Travel The Bahamas
The Islands of Song
Destination Overview
Home to roughly 275,000 people, Nassau is energetic but not overwhelming. While often grouped with the Caribbean, The Bahamas is actually in the Atlantic Ocean. Its character is revealed through proud locals, bold and soulful food, colorful streets, and beautiful clear water. Perhaps take a walking history tour, explore the straw market, or relax by the sea to get a feel for the island holistically.
Black Woman Approved: Why We Love It
Maybe more than any other destination, I found a sense of home in The Bahamas. Nassau is welcoming, familiar, and disarming. Nassau, for me, was more than a vacation. It offered me connection at a time that I felt I needed it. I visited as a single woman for Valentine’s Day, and in a surprising turn of events, the island took care of me. People paid for my meals, taxi drivers wouldn’t accept my money, and I was given love in one of its most beautiful forms—consideration. That is the real reason I loved Nassau. I went with an open heart, people felt that, and they filled my cup without my having to ask and without expecting anything in return.
When Black female travelers are looking for recommendations that feel relaxing and relatively seamless, The Bahamas is a no brainer.
Before You Go
Best Time to Visit
Nassau is a place you can go any time of year, but the best time to visit is from December to April. I went for Valentine’s Day in February and the temperature was warm without being too hot and it never rained while I was there. This is also peak season, though, so you’ll pay a bit more for hotels and see more tourists. If you want fewer crowds and a cheaper trip, you might consider late spring or early summer. I recommend spending at least 4 days in Nassau, which gives you time to enjoy the beaches, explore downtown, and take a day trip without being rushed.
Currency
The Bahamian Dollar (BSD) is the official currency, but the U.S. Dollar is accepted everywhere, and conveniently, the two currencies have a 1:1 exchange rate. There is no need to exchange money if you’re visiting from the United States. Credit cards are widely accepted, but you may still want a few small bills for taxis, tips, local vendors, and smaller businesses.
Language
English is the official language of The Bahamas, which makes Nassau an easy destination for American travelers, especially if you are new to traveling solo.
Miscellaneous
Nassau operates on Eastern Time and uses the same electrical outlets as the United States, so you don’t need any adapters. While Nassau is easy to navigate, taxis can add up, so you may want to choose accommodations like the Courtyard by Marriott at Junkanoo Beach, which is in a central location and can help reduce transportation costs.
Start Here: Related Reads
Nassau Straw Market
One of the most meaningful stops in Nassau is the Nassau Straw Market, a place that reflects the island’s history and its enduring creativity. Originally centered on straw weaving, a skill passed down through generations, the market grew as Bahamian women crafted hats, bags, and household goods from natural materials and sold them directly to visitors. Over time, it became a place of commerce and a cultural institution, preserving techniques, stories, and livelihoods.
Today, you can find handwoven straw bags and hats, wood carvings, dolls, jewelry, spices, textiles, souvenirs, and keepsakes that reflect Bahamian identity. You can expect conversation and a bit of friendly negotiation. The market is colorful, energetic energy, and full of pride.
Markets like this are one of the great joys of traveling anywhere. They offer a window into everyday life and creativity that museums and landmarks sometimes can’t quite capture. In markets, you see what people value, how they express themselves, and how culture lives on through tradition and creativity. Supporting them means investing directly in local hands and voices and leaving with something that keeps you connected to the place itself.
My Funny Valentines
Traveling often as a single woman means thinking ahead of all the ways I can bring myself joy, especially during holidays or moments that are marketed to couples and families. When I began planning my trip to The Bahamas for Valentine’s Day, swimming with pigs is one of the most recommended activities, and I thought, how cute would it be to hang out with these hungry, cuddly friends rather than spending the day alone? Of course, I wasn’t getting romance from them, and they loved me expressly because I was feeding them, but ultimately what I got was adorable company and a chance to care for somebody (or something) else, even briefly.
Every time I’ve visited an island, I’m always overwhelmingly enthralled with the existence of color from the architecture to the food to the people. It is incredibly hard for me to strike a balance between being in the moment and wanting to capture everything as a photographer so that I don’t forget what my eyes saw and my heart felt. At least for a couple of hours, I walked and took in the beauty of this foreign land. Here is what I saw.