Bahamas: Mail & Shipping

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Mail & Shipping

Regardless of whether the term "snail mail" was coined in the Bahamas, you're likely to arrive home long before your postcards do -- it's not unheard of for letters to take two to four weeks to reach their destinations. No postal (zip) codes are used in the Bahamas -- all mail is collected from local area P.O. boxes.

First-class mail to the United States is 65¢ per half-ounce. Airmail postcards to the United States require a 50¢ stamp in the Bahamas; the stamps must be Bahamian. In Turks and Caicos, prices are comparable. Postcard stamps good for foreign destinations are usually sold at shops selling postcards, so you don't have to make a special trip.

Mailing time to the United States from the Bahamas is 4 to 15 days -- but this is only an estimate. Don't be surprised if it takes longer. From the United States, a postcard sent to the Bahamas costs 75¢ and an airmail letter is 84¢.

Shipping Packages

FedEx delivers to Nassau, Freeport, Abaco, Andros, Eleuthera, Long Island, Providenciales, and Grand Turk; UPS has service to numerous Bahamas locales. However, even premium mail services do not necessarily provide the door-to-door service you might be accustomed to, especially in farther-flung locales -- you might have to go pick up your mail at an office. True overnight service is often not available, but second- or third-day delivery is usually reliable.

Major Services

FedEx (242/352-3402 Freeport; 242/352-3403; 242/322-5656 Nassau; 242/322-5657; 242/367-2817 Abaco; 242/368-2540 Andros; 242/332-2720 Eleuthera; 242/335-1600; 242/337-6786 Long Island; 649/946-2542 Grand Turk; 649/946-4682 Providenciales; 800/247-4747 U.S. international customer service. www.fedex.com). UPS (242/367-2333 Abaco Marsh Harbour; 242/352-6253 Freeport; 242/393-3795 Nassau; 649/941-5006 Providenciales. www.ups.com).