Ready for your trip? Below you'll find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions.
Why choose The Bahamas?
It’s very simple. The Bahamas offers an exceptional America-friendly yet “foreign”
international destination with world-class resorts and hotels constructed and operated to North American standards. The main destinations for meetings and incentives are located no more than 100 miles from the U.S. and are easily reached in under an hour from a variety of U.S. ports by land and by sea. Airports all conform to U.S. standards and all of the Islands of the Bahamas are within the security perimeter of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Both Nassau and Grand Bahama airports provide pre-clearance facilities for U.S. Customs and Immigration, making return flights to the U.S. just like a domestic arrivals, saving much time and aggravation retrieving, clearing and re-checking luggage.
U.S. and Bahamian currency are on a par and English is the national language of this former British colony, now an independent member of the Commonwealth with its own parliament, courts and executive branch. Credit cards are unquestioningly accepted in all stores and restaurants. Cable television broadcasts a wonderful range of primarily U.S. programming along with British, Bahamian and even German stations. Most important? Bahamians are a friendly people and all have close ties with family and friends in the U.S. and visit there often.
Which is best: Nassau, Grand Bahama, or Exuma?
As in Florida we offer a “World of Destinations” to suit anyone and any purpose. Nassau is the exciting, always moving capital of the nation with virtually round-the-clock excitement at world-class resorts such as Atlantis and The Ocean Club on adjacent Paradise Island, the traditional and heritage-dripping Hilton British Colonial Hotel downtown and the new and growing Baha Mar project on Cable Beach.
Grand Bahama Island offers a more relaxed atmosphere redolent of the soft and undisturbed tropical breezes and white shining sands of our Caribbean Dreams, yet with a smiling and welcoming population. The resorts here, particularly the Westin Grand Bahama Resort at Our Lucaya and the European-style Pelican Bay or Old Bahama Bay are certainly world-class, but also provide a more relaxed atmosphere to enjoy “doin’ nothin”!
Great Exuma Island, one of the true “Family Islands” offers an even more laid-back and relaxingly “native” atmosphere along miles of appealing untouched white sand beaches. Yet the Four Seasons Great Exuma Resort, provides every luxury experience we have come to expect wherever we are in the world!
Why Choose Sunbound?
You should use Sunbound for good reason! Sunbound provides you with your own “planner on the ground” in Florida and The Bahamas beginning well before program operation. We are consultative in nature but project paid so you have access to our planning and operations departments whenever you need them and pay for it with what you decide to buy from us.
We believe that for a successful outcome we must be concerned about the overall client program and not just the parts we do; providing a source of guidance and information. In addition, our unique “salesperson / serviceperson” concept assures that the same team that you worked with from the very first is still responsible for the operations on the ground. They know your expectations and assure that they are “realized” on the ground. Your own service team provides a virtual “insurance policy” during planning and operations.
We are knowledgeable of our islands, the services and capabilities offered by each island individually and have virtually hand-in-glove partnerships with all of the hotels and resorts. We know what works and what doesn’t work and tell you well in advance: There’s nothing worse than finding out you made the wrong choice when it’s way too late to do anything about it!
For the same reasons we are also strongly acknowledged as standing out and apart from our local competition.
Why use Sunbound instead of doing the arrangements for my group directly?
Founded in 1984, Sunbound is Florida and The Bahamas’ oldest and largest Destination Management Company and the fact that we are the oldest and are the largest means that we have provided and continue to provide the highest level of competency and local knowledge coupled with a North American sense of urgency. As many of our long-term staff first found Sunbound as customers of ours, it says a lot that they have now chosen to join our team. We’re proud of that.
Sunbound has made unparalled investments in offices in each of our destinations, including major construction and warehousing facilities in Fort Lauderdale, Nassau and Grand Bahama Island, where our on-island operations staff work closely with skilled carpenters and craftsmen to construct décor of our own concept and design and we can warehouse in climate-controlled spaces The Bahamas’ largest inventory of linens and centerpieces. When you need it right away, Sunbound usually has it “in the warehouse” or can make whatever “it” is.
What is the weather like in The Bahamas?
Average temperatures in the Bahamas range from 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit (27 to 32 degrees Celsius) in the summer to 70 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 27 degrees Celsius) in the winter. Winds across The Bahamas help keep the daytime cool and help lower the temperatures even further at night.
Will my cell phone work in The Bahamas?
Maybe! Telephone service in the islands is a monopoly of the semi-private Bahamas Telephone Company or BATELCO and thus not all cell phones work in the islands, although service is best on Grand Bahama Island and New Providence Island where Nassau and Paradise Island are located. The older technology TDMA system is still in use in The Bahamas and although BATELCO is quickly switching to the more modern GSM technology, there are still few properly equipped towers leaving coverage areas spotty.
“World Phones” most frequently carried by European or “overseas” visitors, even those with four bands do not work in The Bahamas unless home carriers have specifically signed Roaming agreements with BATELCO.
Those phone systems that do work do so through “Roaming” agreements with BATELCO, which can be hugely expensive. Cingular is the only carrier that works fairly well but not necessarily for all phone models. Frequently calls will be dropped or lines will ring busy when they are not. Also, circuits to the United States are generally overloaded and the incidences of a “fast ring” or an “All circuits are busy now…” recording are frequent.
BATELCO pre-paid phone cards may be purchased at the front desks of the major resorts if guests don't already own one. Calling cards purchased in the United States or Canada will not work in The Bahamas, although Sunbound can purchase Bahamian ones for you in advance for distribution by you to your executives, event staff or attendees. Clients often purchase customized BATELCO pre-paid cards with smaller sums in advance through Sunbound to give to their attendees so they can “Call the Kids” or loved ones at home without paying high hotel long distance “overseas” rates.
Sunbound can rent you trunked (long distance) or short range walkie talkies to you for use on island and will also rent you Bahama pre-paid cell phones. Pre-paid phone cards for these rentals may be purchased in advance or upon arrival in increments of $20, $50 and $100.
I've heard I have to pay an "airport departure tax" to fly into and out of the Bahamas. Is this true?
Yes, and it was usually collected right at the airline ticket counter upon check-in. However, this tax is now included in the cost of your airline ticket and your guests should have no additional fees or taxes to pay when flying.
How long is the transfer to our hotel from the airport?
Nassau International Airport Domestic or International Terminals or Millionaires Executive Airport to:
| Atlantis – Paradise Island or The One and Only Ocean Club |
35 to 40 minutes |
The Hilton British Colonial Hotel |
20 to 25 minutes |
Baha Mar Resorts on Cable Beach |
15 to 20 minutes |
South Ocean Resort |
45 to 60 minutes |
Grand Bahama International Airport Domestic or International Terminals or the Executive Airport:
| The Westin or Sheraton Grand Bahama Resorts at Our Lucaya |
15 to 20 minutes |
Pelican Bay Resort |
15 to 20 minutes |
Great Exuma Airport to:
| Four Seasons Great Exuma Resort at Emerald Bay |
35 to 40 minutes |
Do I need a passport to visit The Bahamas?
Effective January, 2007, the United States government requires that all persons (including citizens and residents) entering or returning to the United States must have a passport. This includes everyone whether traveling on business purposes or vacation. The airline bringing you to The Bahamas is required to assure that you have a valid passport with you as well as a pre-paid return ticket. The Bahamian Immigration authorities are then using your passport to establish proof of identity when you arrive as well.
Citizens of the USA, Canada and the British Commonwealth (formerly British colonies), European Union member countries, Belgium, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, The Netherlands, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Turkey, Chile, Denmark, Israel, Japan, South Korea (Rep), Namibia, Mexico, South Africa, Sweden, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela do not require visas for stays that are less than 30-days and in some cases as short as 14-days.
Citizens or residents of many other countries do require visas, including but not limited to former members of the Soviet Union, Cameroon, Ghana, India, North Korea, Republic of China, Taiwan, Mozambique, Nigeria and Pakistan.
In almost all cases if your attendees are coming from countries in which The Bahamas has located embassies or consulates, visa applications must be filed with the British Embassy Consular Services offices, or with the Bahamas High Commission in London. Fully detailed information can be found at these web sites:
If you are organizing a program including guests from outside the Northern Hemisphere, we strongly urge you to contact your Sunbound Sales Manager at the very earliest point so they can give you practical and realistic information concerning the application process for visas and the time necessary to obtain them and work with you to accomplish the formalities more quickly. Often our contacts at various levels of the Government and the High Commission can be utilized to spare you and your attendees a great deal of stress, and anxiety.
Where are The Bahamas?
The 700-islands of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas are geographically actually part of the Florida Keys and not the Caribbean. Nonetheless, their sub-tropical climate is more strongly influenced by the warm waters of the Gulf Stream than even Florida. Mostly the waters surrounding our islands are shallow enough to allow for convenient snorkeling and swimming. However, on the other hand, marine scientists consider the Bahamian “Tongue of the Ocean” to be the deepest fissure in the world’s ocean beds, plunging to depths yet uncharted!
How do we get the group there?
The islands are nestled close to the Florida mainland, with Grand Bahama Island being only about one-half-hour flying time from Fort Lauderdale, the major U.S. airline hub connecting to The Bahamas, and the flying time to Nassau being under an hour. The most frequent direct air service to Nassau and Grand Bahama Island is provided from Fort Lauderdale, then Miami, Palm Beach and Orlando, primarily by Continental Connection, operated by Gulfstream International Airlines. As code sharing partners, they also provide services for Northwest Airlines, United Airlines, USAir and Copa Airlines American Eagle Airlines serves Nassau and Grand Bahama Island from Miami and Fort Lauderdale while Bahamasair, the Bahamian national carrier, provides service from Miami or Fort Lauderdale to Nassau or Grand Bahama Island. Continental and American also have service directly to Great Exuma, while Bahamasair provides connecting service through Nassau. These services are normally provided by small commuter-style aircraft although they are extremely safe – and frequent. Jet service is generally provided from New York, Newark, Atlanta and some other U.S. airport hubs daily or less frequently by major U.S. air carriers. Scheduled flights from the United Kingdom and other western European airports are generally seasonal. We suggest that you call your travel department, travel agency or the airlines directly to obtain the most current scheduled lift projections for your travel dates.
Scheduled return flights are made much more convenient, especially for connecting passengers, by the existence of U.S. Customs and Immigration clearance facilities at both Nassau International and Grand Bahama International Airports.
In the event your group is sizable, please consult your Sunbound Sales Manager as far out as possible as we may be able to help you tie down required lift, schedule extra sections of existing flights or arrange for chartered flights.
The cruise/ferry Discovery sails on a regularly scheduled basis between Fort Lauderdale and Grand Bahama Island. At the current time there is no other water transport with passenger space operating between the U.S. and The Bahamas.
What about tips?
With regard to Skycap Gratuities or “porterage” at the Bahamian airport of arrival or departure, unless otherwise stated all gratuities are handled by Sunbound and the porters and baggage handlers at the airport assigned to your group will be clearly identified. They are being tipped by us on your behalf and guests should never in any way feel obligated to tip additionally. All Sunbound staff for all activities and services are well compensated and additional tipping at any time is strongly discouraged. Vehicle drivers are also tipped generously by Sunbound on your behalf using a system that rewards good service. Sunbound also has a “Driver of the Quarter” and “Driver of the Year” incentive program to recognize outstanding driver service and safety.
Do I have to exchange money to shop or go to a restaurant?
No. The Bahamian dollar is on a par and freely interchangeable with the U.S. Dollar. It is particularly convenient to visitors that when they pay in U.S. dollars they usually will get U.S. dollar change. Merchants do this as a convenience to our visitors. Bahamians normally pay in Bahamian currency and receive Bahamian change.
What happens if someone in my group gets sick or has to go to a doctor or hospital?
SUNBOUND provides a fully detailed Trauma and Sickness Plan to the planner with our Operations Program Book or “Line-by-Line”. We have pre-selected the best doctors, hospitals and pharmacies on our islands and carefully evaluated them so that only the most qualified provide care for the guests of our clients. We have carefully inspected the ambulance service we call and their ambulances for cleanliness, completeness of supplies and equipment and the knowledge of drivers and EMS personnel is also carefully evaluated. On a regular basis we freshly re-do our evaluations from start to finish and top to bottom. Our list contains the names and contacts of general practioners and specialists you can call for non-emergency situations, as well as 24-hour pharmacies.
In the event of an emergency or trauma situation, our staff knows who to call and always has cell phones immediately at hand to do so. For certain special activities we will bring an ambulance, EMS technician or first air specialist with appropriate equipment on site with us to be ready at hand. If your corporate security or medical personnel require it, we will take them on a tour of the facilities and equipment so they may satisfy themselves as to quality and competency.
We have also reviewed the credentials and certifications of air ambulance companies for emergency and non-emergency life-flight needs to bring patients back to the United States and can coordinate with most major South Florida hospitals to receive them. Should hospitalization be required after the group has returned home, we will do everything possible to work with you to assure that not only the patients, but their friends or family are supported as long as they must remain local.
Many American insurance companies’ policies are honored by Bahamian hospitals and doctors…and some are not. In the cases where they are not, we will help you to provide those facilities with corporate or company credit cards for deposits-on-account. In all events of this nature, Sunbound will work with your company or association to assist with formalities and solutions.
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