2018 Bimini June trip (June 24th - June 30th)

[Bruce]

I am more interested in what resteraunts will be kid friendly! What we bring will vary slightly due to that.
You guys usually do breakfast in condo? Feeding 5 can get pricey as well but so can not getting some relaxing in on the trip.

Ask @MrMoose about his favorite kid friendly spot in South Bimini.

I have not had difficulty taking kids anywhere other than the liquor store.

 

[AndyD]

So these events are happening before, during, and after the June trip. Any idea from people who have been before how this may affect fuel and food supplies on the island?

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-boating-fling-1

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-c-class-regatta

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-boating-fling

 

[Hector]

So these events are happening before, during, and after the June trip. Any idea from people who have been before how this may affect fuel and food supplies on the island?

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-boating-fling-1

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-c-class-regatta

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-boating-fling

I know of a local jet ski group that I used to be a part of that is also staying at the sands during this trip.

 

[robert843]

You were eating out for $10 a person at Bimini Sands? I would say that would be hard to do anywhere on the island?

Correct we were eating burgers and chicken tenders and things like that at the restaurant above the store at the sands. This was two years ago so I have no clue on pricing now but it was about $10 back then I was surprised as well.

 

[Bruce]

So these events are happening before, during, and after the June trip. Any idea from people who have been before how this may affect fuel and food supplies on the island?

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-boating-fling-1

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-c-class-regatta

https://www.bahamas.com/event/bimini-boating-fling

The Boston Whalers, who have not announced 2018 dates, are the group that runs the islands dry. Well that and the large JetBoaters group that drank all the rum, beer, etc.

The Bahamas tourism flings will go to north Bimini. We already have much of the Sands booked.

I will be working with Bimini Sands to make sure they have sufficient fuel on site for us.

As for food, drinks, etc all of that is always in short supply. I would not expect to buy anything but ice and food in Bimini.

This is why I am going in July.

 

[robert843]

I know of a local jet ski group that I used to be a part of that is also staying at the sands during this trip.

I’m guessing this is the mid va jet ski group. I have actually talked to Ron on the phone very cool guy. Based on the info I have right now I don’t expect their group to be large enough to impact us at all. @AndyD the Bimini flings are limited in the amount of boats they bring I think it’s 30 per fling and they don’t stay at the sands usually it’s big game club or resort world they are pushing now and I’m just guessing we pretty much have most of the marina booked for our group at the sands now. Honestly the size of our group and the size of our boats which will require constant fueling will probably pose the bigger issue when we have 30 boats trying to grab fuel each morning compared to the offshore type boats that will mostly be in the fling those guys likely will only refuel when leaving but will likely do so at resort world or blue water.

 

[Bruce]

Correct we were eating burgers and chicken tenders and things like that at the restaurant above the store at the sands. This was two years ago so I have no clue on pricing now but it was about $10 back then I was surprised as well.

Interesting. My family only ate at the Petite Conch once which was in 2015. It was the day of arrival. Between a club sandwich, two huge BLTs, lobster salad and likely $35 of rum punch our total was over $100 for four. On the positive side the food was good and we had a lot of leftovers.

The pool bar and this location are both open under new management this year. They have been serving food at rates the locals can afford so I expect $10 to $15 options to be on the menus.

Kalik is available at the pool bar and I have seen ads for beer bucket specials. I expect the service at the pool to be much better this year.

 

[robert843]

On the positive side the food was good and we had a lot of leftovers.
.

I agree on the left over we actually got two meals basically out our first dinner there and I remember our second meal we ordered to go back to the room and only ordered two meals to split between the three of us because we were leaving the next morning. I posted a pic of the menu back then somewhere on here and I think a pic of my first night receipt which I think was $27 if I remember correctly but no rum on our tab lol.

 

[Hector]

I’m guessing this is the mid va jet ski group. I have actually talked to Ron on the phone very cool guy. Based on the info I have right now I don’t expect their group to be large enough to impact us at all. @AndyD the Bimini flings are limited in the amount of boats they bring I think it’s 30 per fling and they don’t stay at the sands usually it’s big game club or resort world they are pushing now and I’m just guessing we pretty much have most of the marina booked for our group at the sands now. Honestly the size of our group and the size of our boats which will require constant fueling will probably pose the bigger issue when we have 30 boats trying to grab fuel each morning compared to the offshore type boats that will mostly be in the fling those guys likely will only refuel when leaving but will likely do so at resort world or blue water.

Yes, that’s them. I was one of the top 3 members before I switched to the “dark side”.
I still ride w them on occasions

 

[robert843]

Yes, that’s them. I was one of the top 3 members before I switched to the “dark side”.
I still ride w them on occasions

The seem like a cool fun group. I’m going to be in ft lauderdale really early so I reached out to them as if the weather is perfect and I crossed early I could possibly cross with them.

 

[Bruce]

MarineMax has always run the Whaler Bimini Fling. They have a Bahamas Getaway scheduled for June 13 to 18. They do not say what island they are going to. The event picture looks like Resorts World Bimini’s marina.

I suspect two factors are at play;

1. Resorts World lost most or all of their docks to the hurricane last year. They may not have their marinas operating by June.

2. It seems that this MarineMax event may become broader than just Whalers.

If this event is large there will be a week to restock and refuel the island before your arrival.

https://www.marinemax.com/stores/orlando/events/getaways/bahamas-bash-getaway-2018-06-13

 

[robert843]

MarineMax has always run the Whaler Bimini Fling. They have a Bahamas Getaway scheduled for June 13 to 18. They do not say what island they are going to. The event picture looks like Resorts World Bimini’s marina.

I suspect two factors are at play;

1. Resorts World lost most or all of their docks to the hurricane last year. They may not have their marinas operating by June.

2. It seems that this MarineMax event may become broader than just Whalers.

If this event is large there will be a week to restock and refuel the island before your arrival.

https://www.marinemax.com/stores/orlando/events/getaways/bahamas-bash-getaway-2018-06-13

This is a marine max Orlando event I only expect them to have 20-30 boats as well should not be an issue at all and it’s the first one they have ever organized so I imagine it could be a mess lol. I’m surprised as well on the whalers that I have not received the email stating their dates yet but there was talk of moving their event to Abaco as well.

 

[MrMoose]

Ask @MrMoose about his favorite kid friendly spot in South Bimini.

I have not had difficulty taking kids anywhere other than the liquor store.

Too funny @Bruce, it's interesting that the boys mentioned that that evening just the other day. Matthieu said that it wasn't just cigarette smoke in the restaurant . I still have to say that it was the first time that I saw porn playing on the TV of a "family restaurant". It was an experience, that's for sure.

 

[Speedling]

Too funny @Bruce, it's interesting that the boys mentioned that that evening just the other day. Matthieu said that it wasn't just cigarette smoke in the restaurant . I still have to say that it was the first time that I saw porn playing on the TV of a "family restaurant". It was an experience, that's for sure.

Ummm ok so which place do i avoid?

 

[MrMoose]

Ummm ok so which place do i avoid?

Don't worry about it... Just follow Bruce and you'll be fine.

 

[Bruce]

Don't worry about it... Just follow Bruce and you'll be fine.

Or you will make special memories that last a lifetime while you are the only one at the table whose food never arrives.....


@Speedling, this was at the Thirsty Turtle which is a bar within walking distance the NW of Bimini Sands. We took approximately a dozen adults and a dozen kids which overwhelmed the normally slow bar. The lobster, conch, pizza and drinks were good. A great time was had. But their TV vieiwing continent is highly questionable.

I actually preferred the experience to the much hyped Bimini Big Johns where the food was equally slow and the flies were swarming.

 

[Julian]

Yeah...the thirsty turtle really is a bar....with a well worn pool table....

I thought the pricing at the place above the reservations center and the pool bar were reasonable....we ate out for dinner mostly....except when we bought some "rock fish" (lobster) from a local and had lobster rolls for dinner. For lunch we took lunch meat and a bunch of bratwurst. Breakfast we both just ate cereal.....not big breakfast eaters.

 

[Speedling]

Yeah...the thirsty turtle really is a bar....with a well worn pool table....

I thought the pricing at the place above the reservations center and the pool bar were reasonable....we ate out for dinner mostly....except when we bought some "rock fish" (lobster) from a local and had lobster rolls for dinner. For lunch we took lunch meat and a bunch of bratwurst. Breakfast we both just ate cereal.....not big breakfast eaters.

I'm not much of a breakfast eater either but by 9:30 i am starving. My family however wakes at 8 while i wake at 5.

 

[Julian]

I'm not much of a breakfast eater either but by 9:30 i am starving. My family however wakes at 8 while i wake at 5.

My brother runs a bar/restaurant...so his schedule and mine are similar to yours and your kids...only shifted....I wake at 7/8....he's up by noon....LOL

 

[Bruce]

I'm not much of a breakfast eater either but by 9:30 i am starving. My family however wakes at 8 while i wake at 5.

We eat breakfast in the condo and take lunch, an excess of drinks and an extra meal on the boat. We either eat dinner in the condo or at one of the restaurants.

For the July group we will have a daily VHF call around 9:00 to discuss activities and weather for the day.

Some, especially the fisherman tend to go out in the early morning when the temperature is cooler.

Many will grow tired of the sun by late afternoon. We have occasionally risked seeing sunset on the water but are normally back at the marina before 6.