Bahamas Transport

Air
Nassau International Airport is located just 10 miles from the city centre and is the most significant air gateway into and out of the Bahamas. It’s a small airport with two terminals that handle a relatively large amount of air traffic; the majority of which flies between the Bahamas and the United States, although domestic and other international destinations are also served.

The facility is fairly basic in terms of services and amenities for passengers and is a long way from offering the comforts associated with major international airports. Besides a bank and ATMs, there’s a single restaurant in each terminal and a very small selection of shopping outlets; there’s nothing in the way of proper lounge facilities however. Each terminal has an information point to provide details about the airport and the Bahamas also.

There’s no public transportation serving the airport and the only options for onward travel to hotels and resorts are taxis or hire cars or free shuttle pick-ups.

Sea
A number of cruises stop en route in the Bahamas. It is possible to either depart or join a cruise from here. There are also a number of smaller companies which charter coats to and from the different islands of the commonwealth.

Air
There are a total of 19 airports spread across the main 12 Bahamian islands and domestic flights between them are provided by the national carrier Bahamasair. If you are travelling to one of the smaller and more obscure islands however, you won’t find any flights available so you’ll have to take a boat from a nearby island that has an airport. Charter flights from private airlines are also available between some of the islands.

Bus
Public bus services only serve the larger cities of the popular islands. You will not find any bus services on the smaller islands. Fares are cheap but don’t expect buses to be especially fast or on time even because like many things in the Caribbean, a relaxed, laid-back approach is taken to the services. There are also small minibuses around the Nassau and Freeport areas known as ‘jitneys’, these are privately owned vehicles which run to vague routes at best, picking up passengers along the way and making detours where necessary. Jitneys are also cheap and a good way to get to places that aren’t covered by the public buses.

Car
Car rental is not entirely necessary, depending on which island you are staying, and visitors may prefer to make use of taxis as they are more familiar with the road networks. Nassau airport however has a number of reputable car rental agencies so if you really feel like you need your own wheels then this would be a good place to hire them. Roads around the islands may leave something to be desired, especially outside of the cities and on the smaller islands, so visitors are advised to take extra care when driving to far out destinations.

Taxi
Taxis are readily available but are often shared affairs so be prepared to make a few stop-offs for other passengers before you reach your intended destination. Taxis are often badly maintained hence a bumpy ride is a common experience. Booking a taxi from your hotel is perhaps the best bet if you want to be guaranteed of a reasonable vehicle and prefer to travel exclusively.

Sea 
There are several options for getting between the islands by boat; the first is to make use of the mail boats, a service that is not really for the faint hearted and is comprised of 19 vessels owned by the Bahaman postal service that make their way around all of the major islands. You can expect to find yourself sat alongside livestock, fishing hauls and somebody’s annual rum supply while travelling on these boats and won’t find too much in the way of creature comforts; although there are small cabins with bunks in them for those prepared to pay extra. The alternative to the mail boats are the charter vessels that are commonly available. These can be an expensive way of getting between the islands but are far more comfortable and convenient and allow you to get on and off ships at your leisure calling at any cay (small island) that takes you fancy.