How to get to the Bahamas. How to get to the Bahamas

Probably the Bahamas is one of the most mysterious islands, densely ingrained in our heads since childhood, as something distant, chic and unattainable ... And indeed, it turned out that getting to the Bahamas is not so easy.

The first thing I did was, of course, I tried in our search engine ... but it wasn’t there - the search engine gives out literally two or three hotels, and even then only accommodation and most often without a flight! It became clear:

1. Russian tour operators practically do not travel to the Bahamas
2. you can book a hotel either through a tour operator or directly through the hotel metasearch
3. You will also have to deal with the search and purchase of air tickets yourself.

What about accommodation?

In ours, I managed to find the cheapest accommodation option (with a flight) for 7 nights at The Orange Hill Inn 2 *, Nassau for 195,000 rubles (without meals), Sandals Royal Bahamian 5 * hotel, Nassau it will cost from 208,216 rubles for only 5 nights, but already with AI meals (All inclusive) - the search is relevant at the beginning of March 2018... but what about metasearch?

Our hotel metasearch returned the following results:

1. - from 47 800 for 7 nights (breakfast included)

2. - from 35 900 for 7 nights (without meals)

It is important to note that when buying a ready-made tour through a tour operator, the price includes not only accommodation, but also transfer to and from the hotel, medical insurance, guide services and sometimes travel cancellation insurance, while when booking a hotel through a metasearch - only accommodation and sometimes breakfast.

What about air tickets?

With air tickets to the Bahamas, everything turned out to be not easy - despite the presence of (at least three) large airports in the Bahamas, there are no direct flights from Russia, not by regular flights, nor by charters. What are the options?

There are not many options. With one transfer, you can fly to the Bahamas via London or via the USA, but in the latter case, you will need to obtain a transit American visa. There are other options with two ... and even three connections, but I will focus on the option with one transfer. So:

1. - a ticket for one person costs from 43,000 rubles. (travel time from 15 hours, including transfers, to infinity ... but on average about 23-24 hours). There are also flight options with a change in Miami (MIA), but the flight is much more expensive - from 69,000 rubles.
2. To the Bahamas through the UK, London (LHR) - a ticket for one person costs from 77,000 rubles. (journey time from 16 hours including connection and up to...)

Thus, it is cheaper through the USA, but you will have to spend money and it is not known how long it will take to obtain a transit American visa.

What about transfer and insurance?

I managed to find - by shuttle about 19 euros one way per person ... if you wish, you can order a limousine for 166 euros one way (travel time about 30 minutes).

It will cost only about 1500 rubles for two.

By the way, if you are already vacationing in Miami or planning a vacation there, you will be interested that there is a daily ferry from Fort Lauderdale (half an hour from Miami) to the Bahamas - the Bahamas Express, which arrives on the island of Grand Bahama (Grand Bahamas). The price of a one-way ticket is 75 US dollars. Travel time from 2.5 to 3 hours:

• Departure from Fort Lauderdale 8:00 - p life about. Grand Bahama - 11:00.
• Departure from about. Grand Bahama 19:00 - p life Fort Lauderdale - 22:00.

What about visa?

Russians do not need a visa to the Bahamas, provided that you plan to rest in the Bahamas for no more than 3 months. However, it is worth remembering that if you decide to fly through the United States, you will definitely need to apply for a transit American visa.

How to eat?

The food industry in the Bahamas is represented quite widely - from local cafes and global fast food chains to medium and expensive restaurants. A set lunch, for example, at McDonald's will cost you about 6.5 Bahamian dollars, the average bill in an inexpensive cafe is 10-15 Bahamian dollars per person, and lunch or dinner in a mid-range restaurant will cost about 60-70 Bahamian dollars. By the way, the rate of the Bahamian dollar is rigidly pegged to the US dollar at a ratio of 1:1.

• Accommodation for two from 47 800 rubles.
• Round-trip flight through London for two from 152,000 rubles.
• Round-trip shuttle transfer about 5,000 rubles.
• Travel insurance for two from 1,500 rubles.
• Meals according to your requests))

In total it turns out that minimum budget for a trip to the Bahamas excluding purchases, excursions and meals, about 200,000 rubles with independent planning. The purchase price of a ready-made tour is comparable in price, but in this case, all the worries fall on the travel agency.

I hope I didn’t scare anyone))) After all, all the difficulties in planning a trip to the Bahamas are more than compensated by the stunning beauty of the Bahamas and the unique atmosphere.

Look how beautiful:

Turquoise lagoons, warm sand and palm trees Bahamas. Bahamas (West Indies) includes thirty big islands and hundreds of small coral islands. Throughout the year, tourists flock to the islands for the mild climate of tropical nature. But unfortunately, Russian travelers it’s not so easy to get to the Bahamas - there are no direct flights from Russia. How to get to the Bahamas? From Russia, the islands can only be reached by transit routes. The easiest way to get to the Bahamas from USA. Some airlines constantly fly from several American cities - Dallas, Miami, Chicago, New York and others.

You can also get to the islands if you fly through Europe, for example - British Airways flies London (UK) - Nassau (Bahamas) a couple of times a week. There are also flights through Cuba, which has regular communication with the islands. There are several airports in the Bahamas, the most frequently used are international Grand Bahama airport and international Nassau airport. You can also get to the Bahamas by ferry service, as the shores of America and the Bahamas are connected by a constant ferry service. There is a regular ferry from Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Freeport, Bahamas. The duration of such a ferry trip is approximately 3 hours, although it may vary depending on weather conditions. There are two classes of service on the ferry - first class and economy class. The approximate cost of an economy class trip is $75. When purchasing a ticket for reverse side, an exit tax of 18 US dollars is added to its cost. Also, you will need to provide supporting documents, or US citizenship (or Green Card) if any. But, it is easier and faster to use air transit routes.

To visit the islands Residents of Russia do not need a visa and an invitation, maximum term stay ninety days. Required document is a valid passport, and for crossing the border - tickets in the opposite direction and documents confirming the solvency of the visitor. However, if the intended period of stay exceeds ninety days, then a visa must be obtained. A visa is issued in advance, details of registration can be found at the British Embassy.

Bahamas on the map

Public transport in the Bahamas, apart from aircraft, is almost non-existent. Airports are located on major islands, internal communication between the islands is carried out regularly. But, the flight schedule is constantly changing and updating, so it is better to check the flight time in advance. In larger cities, you can use the private taxi service. Such a taxi is equipped with a meter, and a fixed price is set for sightseeing trips - about twenty dollars. There are also cars for rent, in order to rent a car you need an international driver's license. The minimum driving age is 21 years old. In addition to the car, you can rent a scooter and a bicycle. You can pay in addition to cash credit card. In addition, the islands are connected by ferries. But, they are few. You can also rent a private boat, of course, it is not as comfortable as a ferry, but it is interesting and exciting.

The Bahamas (Bahamas) is an archipelago of 700 islands and 2,000 coral reefs. The Bahamas are north of the Caribbean Sea and Cuba and southeast of the Florida peninsula. And although in many prospectuses they write that the Bahamas are washed by by the caribbean, this is not true. The Bahamas are washed by the waters Atlantic Ocean. However, numerous coral reefs White sand beaches, warm water make the Bahamas very similar to the Caribbean.

Of the 30 inhabited islands, the main life in the Bahamas takes place on five islands. These are the next islands.

New Providence (New Providence) - the island on which it is located capital of the Bahamas - Nassau. From Nassau to Miami 297 km, from Nassau to Havana (Cuba) 555 km

Most big Island Bahamas - Andros (Andros), another famous large island Grand Bahama (Grand Bahama). The second largest city in the Bahamas Freeport (Free Port) is located on the island of Grand Bahama.

And 2 more inhabited islands - a group of islands Bimini (Bimini) - the islands closest to American Florida, Inagua (Inagua) - these are the islands farthest from the USA.

On the territory of the Bahamas archipelago is the state of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, which is part of the British Commonwealth. Consequently, the head of state here is the Queen of Great Britain, represented on the islands by the Governor General.

Do I need a visa for the Bahamas?

Citizens of Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Moldova to visit the Bahamas a visa is not required if they plan to stay in the state for no more than 90 days and are not going to work in the Bahamas. All others need to obtain a visa at the British Consulates and Embassies, according to the standard requirements of this country.
To cross the border, you need: a foreign passport, a return ticket or a ticket to a third country, as well as funds sufficient to live in the Bahamas. Islands without visas

How long is the flight to the Bahamas?

There is no direct flight to the Bahamas from Moscow, you can fly through London, or through Miami. From Miami to Nassau, the plane flies for about an hour. The net flight time from Moscow to Nassau is about 13-14 hours. Any transfer to the US will require a US transit visa.

History of the Bahamas

The first settlers in the Bahamas were Indians from South America- Lucayans, they all died from disease and deprivation during the first 25 years of the colonization of the New World. Watling Island (San Salvador) was the first territory of the New World, discovered by Columbus. This significant event took place on October 12, 1492.
For about 130 years the Bahamas were uninhabited, only in 1648 a group of English Puritans led by William Sale arrived here. In 1666, the city of New Providence was founded by the Puritans, which became an important transit point on the way from Europe to the Caribbean. At the same time, legally, the Bahamas remained Spanish until 1783.
At the end of the XVII-beginning of the XVIII centuries. The Bahamas turned into a free pirate republic, the city of Nassau became the main base for pirates and privateers. Here, among others, the legendary pirate Blackbeard settled. The end of the pirate republic was put by the British governor Woods Rogers in 1719.
When the war for independence began in the United States, a stream of refugees poured into the Bahamas who wanted to remain subjects of the British crown. In a few years, the population of the islands has tripled. After the abolition of slavery in 1807, freed slaves arrived in the Bahamas.
During civil war in the United States, the Bahamas became a raw material base for southerners, and during Prohibition, alcohol was smuggled through the islands.
Tourism in the Bahamas began to develop thanks to the Second World War, it was during the war that American tourists were drawn to the islands. Also, the tourist popularity of the Bahamas contributed to the revolution in Cuba, which closed the resorts there for citizens of the United States and European countries.
The Bahamas gained independence on July 10, 1973.

the site recommends planning a flight and ordering air tickets for Moscow Bahamas in advance.
The best option would be to search for tickets one and a half to two months before the trip, this will not only allow you to choose the most convenient flight but it's good to save money.

How to buy a cheap flight to the Bahamas from Moscow

The price of a plane ticket today is highly dependent on the following factors:

The site's flight search engine handles many offers from online agencies and airlines. Allows you to quickly compare prices and book the best flight option from Moscow to the Bahamas.

TicketsPlus will help you find the best option among hundreds of offers and buy the cheapest flights. According to statistics, our service helps save 82% of passengers.

How airfare is formed

The air ticket search system analyzes information about all available 30 airlines, routes and tariffs of air carriers. Availability of business and economy class tickets is checked in real time.

Data on special offers of all air alliances, discounts, promotions and sales for regular and charter flights are taken into account.

According to our statistics, the average flight price for Moscow Bahamas is 32110 rub.

The dependence of the ticket price on the day of the week and time of day

Usually the most expensive tickets on the plane they sell 2 weeks before departure. Also, the price may vary depending on the day of the week and the time of day on which the flight is operated. Friday and Sunday evening tickets are more expensive than mid-week early morning tickets. If you fly on weekends, the cost of tickets for the Moscow-Bahamas plane can reach 38983 rub.

The Bahamas is an archipelago of marvelous beauty located in the West Indies, in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. With the name of the Bahamas, tourists from all over the world have dreams of luxury vacation. And this is not surprising - having been here, you will not be able to forget this tropical paradise. Any entertainment awaits you at this resort: chic restaurants and high-end shops, night bars and exciting discos on the beach, cocktails from the best rum in the world and swimming with dolphins. And those who are crazy about tropical nature will love the magical gardens of Adastra and the local zoo - here you can walk along the hanging paths and admire the most amazing animals in natural conditions, because there is a real jungle around!

The capital of the Bahamas, Nassau, is located on the main island of the New Providence archipelago. This is not only a business, but also the historical center of the state. There are many monuments of the Victorian era. For example, the famous Royal Staircase leading to Fort Charlotte - it is made of limestone and is insanely interesting for its tunnels, passages and dungeons.

How to get to the Bahamas

The easiest and fastest way is to use the air route. There are no direct flights from Russia to the Bahamas, but there are various transit routes. The easiest way to fly to the Bahamas is from America, which is in the neighborhood. From many American cities (such as Dallas, Atlanta, New York, Miami, Chicago and some others) there are regular flights to the Bahamas. Another option is to fly through Cuba, which also has regular flights to the Bahamas.

And you can get to the Bahamas from England - London-Nassau flights are made two or three times a week. If you want to enjoy a sea voyage, use the ferry service - every day at 8 am from the port of Fort Lordale (Florida) a ferry leaves for Freeport in the Bahamas.

Visa

Citizens of the Russian Federation do not need a visa or an invitation to travel to the Bahamas. You can stay on the islands for up to 90 days, you only need to have a valid passport (also, when crossing the border, you will have to present return tickets and confirm your ability to pay). For citizens of other CIS countries (excluding Moldova, Armenia and Azerbaijan) a visa must be obtained. Details can be found at the British Embassy.

Transport in the Bahamas

Almost non-existent in the Bahamas public transport except, of course, aircraft. There are airports on several major islands, domestic flights produced constantly. But it is better to find out about the flight time in advance - here the flight schedule is often changed. There are private taxis in big cities. Cars are necessarily equipped with a meter, but if you want to see the sights, a fixed price is set (12-20 dollars). The most convenient way is to rent a car. To do this, you only need an international driving license. Age limit - 21 years old, you can pay both by credit card and in cash. And if you can't afford a car, you can rent a scooter, even a bicycle. Ferries run between the islands, but there are not many of them. You can hire a private boat for the crossing - not so comfortable, but exciting.

Climate in the Bahamas

The Bahamas are located in a tropical climate zone, you can enjoy spending time here at any time of the year. The equatorial wind always blows from the southeast, and the warm waters of the Gulf Stream wash the western part of the islands. There is no rainy season here, and the average air temperature on the islands is about 25-26 degrees Celsius. The only period when it rains more often is from May to October (at this time even tropical hurricanes occur). best time summer is considered to be a visit to this paradise - from May to the end of November.

Kitchen

Bahamian cuisine is truly a multinational cuisine. In its formation, in addition to the original local customs, American, Caribbean, British and African culinary traditions took part. As a result, that very colorful explosive mixture of tastes was formed, which is called Bahamian cuisine today. The most expensive and elite dish in the Bahamas is spiny lobster. In general, seafood is very widely used in local cuisine, but this particular lobster is a rarity, it is caught only in certain months (and it is not easy to catch it!). It is prepared with fresh coconut pulp, spicy curry sauce and lemon sauce.

A sea snail called "konk" is the main ingredient for many recipes of the national Bahamian cuisine. Salads, snacks, hot dishes, and even thick stews are prepared from it. For dessert, you will be offered local exotic fruits, and the most unusual sweet dish is guava pudding. Its taste is unforgettable, but this dessert is also quite expensive (the process of making it is very complicated and takes a lot of time).

Bahamas Hotels

The bulk of luxury five-star hotels are located in Nassau and Freeport. The service in them is of the highest level - after all, so many rich and demanding customers come to the Bahamas. Despite the serious prices, rooms in such hotels are in great demand, so it is better to book a room in advance. More modest hotels are no less popular. The all-inclusive system is often found here.

Shopping and shops

The Bahamas are included in the duty-free trade zone, so here you can buy inexpensive goods of famous brands, branded clothing and jewelry. If you want to bring home a local souvenir - visit the "straw market" in Nassau. There, right in front of your eyes, a real miracle of straw will be created.

Money

The Bahamian dollar is the local currency, but the US dollar has equal circulation in the country. For currency exchange, there are many special points in hotels, shops and airports. Banks on central islands they work on weekdays (from 9 to 15), but on the periphery it often happens that banks are open 1-2 days a week. Credit cards of all kinds are accepted for payment literally everywhere.

Beaches in the Bahamas

The beaches in the Bahamas stretch along the entire coast - it's silky white sand, clear turquoise sea and the rustle of emerald green palm trees. It does not matter whether you choose a comfortable beach at the hotel, or a quiet, wild place - you will have an unforgettable time.