White beaches, turquoise waters, fresh grilled snapper—and a VPN connection strong enough to stream Netflix from a hammock. That pretty much sums up my three-week adventure across the Bahamas. But let me be clear: I wasn’t just sipping piña coladas. I tested some of the world’s best VPNs on the ground, on five different islands, in hotel rooms, cafés, beach bars, even on a boat between Eleuthera and Exuma.
I had three devices with me the whole time:
- Samsung S25 (for Android testing and mobile streaming),
- iPhone 16 Pro (main phone, used heavily for speed tests and hotspot VPN use),
- MacBook Pro (2023) (work, Netflix, and real-time VPN performance comparison).
And I didn’t just test the VPNs from the comfort of air-conditioned hotels. I streamed Disney+ under a beach umbrella in Bimini, checked bank accounts over public Wi-Fi in a Nassau café, and ran latency tests while sipping Bahamian Sky Juice on a ferry to Exuma.
Let’s dive into the full experience.
#1: Nassau (New Providence) – My VPN Basecamp
Hotel: Margaritaville Beach Resort
Tested VPNs: NordVPN, ExpressVPN
Devices: iPhone 16 Pro (Speed tests), MacBook Pro (streaming)
Nassau was my starting point, and honestly, the Wi-Fi at Margaritaville was better than expected. The 5GHz hotel network gave me a consistent baseline of around 220 Mbps without VPN, which dropped to 190–200 Mbps with NordVPN connected to the Miami server. That’s impressive.
I streamed HBO Max and Netflix US on the MacBook Pro while working remotely from the hotel’s rooftop bar. No buffering.
📱 With the iPhone 16 Pro, I tested latency on Zoom and speed drops over public Wi-Fi at Café Matisse—again, NordVPN performed best.
✅ ExpressVPN also did great—faster initial connection, slightly smoother UI on macOS, and perfect unblocking of BBC iPlayer.
#2: Eleuthera – Off the Grid, Still Online
Hotel: French Leave Resort (Governor’s Harbour)
Tested VPNs: CyberGhost, Surfshark
Devices: Samsung S25 (mobile video streaming), iPhone 16 Pro (Maps & Booking)
This island feels like it’s from another era—in the best possible way. But the signal strength reminded me I was far from tech luxury.
At the French Leave Resort, Wi-Fi was decent (around 120 Mbps). I spent a sunset evening streaming YouTube on the Samsung S25 using Surfshark, connected via a New York server. Worked like a charm. Later I used CyberGhost while planning our buggy road trip to Lighthouse Beach.
📍 Personal tip: If you plan to explore, don’t rely on offline maps. I connected CyberGhost to a Google-optimized server and used my iPhone 16 Pro for navigation all over the island. From the Glass Window Bridge to secluded beaches—it was seamless.
🧪 Speed drop with VPN: around 20–25%, but nothing too painful. Surfshark’s “CleanWeb” also blocked a ton of annoying ads on travel blogs.
#3: Paradise Island – Luxury Meets Fastest VPN Speeds
Hotel: Atlantis Paradise Island
Tested VPN: ExpressVPN
Devices: MacBook Pro (streaming), Samsung S25 (social & mobile testing)
If there’s a place on the Bahamas where you expect good Wi-Fi, it’s the massive pink resort on Paradise Island. And Atlantis delivered. Speeds on the 5GHz network peaked at 240 Mbps—even higher than Nassau.
🖥️ On my MacBook Pro, I connected to ExpressVPN’s Miami server and streamed The Boys on Amazon Prime in 4K with zero lag. I also tried watching BBC iPlayer and Hulu on the Samsung S25 during a poolside break—smooth and reliable.
🎮 Bonus: I even downloaded a few large files from Google Drive via VPN, just to test. 1.2 GB in under a minute. That’s not island-speed—that’s mainland-fast.
🔐 Security: ExpressVPN’s RAM-only servers, split tunneling, and strong kill switch gave me peace of mind even when logging into PayPal from the hotel lobby.
#4: Bimini – Small Island, Surprising Performance
Hotel: Resorts World Bimini
Tested VPNs: Surfshark, NordVPN
Devices: iPhone 16 Pro (streaming), Samsung S25 (YouTube & Instagram tests)
Bimini felt like the wild card of the trip—tiny, close to Florida, but often overlooked. The resort Wi-Fi wasn’t the strongest (base speed: ~90 Mbps), but Surfshark held its own.
📲 I streamed Disney+ on my iPhone 16 Pro, connected to the Atlanta server. Only a 1–2 second initial buffer, then smooth sailing. The Samsung S25 was used for light YouTube and IG usage—no issues at all.
💡 Tip: The resort has a beachfront bar with stronger Wi-Fi than the hotel rooms. I sat there and ran speed tests while sipping Sky Juice. Geeky but glorious.
📡 NordVPN also worked here, but the Surfshark app connected faster and seemed more battery-friendly during longer sessions on mobile data.
#5: Andros Island – Wild Nature, Weak Wi-Fi
Hotel: Small Hope Bay Lodge
Tested VPN: NordVPN
Devices: MacBook Pro (offline sync + security), iPhone 16 Pro (banking apps)
If you go to Andros, go for the diving and nature—not the internet. The lodge had spotty Wi-Fi, peaking around 50–70 Mbps, with drops during storms.
🔐 I used NordVPN on my MacBook Pro to securely download work files and sync Dropbox in the evening. No DNS leaks, no disconnects, but it needed a strong kill switch due to intermittent network drops.
📱 With my iPhone 16 Pro, I opened PayPal and Revolut while connected to the Frankfurt server. No flags or weird login issues—worked exactly as if I were back home.
⛱️ Offline tip: Andros is perfect for a digital detox. Use VPN mostly at night when you reconnect—during the day, you’re better off enjoying the nature than fighting the Wi-Fi.
#6: Exuma – Boats, Drones & LTE
Location: George Town & boat trip to Pig Beach
Tested VPNs: NordVPN, ExpressVPN
Devices: iPhone 16 Pro (streaming + GPS), Samsung S25 (YouTube + upload tests)
Exuma’s George Town was the last leg of my journey. Wi-Fi at the Airbnb was average (~100 Mbps), but the LTE connection from my Aliv SIM card was a lifesaver during the boat trips.
📱 Streaming Netflix on LTE? Yes, I did that. I connected ExpressVPN via the New York server on the iPhone 16 Proand watched a full episode of Brooklyn Nine-Nine from the back of the boat while waiting for the pigs at Pig Beach.
📷 I also uploaded drone footage using NordVPN from the dockside café near the marina. Upload speeds weren’t great (12–18 Mbps), but it worked without any disconnects.
💡 LTE tip: If you plan to island-hop, get an Aliv SIM (15GB / $35) and configure your VPN to auto-connect + use a lightweight protocol like WireGuard for mobile.
Real VPN Speed Tests by Island (Measured Personally)
| 🏝️ Location | 🚀 Peak Speed (Mbps) | ✅ Best VPN |
|---|---|---|
| Nassau | 220–225 | NordVPN |
| Paradise Island | 240 | ExpressVPN |
| Eleuthera | 120 | Surfshark / CyberGhost |
| Bimini | 140 | Surfshark |
| Andros | 70 | NordVPN |
| Exuma (George Town) | 130 (Wi-Fi), 95 (LTE) | NordVPN / ExpressVPN |
All speeds were measured on 5GHz Wi-Fi or LTE, using iPhone 16 Pro and MacBook Pro with speedtest.net and Fast.com as benchmarks. I always tested with VPN enabled and connected to the closest optimized server (Miami, New York, Frankfurt, or London).
🧳 Which VPN is Best for You?
👩 Casual Traveler (streaming, light browsing)
→ Go with Surfshark. It’s affordable, works everywhere, and allows unlimited devices—ideal for couples or families.
💻 Digital Nomad (work, banking, privacy)
→ Choose NordVPN. The balance of speed and security was unmatched, even in weak-signal zones.
📺 Streaming Addict (Netflix, HBO Max, Disney+)
→ You’ll love ExpressVPN. It had the fastest startup, lowest latency, and flawless streaming on all platforms.
🛡️ Security-First User (privacy, anonymous payments)
→ Use NordVPN or ProtonVPN. Their double VPN and no-logs policies are rock-solid.
👨👩👧👦 Group Traveler (family or group trips)
→ Pick Surfshark. Unlimited connections = no arguments over who gets the VPN.
| Best VPN for Bahamas | Offer + Discount | URL |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | 77% off + 3 months free | Try NordVPN |
| ExpressVPN | 61% off + 6 months free | Try ExpressVPN |
| SurfShark | 87% off + 2 months free | Try SurfShark |
| CyberGhost | 83% off + 2 months free | Try CyberGhost |
| PIA VPN | 82% off + 2 months free | Try PIA VPN |
My 3 Golden Rules for VPN Use in the Bahamas
- Always use VPN on public Wi-Fi
Hotels, cafés, airports—even upscale ones—can be dangerous without encryption. - Never turn it off to “gain speed”
A quality VPN like NordVPN or ExpressVPN won’t slow you down. If it feels slow, switch server location—not turn off protection. - Enable the kill switch
You might lose connection mid-call on a ferry or during LTE signal drop. The kill switch ensures your traffic doesn’t leak if VPN cuts out.
My Final Verdict – What Would I Choose Again?
After three packed weeks across seven Bahamian locations—with my Samsung S25, iPhone 16 Pro, and MacBook Proalways online—I can say with full confidence:
- 🔐 For security and reliability: NordVPN never failed me.
- 📺 For best streaming experience: ExpressVPN was king.
- 👨👩👦 For group travel and budget: Surfshark delivered flexibility and value.
So next time I fly back to Exuma, or spend another night in Eleuthera under the stars with my MacBook, you can bet I’ll be packing my VPN credentials right next to my sunscreen.
Because honestly—no tropical paradise is perfect without a little digital peace of mind.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Do VPNs work equally well on every island?
No. It depends on local Wi-Fi and LTE quality. Nassau and Paradise Island were great. Eleuthera and Andros had lower speeds—but with the right VPN, they stayed usable.
Can I watch Netflix US or Disney+ from the Bahamas?
Yes, easily. I used NordVPN, ExpressVPN, and Surfshark—all worked with US content and even 4K streaming.
Is using a VPN legal in the Bahamas?
Yes. VPNs are fully legal here—just don’t use them for illegal activity (same rule applies globally).
What does a reliable VPN cost?
From around $2/month (Surfshark, long-term) to $12/month (ExpressVPN, monthly plan). Look for seasonal discounts.
