What I’d Do Differently: Bahamas Edition

Updated April 2026 | 3 min read

Three nights in Nassau, January 2024. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar on points, one day with the pigs, a lot of resort dining. Great trip, but here is what we would adjust.

Stay Four Nights Instead of Three

Three nights felt like two. The pig swim took an entire day, so we really only had one day for the resort. A fourth night would have let us actually relax.

Eat Off-Resort at Least Once

We ate every meal at Baha Mar. Fish Fry at Arawak Cay is a row of local seafood shacks about 10 minutes away, and everyone said it was the best food on the island. We ran out of time.

Book the Pig Swim for Day Two

We booked it for day one, which meant starting the trip exhausted from travel and then spending 8 hours on a boat. Booking it for day two gives you a recovery day first.

Bring Dramamine

The speedboat to the Exumas is an hour in open ocean. It can get rough. Take motion sickness medication before you board, not after you start feeling it.

The Bottom Line

Nassau on Hyatt points is one of the best quick getaways from the East Coast. We would just give ourselves one more day and eat at Fish Fry.

Nassau, Bahamas: Swimming Pigs, Flamingos, Baha Mar has the full breakdown.

Travel Tools We Actually Use

• eSIM Data: Airalo eSIM for Nassau Bahamas — Skip the airport SIM card line. Buy before you land, activate when you arrive. We use this every trip now.
• Travel Insurance: — Comprehensive coverage for trip cancellation, medical, and baggage. We learned the hard way that skipping insurance is not worth it.
• VPN: — Public wifi at hotels and airports is sketchy. This keeps your banking apps and passwords safe.
• Money Transfer: — Best exchange rates, no hidden fees. We use the multi-currency card for every trip.

Book Tours and Activities

• Nassau Swimming with Pigs
• Bahamas Snorkeling Tour

Gear That Made the Difference

• Anker Nano Power Bank – Phone dies fast when navigating all day.
• Airalo eSIM – Works across Asia without swapping SIMs.
• Osprey Farpoint 40 – The only bag you need for 2 weeks.
• Packing Cubes – Essential for humid climates where you change clothes twice a day.
• Quick-Dry Travel Towel – Hostels and beach stops covered.
• Reef-Safe Sunscreen – Required at many dive sites.

Find Your Next Flight

Plan Your Trip to Bahamas

Ready to book? Search flights to Bahamas to compare prices across airlines. And compare hotel rates in Bahamas to find the best deals for your dates.

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. SafetyWing, Skyscanner, Airalo, Booking.com, Viator, GetYourGuide.

Plan your own trip: guides I actually use

More from this region:

• Nassau, Bahamas in 4 Days: Swimming Pigs, Flamingos, and Baha Mar
• Baha Mar vs Atlantis: An Honest Comparison for Nassau
• Swimming with Pigs in the Bahamas: What the Day Trip Actually Looks Like

Cards, lounges & insurance:

• Best Airport Lounges I Have Actually Used — From Changi to Istanbul
• Is Priority Pass Worth It in 2026 — My Honest Review After 15 Airports
• Best Travel Credit Cards for 2026: The Cards I Actually Use and Why
• Best Travel Insurance for 2026: What I Actually Recommend After 15 International Trips
• The Credit Card Points Strategy That Funded $15,000 of Travel

Finding cheap flights:

• Going vs Dollar Flight Club vs Thrifty Traveler: Which Flight Deal Service Is Worth It in 2026?
• When to Book Flights by Region — The Booking Windows That Actually Save Money
• How to Find Error Fares and Flight Deals — The Services I Actually Use
• Google Flights vs Skyscanner vs Momondo — Which Actually Finds the Cheapest Flights

Staying connected abroad:

• Best VPN for Travel 2026 — NordVPN vs Surfshark and Why You Need One
• Best eSIM for Travel 2026 — Holafly vs Airalo vs Nomad

Travel gear I actually use:

• Best Portable Chargers for Travel in 2026: Which Size You Actually Need
• My Exact Travel Tech Setup After 15 International Trips
• Best Noise-Canceling Headphones for Travel in 2026: Tested on 40+ Flights
• Best Travel Backpacks for 2026: The 5 I Have Actually Used
• Phone Photography Tips for Travel: How to Take Great Photos With Just Your iPhone