We all know that going away on vacation and coming home empty handed is just plain unacceptable. Think about all those poor friends and family members you left behind who don’t get to spend their days basking in the warm Caribbean sun! Sure, postcards are nice, but why not go the extra mile and bring back a little bit of the Bahamas for them? The Bahamas has plenty of places to shop to your heart’s content, some places better than others. And of course, it all depends on what you’re looking for! If you’re after handicrafts, you’ll want to go one place, and if its great cigars you’re after, you’ll want to try somewhere else for that. Here are some of the hottest places to get the goods and go shopping in the Bahamas:
Shopping in Nassau
If Nassau is your home base during your stay in the Bahamas, you’re spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping. And what’s more, for those cruiseship passengers just dropping in for a quick stay, the shopping districts are relatively close together so you don’t have to waste the better part of your shore excursion hunting round for souvenirs. Brown Festival Place at Prince George Dock is the ideal spot for anyone hunting around for authentic Bahamian crafts. The products here are made locally, and here you can work on your negotiating skills, because there is no such thing as a sticker price! Don’t forget to check out the historic Straw Market, no trip to the Bahamas is complete without it. The shops and stall down Bay Street offer up a wide variety of Caribbean inspired trinkets, for any budget, suited to all personal tastes.
Shopping in Grand Bahamas
The Grand Bahamas is another popular cruise ship stop and if you have a chance to scoot into Freeport Bahamas, you’ll love what’s in store. Be sure to make way for the Port Lucaya Marketplace, essentially a one stop shop to quench that insatiable shopping thirst. Here, you’ll find plenty of great deals, with the vendors always open to negotiation, you just need to find your rhythm. There is of course, a straw market where you have your pick of fine Bahamian handicrafts, so if you don’t get to Nassau, don’t worry. A tip for the market: Never buy the first thing you see - There are often several vendors selling something similar, so do a little price and quality comparison!
Shopping in Andros Island
Now, there are straw markets...and then there are straw markets, and Andros has the latter. Renown around the Bahamas for its straw handicrafts, if you’ve come to the Bahamas for something truly unique, this is where you’re going to find it. Be sure to check out Fresh Creek and Red Bay area. Something else you may not be able to find in too many places around the Bahamas is freshly harvest sponges, beautiful wooden carvings of miniature racing sloops (a Dutch sailboat), as well as myriad other fantastic souvenirs.
Can’t find what you’re looking for one one island? After something a little different? Consider doing a little island hopping. You get to see more of the country, and collect unique pieces of the culture along the way!
