When looking for a romantic weekend getaway from Miami we discovered Bimini, Bahamas. Only 50 miles from Miami the Bimini ferry will get you there in 2 hours. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for us to experience Bimini Bliss and we needed it after our adventure in Kenya with the kids. Here’s everything you need to know to plan the perfect Bimini vacation.
How To Get to Bimini
Take the Bimini Ferry from Miami by FRS Caribbean
FRS Caribbean operates the Bimini Ferry out of the Port of Miami. You can choose to do a day trip or stay as many nights on the island as you’d like. They operate Sunday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Day trips start at $69.98 plus taxes or $209 RT including taxes to stay on the island. If you’re Military you will receive a 20% discount as a thank you for your service! Be sure to check Groupon before booking directly on FRS Caribbean’s website as there are often have deals posted to bring the cost down! A valid passport is required to take the Bimini Ferry. If you are visiting from another country you can read about the required documents here.
Take a Direct Flight to Bimini from Fort Lauderdale International Airport
If you aren’t sold on taking the Bimini Ferry you can fly to the island. Silver Airlines which is partnered with United flies to Bimini 5 times a week.
Take a Seaplane to Bimini
Skip the airport and take a seaplane to Bimini. With daily flights from both Fort Lauderdale and Miami you’ll skip the hassle of going through traditional security lines and have a much smaller crowd on your flight.
Need to get to South Florida before heading to Bimini? If your dates are flexible check out Skyscanner for the cheapest time to fly to Miami or Fort Lauderdale. You can also download their free app to search deals or watch out for flight deals to South Florida.
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Where to Stay in Bimini
There used to be a Bimini Cruise with cabins that allowed you to stay on the ship while visiting the island. However it’s since been discontinued so staying at one of the few Bimini hotels or Airbnb’s are the only option for overnight stays. While we typically enjoy Airbnb’s we wanted all the amenities a resort offered for our romantic getaway. If you are interested in trying Airbnb you can sign up here to save $40 on your first stay. Don’t be nervous, here are 8 tips to guarantee a great Airbnb experience.
We chose to stay at Resorts World Bimini by Hilton. Opened in 2015 it’s fairly new and had everything we wanted. There is a spa and gym on-site. The rooms are very modern and each one has a balcony.
With three pools and one being an adults only infinity pool there are many places to relax. The resort also offers a private beach with plenty of options for water activities.
If you’re into casino’s you’ll love Resorts World Bimini as there is a casino on site. Be aware food at the resort is very expensive. On the weekends the full breakfast buffet would have ran us $64 for two people! We opted to get bagels and muffins from the bar but they were still about $6 each.
Things to Do in Bimini
Dolphin House
The Dolphin House is built by Bimini native Ashley Saunders and is a 25 year ongoing project. All the materials used to construct the building are recycled and natural. The house has two bedrooms and two bathrooms and Ashley will rent it out to guests if interested.
Radio Beach
If you want the most beautiful beach all to yourself head to Radio Beach. Unfortunately most people staying at the resort stay on in and miss out on all the beauty of the island. Your chances of having the beach to yourself are extremely high. This picture was taken in the middle of the day on a Saturday!
Bimini Nightlife
If you’re looking for extravagant bars and clubs Bimini isn’t the place for you. However there are still a few places to listen to some great music and grab a drink after the sun has gone down. We went out to Island House and had a great evening. While we didn’t make it to Big John’s we heard it’s nice as well. We chose Island House because it’s owned by locals and Big John’s is owned by a non Bahamian.
Snorkel the Sapona Shipwreck
This was something we really wanted to do on our visit but the weather wasn’t cooperating. Luckily there was another ship wreck right off the shore that we were able to ride our bikes to see.
Bimini Shark Dive, Swim with Wild Dolphins, or Play with Stingrays in Honeymoon Harbor
If you want to get your adrenaline pumping Bimini is the place for you. Depending on the time of year you visit you can dive with hammerhead sharks, swim with wild dolphins, or go on a stingray encounter.
Go Bone Fishing
Bimini is famous for bone fishing and it’s the top destination in the world to do it. Even more special the record holder for catching the biggest bone fish is a native and resident of the island. Be sure to visit him at his boat house, we were lucky enough to meet him!
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Where to Eat in Bimini
You should definitely eat your weight in conch while visiting Bimini but where will you find the best conch? Funny enough the two shops that reign as the best places for conch on the island are owned by two brothers. So why do they each have their own place? Apparently they don’t like each other at all. Check out both to decide for your own but remember to bring cash, neither take credit cards.
Joe’s Conch Shack
Offering Conch in every form if you’ve never tried conch before this is the place for you. They were even kind enough to show us how to remove the conch from the shell.
Stuart’s Conch Shack
Unfortunately we didn’t get to try Stuart’s because we ran out of cash. Hopefully you’ll get to and if you do please let us know whose conch you think is better!
Edith’s Pizza
Edith’s pizza is famous for her crust being made out of Bimini bread. Choose between conch, lobster, shrimp, and your standard toppings to make the pizza of your choice. Right on the water you’ll also have an ocean view while you eat!
How to Get Around Bimini
Most people on the island get around via golf cart. While there are cars in Bimini there are no car rental companies. Taxis are also limited and there is no Uber or Lyft. You’ll want to rent a golf cart or bicycle to get around. North Bimini is only 7 miles long so getting around by either option is more than doable.
Money in Bimini
The exchange rate in Bimini is one to one and US dollars are widely accepted. While you will be able to use your credit card at Resorts World Bimini a lot of the establishments on the island are cash only. Be sure to bring enough with you or you’ll miss out on some staple activities and food!
We had a great weekend enjoying Bimini Bliss. While the Bimini Ferry was very easy to take if we ever go back we will fly. Unfortunately we had a major delay coming back. The ferry was held at the dock when leaving so we departed 90 minutes late. Then upon arrival back in Florida we were held by customs for 45 minutes.
Overall we enjoyed our time experiencing Bimini Bliss! If you found this article helpful in planning your own trip to Bimini and taking the Bimini Ferry please share it to help someone else!