Bahamas

Bahamas Medical Tourism

Bahamas medical tourism is being developed by the Bahamian medical/healthcare industry and the Medical Association of the Bahamas

The Bahamas is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti), northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States. It is just a short flight away from the state of Florida. It is a country consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays and multiple islets made of rock. On many of the islands, tiny villages seem lifted from the Massachusetts coast and set down amongst palms and pines and iridescent sands. The Bahamas have an international reputation for sailing, with regattas and races held year-round. Beautiful beaches with amazing underwater reefs are vastly popular amongst vacationers and divers.

Bahamas Medical Tourism Fame

The Bahamian medical/healthcare industry and the Medical Association of the Bahamas worked very enthusiastically developing the medical industry and driving the effort to position this nation as a premier medical tourism destination.
The Bahamas have established facilities with exceptionally high standards, with a high-quality network offering highly-skilled doctors, state-of-the-art equipment and innovative treatment. It´s proximity to the U.S. makes it one of the top destinations for patients looking for exceptional medical care and a wonderful country. Some of the most popular procedures offered are Cardiac Surgeries, Total Knee/Hip Surgery Replacements, Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery and much more.

Climate

The Bahamas has a tropical maritime climate, which makes for generally year-round good weather. The Bahamas does not experience extremes of temperatures. In centrally situated New Providence, winter temperatures seldom fall much below 60F degrees and usually reach about 75F degrees in the day. In summer, temperatures usually fall to 78F degrees or less at night and seldom rise above 90F degrees during the day.

There are two seasons: summer which is from May thru September and winter which is from October thru April.

Currency

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

Visa / Entrance Requirements

U.S. and Canadian citizens must have a valid passport (valid at least 6 months from the date of entry) with a return or onward journey ticket in order to enter the Bahamas. A visa is not required for stays less than 90 days for citizens of most countries. You should check your countries regulations before planning your trip-
Airlines Servicing this Destination

A major gateway for the Bahamas, Nassau Airport is located on New Providence Island, near the capital city Nassau. Recently renamed Lynden Pindling International Airport, it is a hub for Bahamas Air. About 20 airlines use the airport, including many from the United States.

The following are some of the airlines servicing The Bahamas:

• American Airlines
• Bahamas Air
• Delta
• United Airlines
• Air Jamaica
• US Airways
• Continental
• Air Canada

Hotels

Since The Bahamas has tourist attractions scattered throughout the country, there are a range of accommodations along the islands.

There is a wide range of hotels to choose from. Several 3-4 star hotels will be available in several destinations. Luxurious 5 star hotels will impress you with their amazing details and attention, most of them with beautiful ocean views.

Communicating Home

The international access code for The Bahamas is 242.

When calling another country from the islands, remember to dial the outgoing international code of "011."

If you need to find a local number while in the Bahamas, call directory assistance by dialing "916." To call a location on the same island, dial the seven-digit local number. To call between islands, dial "1-242" plus the local seven-digit phone number.

Emergency Telephone Numbers

U.S. Embassy in Nassau:  (242) 322-1181, (242) 322-1181, acsn@state.gov
Sightseeing

Island cruises, sailing, diving or just laying down and enjoy the beautiful beaches are some of the activities you will enjoy at The Bahamas. There are city tours that will take you along the country to see Forts and beautiful gardens. It offers so many beauties you will be impressed with so much activities you can enjoy all day long

Shopping

Shopping in The Bahamas is a unique experience. Here, you’ll find distinctive authentically Bahamian items that reflect our heritage, our creativity, our passion. Nassau features stylish boutiques and our famed Straw Market, where local crafts, arts, ceramics, and spices make for nice souvenirs. Grand Bahama has large shopping centers filled with retail shops, straw vendors, hair braiders and artisans. And The Out Islands also have a variety of stores, offering local crafts and jewelry.

Nightlife and the Arts

Nightlife in The Bahamas could not be more interesting. The Bahamas sports four large casinos: two on New Providence: one at Cable Beach and the other on Paradise Island, and two on Grand Bahama: one in Freeport and the other in Lucaya.

For those who don't trust their luck, the casinos also offer brilliant shows with a native flair, the most popular of which is Paradise Island's Le Cabaret Theater.

In between casinos are hundreds of bars of every color, flavor and description, as well as night clubs which play everything from funky disco of the seventies to the latest rave hits of the nineties, till the wee hours of the morning.

For those who want a taste of the islands, almost every hotel offers local island entertainment that involves the guests, where visitors are invited to do the limbo, the dollar dance and the electric slide to the latest innovations in island music.