One of the best information sources to contact before you leave home is your nearest Bahamas Tourist Office. Start off by visiting the country's official tourism website at www.bahamas.com or calling tel. 800/BAHAMAS (224-2627) or 242/302-2000.

You can also stop by any of the following branch offices:

Chicago: 8600 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Ste. 820, Chicago, IL 60631 (tel. 312/693-1500)

Dallas: 3102 Oak Lawn Ave., Ste. 700, Dallas, TX 75219 (tel. 214/550-2280)

Fort Lauderdale: 1100 Lee Wagener Blvd., Ste. 204, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33315 (tel. 954/359-8099)

London: 10 Chesterfield St., London W1J 5JL (tel. 020/7355-0800)

Los Angeles: 3450 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 208, Los Angeles, CA 90010 (tel. 213/385-0033)

Miami: 1 Turnberry Place, 19495 Biscayne Blvd., Ste. 80, Aventura, FL 33180 (tel. 305/932-0051)

Montreal: 1130 Sherbrooke St. W., Ste. 750, Montreal, Quebec H3A 2MB (tel. 800/667-3777)

New York: 150 E. 52nd St., 28th floor, New York, NY 10022 (tel. 212/758-2777)

Toronto: 121 Bloor St. E., Ste. 1101, Toronto, Ontario M4W 3M5 (tel. 416/968-2999)

You may want to contact the U.S. State Department for background bulletins, which supply up-to-date information on crime, health concerns, import restrictions, and other travel matters. Call tel. 888/407-4747 or visit www.travel.state.gov.

A travel agent can also be a great source of information. Make sure yours is a member of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA). If you get poor service from an ASTA agent, you can write to the ASTA Consumer Affairs Department, 1101 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314 (tel. 800/440-ASTA [2782] or 703/739-2782; www.asta.org).

Useful Bahamas websites include:

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (www.bahamas.com), the country's official tourism site.

Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board (www.myoutislands.com), with a focus on the more remote isles.

Bahamas Tourist Guide (www.geographia.com/bahamas), for general information and listings.

Bahamas Vacation Guide (www.bahamasvacationguide.com), for general information and various service listings.

Nassau/Paradise Island Promotion Board (www.nassauparadiseisland.com), the official tourism site for these areas.

Useful Phone Numbers -- Sources of information include:

  • U.S. Department of State Travel Advisory: tel. 202/647-5225; www.travel.state.gov (24 hr.)
  • U.S. Passport Agency: tel. 202/647-0518.
  • U.S. Centers for Disease Control International Traveler's Hotline: tel. 800/232-4636; www.cdc.gov.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.