Described as a luxurious tourist destination, Nassau is a dream almost every vacationer longs for. With the Bahamas having made a name for itself on the global charts, major cities have been left to leave an impression of their own.
Getting to Nassau is never a hard task. Moving around the island is the elephant in the room. A single flight, whether chartered or the ordinary will get vacationers to the airport. From there, other arrangements are needed to move to the hotels, and so on.
How functional are the rideshare apps such as Uber and Lyft in this part of the world? Do they even exist?
Here is a detailed description of how to move around in Nassau.
Uber And Car Rentals In Nassau
Uber is a transport company that is well-known almost everywhere, so tourists may expect to use the service in Nassau. Here is everything a tourist should know about such rideshare apps in this stunning city.
Uber & Lyft
The popularity of rideshare apps such as Lyft and Uber has revolutionized the transport sector in a big way. Today, Americans enjoy the convenience of requesting a ride from the comfort of their home. The experience in the Bahamas comes as a huge surprise to many vacationers since Nassau doesn’t have rideshare apps.
The lack of these apps comes as a huge culture shock to vacationers. With people having been used to Uber and Lyft back in their motherland, now they have to live without them when needed most. Holidays involve a lot of traveling, meaning vacationers would appreciate the presence of the service even more.
But why is uber not available in Nassau? The lack of rideshare apps in the Bahamas is down to the culture of the region. What vacationers see as an inconvenience, locals see as a convenience. Local taxi drivers in the Bahamas are unionized, a strategy meant to protect the industry from foreign service providers. Understandably so, the industry has remained intact and vacationers are beginning to accept that life can go on without Uber.
Taxi Cars
So what options are there for the average vacationer to explore now that Uber is non-existent? The taxi car business is booming in Nassau, thanks to the high number of vacationers trooping in the area. Thanks to the higher number of providers in the area, taxis are the cheapest option to move around.
Areas rife with tourism activities have many taxis packed on their premises. During the low season, vacationers have more bargaining power than taxi providers due to reduced demand. Even during peak season, vacationers are advised to first agree on the rates before hopping into the car. The rates per trip are low and manageable for the average vacationer.
- Short trips: $1 to $6
- Long trips: $10 to $15
Car Rentals
Apart from the taxis, vacationers may also opt to go for car rentals. Renting a car is good for vacationers who spend much of their time on the go. However, there are many considerations vacationers have to make before settling for a car rental. First, one needs to be an experienced driver who can drive on either side of the road.
Unlike in the mainland U.S., drivers here are expected to drive on the left. The sudden change in the driving side can be a challenge for vacationers who haven’t tried the service before. Again, rental cars will need to be refueled more often, which also comes at a price. Vacationers who opt for rentals must be ready for the cost implications that come with it. Nevertheless, it is a worthy option with a wide range to choose from.
- Car rental rate: $50+/Car/Day
Public Transport In Nassau
Public transport is one of Nassau’s most functional entities. The city is punctuated by minibuses, also known as jitneys, ready to ferry vacationers from one place to the next. These buses operate across different routes with tourists being at the center of the city’s transport system.
Jitneys are a budget-friendly option for people visiting the island cheaply. With as low as one dollar, a vacationer can enjoy a round-trip around the city without requiring any taxi to connect between two destinations.
Also, they are a good option for vacationers who want to indulge in the local culture. Jitneys are not unique to tourists alone. Locals, too, use these buses to run their errands. The buses thus promote a smooth interaction between locals and tourists. In the end, vacationers will learn a thing or two about the local culture and maybe get a chance to practice it.
While there are a lot of good things to say about Nassau’s public transport, it is also fair to highlight key flaws that vacationers have pointed out before. The key red flag with jitneys is that they only operate between 6:30 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time.
Beyond those stipulated timelines, vacationers have to use the taxis. Also, there is the question of reliability and convenience. These busses do not operate at designated stops and don’t have stipulated schedules on departure and arrival. Even with the few flows, jitneys are still popular among vacationers.
- Jitney Cost: $1.25-3.50/Person
Nassau has never run short of transportation options. Even where jitneys and car rentals are non-functional, e-scoters and water taxis come in handy to salvage the situation. Air travel is also available for luxury-oriented vacationers.