✦ Num in The Bahamas

A concierge that already knows The Bahamas

Around 3,250 places Num knows in and around Nassau, from Fish Fry stalls at Arawak Cay to Cable Beach hotels, for cruise-day visitors and week-long stays alike.

The Bahamas is 700 islands, but for most visitors it is one: New Providence, with Nassau on its north shore. That is where Num is deepest, with about 3,250 places across Nassau, Cable Beach and Paradise Island. The directory leans towards eating and drinking, with 254 restaurants, 169 bars and 126 street-food spots, and a surprisingly large beauty-and-spa list of 256. Hotels number 129, from the big Cable Beach resorts to guesthouses in the old town.

Ask Num where to eat conch salad made in front of you and it will point you towards the Fish Fry at Arawak Cay, and tell you which stalls are open at that hour. Ask for a bar with a view of the harbor, a bakery for guava duff, a place to buy a straw bag that was actually woven here, or the nearest pharmacy on a Sunday, and it answers with one place and how to get to it. It works well for cruise passengers with six hours ashore and no plan.

Where Num is in The Bahamas

Every destination Num covers here, with how many places it holds in each. Open one for the full picture.

The essentials

CurrencyBahamian dollar (BSD), pegged one-to-one with the US dollar; US dollars accepted everywhere
LanguagesEnglish
PlugsTypes A, B · 120 V
Emergency919 or 911 for police, fire and ambulance
Tipping15 per cent is standard in restaurants, and is often already added to the bill as a service charge

What to know before you land

Two dollars, one price

Bahamian and US dollars are used interchangeably at par, and you will get change in a mix of both. Spend the Bahamian notes before you leave, since they are hard to exchange elsewhere.

Cards, but carry cash

Hotels, resorts and most restaurants take cards, but the Fish Fry stalls, jitney buses and straw-market vendors are largely cash.

Jitneys and taxis

The jitney buses are the cheap way around Nassau and Cable Beach, paid in cash to the driver, and they stop running in the early evening. Taxis are not metered, so agree the fare before you get in.

Sundays are quiet

Many shops in downtown Nassau close on Sundays or when no cruise ship is in port. Do not count on the Straw Market or Bay Street being open every day.

Hurricane season

June to November is hurricane season, with the highest risk from August to October. Storms can shut the airport and ports for days, so keep an eye on forecasts if you travel then.

How Num works in The Bahamas

Message Num the way you would message a friend who lives here, in any language. It answers with one real place that fits, open now, and how to get there. It is free for travelers. Businesses list free and pay only when Num completes a booking for them, so nothing here is ranked by who paid.

Ask Num about The Bahamas

Questions about The Bahamas

Is Nassau safe for tourists?

The resort areas, Paradise Island and downtown Nassau by day are well used by visitors and generally fine. Some neighborhoods south of the center, often called Over-the-Hill, see more crime, and most advice is to avoid walking there and to take a taxi rather than walk after dark.

Can I use Num in the Bahamas in my own language?

Yes. Message it in any language and it answers in yours, with one place that fits and how to reach it.

Can I drink the tap water in Nassau?

Hotel tap water is treated and most visitors use it for brushing teeth, but the taste is often brackish and bottled water is widely sold and widely preferred for drinking.