Meet Grand Bahama: Facts & Figures
This blog starts a weekly series of posts on getting to know Grand Bahama. Why should you visit? Why should you invest in real estate in Grand Bahama? Why and how could you move to Grand Bahama? Over the next few weeks, we’ll try to give you the basic information and links to answer those questions.
Many thanks to Bahamas.com for their resources.
Where is Grand Bahama? The island is 55 miles east of the Florida coast, 96 miles long from east to west; 17 miles across at its widest point with a population of about 50,000.
What currency is used on Grand Bahama? The Bahamas’ unit of currency is the Bahamian dollar ($B) which is based on the U.S. dollar. One Bahamian dollar equals 100 Bahamian cents (pennies). As the Bahamian and U.S. dollars are equivalent (1 $B = 1 $US), residents or visitors may spend either Bahamian or U.S. dollars in the Bahamas. Outside the Bahamas, Bahamian money is not too valuable (trading at times at nearly half its face value), except as a popular collector item, so make sure to get rid of all your Bahamian dollars before you leave.
What time zone is observed in Grand Bahama? All the islands use EST, and they do observe daylight savings time, which starts March 8, 2009.
Which language is most widely used in the Bahamas? The main language is English, with some colorful native terms, and there is no official 2nd language. Visit the Bahamas Guide for popular slang words.
What medical facilities are available on Grand Bahama? The Rand Memorial Hospital, located in Freeport, serves as a primary health care centre for the island. Grand Bahama has all the advanced medical facilities one would expect in a modern city with clinics and hospitals. It also contains state-of-the-art treatment centers.
When is the best time to visit Grand Bahama? In September through May, the temperature on the Island averages 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit; the rest of the year is warmer, with temperatures between 80 and 85 degrees. Nighttime temperatures are generally cooler by 5-7 degrees.
Will my cell phone work in Grand Bahama? According to Bahamas Travel Info, you can purchase a a “Cybercell” Bahamas Prepaid SIM Card from BTC (The Bahamas Telecommunications Company). The SIM card, together with a tri-band unlocked GSM cell phone, will allow you to have a local cell phone number for the Bahamas while paying local rates - no roaming charges and no service contract. Many shops will unlock your US cell phone for a small fee and without much of a wait
About 75% of US cell phone plans have roaming in Grand Bahama. Most foreign cell phone service plans will not usually work within The Bahamas.
Is there Internet service on Grand Bahama? The Bahamas government monopoly and regulation of the telephone communications sector, effectively granted a monopoly to the government-owned and controlled BaTelCo. With the introduction of broadband competitors, like Cable Bahamas, the situation has improved drastically for Internet users.
You can see from these basic facts that the Grand Bahama is a modern island ready for your visit. Check our blog next week for a post on the history of Grand Bahama.