I want to go to Bimini 2017

[Bruce]

I don't think the water is unsafe but IMO it doesn't taste well. I tried the flavor water packets and I still couldn't mask the saltwater. This year we purchased bottled waters and a gallon of water from the resort. It was well worth it.

We put the tap water in an open container in the fridge. The taste goes away after it sits for a while. We mostly mix it with Gatorade powder which tastes fine.

 

[Eric Ballard]

There is now a weather camera operating at Bimini Sands. You can view the current weather and an image of the beach near the infinity pool at https://weather.weatherbug.com/weather-camera/?cam=BSRMA

Great now I'll find myself watching this live feed all day instead of working....

 

[Julian]

So how many restaurants are there one can go to? We are into eating out when on vacation....are you guys saying there isn't enough variety to eat out all the time?

 

[Bruce]

So how many restaurants are there one can go to? We are into eating out when on vacation....are you guys saying there isn't enough variety to eat out all the time?

The resteraunts are generally open on island time and charge island prices. We typically eat out for two meals during a 5 night stay.

With the two closures what is left on South Bimini is a small cafe with perhaps seating for 20 at Bimini Sands, a fried food counter near Booze and Screws that has quick and cheap food and the bar at the Thirsty Turtle that I have not visited and may or may not be open. The latter two are as far as a mile away depending on where your condo is.

North Bimini has resteraunts at Big Game Club and Resorts World as well as lots of small establishments along the Queens road.

My family chooses to spend time on the water instead of on land looking for food. You really should plan to bring most of what you will eat.

 

[DieselCamel]

So how many restaurants are there one can go to? We are into eating out when on vacation....are you guys saying there isn't enough variety to eat out all the time?

There are plenty of place on North Bimini. But most of it is Take out style with only a couple of tables. Only sit down restaurants are probably Big Game, Big Johns, and at Resort World. This is at least my experience. Plus i might add we really only ate out once .. Eating out is too much effort with everything being on N Bimini IMHO.

 

[Speedling]

I don't think the water is unsafe but IMO it doesn't taste well. I tried the flavor water packets and I still couldn't mask the saltwater. This year we purchased bottled waters and a gallon of water from the resort. It was well worth it.

I wonder if an ro system could be hooked up?

 

[Bruce]

I wonder if an ro system could be hooked up?

Easily to the water hose hookup at the dock. But you do not need it.

In the condo there is a typical kitchen sink and one to three bathroom typical bathroom sinks.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

We put the tap water in an open container in the fridge. The taste goes away after it sits for a while. We mostly mix it with Gatorade powder which tastes fine.

We tried that in 2015 as the room had a pitcher but we couldn't get past the taste.

I would definitely bring water over or buy it while there. It was around $2 to $3 for a gallon of water at Bimini Sands so IMO well worth the few dollars. Simply refill your water bottles throughout the week. We picked up a some coke there as well. It's a bit more expensive then stateside but it really wasn't that bad.

 

[Bruce]

I wonder if an ro system could be hooked up?

If you are going to bring a filter I would bring something like a Brita Pitcher. That way you have the satisfaction of filtered water with little expense of time or cost.

 

[Bruce]

We put the tap water in an open container in the fridge. The taste goes away after it sits for a while. We mostly mix it with Gatorade powder which tastes fine.

as the room had a pitcher but we couldn't get past the taste.

I would definitely bring water over or buy it while there. It was around $2 to $3 for a gallon of water at Bimini Sands so IMO well worth the few dollars. Simply refill your water bottles throughout the week. We picked up a some coke there as well. It's a bit more expensive then stateside but it really wasn't that bad.

I think this is a matter of difference in perspective and pickiness. It certainly shows there is reason for anyone who is picky about the taste of water to bring a simple pitcher filter.

 

[DieselCamel]

We only brought a case of water in 2015/16 and refilled our bottles. Don't recall the taste being an issue

 

[Speedling]

The only reason i thought of an ro system is because we were looking at adding a fairly portable one for our camper. Some just hook right to most faucets. Then i would have more use for it. The systems we are looking at using are more like 4 gallons every 2 hours or so. Smaller than a house setup.
Seems like buying it may be the key here though...

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

I think this is a matter of difference in perspective and pickiness. It certainly shows there is reason for anyone who is picky about the taste of water to bring a simple pitcher filter.

I'm far from picky, but to each his own. I'm just giving my perspective from 2015. I didn't try the water in 2016. My point is for anyone considering the crossing Bimini isn't nearly as remote as it sometimes seems reading these threads. If the water doesn't bother you great, if you decide you don't like it you can always purchase water there for not all that much.

 

[robert843]

I bring water as well. It's a security thing for me over a taste thing I just trust the bottle water more. If space is an issue just buy it while over there. I have yet to try tap water on any of the islands over there I even used bottle water to brush my teeth yes I know I'm a freak lol (edit) I maybe lying I drank the water they set on the table at staniel cay yatch club and I'm assuming it was from the tap.

 

[Bruce]

we were looking at adding a fairly portable one for our camper. Some just hook right to most faucets.

Have you ever used a RO filter? We were given a four stage RO filter for our aquarium that I expanded to include a fifth stage DI filter. It is rated to process 100 gallons per hour or a gallon every 15 minutes. It sounds like you are looking at a 50 GPD version. All I can say is, what a pain in the ass. Just try remembering to swap out gallon jugs every 15 minutes. I am giving the RO filter back to the guy that gave it to me and switching to DI only.

As for Bimini a $20 to $25 Brita filter will have the taste covered and if you are really worried bring a pack of Aquatabs to throw in the prefiltered section to retreat the water.

I may buy one of the $26 18 cup Brita UltraMax units to take with us. The included filter is rated for 40 gallons which should handle our trip.

 

[robert843]

The resteraunts are generally open on island time and charge island prices. We typically eat out for two meals during a 5 night stay.

With the two closures what is left on South Bimini is a small cafe with perhaps seating for 20 at Bimini Sands, a fried food counter near Booze and Screws that has quick and cheap food and the bar at the Thirsty Turtle that I have not visited and may or may not be open. The latter two are as far as a mile away depending on where your condo is.

North Bimini has resteraunts at Big Game Club and Resorts World as well as lots of small establishments along the Queens road.

My family chooses to spend time on the water instead of on land looking for food. You really should plan to bring most of what you will eat.

@Bruce did Mackey's and Bimini twist close?

 

[Bruce]

@Bruce did Mackey's and Bimini twist close?

Yes, you may need to look back a page for that post. They are closed. The South Bimini Beach Club is likely for sale and a new resteraunt may be built by the infinity pool. The only good news is that the snack bar by the inifinity pool is open.

 

[robert843]

@Bruce not to surprised as they were in need of a fair amount of repair when we were there this year. It's sad to see how run down they that let that spot and marina become you could tell it was nice at one point. I bet that place falls apart over the next few years.

 

[Bruce]

@robert843, the South Bimini Beach Club was a happening place in 2014. The pool was open. The marina was in use in fact a Guy Harvey event filled it. The multicolored party bus was making a regular circuit of all the stops and Mackey's had regular events such as karaoke night.

Things seem to have taken a turn for the worse when the new Bimini Sands ownership took over in 2015. Then when Resorts World's business decreased that must have been another hit. This year the busses were barely running. In fact the bus was replaced by an old Bronco for part of the time.

The location once had a multistory hotel full of drug runners and pirates. It was the scourge of Bimini but also huge revenue generator for the island. That part of Bimini's history is over but hopefully a new owner will remodel the harbor and restaurant while building lodging. I could see the location being very competitive with Bimini Sands.

 

[Bruce]

The other big change coming to Bimini that may significantly decrease my desire to go there is the Ocean Cay MSC Cruise Ship Island https://www.msccruisesusa.com/en-us...les/Bahamas/Ocean-Cay-MSC-Marine-Reserve.aspx

It is being constructed south of Cat Cay and is scheduled to open in late 2017. It is a $200M investment intended to serve more than 2,000 guests at a time.

I think it is likely that those guests will flood Honeymoon Harbor and the Sapona.