle, The Water Tower, The Queen's Staircase, Clifton Heritage National Park, and more. Many museums, like the National Art Gallery of The Bahamas, house works created by talented local artists. A visit to John Watling's Distillery, a historic building that's been converted into a rum distillery, is also a crucial stop in Nassau. Only going to downtown Nassau for duty-free shopping and luxury items Many visitors walk through downtown Nassau in search of duty-free luxury items, but the area has more to offer than just designer handbags, Cuban cigars, jewelry, and fancy perfumes. Instead, check out the locally crafted goods and souvenirs. Nassau has a well-known straw market. Plus, Bahamian artisans sell authentic straw bags, conch-shell jewelry, and handmade wood carvings, and other items. Planning a visit during hurricane season, then complaining about the weather A lot of the visitors who arrive on our shores during the summer months (June through November) have no idea they're coming in the middle of hurricane season. Ergo, it's going to rain a lot. When I worked at a souvenir stall in Nassau in the summer, I'd hear lots of tourists complain about the rain. To assuage their misgivings, I'd tell them the precipitation was "liquid sunshine." Underestimating how easy it is to get a sunburn The Bahamian sun's strength shouldn't be underestimated. Since we tend to have a high UV index, people can get sunburned pretty badly by just walking around the island. It's a good idea to wear (and reapply) sunscreen throughout the day. Additionally, remember to wear reef-safe sunscreen and avoid aerosol versions to protect the natural environment. Not staying vigilant and aware of their surroundings Travelers, particularly female solo travelers, should always remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings as they explore new places. Like any big city, New Providence has crime, ranging from petty attempts to swindle tourists at the local straw market to armed robberies. To mitigate these issues, the government of The Bahamas and The Royal Bahamas Police Force have stationed officers in downtown New Providence. Of course, it's always a good idea to stay alert wherever you go. Forgetting to carve out plenty of time to watch the gorgeous sunsets Visitors should build plenty of time for sunsets into their itinerary. Every island in The Bahamas offers its own special vantage point of the sunset. My all-time favorite place to watch the sun go down is on a beach in western New Providence. There's nothing more calming and tranquil than listening to the waves crash, watching the colors change across the sky, and seeing the sun dip beneath the horizon.
