Bahamas Languages

Languages

English is the official language of the Bahamas and English speakers should have little trouble communicating with the locals. With that said, however, it should be noted that the Bahamian English dialects can be challenging to comprehend initially. In addition to the local dialects, there are also a large number of Hatians on the islands who speak a Caribbean Creole that will be incomprehensible to most visitors.

Many US cell phone companies offer roaming services on Grand Bahama and Nassau islands but coverage is limited or non-existant outside these areas. A Bahamas Telecommunications Company SIM card can be purchased for use on the major islands and handsets can also be rented.

International calling cards are widely available and provide greatly discounted rates for visitors calling home while in the Bahamas. To dial out of the Bahamas, dial +011 +country code.

The international access code for the Bahamas is +1 242.

Many hotels have internet access and there are also internet cafes in the major tourist areas. It is advisable to inquire about internet access when booking your hotel, however, and a network cable may come in handy.

Bahama Post provides a full-featured international postal service.