LINK to Postales del Plata FAQ -- Argentina Questions Answered.
1) How far in advance should I book my trip? Book as far in advance as possible. Booking at least six months in advance is sometimes necessary to secure the most popular guides and lodges during prime time. April and May are the most popular bonefishing months, so in these months you sometimes have to book even farther ahead to secure the best guides. If you plan to use frequent flier miles, booking six months in advance is a minimum. That said, many lodges end up with cancellations resulting openings with very little advance notice. Give us a call to discuss the destination of your choice.
2) What is the procedure for trip deposits and payments? When booking directly with lodges and guides, you will be required to make a non-refundable deposit. (Large resorts on Nassau and Freeport can be an exception.) Some lodges accept payment by credit card, usually through their U.S. offices. Many lodges, and all guides will require payment by check or via wire transfer. A 50% deposit is typical. Finally payment is normally due at least 45 days in advance of your trip arrival date. Remember that payments to most resorts and fishing lodges are non-refundable. Sometimes a lodge will allow you to come another time if you can’t make a trip, but you should not expect this. Cash refunds are not given. If these policies are not acceptable to you, you should use a U.S. booking agent who may have different policies.
Rivers to Reefs requires a 50% deposit of our trip total within 10 days of the confirmation of your trip. Final full payment is due 45 before the first day of your trip. All payments are non-refundable. Rivers to Reefs highly recommends the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. Rivers to Reefs will provide trip cancellation insurance forms with written confirmation of your deposit, and/or purchase trip cancellation for you if you request this service.
3) How is the drinking water? You can drink the water from the tap at the major resorts in Nassau and Freeport . Otherwise, each island is different and you should use caution. Andros Island has more fresh water that any Bahamian island, yet we always drink bottled water on Andros . We recommend drinking bottled water at all times, if for nothing else but the taste. As a doctor friend of our says, "any time you change your water, your system can get upset. Why take a chance on ruining your vacation?" Bottled drinking water is available on all the Out Islands .
4) Are groceries and liquor available on the Out Islands? This depends on the island, but all the islands rely on supply boats or aircraft. The smaller the settlement or the more remote a location, the less often it is resupplied. This includes some of the established fishing lodges. It is not uncommon for fresh fruit, produce, milk, or red meat to run low, or run out. At times, bottled water can run out. Red meat, milk and eggs are also expensive items in general.
Our motto is simple, "when in doubt, stock up." If we're staying in a rented house, cottage, or whatever, we stock up right away, or as soon as we can, based on available supplies. We also establish a rapport with the local grocery people to find out the resupply days. It pays to be at the store when the boat arrives.
You need to find out ahead of time if liquor is available at local stores, so you can take your own if necessary. If you like particular brands of wine or liquor, we recommend that you take them with you. Kalik, the beer of The Bahamas, is available almost everywhere.
5) How do payments work on the Out Islands? Are credit cards and traveler's checks okay? Cash is always accepted and preferred. U.S. dollars are one-to-one with the Bahamian dollar, and both are accepted everywhere. Travelers' checks, credit cards, and personal checks, when accepted, will often be charged a service fee of 2 percent to 5 percent per use. Many Out Island establishments do not accept credit cards, traveler’s checks, or personal checks, period. Also, change may not be available for large bills, so be sure to have plenty of small bills. It is your responsibility to know what forms of payment are accepted at each location you visit. Using a professional travel agent is one way to make sure that none of these little details slip by. If you are booking on your own, make sure you know all payment and cancellation policies.
6) Is medical care available? Yes, but depending on where you are, it might take hours to reach a clinic or a doctor. National health care clinics in The Bahamas are good. In addition to larger facilities in Freeport and Nassau , the Ministry of Health operates more than one hundred clinics throughout the Out Islands . As in the U.S. , the larger clinics offer more services than the smaller, remote clinics. When additional care is needed, patients are flown to Princess Margaret Hospital in Nassau . For very serious accidents and illnesses, Air Ambulance services can be called to evacuate people to West Palm Beach , Ft. Lauderdale or Miami . You will be billed for this service, and rates are extremely high.
Prescription drugs are available in the larger towns and settlements, but supplies can be limited. You should take all necessary prescription medicines with you in your carry-on luggage.
You should always travel with your health insurance card or information. We recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance, which can also include trip health insurance. It is your responsibility to know what care is or is not available at any destination you visit.
7) What about boat, car, golf cart, and other rentals? All types of rentals are available in Nassau and Freeport . Limited rentals are available on the Out Islands . We recommend booking your rentals ahead of time, along with the rest of your trip. Booking rentals ahead of time is essential during the prime months, especially in places like Treasure Cay or Elbow Cay, where boats, cars, and golf carts are limited in numbers. Car rentals are generally expensive, between $60 and $80 per day.
8) Should I bring my own fishing gear? You should always take your own fly-fishing gear. Very few lodges or guides have equipment for clients to use, though the better guides will have back-up gear if something happens to yours. Some lodges do have rental fly-fishing equipment. You should check on this in advance of your trip. Conventional fishing gear is more readily available, though we recommend taking your own if you have it. Most offshore fishing boats provide conventional fishing gear and lures. There is always an additional charge for bait.
9) Should I take my own snorkeling and diving gear? The better dive operations will have complete diving and snorkeling gear. You should confirm this before your trip and reserve this gear in advance. We always take our own masks, snorkels, and fins. This way we are sure the gear fits comfortably, and we have the flexibility to use it whenever we choose.
10) How is the nightlife, including restaurants? Nightlife rocks in Nassau and Freeport . Everywhere else it is fairly sedate, though special parties and events are held throughout the Out Islands , most commonly on Friday and Saturday nights. As for restaurants, top Nassau restaurants are on par with the finest restaurants in U.S. cities. We suggest making reservations, or at least confirming hours of operation, in all cases. The better Out Island restaurants fill up during prime months, and others may or may not open unless they have confirmed reservations.
11) Will my cellular phone operate in The Bahamas ? If you must take your cell phone, service will be available in many locations depending on your home carrier. The Bahamas Telecommunications Corporation (BaTelCo) has automatic roaming agreements with many cellular carriers in the United States , Canada , and Mexico . Check with your carrier to see if they have a roaming agreement with BaTelCo. If so, be sure your cellular number is active in The Bahamas, switch your phone to system B and make your calls.
Be aware, however, that in remote areas, service may not be available. You can contact BaTelCo at 242 394-4000 or 242 394-7638, or on the Internet at www.batelnet.bs
12) Is Internet service available? Can I check my e-mail? Most resort hotels in Nassau and Freeport have business centers with high-speed Internet service. Internet service is available on most of the Out Islands also, but it can be sporadic. A number of small resorts and bonefishing lodges offer Internet service to their guests. You should check ahead of time with your chosen destination, and then plan ahead. If you need to check your e-mail at an Out Island lodge, talk to the manager to find out the best times to make a connection.
13) What about bugs? Yep, lots of bugs live in The Bahamas. The islands with fresh water lakes, like Andros , have the most "doctor flies.” These big green-headed flies draw blood when they bite. They mostly live around mangroves, so you'll be most susceptible when you're out fishing. Wearing long pants will protect you, especially when wading, as these bugs mostly like to bite legs and feet. Around lodges and on the beaches, mosquitoes and sand flies will be out when the wind is down, and in the evening and early morning. Avon Skin So Soft works against the sand flies, while regular DEET-enhanced repellant works against the mosquitoes. If the bugs really like you, wear a long-sleeved shirt, pants, and shoes with socks when you go out to dinner.
14) How do I get tide information for the Out Islands ? There are specific NOAA tide stations for some locations in The Bahamas, including Nassau , which has the same tides as the east coast of Andros . For locations without tide stations, you will have to make your own calculations, or obtain tide charts from your destination. You can also purchase your own tide software that will calculate tides for you. Call Bluewater Books & Charts at 800 942-2583. Tide sites we use include: http://tbone.biol.sc.edu/tide/sitesel.html http://tidesonline.nos.noaa.gov/, www.noaa.gov/ocean.html.
Internet sites for The Bahamas
www.bahamasflyfishingguide.com THE BAHAMAS FLY-FISHING GUIDE, by Stephen and Kim Vletas, is the authoritative guide book for any angler or adventure traveler planning a vacation to the Bahamas. The guide offers detailed information on lodges, guides, services, tackle, flies, tactics, diving, snorkeling, boating, and adventure travel activities. The guide also includes exceptional maps of all the islands and photographs of all major locations. This book is a must for anyone -- fly fisher or not -- planning a trip to this exquisite part of the world. Published by Lyons Press (2005) This web site is the accompanying site for the book, and is updated on a continuous basis—News, new lodges, lodge reports, fishing reports, and more.
www.bahamas.com The official site for the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. This is a reliable means for obtaining additional updated information.
www.bahama-out-islands.com The official site for the Bahama Out Islands Promotion Board.
www.bahamasvg.com The Bahamas Vacation Guide is a good source of different information on resorts and services not necessarily found on other sites.
http://bahamas.wheretostay.com An online booking source for condos, villas, and resorts.
www.bahamashomesite.com Detailed information for fishing, diving, boating, and water sports activities.
www.tcimall.tc, www.provo.net, www.wherewhenhow.com Specific details and contact information for services and accommodations throughout the Turks & Caicos Islands.
LINK to Postales del Plata FAQ -- Argentina Questions Answered.
