Jamaica or Bahamas?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 118 120
UNESCO listings among them 6 1
Cost level Mid-range High
Busiest month in our write-ups January January
Currency Jamaican dollar (JMD) Bahamian dollar (BSD)
Plugs and voltage A, B - 110 V A, B - 120 V
Everyday languages English English
Driving side left hand side left hand side
Region Caribbean Caribbean
Capital Kingston Nassau
Jamaica
Soon come is a promise without a timetable; music and patois carry everything.
What we have written up
- Ackee and Saltfish dish
- Albert Town town
- Alligator Pond food street
- Appleton Estate distillery
- Bamboo Avenue viewpoint
- Bammy and Festival dish
Worth knowing before you go
- US dollars accepted widely; Jamaican dollars get better small prices
- Tipping 10-15% where no service charge
- Route taxis and knutsford buses beat renting for most visitors
Bahamas
Warm, churchgoing and unhurried; a proper greeting opens every conversation.
What we have written up
- Abaco National Park national park
- Adderley's Plantation ruins
- Adelaide Village village
- Allan's Cay island
- Andros island
- Androsia Batik tradition
Worth knowing before you go
- US dollars are accepted everywhere at par with the Bahamian dollar; change often comes back Bahamian
- Many restaurants add a 15% gratuity automatically - check before tipping twice
- Cars drive on the left, though many vehicles are left-hand-drive imports
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.