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

I’ve all the time sung the praises of West Palm Seaside, and one in every of my favourite issues about dwelling right here is the convenience of entry to the Caribbean. From Miami Worldwide Airport (MIA), you may hop to nearly any island in an hour or much less; Palm Seaside is so near the Bahamas, you may virtually swim there (no, critically, folks paddleboard to Bimini yearly to boost cash for charity).

Because of long-standing routes to Nassau (Silver Airways) and Marsh Harbour (Bahamasair), it’s all the time been straightforward to leap from Palm Seaside Worldwide Airport (PBI) — constantly rated one of many greatest 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 personal terminal to Marsh Harbour, the journey is extra VIP than ever.

With a fleet of 14 plane, Fort Lauderdale–based mostly Tropic Ocean Airways is the most important business seaplane airline on this planet, providing personal charters, yacht transfers, and scheduled flights all through Florida, the Bahamas, and the Hamptons.

Starting Could 2024, the airline made its first enterprise into Palm Seaside with the launch of further operations out of Atlantic Aviation (a personal fixed-based operator throughout the tarmac from the PBI), providing nonstop journeys to the Abacos. It’s a shared personal 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 trying 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, mentioned in a launch.

I not too long ago tried the brand new route with a buddy, and it was the proper method to start and finish our ladies’ weekend in Hope City. The enchantment 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 personal facet of PBI is a far cry out of your normal business expertise.

After parking proper out entrance (at no 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 if you happen to get peckish, however you gained’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, verify your passport in opposition to 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 outstanding blues of the Atlantic, then touching down in Marsh Harbour.

Even my buddy — who was apprehensive concerning the small airplane — remarked how nice the flight felt. She paged by a guide, then drifted off to sleep, lulled by the light drone of the engines and clean air.

Marsh Harbour on Nice Abaco is the ultimate vacation spot for some, but it surely’s additionally the primary hub connecting to different Out Islands within the Abacos — like Hope City and Man-O-Struggle 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 have 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 working and desirous to welcome guests.

We stayed at Elbow Reef, a boutique eight-room resort 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 due to the view, we didn’t thoughts the compelled leisure). Inside a couple of steps, you might be lounging on the infinity pool or strolling the soft-sand seaside.

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

Along with minibars in every room and a rack of surfboards, the property affords a shared primary area with a kitchen and bar that includes professional-grade home equipment so you may 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 if you happen to select to BYOB (convey your personal boat) or constitution a personal ferry as a substitute of scheduled service.

Whereas Tropic will get you from West Palm Seaside to Marsh Harbour in a swift 60 to 80 minutes, to achieve 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 resort.

Renting a golf cart is nonnegotiable in Hope City; there’s no different method 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.