Abaco Bahamas Vacation Rental House

Travel Information - We suggest that you print this out...

·General Information
·Flight Connections
·Customs & Immigration
·Local Transportation
·Renting a Boat
·Getting to Villa Poincianna
·Local Assistance
·Other Tips for the Traveler
·Packing

General Information

Make your plans at least nine months in advance to get your favorite choices. The Abacos are a very popular destination where you won't find condos or hotels, so homes for rent are limited. In the peak season it is sometimes hard to rent a boat also, so reserve yours early.

We have 120-volt electricity, so you can plan on all the comforts of home, but please help conserve our power and water.

Flight Connections

Marsh Harbour is about a one-hour plane flight from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach or Orlando; far enough away from the crowds. American Airlines, Continental Airlines, and US Airways fly to and from Marsh Harbour daily.

American Airlines 1-800-433-7300

Continental Airlines 1-800-231-0856

US Airways 1-800-428-4322

Bahamas Air 242-377-8451

Florida Coastal 954-359-5632

Yellow Air Taxi 888-YELLOW-4

Vintage Props and Jets 1-800-852-0275

Reconfirm your flights 72 hours before departure. Check in for your flight at least 1 ½ hours before flight time. The airlines have normal baggage size and weight limitations. Check with your airline for specific rules and limitations.

Depending on where you're coming from, you may not be able to connect through to the Abacos in the same day as your arrival in Florida. In this case, you'll need to find a local hotel near the airport you're connecting through. There are many choices, so you'll have no trouble finding one that's suitable. Most offer free shuttles to get you and your luggage to and from the airport.

Customs & Immigration

You will need a valid passport to get into the country. Non-US residents should check the Bahamian consulate for immigration requirements.

When you arrive in Marsh Harbour, you'll deplane and walk to customs while your baggage is unloaded. As you go through passport check, your baggage is delivered to the side of the building. There you retrieve it and go through customs. As with any country, there are some limitations on what you can bring into the country, and duties will apply for certain items if you carry more than the duty-free limits.

Local Transportation

Next you're ready to go to pick up your rented boat. Depending on who you rented from, this is likely to be at Boat Harbor Marina. We have a local taxi driver who we will arrange to pick you up at the airport, take you shopping, and to boat rental. The ride from the airport to the marina is usually about $10 to $15, depending on stops you might make along the way for food, liquor or whatever other supplies you might need. Ask the taxi driver—they are always pleased to help you find what you need.

Renting a Boat

We recommend the following boat rental services:

Sea Horse Boat Rentals (242)367-2513
Island Marine (242)366-0282
Blue Wave Boat Rentals (242)367-3910 e-mail: troy@bluewaverentals.com
Rainbow Rentals (242)367-4602
Dave's Boat Rentals (242)366-0029

Sea Horse Boat Rental is the most popular, and they are actually based in Boat Harbour, the most convenient marina to Lubbers Quarters Cay. The taxi will know where they are. Sea Horse rents Boston Whalers and Privateers in various sizes—18 to 22 foot should be fine for most visitors. Island Marine rents similar boats. They are on another island a few minutes away, but they'll arrange to meet you and take you there if you call them ahead of time. The boat rental businesses will give you a nice map of the area and help you find snorkeling spots and other things that interest you. Be sure to rent your boat several months in advance to get the best selections—the Abacos are a very popular destination and a boat is a must!

Getting to Villa Poincianna

It's easy to find Lubbers from the waterfront. Just ask your boat rental staff and they can point it out to you or show you on the map—you can easily see it a few miles out across the water. Drive to the east passing the northern tip of the island, and go down the eastern shore. Ask the boat rental staff to show you where the low water is (of the northwestern end of Lubbers) if it's low tide. The Villa is about a third of the way down the eastern shore of the island, from north to south. Look for the upper floor above the trees—a color somewhere between poincianna orange and conch pearl, with a bright white roof, nestled in the trees about 50 feet from shore. You'll also find your dock post tips painted the same color as the house and a big "Villa Poincianna" sign at the end of the dock. You can't miss it!

Once you're there, it's up to you what you do—you won't need our help after that.

Local Assistance

We have local Bahamian hosts for you during your stay. They are always happy to host new visitors, and are especially helpful in giving you tips on local culture and events.

Other Tips for the Traveler

Each visitor over 18 years of age is allowed to bring into the Bahamas 1 quart of spirits and 1 quart of wine or 1 case of beer. And by the way, there is a heavy duty on beer in the Bahamas, so if you're a beer drinker, bring some in with you. You'll find it expensive to buy there.

We make our best effort to keep all the information we provide up to date and accurate. Changes can occur which we aren't aware of, so we can't be held responsible—we're just trying to provide ideas and general use information. If you call us, we'd be pleased to help you customize and perfect your vacation plans.

When you leave the Bahamas, there is a $15 departure tax that everyone must pay, so save some cash for the end of your trip.

Bahamian dollars exchange at a rate of one to one with US dollars, so you'll find people mixing the currencies often. Most stores and shops accept major credit cards and travelers checks.

Spear guns are illegal in the Bahamas. Pole spears and slings are legal only while free-diving. No spearing of any kind is allowed while scuba diving.

Please do not anchor on or otherwise disturb the reefs. They are extremely fragile ecosystems that we all must protect. You'll find moorings for your boat at the underwater preserves. Please use them. In other areas, please anchor away from the reef and swim to it.

The nearest local public phone is at Sea Spray Resort in White Sound. Two others are in Hopetown and many more can be found in Marsh Harbour. You can access Sprint, ATT, and MCI directly from the phone, and use your calling cards, or call the operator and have your calls billed to another account. The phones will take coins also, but calls to the states are somewhat expensive so it's more convenient to use credit cards. The numbers to access ATT and Sprint from the Bahamas are very useful to have available:
AT&T: 1-800-872-2881
Sprint: 1-800-389-2111

Packing

Dress is very casual in the islands—most often shorts, tee-shirts and sandals. For evenings out, you mostly see open collar short-sleeved shirts, such as golf shirts. You will not see a tie.

We supply most everything except your personal belongings with the house. For clothes, you should bring t-shirts, shorts, sandals, water shoes are great, and hats if you wear them. Other important items to remember are beach towels, sun screen, whatever prescriptions you may take, insect repellent, fishing equipment if you plan to fish, and definitely remember your camera.

Since you have a fully furnished house, you may wish to bring some food to prepare some of your own meals. Foodbars and quick snacks are a great idea, for those days you don't feel like going out or making anything for yourself. Make a list of the meals you plan and you can probably find what you need at Solomons grocery store and Price Right on the way from the airport to the boat harbor. Just ask the taxi driver to stop so you can do some shopping. Also, you are allowed to bring in your own food, just don't bring in fresh fruits or vegetables.

Stores are generally open 9 to 5. Many businesses close at lunch time, most close on Saturdays, and everything is closed on Sundays—this is island time! Marsh Harbour has the most stores, but there are also a few in Hopetown. Some items can be purchased across from Lubbers at Sea Spray Resort, which is on Elbow Cay in a natural harbor called White Sound, northeast from Poincianna.