Island exploration with Resorts World Bimini

At about 9 square miles total, the three-island chain of Bimini lacks the real estate to be a Bahamas megaresort destination, even if it aspired to be one. 

As such, accommodations options are somewhat limited, but recently its room count grew considerably with the opening of the Hilton at Resorts World Bimini, which sponsored my recent press trip there.

Located within the Genting Group's 750-acre casino-marina complex on North Bimini, the hotel embodies hospitality on a scale heretofore unseen on the island, where condos, villas and hotels with double-digit room inventories are the norm.

Its 305 guestrooms plus 18 suites offer amenities befitting the Hilton brand: rainfall showerheads in the marble bathrooms, LED lighting, a 46-inch HDTV and more. 

A rooftop bar and adults-only infinity pool (one of four pools at Resorts World) offer stunning sunset views, while guests seeking beach time are less than a 15-minute walk from the golden sands and turquoise waters of Resorts World's private Paradise Beach (shuttle service is also available). The Serenity Spa offers a wide variety of treatments as well as complete salon services.

Then there's the casino. Although dwarfed by even the most modest of Las Vegas Strip gaming spaces, it packs a lot of variety into its 10,000 square feet, with over 160 slot machines, a sports book and table games such as baccarat, blackjack and roulette.

Adjacent to the casino is Hemingway's, a restaurant offering burgers, wings and other fare suited to its sports-bar setting.

It's one of six restaurants at Resorts World. High rollers can opt for Sabor, the complex's signature restaurant, serving steaks, seafood and pasta (I enjoyed every morsel of my 18-ounce ribeye). 

During our stay at the property, my press-trip group also dined at the Sushi Bar, curated by Hung Huynh, winner of the third season of Bravo's "Top Chef." 

The 24-seat venue's name understates its scope: The menu lists the expected nigiri, sashimi and rolls but also has hot items such as roast pork buns with spicy aioli and cold appetizers such as salmon and yellowtail carpaccios and the requisite conch (in a conch and octopus ceviche).
Bimini history, by land and by sea

Resorts World Bimini can help guests arrange a number of activities, from diving excursions and watersports equipment rentals to charters to participate in the area's famed sport fishing. Read More
Guests needn't feel limited to onsite options, however. Unlike resorts where an all-inclusive bracelet can start to feel more like a house-arrest monitor, coming and going at Resorts World was encouraged and relatively casual; hop onto a bike or into a golf cart (both are available for rent) and explore North Bimini at your leisure. 

Among the culinary highlights for the group was a trip to Edith's for a round or two of Bahama Mamas (rum, grenadine and pineapple and orange juices) and pizzas with sweet, Bimini bread-style crusts and toppings both conventional (pepperoni, mushrooms) and regional (conch and lobster). 

Less than a quarter-mile south, a few of us also had conch salad (much like ceviche) at Stuart's Conch Stand, where a fish fry was getting started around midafternoon. That night at the Bimini Big Game Bar and Grill, a fried conch platter with pineapple coleslaw and peas and rice helped round out my conch-sampling experience. 

Nightlife options aren't abundant, but a couple of Kalik beers at the Island House Bar and Grill were a nice change of pace. Perhaps for my next visit, I'll muster up the courage to enter the intriguingly named 123Floor.

Getting there

From Miami or Fort Lauderdale, about 50 miles away, seaplane operator Tropic Ocean Airways offers roundtrip flights for $250 to Bimini, about 20 minutes in the air; regional carrier Silver Airways recently began four-times-weekly Bimini service, as well. 

Roundtrip ferry service departing from PortMiami, a three-hour ride, is about $200 per passenger.

Rates at the Hilton at Resorts World Bimini begin at $269 per night, double. Visit http://rwbimini.com.

Source:Travel Weekly