TO Drycreek
Last year when we left it was an "epic" trip from Canada. We had done all sorts of planning. Thats part of the fun.
Suggestions since you asked..
1. Email banyan aviation and they will send you a FREE bahamas kit. Very fun to sort through and help with the planning and keep you engaged.
2. We used Ft Pierce as our departure point. Was well recommended, they took good care of us, set us up with a good deal at hotel on the island and free shuttles. Nice. They also rent rafts etc if that is your thing.
3. You do want 12" numbers, i used painters tape...but waxed plane prior to trip so didnt work out well. Nobody said boo, but this trip i will pay a vinyl place to cut me some cheap peal off ones
4. Marsh harbour was good spot to do customs...pleasant and efficient. It was busy and all jets and commercial do straight ins so just find a hole in the traffic and fit in, dont rush it.
5. Banyion fbo kit had all the forms, we had them completed in advance. worked flawlessly.
6. If you google flying the outer islands you will find links to gas credits. Many small resorts will give you a $150 discount for 2 nights or $300 for 4 nights discount. Great deal!
7. We did marsh and then on to Hawks nest for 4 nights. We did day trips to a bunch of islands. LOVED STANIEL CAY....you must stop there.
8. This year we are staying a couple nights on blackpoint just south of staniel cay and renting some great cottages and hopefully a boat, then splitting up with 1/2 going back to hawks nest for 3 nights and the rest going to crooked island for 3 nights (owned or was owned by sportys owner) Then heading home.
Hawksnest and crooked island have their own airports...plane is a few hundred yards from your room. Lots of cool stories about the drug days etc. You will love it. Lots of islands to fly over and good airports to land and put in your log book. Do look up fuel prices ahead and they like to just kind of rip you if you know what it is in advance. Good luck. PM me or email if i can help in any way.
OH LAST TIP.... Filing an international flight plan back to US was a cluster. Blue phones cant be found or have no wires... We used bimini as launch point back to ft pierce. It was horrible. It was under construction so may be better now. Will look into that as its more convenient than going up to marsh again. No internet, no nothing.... had to text a friend at mission control back in Canada to help line up customs etc. No fun.... ensure you have wifi somewhere to do that or burn up $20 on your cell.