Bahamas

The Bahamas is a developed, English-speaking Caribbean nation composed of hundreds of islands covering a territory approximately the size of California. Tourism and financial services comprise the two largest sectors of the economy. Independent from the United Kingdom since 1973, The Bahamas is a Commonwealth nation with a democratic tradition more than a century old. The capital, Nassau, is located on New Providence Island. To the north lies Freeport on Grand Bahama Island, the nearest sizeable settlement to Florida’s major shipping hub, and second most important populous city in The Bahamas. Please read the Department of State Fact Sheet on The Bahamas for additional information.

Transportation

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS: While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning The Bahamas is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

It is the law that all drivers and their passengers wear seat belts while riding in a vehicle in The Bahamas. Wearing helmets while riding on a scooter or motorbike is also compulsory.

Driving in The Bahamas is on the left side of the road (i.e. opposite to the United States). Traffic congestion in Nassau is severe, and drivers occasionally display aggressive or careless tendencies. You should always drive defensively and be alert to cars pulling out in front of you from side streets. Local practice is to allow this on an individual basis. Roundabouts are common; unless otherwise designated, you should give way to traffic coming from the right when joining a roundabout. Remember that the slow lane is the far left, not the far right one. Some major streets do not have adequate shoulders or passable sidewalks, compelling pedestrians to walk in the right-of-way. Motorcyclists tend to weave through slow traffic and between lanes of moving vehicles. It is not uncommon to see poorly maintained or excessively loaded vehicles on roadways. Rural roads can be narrow, winding, and in poor condition. 

Road flooding occurs frequently in many areas, including Nassau and Freeport, during and after rainstorms. Drivers should be alert for unmarked or poorly marked construction zones. Travel by moped or bicycle can be hazardous, especially in the heavy traffic prevalent in Nassau. You should exercise appropriate caution when renting vehicles in The Bahamas. If you ride a moped or bicycle, follow Bahamian helmet law and drive defensively. Accidents involving U.S. tourists on motorbikes have resulted in severe injuries and fatalities.

Look right then left when crossing the road! Pedestrians should try to remember that vehicular traffic comes from the opposite direction to what you are used to. Many tourists have been struck by cars after failing to check properly for oncoming traffic.

Emergency ambulance service is generally available and can be reached by dialing 911 or 919. Roadside assistance is also widely available through private towing services. Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the web site of The Bahamas’ national tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety.

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of The Bahamas’ Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards for oversight of The Bahamas’ air carrier operations. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.

Safety and Security

CRIME: The criminal threat level for New Providence Island is rated as critical by the Department of State. New Providence Island has experienced a spike in crime that has adversely affected the traveling public, with a spate of violent criminal activity between 2009 and 2015. Armed robbery remains a major criminal threat facing U.S. citizens in The Bahamas. The U.S. Embassy has received multiple reports of tourists robbed at gunpoint or knifepoint in tourist locations in the downtown areas of Nassau, to include the cruise ship docks and the Cable Beach commerce areas; several of these incidents occurred during daylight hours. Burglaries, larcenies and “snatch-and-grab” crimes happen in Nassau and U.S. citizens have been victims of these crimes. The U.S. Embassy has received reports of assaults, including sexual assaults, in diverse areas such as in casinos, outside hotels, or on cruise ships. The Bahamas has the highest incidence of rape in the Caribbean according to a 2007 United Nations report on crime, violence, and development trends. The majority of sexual assaults reported occurred after excessive consumption of alcohol. The loss of ability to remember facts and details due to alcohol consumption makes prosecution of sexual assaults more difficult. Much of the violent crime occurs outside tourist spots, such as in the “over-the-hill” section of Nassau (the area inland from Bay Street, to the South of Bay Street, behind the tourist district), but can occur anywhere, including in areas frequented by tourists. Home break-ins, theft, and robbery are not confined to any specific part of the island. The overall murder rate continues to increase. While this increase is not directed at tourists, it has the potential to spill over and could place innocent bystanders at risk; A U.S. citizen was murdered in a heavily frequented tourist area in 2013,.

Criminal activity in the outlying family islands does occur, but to a much lesser degree than on New Providence Island. A series of armed robberies on Grand Bahama island in 2013 where the assailants wielded a machete prompted the U.S. Embassy to issue one of several security messages that year. The Embassy has also received reports of burglaries and thefts, especially thefts of boats and/or outboard motors on Abaco and Bimini.

The Embassy has received no reports of harassment or hate crimes motivated by race, religion, or citizenship. Visitors have reported harassment of persons based on sexual orientation; some women have reported verbal harassment and unwanted attention. Some organized criminal activity occurs in The Bahamas, primarily related to illegal importation and smuggling of illicit drugs or human trafficking. The Bahamas, due to its numerous uninhabited islands and cays, has historically been favored by smugglers and pirates. As a tourist, you would not typically have noticeable interaction with organized crime elements; however, those operating their own water or air vessels should be alert to the possibility of encountering similar crafts operated by smugglers engaged in illicit activities on the open seas or in air space near The Bahamas.

Report crime to the Royal Bahamian Police Force as quickly as possible. Early reports frequently improve the likelihood of identifying and apprehending suspected perpetrators. In general, the Royal Bahamian Police Force is responsive to reports of crime and takes the threat of crime against tourists very seriously. However, the police response is sometimes slowed by a lack of resources or by physical constraints imposed by geography and infrastructure.

There is nobody better at protecting you than yourself. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. The U.S. Embassy reports that victims of crime are often those who have let their guard down to individuals who appeared overly friendly or became victims after criminals targeted them as easy prey due to the visitor appearing excessively drunk or unaware. Here are some useful tips for traveling safely abroad.

The local emergency numbers in the Bahamas are 919 or 911.

VICTIMS OF CRIME: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the local police and then the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (see the Department of State’s list of embassies and consulates). If your passport is stolen, we can help you replace it during normal Embassy hours. For violent crimes such as assault and rape, we can help you find appropriate medical care, contact family members or friends, and connect you to local and U.S. based resources for vicitims of crime. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime are solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.

It is important to stress that if you are the victim of a crime and you choose to depart the island in order to not miss your cruise ship, or you are not willing to return to The Bahamas to testify in court, the U.S. Embassy cannot serve as your representative or go to court on your behalf. Victims of crimes must file a police report and be willing to do file the necessary legal and paperwork if they want charges to be brought against the perpetrator of a crime. In several instances, U.S. citizens have left the islands and requested that the U.S. Embassy follow up on their behalf while not being willing to return to The Bahamas. Without the direct involvement of the victim and a local attorney, it is much more difficult for the perpetrator to be prosecuted and convicted. 

Please see our information on victims of crime, including possible victim compensation programs in the United States.

Water Sports and Scooter Rental: The water sports and scooter rental industries in The Bahamas are only minimally regulated. Every year people die or suffer injuries due to improper, careless, or reckless operation of scooters, jet-skis, and personal watercraft or scuba/snorkeling equipment. In addition, jet-ski operators have perpetrated sexual assaults against U.S. citizens.

You should rent equipment only from reputable operators, and insist on sufficient training before using the equipment. Travelers have reported that some operators do not actually provide insurance coverage even when the renter opted (and paid) for insurance coverage. You should insist on seeing proof that operators have sufficient medical and liability insurance and are properly licensed to operate in The Bahamas before renting any motorized or other vehicle.

As visitors, you should exercise caution and good judgment at all times. Do not engage in high-risk behavior such as excessive alcohol consumption, as it greatly increases your vulnerability to accidents or opportunistic crime. Do not accept rides from strangers or from unlicensed taxi drivers.

The threat of terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could take place in public areas, including places frequented by travelers.

Credit Card Fraud: The U.S. Embassy is aware of several recent instances of credit card fraud in The Bahamas. U.S. citizens have reported that they have received fraudulent credit card charges on their credit cards and that their respective credit card companies notified them of attempted fraud related charges on their accounts after using their card at various businesses in Nassau. The Embassy urges all U.S. citizens to check their credit and debit card accounts for any unusual activity. If you suspect fraudulent activity, contact your bank immediately to close the compromised credit card account and place a fraud investigation with your credit card company.

Spring Break Travelers: The Bahamas receives the third largest number of Spring Break visitors in the world. Please see our Spring Break Safety Pamphlet with tips on how to have a safe Spring Break vacation.

Real Estate and Sale of Property and other Business Transactions: The U.S. Embassy has received several reports from U.S citizens who purchased real estate, private vehicles, or private vessels and watercraft that became victims of a scam and could not get their money back. Some of the incidents reported include high-end real estate development projects on family islands where the development project was not completed and individuals could not get their money returned; there have been reports that after the final sale and purchase of property, a second individual appeared with a deed of trust claiming rights to the property, causing long legal disputes that sometimes pend for years and are not resolved in favor of the purchaser. 

Business transaction reports have also included reports of irregular rental car contracts or the rental of substandard vehicles, mechanics using one’s personal vehicle brought for repair for their own use, further damage and repair costs after depositing a vehicle at a repair shop, and individuals who reported they could not get their car back after bringing it to the mechanic. Although such incidents can occur in any country, U.S. citizens have complained of a lack of ability to get speedy assistance when such incidents occur to a visitor who is on the island for a temporary period of time. Compensation in such cases has been reported to be difficult if not impossible without incurring the additional expense of seeking legal action.

Time-Shares: When considering time-share investments, be cautious and aware of any aggressive tactics used by time-share sales representatives. Bahamian law allows time-share purchasers five days to cancel the contract for full reimbursement. Disputes that arise after that period can be very time-consuming and expensive to resolve through the local legal system. Please refer to Real Estate Matters in The Bahamas for further information on purchasing real estate.

To stay connected:

• Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program so we can keep you up to date with important safety and security announcements.
• Follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and Facebook.
• Bookmark the Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution.
• Follow the U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas on Twitter and visiting the Embassy’s website. .
• In the event of an emergency, contact us at 1-888-407-4747 toll-free within the U.S. and Canada, or via a regular toll line, 1-202-501-4444, from other countries.
• Take some time before traveling to consider your personal security and checking for useful tips for traveling safely abroad.