Five Helpful Hints for Bahamas Travel
1. On Grand Bahamas Island most places you go will not use numbers with street names. It will generally be just the name of the street. When directions are provided the landmarks or the number of traffic lights, or traffic circles will be used. Cross streets or number of cross streets can also be helpful. So just remember there are no numbers displayed on the buildings or houses. So don’t be afraid to ask directions and write them down.
2. When you arrive there will be a number of hair braiders everywhere. If you plan to get the crown row or other types of hair braids done in your hair I recommend doing it right away. It will save a week of saying no thank you to the many hair braiders waiting to provide their service. It is a very competitive business on an island. There are two types of braiders-some are licensed by the government and assigned a work station, many of these type can be found in Port Lucaya, they use the same disinfectant type things stateside hair salons use and the other type are unlicensed, they will approach people at the beach or places like that. The Licensed braiders will have a workstation set up with a chair. Which ever type you choose, having the braids done will give you a tropical feel through your vacation and save all those no thank you answers to the many hard working hair braiders on the island.
3. A hair and scalp care tip for hair braids that I learned from a fabulous braider named Tammy that works in Port Lucaya. She taught me that buying a spray called Oil Sheen (it’s an aerosol spray). Then spray it on your braids after swimming and showering to keep the hair conditions, the braids wont get dry and fray, and it has sunscreen for all those new little hair parts. I have made braids last for a few weeks with this product.
4. There can be random power outages on island and Grand Bahamas is no exception. I usually bring or buy a couple of the Glade scented candles. They burn very consistently and last about 30 hours. Some condo units will have a candle then but I have found they don’t burn as well. I light my candles in the evening when we are in the unit. Then blow them out at bedtime. When the power has gone out my family enjoys being in the brightness they provide. It gets very dark when the power goes out on an island. On evening I even packed by candlelight, in an outage.
5. When driving in the Bahamas remember they don’t drive on the wrong side of the road- they drive on the left side of the road.