Etiquette - When encountering a person, even if a stranger in the Out Islands, it is customary to exchange greetingsA "good morning" or "afternoon" will suffice. But that custom doesn't prevail in bustling Freeport and Nassau.

Manners ... It is impolite anywhere to rush up to someone and demand that they supply you with directions to a place; Bahamians gently lead into conversations with a greeting and friendly comments before getting down to business.

Holidays - Public holidays observed in The Bahamas are New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Easter Monday, Whitmonday (7 weeks after Easter), Labour Day (the first Fri in June), Independence Day (July 10), Emancipation Day (the first Mon in Aug), Discovery Day (Oct 12), Christmas, and Boxing Day (the day after Christmas). When a holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, stores and offices are usually closed on the following Monday.

Currency - Generally, prices in the Bahamas are about the same as in the United States, less expensive than in the United Kingdom. A hotel can cost anywhere from $50 a night (for cottages and apartments in downtown Nassau and in the Out Islands) to $185 and up (at the ritzier resorts on Cable Beach and Paradise Island and in Freeport and Lucaya), depending on the season. Add $35-$50 per person per day for meals. Four-day/three-night and eight-day/seven-night package stays offered by most hotels can cut costs considerably. In the Out Islands, you'll notice that meals and simple goods can be expensive; prices are high due to the remoteness of the islands and the costs of importing.