If I were to get stuck in a time loop where I was destined to repeat one day of my life over and over, let it please be this 1 day in Bimini in the Bahamas.
Like many other people Googling around on the internet, I had wondered: is Bimini Bahamas worth visiting? The answer is Yes. Most definitely, yes.
I probably repeated the sentence “This water is unreal” about 12 times.
This wasn’t my first time in the Caribbean. I’ve spent a few vacations in Nassau and cruised through St Thomas, St John, Grand Cayman, and St Maarten, but Bimini was every bit as beautiful, and due to the small size of the island, it was easy to get to the pristine beaches.
Discovering Bimini
The island of Bimini was first inhabited by the Lucayans or Lukku-Cairi, meaning “people of the islands,” and Bimini translates to “two islands” or “the twins.” Located only 50 miles east of Miami, Bimini is the westernmost district of the Bahamas and the closest point in the Bahamas to the mainland United States.
North and South Bimini are the main tourist spots connected by a narrow ocean passageway with a 5-minute ferry ride that runs between them. Alice Town, situated on the larger North Bimini, is home to the island’s major tourist attractions, shopping, and luxury hotels, including Resorts World Bimini.
Day Pass to Resorts World Bimini Beach
I arrived in North Bimini via the Celebrity Reflection cruise ship having booked a day pass excursion to Resorts World Bimini.
*Note: The Day Passes start at $40 per person.
Resorts World is a fitting name because the resort is massive: 750 acres of luxury beachfront property, featuring three pools, 10 restaurants, and a casino. While the swimming pools were beautiful, I was there for the beach and a swim in the crystal-clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.
At the cruise dock, we showed our day pass tickets to the Resorts World agents and were given wristbands to wear for our day access.
Two open-air trolleys run regularly to transport guests to the beachfront area of the resort, with the breezy ride taking around 10 minutes. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a welcome Bahama Mama drink and all that remained was for us to find a set of lounge chairs under an umbrella.
While there were a lot of guests enjoying a day at the beach, there were still plenty of lounge chairs available. The sand was white and silky and there were canvas-laid “paths” leading to the beach making it easy to walk to and from the lounge chairs to the pools, restroom facilities, and tiki huts offering Pina Coladas, Goombay Smashes, and other Caribbean classics.
If you couldn’t bear to tear yourself away from the view for even a minute, waiters came by regularly so you could order food and drink delivered to you.
Swimming along Bimini Beach was a Caribbean dream. The sand beneath my feet felt like the softest suede, the water glowed like clear turquoise glass, and I could easily walk into the softly breaking waves before the water became deep.
You can see why I wouldn’t mind repeating this day, again and again.
Lunch on Bimini Beach at Resorts World
*Note: Resorts World is cashless; only credit cards are accepted.
You can purchase a day pass that includes lunch for an upcharge, but the menu is fairly limited if you choose that option.
My recommendation is to eat lunch at the Beach Club 360, which opens at 11:00 am.
The restaurant is housed in a large, open-air pavilion, and the views are incredible. The menu features fresh salads and Bahamian cracked conch as well as chicken and burgers if you’re not into seafood. My favorite was the grilled Mahi sandwich served on a ciabatta roll with sundried tomato aioli.
Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina
While I spent all of my 1 day in Bimini enjoying the beach at Resorts World, the other primary resort area to explore is the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina. Bimini has long been known for its sports fishing and is often called the “big game fishing capital of the world.”
Ernest Hemingway helped popularize Bimini during the 1930s, living on the island for two years, trolling the waters near the Gulf Stream in his boat Pilar fishing for marlin while writing Islands in the Stream and To Have and Have Not.
Situated in the tourist-friendly center of Alice Town, Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina is a boutique hotel that first opened in 1947. The 51 accommodations here range from deluxe rooms and cottages to penthouses, and the property is also home to Bimini Seafood Company & Conch Bar, Neal Watson’s Bimini Scuba Center, and a full-service marina, which features 75 slips that can accommodate boats up to 140 feet.
How To Get to Bimini (That’s Not a Cruise Ship)
The most affordable option is to take the two-hour Balearia ferry from Fort Lauderdale, which offers charters 5 days a week starting at $235. There are also several yacht charters available between Miami and Bimini, but the expense will be pricier than the Balearia ferry. To arrive via air, take a 25-minute flight on Tropic Ocean Airways from Fort Lauderdale or Miami.
Once on Bimini, travelers can arrange a golf cart rental, which is the main mode of transportation on the island. Book one starting at $90 per day with BMB Rental Carts. Meanwhile, guests staying at Resorts World Bimini can reserve a golf cart provided only to hotel guests. There are no car rentals on Bimini, and many places are accessible by walking.
Final Thoughts
Based on my 1 day in Bimini Bahamas, I would happily return whether it was for another day-tripping cruise excursion or even to stay on the island for a few days at Resorts World or the Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina.
The thought of extending my visit to explore and immerse myself more fully in the island’s offerings is incredibly tempting. Bimini was peak Caribbean bliss, and I am already looking forward to my next visit to this enchanting destination.
Have suggestions or tips for visiting Bimini? Drop me a comment below and I’ll update my guide.
Thanks for reading!
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You’ve offered some great tips here, I’ll be using them.