Ground Transportation

TAXIS

The Ministry of Transportation set taxi fares, and meters are required. The current rate is a base of $3.40 plus 40 cents for each additional one quarter mile for up to two passengers. Each additional passenger is $2.00. Taxis are available for charter at a rate of $25-$30 per hour, depending on the size.

BUS SERVICE

Grand Bahama public bus service is privately operated by individuals or companies. A most common form of transportation is a bus which seats up to 25 persons. They are limited to operate only on major thoroughfares in the Freeport/Lucaya area and the outlying settlements. They cannot service residential areas nor any tourist related centers or establishments directly. Regular service is 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Current fare is $1.00 per person, per trip.

RENTALS

Most international car rental agencies operate in Freeport/Lucaya. Rates range from $42 to $125 per day. Vehicles include four door sedans, jeeps and vans.

Motor scooters are rented for $40.00 per day, $24.00 for up to two hours or $30.00 for half-day rental. Deposit is $100.00.

Bicycles can also be rented for $15.00 per day. Deposit is $50.00.

Air & Sea Transport

Grand Bahama Island is just 20 minutes by jet from Miami. International travelers need only to connect with the Miami hub or other major hubs within the northeaster U.S. to have direct access to Grand Bahama Island.

The Grand Bahama Airport Company is the largest private airport in the world. Many major international airlines are based at this airport. Day long shuttles to Miami, West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale are available through most airlines. There are several direct charters to major cities in the US

Inter-island transportation is provided by Bahamasair, the national carrier, which services 16 family islands and some US cities.

Grand Bahama Island is equipped with a deep water harbour which can facilitate luxury and commercial vessels and among other services, provides wet docking. Currently some 5 cruise ships call on Freeport with regularity.

The Mailboat service is also a means of inter-island freight transportation. Some locals do also use the mailboat as transportation. Other freight servicing boats to Freeport/Lucaya are The Bahamas Sky and the Marcella III which have weekly service between Freeport and Nassau.

Private air charters are available through Taino Air and many other private operators.

Cost of Living

There are no income taxes in The Bahamas. National Insurance is the only modest deductions for employees. Most Government revenues are obtained from Customs Duties on imported goods.

Freeport, Grand Bahama imports 90% of all consumer goods from the US Its cost of living therefore, is directly tied to US Consumer Price Index. At the same time most luxury items imported from Europe are some 20 percent lower than US manufacturers' prices because of exemption from middleman costs and manufacturers' concessions for standard duty free prices.

Customs Regulations for Visitors

Pre-Clearance Facilities are available at Grand Bahama International Airport facilities for both Customs and Immigration. There are several such facilities throughout The Bahamas.

UNITED STATES: Residents, including minors, may take home purchases of up to $600 in retail value free of duty if they have been out of the US for more than 48 hours and have not taken up the exemption within 30 days. The Exemption may include one litre of alcoholic beverage. A family may pool exemptions if living in the same household.

Unsolicited gifts of less than $10 and marked as such, may be sent to the United States duty free. Not more than one gift may be shipped to the same person. Liquor, perfumes and tobacco may not be sent in this manner.

CANADA: Residents who have absent from the country for 40 hours or more, may import up to $50.00 worth of merchandise free of duty, which must be claimed through a passenger. The exemption, which must be claimed through a written declaration, is allowed once only in each of the following periods: January 1 to March 31; April 1 to June 30; July 10 to September 30; and October 1 to December 31.

A person who has been outside Canada for seven days or more may claim duty exempted goods valued at not more than $300.00 once each calendar year. Goods acquired in The Bahamas or outside the continent of North America may be shipped separately but must be declared on arrival in Canada.

To be duty free, purchases must have been made for personal use, or for household use or gifts. They cannot be imported duty-free if they are to be resold. This a requirement of both US and Canadian Customs Regulations.

UNITED KINGDOM: Residents returning from any country outside the EEC may take home duty-free 50 gram (1/21b) of tobacco, or cigarettes, or 100 cigarillos or 100 cigars, plus a litre of spirits, or 2 litre of fortified or sparking wine, plus, 2 litre of still table wine. The importation into the United Kingdom of some goods is prohibited or restricted. These include counterfeit coins, dangerous drugs, firearms and ammunition, flick-knives, plant and bulb, radio transmitters (including walkie talkies), meat and poultry (not fully cooked), an alive animals.