If you’re looking for a quieter, more local beach in Bimini, this Blister Bay Bimini guide will walk you through exactly why it ended up being one of my favorite spots on the island. It’s a beach where you can relax, spread out, and enjoy the water without feeling like you’re packed into a tourist area. And if you like snorkeling and fresh conch salad, this spot checks both boxes.
The easiest way to get to Blister Bay is by golf cart.
We rented one right near the cruise port (super quick process), and it was about a 10-minute ride to the beach. If you’re planning to explore more of the island, I highly recommend going this route because you can move at your own pace and stop wherever you want.
I break down exactly where to rent and what to expect in my full guide — see my full review of my Bimini Golf Cart Day: The Best Way to Explore Bimini on a Cruise Stop.
If you’re flying in instead of cruising, you can also find flights using Skyscanner to plan your trip, and then browse where to stay near Bimini here to be close to all the main beaches.
Once you get there, it’s an easy drive, and you can pull right up near the beach access without any hassle.
Blister Bay is exactly what you picture when you think of the Bahamas — clear turquoise water, soft white sand, and way fewer people than the main beaches.
We went twice — once in the morning and again later in the afternoon.
Morning: it was just us
Afternoon: maybe 5–6 other people total
Even with a few people there, the beach is so spread out that you barely notice anyone else. If you’re someone who prefers a more laid-back, less crowded beach, this is easily one of the best spots in Bimini.
Around 10am, there was already a local guy there setting everything up (he goes by My Bimini Link on Instagram). He was cleaning the beach when we arrived and came over to chat — super friendly, not pushy at all.
He rents out chairs and umbrellas for:
$20 for 2 chairs + an umbrella for the day
Honestly, for how nice the setup is, it’s such a good deal.
He also keeps the beach clean (including seaweed when it comes in), which makes a big difference compared to some other areas. Just note: it’s cash only.
If you like snorkeling, this is an easy spot to do it. The water was calm, visibility was really good, and the fish were super close to shore. I brought my own snorkel gear, and within minutes I saw several types of fish, a stingray, and a parrot fish.
You don’t need a boat or tour for this — you can literally just walk right in and start snorkeling, which is my favorite kind of snorkeling (low effort, high reward).
If you don’t want to bring your own gear, you can also book snorkeling tours in Bimini here, but honestly, this is one of the few places where you really don’t need one.
Even though it’s a quieter beach, there’s still plenty to do:
Snorkeling right off the shore
Relaxing with chairs + umbrella
Cornhole
Beach volleyball
Or honestly… just float in the water and do nothing, which is what I ended up doing most of the time (10/10 recommend).
Right up the stairs from the beach is one of the best food stops on the island — Shaky’s (also known as Mike’s).
This was recommended by locals, and once you try it, you’ll understand why.
Conch salad is about $15, made fresh right in front of you, and you can get regular or tropical (with pineapple or mango). It doesn’t get much fresher than this, and it’s literally steps from the beach, which makes it an easy lunch stop.
If you’re planning your food stops ahead of time, check out my guide to the Best Conch Salad in Bimini: 3 Local Spots You Need to Try so you don’t miss the good ones.
A few helpful things to know ahead of time:
No bathrooms
Limited shade (just umbrellas or trees near the road)
Soft sand (easy to walk, no rocks)
Seaweed can come in sometimes, but it’s cleaned regularly
No bugs when we were there
If you only have time for one beach in Bimini, I would choose Blister Bay.
It’s super beautiful with crystal clear water, soft white sand, and some of the easiest snorkeling on the island. Between the relaxed setup, the local feel, and having some of the best conch salad right there, it ended up being one of my favorite stops of the day.
If you’re trying to plan your full stop, I map everything out in my One Day in Bimini: The Perfect Island Itinerary so you can fit this in without overthinking it.
Let’s talk about when to actually book that Dubai trip you’ve been pinning for two years. I get asked this constantly, so here’s the honest breakdown: October through April is your window. Anything outside that and you’re basically touring in a sauna!
October and November give you warm days and cooler nights, which is basically the sweet spot for wandering around without melting. December through February is peak season: gorgeous weather. March and April are the quiet insider pick, right before summer heat shows up and ruins everyone’s plans.
Saving this for later? That’s what it’s here for. Full breakdown linked in bio.
If you’re chasing energy, beaches, nightlife, and nonstop luxury, Dubai takes the crown. If you’re craving culture, iconic architecture, and meaningful landmarks at a slower pace, Abu Dhabi shines.🤍
My advice? Base yourself in Dubai and do Abu Dhabi as a day trip! The perfect balance of excitement and culture in the UAE.
Want the full breakdown? Check out my Dubai and Abu Dhabi guide for tips, itineraries, and must-sees!
I do not like seafood. 🐟 So when I booked a tasting menu at a restaurant built around aquarium walls at Atlantis The Palm, I was nervous.
Ossiano sits underwater fish gliding past the whole meal, moody lighting, the kind of room that makes you lower your voice without meaning to. It’s not cheap, and it’s not trying to be. You’re paying for the entire experience.
Here’s the honest part: they have a vegetarian tasting menu, and I assumed it would be an afterthought. It ended up in my top five meals of all time. Course after course, the same care and precision as the seafood-forward menu everyone comes for. They even swapped in a steak for the main and it still felt cohesive with everything around it.
By course four you’re full. They bring out three more breads anyway. I ate all of it. No regrets.
Small detail that stuck with me my dress was black, so they swapped my napkin from white to black without me asking. That’s the kind of thing that tells you everything about a place.
Full breakdown of the menu, the vegetarian option, and what to expect linked in bio.
Dubai is all skyline until you drive an hour into the dunes and it goes completely silent. Bab Al Shams was that shift for us: slower, quieter, more intentional than anything we did in the city.
If you want nightlife or walkable everything, this isn’t your stop. But if you want a night that feels like a reset, it delivers, polished service, food I’m still thinking about, and a setting that never tries too hard.
Full review (and whether it’s worth adding to your Dubai itinerary) is linked in bio. 🏜️
I flew @emirates economy to Dubai fully expecting to just survive the flight. We booked seats by the exit row — @bradplummer1 got the legroom (he’s 6’7”), I got a normal seat right next to him, and it saved us money over booking two extra-legroom seats. Smart trick if you’re traveling with someone who needs the extra space and you don’t.
The food alone earned this post. Warm chicken, a Waldorf salad that actually tasted fresh, real butter on the roll, and a breakfast spread that put most airport brunches to shame. Add in the twinkling-star cabin lighting once dinner wrapped, and it felt less like a flight and more like the trip had already started.
Not everything was perfect — the wifi didn’t work for me at all, so if you’re planning to get work done in the air, download what you need beforehand. But that was the only miss in an otherwise excellent long haul.
If you’ve got Emirates lounge access in Dubai, use it. Showers, buffets, quiet corners to nap it makes the layover feel like a reset instead of a slog.
Full review seats, food, lounge, and the wifi situation is on the blog. Link in bio. ✈️
Follow @travelwithwendyplummer for Beautiful Beach Destinations, City Guides, Foodie Spots, and Luxury Hotel Recommendations.
