Everything You Need to Know : Grand Bahama Island

By Sebastian Vignieri

The "must have" travel guide for vacationing on Grand Bahama Island. Packed with over fifty pages of photographs and tons of vacation information. Including independent info on hotels, vacation rentals, secluded beaches, restaurants, nightlife, adventure services, scuba diving, snorkeling, island navagation, and transportation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 25, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257138326

Book preview

Traveled

Intro / Getting To The Island

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Introduction / How To Use This Book

For those lucky enough to travel among the far corners of the earth, the tropical vacation world is an amazing experience. You will remember people you meet and friends you make all your life. And you will enjoy an understanding of our natural planet at it’s best.

The Bahamas offer endless white sandy beaches surrounded by beautiful warm turquoise waters. Many wonderful snorkeling and scuba diving locations are just beneath the water’s surface. And once you swim in the tropical ocean you will emerge rejuvenated. The world off shore provides wonder and awe to the aquatic adventurer. Even being near that ocean, basking in the sun on the white sands, gazing at the endless blue horizon will provide you with a new understanding of the world in which we live in.

Use this book as a tool to have a fun filled vacation on Grand Bahama Island. Just like the simplicity of island life, we have designed this book as a simple guide to everything you need to know about the island. There are many photographs and straight forward descriptions that will help you get a clear vision of the island and it’s activities.

If you are planning a trip or are already on the island use this book as a vacation advisor. Whether you are on a budget or if you have plenty of cash use it as a reference to decide how your money will be best spent. We have scoured the island to give you the best information on secluded beaches, accomodations, island adventure, water activities, nightlife, restaurants, & navigation.

Grand Bahama is a fairly large island and it can be difficult to find the best stuff in a short time. However, once you have read this book, it will be easy for you to plan an amazing vacation. Think of it as a guide to good times and knowledge of the island. Use it wisely and enjoy.

Getting There

If you purchase a direct flight with with the airlines, you will arrive at the Grand Bahama Airport on a large 747 type plane. If you decide to save some money and book your flight with a stop in Florida you will most likely be taking a smaller puddle jumper plane to the island.

If you dont mind a layover you can also save more money by buying two tickets (one to Florida & one from Florida to Grand Bahama). The main florida airports to use are: West Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and Miami. They are all in the same price range, however, if you have to wait for your flight, and have a longer layover, West Palm Beach Airport is definitely one of the most comfortble and nicest. The Airport offers large couches, new televisions, an indoor putting green, and a few fairly good resturaunts.

If you own a boat you can always use that to get to the isand. There are also some cruises from Florida to Grand bahama.

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Good Stuff To Know

Hospital

[phone]

Emargency: 911

The Main hospital is in downtown Freeport. There are some clinic type medical facilities in other areas of the island, but the hospital downtown is a complete medical facility. An Island ambulance is available.

In case of an emergency, it is the best place for any major medical problems. Though not as teched out as most stateside hospitals. The doctors and medical staff know what they are doing. If you have good insurance you can also get a medical ambulance flight to Miami.

Kalik

Kalik is the locally brewed Bahama Beer. It is a good beer and is usually less expensive than other beers at the bars and liquor stores.

Super Markets

The main markets on the island are called Windixie. You can usually find a Windixie in most of the larger towns on the island. Though not as clean as stateside markets, Windixie’s will usually have most of your shopping needs, there is also a great market on the north edge of Downtown freeport called Solomon’s. Solomon’s mainly offers a lot of bulk / wholesale type groceries, but they also have a great fresh meat, fruit and vegetable selection which you can purchase in smaller amounts.

Vetrinarian

Freeport Animal Clinic

Dr. Alan k. Bater

Tel: [phone] (office)

352-2416

373-3914 (res.)

352-5658 (fax)

Banks

There are no American banks on the island. However there are plenty of ATM’s that take american credit & ATM cards. One Bahaman dollar is equal to one American dollar so don’t waste your time on trying to save money on the exchange rate. Some ATMs distribute Bahamian money and some distribute American dollars. Since the currency is equal, both work just as well for buying things. The most commonly seen bank on the island is UBC (United Bank of Canada). All banks main offices are in Downtown Freeport.

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Internet Access

There are two main places to go online. One is at the business center at the base of the Royal Oasis, and the other is in the marketplace in Port Lucaya. The one at the Royal Oasis Business Center is less expensive.

Wireless and Cell Phones

None of the US cell companies work on Grand Bahama Island. However you can get service through Batelco(The Bahamas Only Phone Company)

When this book was written you could only get Wireless laptop service in the center of Port Lucaya through SBC wireless. The SBC wireless office is located in Downtown Freeport.

Recommended Footwear

Your best bet is sport sandals or vented tennis shoes . The humidity level and temperature on the island is always high so you don’t want to wear anything that is difficult for your feet to breath in.

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Most Common Island Creatures

Curly