Grand Bahama Island is home to Freeport, which is the second largest city in the Bahamas, and a very popular stop for cruise ships in the western Mediterranean. It’s a former British possession and English is the dominant and official language.
It’s a very short flight from any of the southern Florida airports so the island is a common stop for short stays as well as offshore businesses. There is the usual diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing, and other water sports, but there’s also a major shopping culture here, partly due to the abundance of cruise ship passengers. You’ll find plenty of things to do in Grand Bahama other than shopping though.
This is one of the cheapest of all Caribbean islands, especially for those who can get a cheap flight from or through Florida, or a package deal.
| Population | 52,000 |
| Area | 360,000 |
| Timezone | UTC-5 |
| Currency | Bahamian Dollar |
| Airports | Grand Bahama International Airport (FPO) |
Most visitors will choose to stay in the Freeport area where there are lots of activities that are easy to reach from your hotel. Shopping is very big here, both with the cruise crowd and those staying a week or so. But you’ll also find lots of ocean activities as well, or if you want to, lots of sand to relax on.
If you venture outside of the Freeport region, you’ll find more reefs to snorkel, small hiking adventures, and plenty of small shops and restaurants that offer a glimpse into Bahamian life.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 80.00 - 102.00 |
| 79.00 - 155.00 |
| 120.00 - 144.00 |
| - |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | - |
| Local Breakfast | If you decide to eat outside of your hotel, there are great places both by the beach and in town. | $3.00 - $8.00 |
| Local Lunch | Couch fritters are common lunch choices. If you'd prefer to stay away from seafood, pizza and burgers are popular choices. | $6.00 - $12.00 |
| Local Dinner | Fritters, burgers, rice, pasta and sides are common dinner options. Dessert will find you enjoying fruit salads and chocolates. | $9.00 - $20.00 |
| Beer | Beer prices range according to restaurant and whether the beer is imported or domestic. | $3.50 - $6.00 |
You won’t have any trouble finding a tour and your hotel will be more than happy to help set one up for you. If you’re interested in exploring the local reefs, you’ll find tours that include a trip out plus snorkeling gear. The same can be said for scuba diving.
| Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 75 | 62 | 1.4 |
| February | 76 | 63 | 1.5 |
| March | 78 | 65 | 2.0 |
| April | 81 | 67 | 1.3 |
| May | 85 | 71 | 2.1 |
| June | 88 | 76 | 3.6 |
| July | 90 | 77 | 3.6 |
| August | 90 | 76 | 4.2 |
| September | 89 | 75 | 5.1 |
| October | 85 | 72 | 3.0 |
| November | 81 | 68 | 1.7 |
| December | 77 | 64 | 1.1 |
Like the rest of the Caribbean, Grand Bahama experiences great weather throughout most of the year. Winters tend to be the most visited time of the year with cool breezes blowing across the island from the ocean and warm sunny days.
Summer and early fall is hurricane season so it’s best to prepare for a storm if you wish to visit the island at that time. Rain also is a friend of the island during summer with showers occurring several times a week, with most happening quickly.
| 21 Mar | 7:13am | 7:21pm |
| 21 Jun | 6:20am | 8:02pm |
| 21 Sep | 6:57am | 7:07pm |
| 21 Dec | 6:50am | 5:25pm |
There are only about two dozen hotels and resorts on Grand Bahama Island, almost all of them in the Freeport/Lucaya district on the southern shore. There are a few luxurious resorts but overall Grand Bahama is certainly one of the cheapest of all Caribbean island destinations for lodging.
>>>Check today’s Freeport, Grand Bahama Island resort & package deals
The Bahamas experience price changes throughout the year in line with the weather and amount of people visiting. During the peak season, the winter months, prices increase about 20 percent. This is also the time of year when most people visit as they seek a warmer winter.
Summer is when prices are at their lowest along with fall. These two weather seasons are also the worst time to visit if you’re not a fan of rain or don’t want to risk visiting during hurricane season.
Essentially when planning a trip, you’ll find two options. Lower prices coupled with a higher chance of storm and rain or higher prices coupled with a higher chance of sunny days. If you do visit during winter, remember you’re going to be visiting when everyone else is, making it a good idea to book early.
| Rating | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
 | - |
| 80.00 - 102.00 |
| 79.00 - 155.00 |
| 120.00 - 144.00 |
| - |
| Type | Price(USD) |
|---|---|
| Hostel Bed | - |
Overnight visitors will likely be flying into Grand Bahama International Airport. It’s a large facility with a long enough runway to handle widebody jets from long distances, but most flights are from Florida or elsewhere in the Caribbean.
Nonstop flights from:
Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Atlanta, Charlotte, Baltimore, Louisville, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Toronto
Though you can rent a car, it’s not really suggested as driving around the island is a bit tricky. The best way to get around is with a taxi, of which there are plenty of and are easy to secure.