From: owner-travel-advisories Subject: NEW TRAVEL INFO -- Bahamas Newsgroups: wstd.travel.advisories Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 20:48:21 GMT Organization: The World @ Software Tool & Die Xref: world wstd.travel.advisories:2037 Path: world!bzs Message-ID: <199812301550_MC2-6515-883A@compuserve.com> Sender: "U.S. Department of State" <76702.1202@compuserve.com> Approved: usenet@world.std.com Distribution: wstd Precedence: bulk Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-List-Info: LN=travel-advisories WHOM=76702.1202@compuserve.com Content-Disposition: inline Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Mime-Version: 1.0 Lines: 131 STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL INFORMATION - Bahamas ============================================================ Bahamas - Consular Information Sheet December 29, 1998 COUNTRY DESCRIPTION: The Bahamas is a country of many islands, and it 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 original documentation proving U.S. citizenship (a valid or expired passport, a certified U.S. birth certificate or a Certificate of Naturalization), as well as photo identification and an onward/return ticket. Voter registration cards are not accepted as proof of citizenship. There is an airport departure tax of $15 (U.S.) for travelers age six years and older. For further information concerning entry requirements, travelers may contact the Embassy of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, 2220 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008, telephone (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 it 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 in 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. Visitors with very serious injuries or illnesses are evacuated by air to hospitals in Florida. 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 vaccinations and other health matters can be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions international travelers hotline at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (877-394-8747), fax 1-888-CDC-FAXX,(888-232-3299), or by visiting the CDC Internet home page at http://www.cdc.gov. CRIME INFORMATION: Visitors should exercise normal caution and good judgment when visiting The Bahamas. Violent crime is on the increase in Nassau and in Freeport. Visitors are generally not targeted, but occasionally those who wander from the popular tourist areas have become victims. Crime rates are low in all islands other than New Providence/Nassau and Grand Bahamas/Freeport. Hotel guests should always lock their doors and should never leave valuables unattended, especially on beaches. Visitors should store passport/identity documents, airline tickets, unneeded credit cards, and extra cash in hotel safes, and avoid wearing expensive jewelry, particularly Rolex watches that 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. Penalties for firearms violations are severe and are strictly enforced. 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 must be stowed below deck while transiting through Bahamian waters. Fishermen should be aware that strict penalties are imposed for catching crawfish (lobster) and other marine life out of season. 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 adequate, but motorists should be aware that road construction sites are not always properly marked. 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. Moped and bicycle riders are strongly advised to wear helmets. Pedestrians should also be aware when stepping off curbs that vehicular traffic comes from the right. Death and serious injuries have occurred when visitors lapsed in adapting to unfamiliar rules of the road. AVIATION OVERSIGHT: The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has assessed the government of The Bahamas' Civil Aviation Authority as Category 1 -- in compliance with international aviation safety standards for oversight of The Bahamas' air carrier operations. For further information, travelers may contact the Department of Transportation within the U.S. at telephone (800) 322-7873, or visit the FAA's Internet web site at http://www.faa.gov/avr/iasa.htm. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) separately assesses some foreign air carriers for suitability as official providers of air services. For information regarding the DOD policy on specific carriers, travelers may contact the Pentagon at telephone (703) 697-7288. EMBASSY LOCATION/REGISTRATION: 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; telephone numbers (242) 322-1181 and 328-2206. This 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. * * * * This replaces the Consular Information Sheet dated November 4, 1997, to update Entry Requirements, Medical Facilities, Crime Information Traffic Safety/Road Conditions and Aviation Oversight. ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 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. 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