In the 1st part of May, traveling to Bahamas for some R&R for the 1st time.

Was going to bring the usual, sun screen, hat, cash, IFAK.

But what are other things that I should pack for a trip like this?

thanks

I will send you pics of the kit i took to mexico some years ago...

I would have added a set of small uhf/vhf walkie talkies but the federalies took a dislike to those types of comms due to narcos using them to great effect..

Other thant that, i did have to use my kit in a real world shtf moment as hurricane lidia pounded cabo, rain, flooding, gun fights, no power, stranded, up armored suv to airport, etc...

Wifey was very happy Mr Paranoid, was prepared... ;-)

The looks on others faces as i laid my small folding solar panel out, connected my solar power battery bank to it to charge, then connected tablet/phones to panel and charged up, listened to music on county comm gp-5 radio and pretty much managed things...

 

On a cruise or flying ?

 

Flying in, so probably due to rules and regulations limited on what I can bring with me.

 

What island in the Bahamas? Theres a great difference In some.

 

ok....travel bag kit porn pics:

Note: i have replaced tactiool sling bag w non descript/tacticol version...

as i mentioned, i'd have taken two uhf/vhf ht's and spare batts

Radioddity GA-510 | 10W | Dual Band | Tri-power | 2 Batteries

　 Radioddity GA-510 is a dual-band tri-power handheld radio based on a new generation chip with up to 10W of high power output. In addition, the GA-510 has many other useful functions such as dual-channel monitoring, VOX, voice prompt, and manual programming. 3 Ways of Scanning GA-510 has three...

www.radioddity.com

 

Bring the usual... Money, Guns, and Lawyers...

I used to sail all over the islands. Nassau can get a little rough around the edges. But in the tourist areas you'll be fine. Same in Freeport, go looking for trouble it'll find you, otherwise enjoy your pina coladas.

Back in the day (70's-80's) unmarked "black" planes or helicopters would buzz the outlying anchorages every day or two. And in Bimini you'd see greasers wearing leather dress shoes and slacks, fueling up triple engine "go-fast's" just before dark...

And remember, they are english and they they drive on the wrong side of the road.

 

Spent time on Andros Island, what a laid back base back then. Go into the mess haul and entire families at a table, kids still in PJs. Dont fall asleep on the beach unless you want coconut crabs useing you as a high point vantage.

Crystal blue water and got to see schools of flying fish launching into the air. Thar was a double take until you realized what it was.

If you fly over you will get to see lots of planes in the water on reefs, assuming they were drug runners

 

Sunscreen

 

my vote goes to a 240bravo, a m320 40mm, a sig mk18, a sig p365 and a six pack of good beer

 

We had a .38 and a mossberg and a couple of spear guns. Back then all you had to do was declare any guns on entry. The Pirates of the Caribbean were real! Jimmy Buffet said so.

 

My wife and I were in Nassau back in February of this year. We go there frequently. I brought sunscreen, a hat, and a water bottle. I carry my CC/cash in one of those neck wallet things when we walk around the city. With a loose t-shirt, you can't tell it's there.

No weapons or anything like that. We go there on vacation. We practice situational awareness and avoid areas that need to be avoided.

 

The last I heard, theft was the most common calamity that you will run into, as long as the weather doesn't turn south.

 

There are some voracious iguanas on Allen Cay. Those suckers will steal anything. Especially grapes. And the land crabs... shudder.

Oh take misquito spray. And bring your own snorkel gear, that fits. We sailed to San Salvador. It's one end of the earth for sure. Some rough waters. I heard they built a Club Med there. Good grief.

 

anyplace you are at risk of being kidnapped for financial gain you should be cautious

 

Straw hat
sunglasses (polarized! Maui Jim)
sunscreen
bandanna
dive watch
cash
Mask and defog
fins
snorkel
titanium dive knife
first aid kit
MSR water works filter
stainless water bottle
Leatherman charge xti
beach towel
Grundens gage dry bag backpack


And there you have it…The only other thing you need is a fine bottle of sipping rum and you are ready to get your Junkanoo on!

 

What currency do they take down there? If not $US, you may want to just take out money from an ATM so you don't have to hassle with exchanges. In many instances, if a thief sees that you are using local currency, they might not be so interested in you, but if you open your wallet to a wad of greenbacks.......
Will you be staying in a multi story hotel? I bought a mask to use in case of fire that has a 20 minute supply of air with it - about the size of a fat pen. Most of those "resort" countries do not have the same standards that we have.

 

The Bahamas uses the US Dollar at 1 to 1. It's basically East Fort Lauderdale.

To the OP, if you are flying I wouldn't bother getting too involved with weapons. You aren't going to need them. In numerous trips to the islands I never felt threatened or ran into anyone who was a problem. We had one strange experience at a bar on an out island.

But it was mostly everyone was friendly. Maybe things have changed over the years. I remember sailing into a village on Little Abaco, called "Fox Town." Their harbor is really shallow and hard to navigate with lots of sharp coral. Very few came into the inner harbor. We entered at idle speed picking our way in and anchored off the town dock.

We needed to call home (before cell phones) and went to the phone office on the edge of town. Several people were sitting around doing nothing. I asked if we could make a call. "No mon, phone's broke."

It was also commercial lobster season and they had no way to reach the buyers in Marsh Harbor with their numbers.

"What's wrong with it?"

"Generator won't start."

"Oh. I've got a Honda on my boat, would that help?" Everyone perked up. "You gotta portable genset mon?"

So we got our generator and they hooked up the switchboard. Suddenly we were the town heroes. Made our call, the mechanic showed up later and we got our genset back. Later on we came back ashore for dinner. Everywhere we went it was, "Oh you da mon who fixed da phone!"

 

Maybe we will run into each other and not even know it!

Just bring a good attitude and have some fun.

 

If you don't mind me asking, which resort are you staying at?

 

As well as mosquito repellant, and suntan lotion, get all over the counter stuff you can think of — starting with bug bite treatment, and sunburn lotion. And for most stuff, small bottles are fine. You don’t need to go looking for ibuprofen or an anti diarrhea medication while feeling ill. And some misc. boo boo bandaids.

everything is imported to the islands — costs are higher. If you don’t even open that roll of Rolaids, leave it for your maid.

 

Then flying will dictate the edc. Cruises are more lenient.

 

When I have been in the Bahama's in the past I found that shorts, tee shirts and credit cards are what I needed most. Preferably the CCs will have a lot of available credit.

Have you been there before? What are you planning to do?

If you don't have any specific plans I would suggest hanging out on the beach. And of course you should investigate places that sell cold adult beverages.

 

a good bottle opener enjoy a san miguel for everyone here

 

Condoms.

 

Something in a bikini mesh, and another one. One is none and two is one.

 

Honestly, bring your common sense, and manners and you will be fine.

Anything else you want to know?

What Island are you going to?

 

not gear of any kind - but any time you leave the US - make sure you do your homework about getting home in any emergency situations ....

make sure the correct people can contact you for any local emergencies that could affect you - help them help you find a safe route back home >>> Prez Trump had an entire task force during COVID arranging international rescues of trapped Americans - with the Biden Administration - I would have a few good personal backup plan contingencies ....

for this trip - make sure you have flight info alternative to your intended flight out - have some alternative plans to get back on US soil where you have superior advantages >>> once something hits - good luck with any internet info searches .....

 

We visit the Bahamas yearly with some friends (different islands each time), and here's what I usually bring:

• A well-stocked medical kit (few ambulances and medical care is kind of basic), along with the knowledge to use it
• A good quality fixed blade dive knife (never gets a second look at customs)
• A good quality water filter
• A book on edible plants of the Caribbean
• A 3-pronged barbed fishing spear head that I can attach to a long stick/pole, in case I'm forced to acquire fish for food
• Mask, fins & snorkel (in case I have to fish further from shore)
• Radioddity Raddy RF760 scanner radio w/10' wire antenna
• A lightweight backpacking poncho/tarp for shade & rain
• A Hummingbird Single hammock, tree straps & Warbler bug net
• A decent multitool
• A small folding saw
• A folding titanium twig stove & titanium 750ml pot
• A good pair of reef shoes & gloves
• OSMAnd+ Bahamas maps installed on my cell phone
• A lightweight 10W USB solar charging panel & 10,000mAh USB battery
• A couple of lightweight dry bags

Some of that is part of my regular travel emergency kit, and I use a lot of it for normal vacation activities when I'm down there anyway, but all of it can be used for emergency/disaster scenarios.

p.s. this doesn't include my normal travel emergency kit - flashlight, fire starters, etc.