Bimini Customs, Trip Policies & Packing List

Bimini Customs Info

 Bimini is a small collection of islands in the great Bahamas chain of islands. It’s the closest Bahamian island to the US, only 50 miles east of Miami. The Bahamian Immigrations & Customs officials are friendly and clearing Customs is simple and easy.

The Bahamian dollar is the local currency and it’s traded evenly with the US dollar. US dollars are freely accepted in the Bahamas and there’s no need to exchange your money to Bahamian money if you have US dollars. Credit cards and travelers checks are accepted in only a few places and expect a service charge. There are no ATMs that are guaranteed to work and little opportunity for using personal checks. While you can get cash advances with a credit card at the island’s sole bank, banking hours are extremely limited, can involve standing in line for hours and even missing a boat trip out to the dolphins.

The simplest solution is to bring US dollars. If you are arriving from outside the US, we strongly suggest you get US dollars before you arrive in Bimini, otherwise you’ll be standing in line at the bank while we could be out on the water.  We suggest a minimum of $200; $120 to $160 for tip money for our local team of helpers (we collect tip money at the end of the trip) and money for a meal or two out on the town. Bring more if you want to go shopping for clothes and gifts.

On your flight to Bimini you’ll be given an Immigrations card to fill out. You’ll arrive at the South Bimini airport. Please put ‘Rented Apartment’ as your destination, and under the ‘purpose of your trip’ option, check only the ‘vacations’ box. Checking the ‘business’ box invites a lengthy interview. If there are any questions, just tell them you’re here on a dolphin trip with Joebaby and I’m probably right outside the immigrations door waiting for you!

To enter the Bahamas, US citizens are required to have a current US passport. Non US citizens should contact their local Bahamian consulate for entry requirements.

We will meet you at the airport once you clear customs and give you a ‘Welcome to the Bahamas’ hug! Then we’ll take you to our accommodations so you can unpack, get on your swimsuit and get in the water!

I see you!

Planetary Partners Trip Policies

Included in program:

• All lodging (depending on trip length) and most meals
• Up to three boat trips out to the dolphins, weather allowing
• Snorkel trips to the Stones of Atlantis & Three Sisters
• All group transportation to and from cottages for scheduled trips

Not included in program:

• All air transportation to and from Bimini
• One lunch and one dinner out on the town
• Optional tips (The suggested amount is $120 -$160)
  

Deposits & Payments:

For open enrollment trips, a $500 deposit per person secures your reservation. Space is limited, and reservations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Credit cards are accepted thru PayPal, make payment to Joseph Noonan. Full payment is due 60 days before departure. All rates and conditions are subject to change. Dolphin Whisperers, Planetary Partners LLC and Joe Noonan reserves the right to cancel a trip at any time. In the event of such an occurrence, any payments received will be refunded; unless the trip is cancelled due to a hurricane or tropical storm (see trip insurance below).

Cancellation & Refunds:

Trip deposits are nonrefundable and any remaining balance is due 60 days before trip departure date. Within 90 days a cancellation fee of 25% of the total cost of the trip shall apply. Within 60 days a 50% cancellation fee shall apply. No refunds within 30 days of departure, though your space on the trip is transferable to another person of your choice. All cancellations must be in writing.

Alcohol & Drug Use:

These trips are spiritual retreats, and we are into creating a natural high. Adventure is a part of our trips, we will be in unfamiliar environments and everybody needs to be fully present and alert. For this reason we ask that you refrain from using any non-prescription drugs or alcohol during our trip. We go out for a night of dancing one evening and that is the night for drinking alcohol if you desire. There is enough magic in our group energy to make you as happy and high as you’re willing to go!

NOTE: Travel insurance/trip cancellation insurance is always recommended. Because we cannot offer refunds for any reason (other than stated above) we recommend that you purchase travel insurance and/or trip cancellation insurance. Travel insurance and trip cancellation insurance is optional and is your responsibility. In the event of a trip being cancelled or shortened due to a tropical storm or hurricane, you will be happy you purchased the insurance. Cancellation insurance typically covers trip cancellations for hurricanes if the insurance is purchased prior to a weather system being officially declared a tropical storm. Check with your travel agent for more information.

Responsibilities:

Dolphin Whisperers, Planetary Partners LLC, Joe Noonan and cooperating agencies act only in the capacity of agent for the passengers in all matters relating to transportation, hotels, and other reservations and do not assume any liability whatsoever for injury, damage, loss, accident or delay to person or property due to any act or default of any hotel, carrier, restaurant, company or person, including Dolphin Whisperers, Planetary Partners LLC, Joe Noonan, its employees and agents rendering any of the services included on the trip for any circumstances beyond their direct control. In addition, Dolphin Whisperers, Planetary Partners LLC and Joe Noonan reserves the right to refuse participation to any passenger who is acting, from their point of view, in conflict with the trip’s goals or mission, or for acting in an unsafe manner. Any passenger who is refused participation for their actions forfeits any and all payments made. Upon payment of trip deposit, the passenger agrees to the above terms.

White sand & blue water…

Risk Waiver & Assumption of Personal Responsibility

Upon receipt of your deposit we will email you our trip risk waiver. Please fill this waiver out and bring the completed form with you.

 Packing List

Bimini’s weather is similar to Miami, which is 50 miles west of us, straight across the Gulf Stream. It‘s typically a warm climate where it can get cool at night. We’ll be staying in accommodations that are a stone’s throw from the water, sharing rooms and meals together. This will be an informal week, and for your simplicity and enjoyment we recommend you pack light and keep your luggage to a minimum!

Please also realize that you need to arrive with all your preparatory shopping completed. Bimini is two small islands and is completely free of large grocery stores, drug stores, convenience stores, etc.

You will need to bring your own mask, snorkel and fins. If you’ve never snorkeled before, you’re in for a treat! L.L. Beans sells inexpensive mask/snorkel/fin sets online, typically much more economically than a dive shop. (www.llbean.com). You can even get a snorkel set at Sports Authority for less. Just make sure that your mask is made of silicone! (Some of the cheaper masks are not).

When you try on a new mask, do a simple test to see if it fits – move the strap out of the way, look down at your feet, put the mask snug up against your face, suck in your nose to create a vacuum, then let go with your hands. If the mask stays on for at least 15 seconds, you have a watertight seal.

Wetsuit – wetsuits are entirely optional. When I first started coming to Bimini, I would come in the winter months from the snowy north and I never needed a wetsuit, even after hours in the water. Now, living here, I wear one from fall to spring. If you tend to get cold fast and want to spend hours a day in the water, and our trips other than mid-summer to early fall, you might consider bringing a wetsuit. L.L Beans sells them economically, you can get a shorty or a full suit.

Personal Gear -

1 swimsuit and a beach towel

2 pair shorts

1 pair long pants

3 – 4 t – shirts

1 sweater, ideally fleece/non-cotton

A light jacket for the winter months

A lightweight raincoat

1 pair sandals/flip flops (extra footwear optional)

A small bag/backpack to carry stuff to the beach/on the boat

Current Passport

Simple toiletries (toothbrush, paste, soap, shampoo)

Sun protection – waterproof sunscreen & hat are necessary, sunglasses & a long sleeve shirt recommended

Favorite snack food

Water bottle

Extra cash & tips for our local guides (we recommend $120 – $160 for a 5 day trip)

Camera (underwater cameras are a lot of fun!)

Most importantly, bring your Enthusiasm, your Beautiful Intention and your sense of Adventure!

© 2011 Joe Noonan