In the Bahamas, the Bahamian dollar (BSD) is pegged at a 1:1 parity with the US dollar, and the USD circulates freely everywhere: get your US dollar cash ready before leaving Paris.
The Bahamian dollar and the US dollar: a perfect parity
The archipelago's official currency is the Bahamian dollar (BSD), whose exchange rate has been pegged to the US dollar at 1 BSD = 1 USD for decades. This fixed parity makes a traveller's life enormously easier: the two currencies are interchangeable throughout the country. You pay in US dollars, and your change is handed back indifferently in Bahamian or American banknotes, often a mix of both. There is therefore no need to specifically look for BSD: it is a local currency that you will only use on site anyway and that is difficult to convert back once you have returned to France.
Practical consequence: for a stay in the Bahamas, the right reflex is to set off with US dollars in cash. It is the most useful currency, the easiest to obtain in Paris and the simplest to spend everywhere, from Nassau to the Family Islands.
Cash culture: where cards are enough, where cash is king
In the large tourist establishments — hotels and resorts in Nassau, Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, marina restaurants and Bay Street shops — the bank card (Visa and Mastercard) is widely accepted. But as soon as you step off the beaten track, cash becomes indispensable again:
- Taxis (often without a payment terminal and with negotiated fares);
- The straw markets and craft markets of Nassau;
- Tips, deeply rooted in the local culture (porters, waiters, guides);
- The Out Islands / Family Islands (Exuma, Eleuthera, Andros…) where small shops, fish fries and boat rentals operate essentially in cash.
The automatic teller machines (ATMs) are plentiful in Nassau and Freeport, but much rarer, even non-existent, on the remote islands. It is therefore better to arrive with a sufficient cash reserve so as not to depend on a single counter. Worth noting, a monetary peculiarity: the Bahamas launched the Sand Dollar in 2020, the world's first central bank digital currency, but it remains marginal for the visitor.
Preparing your currency exchange in Paris before departure
Rather than looking for dollars at the Bahamian airport or in a hotel on unfavourable terms, it is more reassuring to carry out your currency purchase in advance. At Paris Change, a bureau de change approved by the ACPR (Banque de France), you obtain your US dollars commission-free, at the day's counter rate. Our shop at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel (75005), in the heart of the Latin Quarter, is open 7 days a week (Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 10am-7:30pm), ideally located on the Saint-Michel metro (line 4) and the RER B/C.
As the USD is a very common currency, it is generally available immediately. On the other hand, for less common currencies or a large amount, we recommend booking online in advance: this guarantees the availability of the banknotes for your in-store collection on the day of your visit.
Finally, bear in mind the customs regulations: any transport of cash equal to or greater than €10,000 (or its equivalent) entering or leaving the European Union must be declared. Below this threshold, no particular formality applies.
Frequently asked questions
Should I change my euros into Bahamian dollars or US dollars?
Into US dollars. Thanks to the 1:1 parity, the USD is accepted everywhere in the Bahamas and remains far simpler to obtain in Paris and to convert back on your return than the BSD.
Is a bank card enough in the Bahamas?
In the resorts and large towns, yes. But always plan to have USD cash for taxis, markets, tips and especially the remote islands where ATMs are scarce.
How much cash should I take?
It depends on your itinerary, but a reserve of US dollar cash for daily expenses outside the hotel avoids depending on ATMs. Above €10,000, a customs declaration is mandatory.
Prepare your trip with peace of mind: come and see us at 4 Boulevard Saint-Michel, 7 days a week and commission-free, or reserve your dollars online for a quick in-store collection before departure.
