I Flew This Semi-private Airline’s New Route From Palm Seaside to the Bahamas’ Out Islands — and Airfare Was Really Inexpensive

I’ve all the time sung the praises of West Palm Seaside, and certainly one of my favourite issues about residing right here is the benefit of entry to the Caribbean. From Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA), you’ll be able to hop to nearly any island in an hour or much less; Palm Seaside is so near the Bahamas, you’ll be able to virtually swim there (no, significantly, individuals paddleboard to Bimini yearly to lift cash for charity).

Because of long-standing routes to Nassau (Silver Airways) and Marsh Harbour (Bahamasair), it’s all the time been simple to leap from Palm Seaside Worldwide Airport (PBI) — persistently rated one of many finest U.S. airports by Journey + Leisure readers — to the Bahamas. However with the arrival of a brand new semi-private route from Palm Seaside’s non-public terminal to Marsh Harbour, the journey is extra VIP than ever.

With a fleet of 14 plane, Fort Lauderdale–primarily based Tropic Ocean Airways is the biggest business seaplane airline on the earth, providing non-public charters, yacht transfers, and scheduled flights all through Florida, the Bahamas, and the Hamptons.

Starting Might 2024, the airline made its first enterprise into Palm Seaside with the launch of extra operations out of Atlantic Aviation (a non-public fixed-based operator throughout the tarmac from the PBI), providing nonstop journeys to the Abacos. It’s a shared non-public flight expertise that’s bookable by the seat — and, round-trip, solely a pair hundred {dollars} greater than business costs. As if that weren’t sufficient, the pet-friendly airline even permits you to convey your canine.

“Increasing our operations to Palm Seaside is a pure development for us, and we’re wanting ahead to offering vacationers on this area with the identical distinctive service and comfort that our passengers in Fort Lauderdale and Miami have obtained for the final 13 years,” Rob Ceravolo, former United States Navy fighter pilot and CEO and founding father of Tropic Ocean Airways, stated in a launch.

I just lately tried the brand new route with a good friend, and it was the right technique to start and finish our women’ weekend in Hope City. The attraction of flying Tropic is apparent earlier than you even get to the airport: You’re directed to reach a mere half-hour earlier than the scheduled worldwide departure time. The non-public aspect of PBI is a far cry out of your customary business expertise.

After parking proper out entrance (without cost), you’ll enter Atlantic Aviation and discover a plush seat to await the arrival of your pilots, who double as your gate brokers. There are properly stocked merchandising machines when you get peckish, however you received’t be ready lengthy, plus there’s no safety line or crowds to navigate.

A pair of pilots arrive shortly earlier than your flight and introduce themselves, examine your passport towards their manifest, take your baggage (there’s a beneficiant 50-ound allowance per particular person), after which stroll you out to the nine-seat Cessna Grand Caravan EX to load up.

Sit wherever — they’re all single window seats aside from a two-person bench up entrance. The pilots present a security briefing, and earlier than you realize it, you’re airborne over the exceptional blues of the Atlantic, then touching down in Marsh Harbour.

Even my good friend — who was apprehensive in regards to the small airplane — remarked how nice the flight felt. She paged by means of a e book, then drifted off to sleep, lulled by the light drone of the engines and easy air.

Marsh Harbour on Nice Abaco is the ultimate vacation spot for some, but it surely’s additionally the principle hub connecting to different Out Islands within the Abacos — like Hope City and Man-O-Warfare Cay, each accessible through all-day scheduled ferries by Albury’s Ferry Service.

I grew up visiting the Abacos, however sadly many islands and settlements had been decimated by Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Whereas Hope City and Elbow Cay haven’t been totally restored to their former glory, there are a number of motels, eating places, and retailers up and operating and wanting to welcome guests.

We stayed at Elbow Reef, a boutique eight-room lodge that was utterly rebuilt after the hurricane and reopened in 2023. Our room confronted the Atlantic Ocean (it stormed for many of our journey, however because of the view, we didn’t thoughts the pressured rest). Inside just a few steps, you may be lounging on the infinity pool or strolling the soft-sand seashore.

The lodge’s vibe is laid-back, although additionally a really perfect setting for a group journey or household reunion.

Along with minibars in every room and a rack of surfboards, the property gives a shared important area with a kitchen and bar that includes professional-grade home equipment so you’ll be able to cook dinner a meal or shake up poolside drinks (or recruit a chef to come back do it for you).

It additionally has a 130-foot dock throughout the road when you select to BYOB (convey your personal boat) or constitution a non-public ferry as an alternative of scheduled service.

Whereas Tropic will get you from West Palm Seaside to Marsh Harbour in a swift 60 to 80 minutes, to succeed in Elbow Reef, you’ll nonetheless want a 15-minute taxi from Cherokee Aviation to the ferry dock, a 15-minute ferry to Hope City, and a 10-minute golf cart journey to the lodge.

Renting a golf cart is nonnegotiable in Hope City; there’s no different technique to get round. Low Cay Cart Leases will ship and choose up your golf cart wherever you please, making the method seamless.

Because of the success of the route, Tropic Ocean Airways is doubling the frequency and can start flying each Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday starting Oct. 16. Costs vary from $237 to $450 per seat.