Most people visit the Bahamas for only a day, and often just to private islands. As such, they don’t get to experience what the country is really like. Nassau especially can be very different from the resort image people may expect. While I did not spend long there, I was in Nassau for 2 nights at a guesthouse, and here are a few things I learned.
1. It’s More Expensive Than You’d Expect
The Bahamas is probably one of the most expensive countries I’ve visited so far. Your wallet is going to hurt, especially if you are staying for multiple nights! Meals are often upwards of $20-30, and can be even higher in the touristy spots. I got some lunch at a takeout place that only had locals, and even still it was more than $15!
As for staying multiple nights, it’s going to be expensive regardless of where you stay. My guesthouse which was in a bit of a run-down area cost me $230 for just 2 nights, and that’s on the cheap end! If you are staying in a fancy resort like one on Paradise Island, you’ll be shelling out at least hundreds per night.
2. Getting Around Isn’t Always Easy
In addition to that, transportation is hard to come by. Taxis are expensive, with my ride from the airport to the guesthouse being a whopping $45 for just a 30 minute ride! The cheapest option I had, a local contact through my guesthouse, was $30 when I went back to the airport. Make sure to negotiate prices if you can – it worked for me in Belize so it might work in the Bahamas as well.
There are local minibuses called “jitneys” which can be fairly cheap, but they are often unreliable – I did not bother trying to use one. You can get a rental car or even rent golf carts on Paradise Island, but be aware that gas prices are quite high. When I visited in January of this year it was $5.13 per gallon! Also be wary of the many roundabouts, and especially one-way streets – there are not always signs to indicate these.
Many areas of Nassau were also not very walkable. There are a lot of areas with limited or no sidewalks, where you have to be careful when crossing the street because so many cars come by. You might be crowded with other tourists on a narrow path, especially if a ship is in port. But it is possible to navigate – I went all the way from my guesthouse to Paradise Island, a day in which I walked over 12 miles!
3. There Are Tons of Japanese Cars
This is a smaller aspect, but I was really shocked by how many Japanese cars are imported to the Bahamas. Because it was originally a British territory and is now part of the Commonwealth, they drive on the left-hand side.
In fact, Kenny, my local contact through the guesthouse, had a touch screen on his car on which you could see the music he was playing – but the controls themselves were in Japanese!
4. Conch Is Everywhere (And It’s a Must-Try)
In terms of food, the thing the Bahamas is most well-known for is its conch. Pronounced “konk”, this sea mollusk is used in a variety of dishes. It has a texture similar to squid, but is a little less chewy in my opinion. It also has a milder taste, which I realized when I tried it for the first time in Belize.
I had conch in two different ways: cracked conch and conch fritters, and I would recommend both! The first is essentially just fried conch, similar to popcorn shrimp or calamari. It also came with ketchup and hot sauce over fries, and was very tasty. As for the fritters, they are basically a fried mixture of conch, vegetables, and batter – an excellent appetizer when having dinner. They were a bit dry on their own to me, but I had them with some special sauce which was delicious!
5. Staple Caribbean Foods
There are also other common Caribbean foods you may have in the Bahamas. Of course, seafood will be a major feature. I had fried fish which was phenomenal, as well as a shrimp burger – this was super unique to me and I really enjoyed it.
However, there are other popular dishes which you might not expect. Rice and peas is a common combination of rice and beans throughout the Caribbean (though in the Bahamas it is known as “peas n’ rice”). Mac and cheese is surprisingly popular here, and is in fact baked into cheesy goodness – almost more like a casserole! Coleslaw is also a frequent side dish, and is generally less creamy and more tangy than American versions – often adding lime juice and hot sauce.
6. Snacks Can Be a Type of Meal
While some meals can be much heavier, lighter food items such as conch fritters and cracked conch are often considered “snacks”, and can even function as their own type of meal.
When I visited the local takeout place, there was a specific section for “snacks” – including the fairly sizeable portion of cracked conch I got. It seemed like it was more of a lunch, rather than the American perception of what a snack is.
7. The Demographics Might Surprise You
Something I hadn’t realized before visiting was the population and demographics of the Bahamas. Firstly, there are only about 400,000 people in the entire country – fewer people than my home county! Out of these, nearly 300,000 are on New Providence – the island where Nassau is.
Over 90% of people there are black, which I really didn’t expect. Most of them are descendants of slaves who worked plantations, either in the Bahamas or on other islands throughout the Caribbean. I was also surprised by how many churches there are, but looking at the demographics it makes sense – over 95% of the population is Christian.
8. It Can Feel Rough Around the Edges
Unfortunately, Nassau isn’t exactly the best city to visit. There were a few areas that felt a bit sketchy, and I did not enjoy walking around at night. Ambulance sirens were a sound I quickly got used to. There are a lot of abandoned buildings, and it seemed like trash was everywhere especially in many of the neighborhoods. There were also powerlines which seemed to be potentially dangerous if one wasn’t careful.
Overall, it just felt like a very poor country despite how many people visit. I had a consistent thought running through my head: “You’d think a nation with this much tourism would look better.” Of course, Paradise Island was wonderful – I just wish that extended to more of Nassau.
9. You May Run Into Some Interesting Situations
The Bahamas might also give you some odd scenarios to find yourself in. In one instance, a random guy asked me about weed, and where I was from. Upon telling him California, he told me that was probably better than what they had! (For reference, I do not do drugs!)
In other situations, you might just be the bystander. When I was walking back from Paradise Island, I saw a semi-truck attempting to back into one of the thin alleys, and it held up traffic for over 10 minutes! But it was quite a sight to behold, and in fact a large crowd gathered just watching – we all clapped when it finally backed in!
10. There Are Lots of Stray Dogs
If you visit Nassau there’s a good chance you’ll see quite a few dogs. These are known as “potcakes”, named after the rice and peas mixture left at the bottom of cooking pots, which are often fed to the strays. Due to limited resources which prevent spaying and neutering, the population of potcakes is massive – well over 5,000 in Nassau alone. House dogs are also let out onto the streets frequently, contributing to the issue.
The dogs aren’t exactly scary, but they are often considered a nuisance. They were admittedly a bit annoying at times when they walked up and begged for food, and I did get barked at a couple times. Just be aware of your surroundings.
11. There’s a Strong British Influence
As mentioned earlier, the Bahamas were once a British colony, and as a result you can see many influences from that culture. The colonial architecture of Nassau is prominent, with many bright colors – especially a pastel pink-and-white combination, as well as use of local limestone. English is also extremely common, and even the local language (Bahamian Creole) is an English-based creole – basically a mixture of English and West African influences.
Even the system of government is British in origin, being a constitutional parliamentary democracy just like the UK. In fact, the head of state is still the British monarch! However, this is a purely symbolic role – the Bahamian prime minister leads the country.
12. There’s More History Than You Might Expect
The Bahamas became an independent nation in 1973, with national pride being quite obvious in the amount of flags you can see around Nassau. However, its British origins are clearly visible at the historical sites you can visit.
The Queen’s Staircase is a set of stairs carved into solid limestone by 600 slaves from 1793 to 1794, and sits right next to Fort Fincastle, built around the same time. There is also Gregory’s Archway, a historic arch built in the mid-1800s, and John Watling’s Distillery, where you can taste rum at a 1789 colonial estate.
But my favorite site, and probably my favorite part of visiting the Bahamas, was Fort Charlotte. Built in the late 1700’s, this limestone fort was very interesting to visit. It was a decent-sized complex, with tons of informative placards and a few artifacts including original cannons. It had an amazing view of the surrounding island, and nobody was there when I visited in the morning. Only a couple ships had come in by then – in fact, I saw several arrive.
But the best part were the carvings. In some of the walls, there are handmade carvings which seem to be from the original British soldiers stationed there. Some are eloquent, while others are rougher, but they often show names and dates along with the designation “R.A.” (Royal Artillery). I imagined some of the potential stories of these men, and felt like it added such a personal touch to my visit. You should definitely check it out if you get a chance.
Admittedly, I found the Bahamas to be fairly overrated, and much better as a cruise destination – which I go in-depth on in this article. But there were certainly some highlights which allowed me to enjoy my short stay there.