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We're so excited to celebrate with you in beautiful Bimini, Bahamas! Here's everything you need to know to help you plan your trip. First things first... Bimini is actually comprised of two small islands; North and South. The airport is on South Bimini and the resort/wedding venue is on North Bimini. A small channel separates the two islands. Traveling to Bimini: 1. The most affordable option from South Florida will be the Balearia Ferry. This leaves out of Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 9:00am. It returns back on the same days leaving Bimini at 6:00pm. Bimini is only 50 miles from South Florida. It is about a 2 hour ferry ride. Here is the link for the group rate. It will be either for Wed-Sun or Fri-Sun. If you are wanting to book longer, please reach out to us directly. <a href="https://checkout.xola.app/#seller/543cfe74ad217160648b456e/experiences/6831cac590f7b18a2d0e8849?openExternal=true" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://checkout.xola.app/#seller/543cfe74ad217160648b456e/experiences/6831cac590f7b18a2d0e8849?openExternal=true</a> 2. Tropic Airways is the seaplane that is a charter-style airline, so flights are smaller and more flexible. They have both regular scheduled flights daily and an option to book their private charter service for your convenience. This airline leaves out of Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (FXE) and lands in the crystal clear waters of North Bimini. It is only a 25 minute flight. 3. Aztec Airways is also a smaller airline who offers both scheduled and private charter flight options from Forth Lauderdale International (FLL) into South Bimini Airport (BIM). This airline only offers flights on Thursdays and Sundays. 4. American Airlines - They have officially started their direct route from Miami airport to South Bimini Airport. It is about a 30 minute flight. This route will be available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. Just remember that South Bimini is a separate island (as mentioned above), so guests will need to take the quick journey via ferry to North Bimini where the resort is located. **read below for directions for this quick journey 5. Flying into FLL first? The airport is about 3.6 miles from the port. It is approximately a 10-12 minute drive. An uber will cost you anywhere from $10-35 depending on the time of day. If you will be staying at a hotel in Ft Lauderdale the night before catching the ferry, there are many hotels in the area of the airport and Port Everglades. One we recommend is the Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port. They offer free breakfast and a shuttle service to the Port for $9 per person. We also recommend the Four Points by Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Cruise Port. They offer a free shuttle to and from the airport and can help arrange a private transport to the Port for $15 per person. **IF YOU ARE FLYING INTO SOUTH BIMINI AIRPORT: South Bimini (where the airport is) is a separate island, so guests will have to take the following 15-20 minute journey: taxi from the airport to water taxi dock ($5 per person) and then board a 10-15 minute complimentary water taxi that will take you directly to the resort**

Travel

We've reserved a hotel block for our wedding guests at Resorts World Bimini. To make your stay easy and enjoyable, we've arranged a special group rate. Please use the link below to book your room within our wedding block: <a href="https://reservations.rwbimini.com/ibe/shop.aspx?propertyid=17771&amp;nights=1&amp;checkin=4/22/2026&amp;group=2604LAUREN&amp;lang=en-us" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://reservations.rwbimini.com/ibe/shop.aspx?propertyid=17771&amp;nights=1&amp;checkin=4/22/2026&amp;group=2604LAUREN&amp;lang=en-us</a> We recommend booking as soon as possible to ensure availability. Please note that the daily resort fee is currently listed at $45 per night but will be discounted to $25 upon check-in. This discount will only be applicable to guests booking through our wedding block link.

Resorts World Bimini Resort and Marina

Accomodations 

While you're on the island, we encourage you to explore the island, relax by the water, and experience everything this little slice of paradise has to offer. 1. Rent a golf cart to explore the island. We recommend Sluggo &amp; Renee's first and foremost. This husband and wife team are so sweet and easy to work with. They have provided us with a discounted rate for a 4-seater cart at $90 per day and a 6-seater at $120. They can be reached on Whatsapp at 242-472-5121. Just mention the Hope Wedding. We also have heard great things about Sue &amp; Joys company who can be reached at 242-544-2367. We do not have any partnerships with them so unfortunately cannot offer any wedding weekend discounts. 2. Take a professional tour with Max, a Bimini local, who will guide you around the island. Go to <a href="https://www.tourbimini.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.tourbimini.com/</a> to book! 3. Book a tour with Bimini Blue Adventures. They offer many water activities like jet skis, sting ray excursions, snorkeling, kayaks etc... <a href="https://www.biminiblueadventures.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.biminiblueadventures.com/</a> 4. Want to swim with hammerheads or stingrays? Book a scuba or snorkel trip with Neil Watson's Bimini Scuba Center. Check out their website <a href="https://www.biminiscubacenter.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopnb2cnElxr4sGg-uZ7G7akCYn7fXCv7olomkkaV8NEK9w8CSig" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.biminiscubacenter.com/srsltid=AfmBOopnb2cnElxr4sGg-uZ7G7akCYn7fXCv7olomkkaV8NEK9w8CSig</a> 5. Take a tour of the Dolphin House Museum which was built by a Bahamian local historian and artist. 6. Visit the many beaches, like Radio Beach, to relax &amp; unwind.

Things to Do

Registry

Do I need a passport to travel to Bimini? YES! All guests traveling to the Bahamas will need a valid passport. Please ensure your passport is up to date and will not expire during your expected travel dates. Is this hotel all-inclusive? Resorts World is not all-inclusive. However, the resort offers a variety of on-site dining options, bars, casinos, gelato, and coffee shops. These options are found in the link below with their menus and hours: <a href="https://rwbimini.com/dining" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://rwbimini.com/dining</a>The island also has a variety of small restaurants and cafés to choose from to experience the authentic Bahamian cuisine. Do I need a car? Not really. The resort offers shuttle services around the property and most wedding events will be within walking or shuttle distance. If you'd like to explore the 7-mile island, golf cart rentals are a fun and popular way to get around. Don't forget, they drive on the opposite side of the road! Check out our "Things to Do" tab for more info on renting golf carts. We will recommend our favorite, most reliable company. Is there Wi-Fi at the resort? Yes, Wifi is available throughout the resort which is included in the $25 daily resort fee. Can I bring my kids to the wedding? As much as we love your little ones, our wedding night will be an adult-only celebration. We hope you'll enjoy a well-deserved night off to relax, dance, and toast us in paradise - kids free! Are there excursions on the island? Yes! You can find our recommendations under the "Things to Do" tab. Do I need to bring cash? The resort accepts credit cards, but it's a good idea to bring a small amount of cash for purchases if you plan to explore the island. While Bimini is a beautiful, laid-back island with stunning beaches, it's also still developing in many areas. Some parts of the island are more rural and may feel less built-up. If you will be flying into South Bimini airport, you will need cash for the taxi ride to the water ferry dock. What kind of attire should we pack for our trip? The island is VERY laid back. All of the restaurants on the island are super casual. Think tiki hut and conch shacks. Besides wearing formal attire for the actual wedding, pack all your beach and pool-wear. Relax + be comfortable! Is there a casino? Yes, Resorts World does have a casino on-site. It is open starting at 10am and either closes at midnight or 2am, depending on the night of the week. Do I need to book the ferry yet? YES! The ferry link has been listed under the "Travel" tab. What time should we be at the ferry port for the Balearia? Check-in begins at 06:00am. We recommend arriving no later than 07:00am to avoid any long lines or delays. Is everyone invited to the Welcome Party? Of course! We want to kick off the wedding weekend with all of you. Join us Friday evening 7:30pm-9:30pm on the outside piano terrace. Do we have a wedding registry? Yes! The link to our registry is <a href="https://www.myregistry.com/wedding-registry/lauren-vangel-and-christopher-hope-boca-raton-fl/5276068" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.myregistry.com/wedding-registry/lauren-vangel-and-christopher-hope-boca-raton-fl/5276068</a>

A quick note to let you know we've moved our RSVPs to "Paperless Post". Please respond directly through the invitation you received via text message by Monday, January 19th. You will also find where to make your meal selection by using this link.

Lauren & Christopher

Lauren & Christopher

Photos

June 22, 2021

September 26, 2021

November 21, 2021

August 16, 2022

October 29, 2022

December 02, 2022

January 31, 2023

March 17, 2023

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