Special advice…
In every travel guide and independent travel forum there should be stated that majority of those who have taken vacation in Nassau and Paradise Island would no way recommend this trip to their family members and friends. Practical experience has shown that interest that was aroused having read promotional material, did not prove out when visiting the place.

1. Unfortunately, when visiting The Bahamas, only superficial friendliness is felt, as essentially there they look only at the tourist’s money. Improper service has been criticized as well. The vacationer feels that previously existing pirating is still there. Bahamians are often compared to the chameleons that change the color of their skins according to the situation.

2. Even though supposedly not expensive proposal of the tourist trip has been acquired, the tourist can expect too high expenses in the recuperation place. The price – service ratio is actually not adequate.

3. The Bahamas have also been criticized due to the fact that very often it is described as paradise of tax. Duties and taxes in hotels increase expenses of vacations very much. Even local goods are unaccountably expensive, when you think that a box of beer costs almost 36 US dollars – at that is for small 0.33 liter bottles. Even right before departure one has to pay departure taxes.

4. Criminality, widely spread corruption and first place in drug sales meet the eye as well. Homicide rate is among the highest in the world. It surprises even more, as criminality level in smaller communities due to less anonymity is usually noticeably lower. Tourists from America and Canada are also the victims.

5. Any normally thinking tourist can hardly imagine how strongly rooted is injustice in The Bahamas. Familial companies, immoral trade and corruption are appreciated as values to pursue for one layer of society only, but tolerated nonetheless by majority of other residents. Especially attempts are made to cash in on white foreigners.

6. Even though racism directed towards white tourists is not publicly discussed, but citizens, the legal profession, the commissioner of police and the minister should still raise the question, whether they are adapting racial approach. Ask the prime minister, what kind of honor could he express towards foreign tourists?

7. Contrary to the information found in glitzy brochures, Bahamas’ tourism supply to the vacationers is experiencing failure. For example, its capital Nassau, supposedly the most convenient place for cruisers to tie up, is only among the last third of the most popular ones, due to the ramshackle houses, dirty beaches and disappointing diving excursions. The US ships come there only because it is close to the US coast.

8. Unfortunately, many of Bahamian travel boards are influenced by the Bahamian travel mafia. They take care that the criticizing comments will be deleted and leave only the positive ones. Those who are involved in such bulletin boards are selling various books about traveling or tourism trips, therefore it is of their interest to eliminate the negative messages from forum and on the other hand they leave incorrect comments.

9. The Bahamas has been praised as a place for vacations during all seasons of the year, even though in summer it is unbearably hot there even for locals, and vacation in winter, when cooler wind is blowing and it can often rain for weeks, can disappoint those who expect to have rest on the beach. After a storm restoration of electricity supply may take weeks, and cleaning works – months. Tourists who have been in The Bahamas during the time of hurricane are telling of their negative memories.

10. The truth is that positive publications do not always match the reality and that vacations in Bahamas are very expensive - until parity of the US dollar remains. Purchasing power of the US dollar in Bahamas is about only 50 cents.

Read several messages that have been deleted from Bahamian travel boards. You can also visit the following sites on the Internet www.Fodorstalk.uk.tc or www.my-caribbean-on-line.net.tc, or read commentaries about the Bahamas on http://www.travelboard.net.tc/.

The Bahamas Reporter

What a crock of Sh!t ...
What are you smokin' these day's Harald?
You are no reporter, expert or even human. You misrepresent and misinform to hurt the people of the bahamas because of your own mean vendetta. Take it somewhere else.
This is getting old... your facts aren't even half right.

i have now read about 100 reviews about the bahamas. the FACT is that a significant majority of them TRUTHFULLY expose the bahamas for what it is...an expensive/overpriced travel destination for the average traveler. BUT, if you have money to blow (aren't worried about value), you can still have a good time...