Planning a trip to the Bahamas can be a bit difficult if you don’t have a huge budget.
It is a great place to spend your vacation, but it is very expensive to go there during the peak season.
The cheapest time to go to Bahamas is during the offseason. It is also the best time for budget-conscious travelers to experience the beauty of this country.
If you want to save money on your trip to the Bahamas, there are a few important things that you need to know.
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Cheapest Time to Go to Bahamas
If you are trying to save money, the offseason is the cheapest time to go to Bahamas.
Although it is a popular destination the whole year round, most people would be coming to this country between mid-December and mid-April.
It means that the off-season is from mid-April to mid-December. So, what makes the off-seasons cheaper?
1. The Weather
During the winter and summer seasons, the average temperature in the Bahamas ranges from 75°F to 84°F.
North Americans would rush to go to the Bahamas to escape the extremely cold winters. As such, the airfare and hotel rates are usually high during these times.
The hurricane season, on the other hand, starts from June 1 to November 30, so this is the time when most hotels would bring their rates down and the airfare would be lower.
You don’t need to worry about hurricanes because more tropical cyclones hit the mainlands compared to the Bahamas.
2. Hotels and Air Planes Are Not Fully Booked
The main reason why the offseason is cheaper is that only a few people visit the Bahamas during these times.
Most of the hotels and planes are not fully booked, so they usually give out discounts or offer great deals to the tourists.
You can even get a discount of 20% to 60%, which is what you are looking for if you want to save money.
These hotels would try to offer the remaining rooms for a bargain price, so it is perfect for people who are on a tight budget.
Offseason Advantages
Aside from the cheaper airfare and hotel rooms, going to the Bahamas during the offseason provides a few advantages to tourists, as well.
1. Less Crowd
Not everyone loves crowds, especially if the tourists are swarming the streets, pools, and beaches.
One of the benefits of going in the off-season is you won’t have to worry about the amenities being crowded.
Pools and beaches are usually less crowded, and you can enjoy the amenities without waiting in line for a long time.
You can spend your time and relax in the pool or beach without hearing a lot of chitchats here and there.
As such, you can fully enjoy the activities because the area is less crowded, and you can move freely.
2. Summer Sales
Less crowd means lower sales for the shops around the Bahamas. Hence, to survive, they usually bring the price down or offer discounts to their products.
It is the best time to shop for souvenirs that you can bring home. You can also buy designer clothes and bags for a lower price.
You can expect that more than 90% of the local shops would bring their price down or offer amazing deals to their customers.
3. You Can Go Without Reservations
Although it is not a good idea to go to the Bahamas without first making reservations, especially if you are saving money, it is possible during the offseason.
This is perfect if you and your friends suddenly decide to go to the Bahamas on the weekend, and you don’t have enough time to make reservations.
You can also appear in top restaurants without reservations.
Since they are not fully booked during the offseason, you can now try some of the best restaurants in the Bahamas that require reservation.
4. Little to No Waiting Time
You don’t need to wait for a rental car to be available, and you don’t have to wait in line just to access the tennis courts and other amenities.
Money-Saving Tips for Your Bahamas Trip
If you think that you’ve already saved a lot of money by booking a ticket and accommodation during the offseason, you’re in for a treat.
There are more ways to save money if you want to have a vacation in the Bahamas.
Here are some of the simplest money-saving tips that you can follow to save cash but still enjoy the beauty of the Bahamas.
1. Pick a Cheap Accommodation
If you want to save money, book the cheapest possible accommodation you can find.
You can book an Airbnb since the prices are very affordable, and you can choose what type of accommodation you want.
Sometimes, you can even rent a small house for a reasonable price.
It even comes with a kitchen, so if you don’t want to eat outside, you can just buy the ingredients and cook a meal for yourself.
If you want to stay in a hotel, though, you would want steer clear of high-end hotels like Atlantis. Comfort Suites is more affordable, and they provide pretty much the same necessities.
If you want to stay in Atlantis, try Harborside.
There is a small community in the resort that is made up of timeshare suites, and you can rent them for an affordable price.
The best thing about this is that you can enjoy the same amenities as the people who booked directly through the resort.
2. Plan Where to Eat
We’ve already mentioned cooking your meals, but what if you don’t have a kitchen and can only eat out? The best way to save money on food is to do your research before the trip.
If your goal is to try various delicacies, it would cost a bit of money, so make sure that you do your research and look for restaurants that you can try.
It is very difficult to save money if you decide on where to eat on the spot.
It’s best to have a list of restaurants that you want to try including their address. In this way, you can also prepare the money that you need for food.
There are resorts in the Bahamas that offer food plans for about $75 per day per person. This is a pretty good deal if you want to try local dishes.
You can also try the street foods there as they are extremely cheap.
3. Ride Public Transportation
It is not advisable to go around the Bahamas in a taxi cab because they usually cost around $10 to $12 a pop.
You can save money on travel costs by riding on jitneys, the local buses that operate around Nassau from dusk to dawn.
These buses have different routes, so you need to do your research or ask around to know the jitneys that you need to ride to reach a specific area.
For tourists, you can try the number 10 and 12. They start and end in Nassau, and you can go around Love Beach, Cable Beach, and Compass Point Beach Resort.
If you are transferring from one island to another, it is better to hop on the ferry.
The boat leaves the harbor every 30 minutes, and you only need to pay around $4 one way. You can even enjoy the amazing views of the coastline, so it’s a win-win situation for travelers.
4. Buy Nightclub Passes from Hotels and Taxi Drivers
Even if you are not visiting during the offseason, this is an important tip to save money.
Most nightclubs will charge you admission fees of about $25, so if you want to save money, it is better to buy from hotels and taxi drivers.
You can save money from the cover charges that these nightclubs usually add during the weekend.
5. Try Free Activities
Although most of the activities in the Bahamas require money, there are things that you can do without spending too much.
Check Out Cabbage Beach
It is free, so you don’t need to pay for an entrance fee. This beach is stunning and is pretty populated during the peak season.
However, you would want to avoid the populated area of the beach because the water and sand are not very clean.
You can go to a spot between the residential sections and resorts in the east.
Bring Your Snorkel Gear
You won’t need to rent snorkel equipment if you bring your own. There are also areas there where you can snorkel for free.
Explore Resort Beaches at Night
There are some resort beaches where you can enter at night even without a day pass. This means you can get those IG-worthy pictures without paying.
Queen’s Staircase and Primeval National Park
These two spots are free of charge. You can hike up the Queen’s Staircase or stroll around the Primeval National Park.
FAQs
1. What is the best time of year to go to the Bahamas?
The peak season in the Bahamas is mid-December to mid-April. Hence, if you wish to avail of the full experience, you would want to go there during these months.
2. When should you not go to the Bahamas?
It depends on your preference.
Some people prefer to go during the peak season even if there are a lot of tourists in the country. Others would visit during the offseason because it is cheaper.
Before you go to the Bahamas, make sure to check the weather because thunderstorms or hurricanes can ruin the fun.
3. What is the off season in the Bahamas?
The offseason is from mid-April to mid-December. The hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, so most tourists would avoid these dates.
Final Thoughts
Going to the Bahamas can be a bit expensive, but you can still enjoy it even if you are on a tight budget.
The offseason is the best time to visit, but you have to check the weather before you make any plans.
It is also advised that you follow other budget-saving tips to get the most out of your trip without spending a fortune.
