From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Bahamas Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Tue, 4 Nov 1997 15:03:29 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:1517 Path: world!bzs Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Message-ID: <199711041005_MC2-26B2-237A@compuserve.com> Content-Disposition: inline Precedence: bulk Sender: Wally Doerge <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Mime-Version: 1.0 Distribution: wstd Approved: usenet@world.std.com Lines: 110 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Bahamas ============================================================ The Bahamas - Consular Information Sheet November 4, 1997 Country Description: The Bahamas is a country of many islands and has a developing economy. Tourist facilities are widely available. Entry Requirements: Visas are not required for U.S. citizens for stays up to eight months; however, U.S. citizens must carry proof of U.S. citizenship, photo identification, and an onward/return ticket. Voter registration cards are not accepted as proof of citizenship. For further information concerning entry requirements, U.S. citizens may contact the Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, 2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, tel. (202) 319-2660 or The Bahamas consulate in Miami or New York. Medical Facilities: Medical care is generally good in Nassau and in Freeport, but may be limited in remote areas. Doctors and hospitals usually expect immediate cash payment for health services. There is a chronic shortage of blood at Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, where most emergency surgery is performed. Travelers with rare blood types should know the names and location of possible blood donors should the need arise. U.S. medical insurance is not always valid outside the U.S. Supplemental medical insurance with specific overseas coverage, including medical evacuation, has proved to be helpful. Information on health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's international travelers hotline at (404) 332-4559. Internet: http://www.cdc.gov. Crime Information: Visitors should exercise normal caution and good judgment when visiting The Bahamas. Although violent crime is on the increase, most incidents take place in a part of Nassau or Freeport not usually frequented by tourists (the Over-the-Hill area in Nassau). Hotel guests should always lock their doors and should never leave valuables unattended, especially on beaches. Visitors should store passport/identity documents, airline tickets, unused credit cards, and extra cash in hotel safes, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry, particularly Rolex watches which have been targeted increasingly by criminals. Visitors should not travel alone on deserted areas of beaches and poorly lit areas at night. Tourists who arrive by private boat are required to declare firearms to Bahamian Customs and leave firearms on the boat while in The Bahamas. For further information on firearms in The Bahamas, please contact the Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Boaters should be aware that long-line fishing in Bahamian waters is illegal. All long-line fishing gear is required to be stowed below deck while transiting through Bahamian waters. The loss or theft of a U.S. passport overseas should be reported to the local police and the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. A lost or stolen U.S. birth certificate and/or driver's license generally cannot be replaced outside the U.S. Useful information on guarding valuables and protecting personal security while traveling abroad is provided in the Department of State pamphlet, "A Safe Trip Abroad." Both this pamphlet and "Tips for Travelers to The Caribbean" are available from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402. Drug Penalties: U.S. citizens are subject to the laws of the country in which they are traveling. Criminal penalties for possession, use, or dealing in illegal drugs are strict, and convicted offenders can expect lengthy jail sentences and fines. Traffic Safety and Road Conditions: Road conditions throughout Nassau and Freeport are generally good. Road travel in other parts of The Bahamas is limited. All drivers, especially those on mopeds, must remember to drive on the left side of the road. Pedestrians should also be aware when stepping off curbs that vehicular traffic comes from the right. Death and serious injuries have occurred when visitors have lapsed in adapting to unfamiliar rules of the road. Aviation Oversight: In April 1992, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration assessed The Bahamas' Civil Aviation Authority as being in compliance with international aviation safety oversight standards for Bahamian carriers operating to and from the U.S. The same level of safety oversight would typically be applied to operations to other destinations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation at tel. (800) 322-7873. Registration/Embassy Location: U.S. citizens may register with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in The Bahamas, located next to McDonald's Restaurant on Queen Street in downtown Nassau; tel. (242) 322-1181 and 328-2206. The U.S. Embassy is also responsible for consular services in the Turks & Caicos Islands, a dependency of the United Kingdom. U.S. citizens may obtain from the U.S. Embassy updated information on travel and security in The Bahamas and the Turks & Caicos. No. 97-154 This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated November 18, 1996, to update the sections concerning country description, entry requirements, medical facilities and crime information. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- The "travel-advisories@stolaf.edu" mailing list is the official Internet and BITNET distribution point for the U.S. State Department Travel Warnings and Consular Information Sheets. To unsubscribe, send a message containing the word "unsubscribe" to: travel-advisories-request@stolaf.edu Archives of past "travel-advisories" postings are available at the URL: "http://www.stolaf.edu/network/travel-advisories.html" or via Gopher: gopher.stolaf.edu, Internet Resources/US-State-Department-Travel-Advisories