Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have any questions that you would like answered before you fly down? Here are a few frequently asked questions that you might find useful. If you still haven't found the answer to your question, feel free to mail us at [email protected] anytime!
General
What should I bring on my vacation?
What do you mean by All-Inclusive? Are my drinks included?
Can we bring our children? Do you have an organized program for children?
Can I bring my pet?
What type of weather can I expect on Andros?
What about Hurricanes?
What kind of electricity do you use?
What sort of wildlife is there on the island?
Do you have bugs?
What kind of food do you serve?
I'm a vegetarian--will that be a problem?
Can I drink the tap water?
Are there any rental cars on the island?
How much does it cost to rent a bicycle for a day?
Is there any night life?
Who owns the Bahamas?
What kind of money do you use in the Bahamas?
How do I get to Andros Bahamas?
How close is the nearest airport? Do you provide airport transfers?
Is there internet service at Small Hope Bay Lodge?
Diving
Should I bring my own dive equipment?
Do I need to bring my certification card if I am a certified diver?
My companion doesn't dive--what else is there for her/him to do?
What kind of Diving do you have?
How close are your dive sites?
Can my kids dive? Can they go on the boat?
How long do I need to wait to fly after diving?
What is the water temperature? Do I need a wetsuit?
Fishing
What kind of fishing do you have?
What sort of fishing equipment do you have? What should I bring?
I am a spin-caster. Can I spin-cast for bonefish?
Do you have fishing guides at the lodge?
What kinds of fish do you typically catch on Deep Sea and Reef Fishing? What do you do with the catch?
What time of year is best for bonefishing?
General
What should I bring on my vacation?All the usual things you would normally bring on a beach vacation, plus a sweatshirt or windbreaker for windy days. We provide bug spray around our lounge and bar, but you are welcome to bring additional deterrants as well. Please remember to bring your own toiletries as we do not provide them in the guest rooms, as hotel-sized toiletries can often be wasteful and we are trying to be mindful of our environment.
We have a small boutique that carries logo items, and some clothes, and the Androsia Batik Factory is just a bike ride away. All rooms have beach towels, but you should bring your own blow dryers.
What do you mean by All-Inclusive? Are my drinks included?When we say ALL-INCLUSIVE we mean it! For us, this means that all meals and drinks, including bar drinks, are definitely included. Also included are the uses of kayaks, bicycles, windsurf board, sail boat and a free introductory scuba lesson!
Can we bring our children? Do you have an organized program for children?Of course. Children are an important part of our lives here--we have a few of our own running about. We have two-bedroom cottages, a Games Room and, more importantly, a safe outdoor environment where they can run, swim, snorkel, play in the tidal pools and fish off the dock. AND we have great rates for kids.
We have energetic baby-sitters and there is a modest charge for this service (See Rates). Baby-sitting is COMPLIMENTARY for children 2-7 between the hours of 6 PM and 8:45 PM in the evening (there is a nominal fee for children under 2 since they need their own personal sitter), during which time children 7 and under enjoy dinner and after-dinner games in the Games Room. Your preteen children may also eat dinner in the Games Room, it is your choice. This keeps young children away from the bar area and gives adults a chance to enjoy evening adult time.
Can I bring my pet?Yes! We allow dogs and cats here! There is a $25 cleaning charge for your pet and they will not be allowed in the indoor public areas or the dining patio during meal times. Please keep in mind that we also have one dog on site also so if they like other dogs they will have a new friend.
What type of weather can I expect on Andros?The northern Bahamas remains quite temperate year-round--most of the days are like perfect spring and summer days. Winter weather sometimes can bring a "blow" from the north--which can make for choppy seas. Daytime temperatures can drop to the low 70s. Summer can usually be marked by a short afternoon shower somewhere--not necessarily over us! Average summer temperature is 88, with long days and comfortable nights.
Courtesy of Intellicast.com (Fresh Creek, Andros is 26 nautical miles from Nassau).
What about Hurricanes?Hurricane season for the western hemisphere is officially June 1 to December 1. However, statistically for the Bahamas, August, September, and October are the months to watch. Overall, being in the tropical Atlantic where the temperatures are cooler, we tend to fare better than our Caribbean neighbors with regard to hurricanes. However, we are closed during the whole month of September which is considered peak hurricane season.
What kind of electricity do you use?Same as North America -- 110/120 volts.
What sort of wildlife is there on the island?On Andros we have hundreds of species of birds, wild boar, some spiders and a couple varieties of non-venomous snakes on land. Beneath the sea the variety is too much to count but we have hard corals, soft corals, sponges, fish of all sizes, rays, sharks and dolphins to name a few.
Do you have bugs?Of course, we are on a tropical island. However, since we are located on the windward side of the island with full exposure to the sea breezes, our "bug problem" is minimal. At Small Hope, we have a daily grounds spray program. Our spray is environmentally friendly, made from extract of chrysanthemum, and is specifically for no-see-ums (sand flies) and mosquitoes. The best defense when the wind dies down is to wear long sleeves and/or pants at dusk and dawn when the bugs typically come out. A repellent - anything from Cutter's to Avon Skin-so-Soft works too. But if you are particularly sensitive to bugs we recommend you bring a DEET repellent with you. For crawly bugs like palmetto bugs, we sprinkle Boric Acid Powder around the inside of the cottages to ward them off. It's effective and non-toxic to humans.
What kind of food do you serve?Breakfast is full American-style breakfast (eggs, bacon, hot cakes, fruit, etc.), with a choice of a Bahamian special. Lunch and dinner are buffet-style, and include soup, salads, and main course. Desserts are taken very seriously and as you know, there are no calories while you are on vacation!
I'm a vegetarian--will that be a problem?If you eat fish and/or eggs, none whatsoever. If you are vegan, then you will enjoy our salad bar and our fresh cooked vegetables and rice. Please consult with our staff to help us meet your requirements. It is helpful if you tell us in advance of any special dietary requirements.
Can I drink the tap water?Absolutely. Andros is in the fresh water business--we have tons of it and we ship our water to Nassau and the Abacos. Small Hope Bay Lodge has also put in a reverse osmosis system so that the drinking water at the bar tap and in your room dispenser is as good or better than any bottled water.
Are there any rental cars on the island?Yes--a few. Usually they are privately owned cars that someone is willing to rent for the day. Average rate is about $80 a day. More dependable transportation might be had by hiring a taxi to tour you around. Average touring rate is $30 an hour. Small Hope Bay Lodge also provides guided island tours for a fee. These tours can be tailored to your preference.
How much does it cost to rent a bicycle for a day?It’s FREE! Bicycle rental is included in your All-Inclusive rate.
Is there any night life?If you mean nightclubs and casinos, no. But you CAN walk the beach at night, see great star shows, and take a dip in the hot tub... Sometimes we have a slide show on reef ecology or dive videos. Sometimes we party hearty. On weekends, there are a few local bars in town.
Who owns the Bahamas?The Bahamian people. We are an independent country, and have been since 1973. We are part of the British Commonwealth (like Canada and Australia) and have a democratically elected Prime Minister and Parliament.
What kind of money do you use in the Bahamas?We use Bahamian dollars, which are on par with the US dollar and used inter-changeably. If you have US dollars, there is no need to change money. Credit cards are accepted at Small Hope Bay Lodge and Androsia--but many small shops and restaurants are not equipped to handle them. And remember, the best part of being in an All-Inclusive Resort is that you don't need your wallet until you leave!
How do I get to Andros Bahamas?It's very easy ... We have regular flights from Nassau and Fort Lauderdale, FL. Besides these, you also have the option of charter flights and ferries. See our Getting to Andros page for detailed information.
How close is the nearest airport? Do you provide airport transfers?The closest airport is only a ten minute ride from Small Hope Bay Lodge. We do not provide transfers however there are always ample taxis waiting at the airport.
Is there internet service at Small Hope Bay Lodge?Yes. Free Wi-Fi is available in the lounge and outside bar areas. Our internet service stops during cocktail hour and dinner (6:30 to 8:30pm) to encourage socializing.
Diving
Should I bring my own dive equipment?It is up to you. We include weights, weight belt, and tank in dive price, as well as dive lights on night dives. BCDs, regulators, computers, mask, fins, snorkel, and wetsuits available for rent.
Do I need to bring my certification card if I am a certified diver?Yes, please! For some dive certification organizations it is relatively easy to look up cert cards but it is always much easier for everyone if you just bring your card with you.
My companion doesn't dive--what else is there for her/him to do?A lot of activities. Snorkel- on the reef or from the shore. Relax on the beach. Go fishing. Get a massage. Choose a book from our library and find a hammock. Hot tub. Bike to the Androsia Factory, or to an inland blue hole. Do some birding. Sail, Windsurf, Kayak. Take a nature walk. Join you on the boat (no charge for riders!) Or learn to dive (for free!)
What kind of Diving do you have?All kinds! We have the third largest and one of the most unexplored barrier reefs in the world. We have everything from shallow reefs to vertical walls, blue holes and much more. Never been diving? Let us teach you. We have all levels of instruction. Great for new divers, intermediate, and advanced divers. See our Diving page.
How close are your dive sites?We are lucky to be located just minutes from the third largest barrier reef in the world. Most of our sites are found within a ten-minute boat ride from the dock. Our furthest site is only 20 minutes from the lodge.
Can my kids dive? Can they go on the boat?Children 10 years old and up are eligible to take our free Discover SCUBA course that will qualify them to dive with us. Junior Certification is available to children ages 10-14 for an extra fee. We recommend that very young divers limit diving depths. For 8-12 year olds, we offer SASY equipment, which offers a surface SCUBA experience to kids. There is no charge for children to accompany their parents on the boat.
How long do I need to wait to fly after diving?Using PADI and DAN (Divers Alert Network) guidelines, we recommend a minimum of 12 hours before flying for a single dive, and a minimum of 18 hours for repetitive or multi-day diving.
What is the water temperature? Do I need a wetsuit?Between fall and spring, a wetsuit is recommended.
Fishing
What kind of fishing do you have?World-class Bonefishing as well as reef and deep sea fishing. Andros is World Renowned for the best bonefishing. See our Fishing page.
What sort of fishing equipment do you have? What should I bring?At Small Hope we have all the fishing gear you will ever need. But if you would like to bring anything of your own – rods, flies, lures, etc.- feel free!
I am a spin-caster. Can I spin-cast for bonefish?Of course you can. And if at any time you are interested in trying to fly-fish our experienced guides will be happy to give you a few pointers.
Do you have fishing guides at the lodge?We work closely with several local fishing guides. Our guides have been fishing the seas and flats for most of their lives. They are not part of the live-on staff but they are always nearby and will take the time to come and chat about what has been biting and where.
What kinds of fish do you typically catch on Deep Sea and Reef Fishing? What do you do with the catch?It’s hard to say what will be biting from one day to the next but our fishing boats most often come back with barracuda, snapper, mahi mahi, tuna, and grouper. If you are lucky you might catch a sailfish! And if you want to throw your catch on the grill for dinner, we can do that!
What time of year is best for bonefishing?The easiest answer is all year round!!! In the cooler months (November through February) the waters are cooler and the bigger bonefish come in to the shallow waters more. In the warmer months (March through October) there are plenty of big and small fish mingling together on the flats.
