We Have a Brand New Hot Tub . . . and it's Awesome!

While we typically have ideal weather all year round, star gazing in a beachside hot tub, or a quick soak after 2 morning dives really can't be beat!

And it just got better at Small Hope because we have a brand new, luxury, deluxe, beach side hot tub!!!!!

 

The new tub is bigger, with a bench all the way around, and like the old one, completely heated by our solar power!!! And included in our all-inclusive rates!

Come down and see for yourself . . . 

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Opening Our Doors Again on October 18th!!!

We have had a very busy closing season here - upgrading our cabins, updating our lodge and grounds, maintenance of our boats and dive equipment - and we can't wait to show you everything!

We first opened our doors in 1960, and we are still gong strong!!!

And we are offering some great deals too! Save 5% off our all inclusive rate when you stay 7 nights or more. or ask us about our Ocean Special, our Fishing Special, or our Adventure Special!

Book Now and Save!

See you soon!

 

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Forgot Something? We Got You Covered with Our On-Site Boutique!

The on-site boutique at Small Hope is great if you forgot anything, like toiletries, sunglasses, your hat. Or if you want to pick up some island souvenirs for friends and family back home!

It's stocked with shampoo, toothbrushes, lotion, bug spray, etc. And also goodies like hand-made Bahamas batik items from the local Androsia factory, Small Hope shirts, hoodies, koozies, an more!

And it's just steps away from our office . . .

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Great Fishing, Tasty Sashimi!

It's always a great day when the fishermen bring something back! It's even better when we get to cook it up for the whole resort. It's the best when it's fresh tuna, there's plenty of it, and we get sashimi!!!

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Happy World Oceans Day!

We are so fortunate to be on such lovely waters . . .

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Bringing Your Dog to the Bahamas . . .

Vacation is the best! Relaxing, great food, fun times . . . But if you have furry family members, it can also be a little stressful leaving them behind. At Small Hope Bay Lodge, we have a four-legged ambassador here, Sassy, who can comfort you when you are missing your own canine friend.






But some are fortunate enough to be able to travel with their dogs! These jet-setting animals are lucky enough to see some of the world with their family, either due to their portable size, or mellow temperament, or (even better) both!

Small Hope Bay Lodge is an all inclusive, PET FRIENDLY resort! Dogs are welcome here! There is a one-time fee of $25, and the rest is a breeze. We just ask the dogs adhere to the same rules as Sassy - not in the dining areas; not loud; not harassing staff or guests.

Here are some tips for bringing your pet to the Bahamas:

• Pet must be 6 months or older
• The dog must be rabies vaccinated within the appropriate time
• You must have a certificate of good health from a veterinarian
• You need to fill out a permit application and pay a $10 processing fee (per animal)

The Bahamas does not quarantine animals that have met the necessary requirements. The permits are one-time use only.

Most websites suggest you submit your application no less than 4 weeks for processing. But you could probably push that back to 6 weeks to allow for "island time", as well as any holidays, etc.






Here are some helpful links to get you started on bringing your dog on vacation in the Bahamas!

Bahamas Government Domestic Animal Permit Application

Bahamas Government Info About Bringing Pets

Additional Bahamas Government Info Regarding Pets

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Great Food, Great Vacation!

One of the most important things about vacations . . . . GREAT FOOD. 

At Small Hope Bay Lodge, our all inclusive menu is always fresh, always homemade. We use local produce and locally caught fish. We bring a wide variety of cuisine for all tastes and have plenty of options, so everyone can enjoy delicious food!


Here are some of the reasons our guests can get enough of our tasty meals:

Our Breakfast Rocks!
We offer a great continental breakfast - Bagels and breads,with cream cheese and other spreads; fresh fruit; 5 fruit juices; 4 types of cereal and milk; yogurt; coffee and tea. And we offer a great hot breakfast to order too - eggs any style; omelets; french toast; pancakes; bacon; ham; sausage; and a different Bahamian style breakfast each morning which can be corned beef and grits, or chicken souse, or steamed conch and grits, etc.


Lunches are Awesome! Our lunches are almost all

served on our ocean-side dining patio. They include all kids of sandwich fixings - various types of bread, several cold cut meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomato, and onions; three different types of salad - a garden salad, a caesar salad, and a salad of the day which is always fresh and tasty; and a hot entrees and sides which change daily and can include pulled pork sandwiches, turkey pot pie, Bahamian pork and dumpling stew, chicken wings, and many more. And lunch wouldn't be complete without dessert! At least three different types of dessert, fresh out of the oven, like pies, cookies, cakes, parfaits, and many, many more!

Cocktail Hour is Amazing! At an all inclusive resort, cocktail hour can last all day if you want. But starting at 6 pm we start bringing out appetizers. We offer chips (pita or corn) and various dips like salsa, hummus, guacamole, or spinach dip. We have a fresh vegetable platter with all kinds of beautiful and colorful veggies and cheeses. And then (drumroll) . . . our mouth-watering conch fritters. Careful, they are addictive!

Dinner is Spectacular! Typically served on our seaside patio, our talented kitchen
staff offer an ever-changing menu with the freshest ingredients. Every night there are options for soup, three types of salads, a vegetable dish, a starch, a meat, and a seafood option. Menus can include things like bacon-wrapped shrimp, grilled mahi mahi, jerk ribs, cracked conch, grilled lobster, grilled steak, steamed broccoli, roasted peppers, orzo pasta salad, garlic roasted potatoes, eggplant Parmesan, roasted vegetable soup, cream of mushroom soup, or on those special nights . . . roasted suckling pig! And don't forget the desserts again! More sweets like key lime pie, bread pudding, creme brulee,  pineapple upside down cake, cheesecakes, or a Bahamian favorite guava duff

Check out more about All Inclusive Dining at Small Hope

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Dolphins playing with the boat . . .

It's been a great month for divers at Small Hope!

First they got a rare glimpse of a whale while diving one of our caver sites. Then, just a few days ago, a pod of dolphins played with the dive boat on it's way out for the first dive of the day. Great video of the pod. The dolphins look like they're having a blast . . .

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Working Out and Staying Fit on Vacation!

 

Vacation can be a tricky time for staying fit. Eating lots of delicious food, basking in the sun, and sleeping in make keeping your healthy routine difficult.

Thankfully it is still possible to stay healthy, even when you are enjoying your holidays! At Small Hope Bay Lodge we offer lots of ways to keep active and eat healthy.

We have several activities - from scuba diving, snorkeling, nature walks, kayaking, paddleboarding, and beach combing - to keep you moving and having a blast at the same time.

We have an outdoor body weight fitness area, complete with a pull up station, dip station, and ab station, plus some wonderful suggestions and instructions for all fitness levels written up by a professional fitness trainer.

And we have a wonderful kitchen who, while also preparing some of the more naughty food items like conch fritters, cookies, and pie, also cook tasty and healthy options at every meal! At breakfast there are healthy options like yogurts, fruits, cereals, whole wheat bread, and the chefs can make you a poached or boiled egg, or egg white omelets!


For lunch, in addition to several sandwich options as well as a hot meal choice of the day, we also offer garden salad, Caesar salad, and a special salad that changes daily. And at dinner, there are 3 salads to choose from every night, in addition to a soup, vegetables, and a meat and seafood option which can often be freshly-caught grilled fish or grilled lobster tails!

Stay fit, have fun, eat well!

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Renovations at Small Hope . . .

Here at Small Hope, there is a strong sense of tradition. We first opened our doors in 1960, and have been welcoming guests ever since then. We are a small, rustic, beach-front resort and we have no intention of getting bigger.

But we do want our cottages to be bright, beautiful, and comfortable for our guests!

This is why we have begun a property-wide renovation. We have completed one cabin - our "Honeymoon cabin" - and have a couple more almost finished. We hope to have all completed updated by the end of the year!

We are making some small changes here and there, but there are a few things that will never change:

1. All our furniture is made right here
2. All our fabrics are homemade right here on Andros at the Androsia Batik Factory
3. Using natural and recycled materials, like the invasive casuarina pine we've cut from the property
4. Our atmosphere of comfort and relaxation

See our beautiful upgrades . . .

 

We'll keep posting more as the cabins are completed!

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New Bonefishing Regulations in the Bahamas . . .

The Bahamas Government has recently implemented new regulations regarding bonefishing. These regulations are effective as of January 9th, 2017. Some of the points include the following:

·       

Cost of License: Day License (valid day of issuance only) - $15.00; Weekly License - $20.00; Monthly License - $30.00; Annual License - $60.00.

• All anglers over the age of 12 will need a license to fish. 
• These regulations will require all persons using the flats, such as guides anglers and DIYs to have a license issued by the Department of Marine Resources in New Providence, or the Family Island Administrators in the Family Islands and soon the licenses will be issued online
• All guides are expected to be certified over time by the Ministry of Tourism and the Department of Marine Resources, in conjunction with approved fly fishing associations in The Bahamas.
• Bahamian certified fishing guides must be used if two (2) or more anglers are fishing in the flats by means of a vessel (skiffs, etc.)
•  Only Bahamian-registered vessels will be allowed on the flats.
•  Only Bahamians will be allowed to work as guides.
•  Do-It-Yourselfers or DIYs will not need a fishing guide.
•  No commercial fishing will be allowed on the flats.
• The fishery covered by these regulations include bonefish, tarpon, cobia, and permit.
• The fines and penalties as set out in the regulations will be strictly enforced.

PLEASE NOTE:  The Online Application & Payment Process is not yet set up.  Small Hope Bay Lodge will purchase the fishing license on behalf of our guests prior to arrival until this process is fixed.

Please see MyOutIslands.com or the Bahamas.gov pages for more details. Or contact us at info@smallhope.com  or 800-223-6961 with any questions you may have on these new regulations. They are new to us too, but we will help find the answers for you!

And don’t forget, Andros is the bonefishing Capital of the World so book one of our great all inclusive Fishing Packages with us and let us handle everything!

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What is Included in "All Inclusive" Rates? At Small Hope, A LOT!

There are many resorts that say they are all inclusive. But many only include breakfast, and most do not include beverages or bar drinks. There can also be added resort fees.

At Small Hope Bay Lodge, we like to make it as simple as possible! All Inclusive to us means totally ALL INCLUSIVE! Included in our nightly rates are the following:

• Beachfront cabins - All the cabins are just steps away from crystal clear water!
• Breakfast - Made-to-order and continental selections including omelets, toasts, bagels, yogurts, french toast, etc. There is even a special Bahamian breakfast each day so you can try some island flavors.
• Lunch - Three different salad options, sandwich fixings, and a different island-style hot lunch every day such as Pepper Pot Curry or Conch Chowder. And, of course, plenty dessert choices!
• Dinner - A soup, multiple salads, a seafood course, a meat course, a starch dish, and a vegetable dish. Plus homemade bread, and at least three different dessert options!
• Snacks and hors oeuvres -  At cocktail hour we serve our famous conch fritters, as well as some chips and dips. And if you fancy a bite at any time during the day, just pop your head in the kitchen and our chefs will whip up something tasty for you!
• Beverages and Bar Drinks - That's right. All your drinks are included in the all-inclusive rate! Plus you can even hop behind the bar and show us how you make your favorite drinks!
• Resort fees - That means use of all the extras: hot tub, bikes, kayaks, paddleboards, sailboat, wifi (in lounge and bar areas), etc. 

The only things not included are any optional guided activities like scuba diving or fishing, and the Bahamas VAT of 7.5%.
 

All Inclusive means you don't have to carry your wallet. Everything made easy!Come and see for yourself . . .

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What to Bring on Your Bahamas Vacation? Here's a List to Get You Started

 Packing for vacation is always so exciting because it means . . . your going on VACATION! But with airline luggage fees, not to mention the hassle, it's great to bring just what you need.

Andros, Bahamas has such a lovely climate year-round, so no need for big heavy jackets or boots. Scuba divers and fisherman often want to bring their own gear, but Small Hope Bay Lodge has everything you'll need for scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing here if you don't want to pack your own.

Here is a list of some of the essentials to bring on your Bahamas holiday:

• Swimsuit - The water is way too nice to miss out on swimming
• Good walking shoes - There are great nature walks around here
• Flip flops or sandals - The weather is warm. Give your feet a break with comfy sandals
• Light, comfortable clothes - Summers are very warm, but Autumn, Winter, and Spring often have beautiful warm weather too.
• A light jacket or hoodie - Not absolutely necessary in summer, but always a good idea
• Small, compact umbrella - We get lovely, tropical showers that are usually quite brief, but the umbrella will make getting from your cabin to the bar that much easier!
• Sun glasses - We get lots of sun
• Sunscreen - We get lots of sun
• A hat - Not mandatory, but . . . we get lots of sun
• Bug spray - We provide some bug sprays, but you may have a favorite brand that we don't carry. 
•  A good book - Always great to finally have the time to enjoy a book  . . . 
• Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, etc) - We will be adding these to our bathroom provisions soon, but contact us to ensure we have them or bring your own

Optional items:

• Mask and/or snorkel and/or fins - We have plenty here that fit most sizes but some people love to use their own stuff
• Dive gear - see above
• Fishing gear - see above. If you are wondering what fishing gear is best for Bonefishing click here

What we have at Small Hope Bay Lodge so you don't have to worry about bringing:

•  Towels
•  Water bottles - in your cabin, and you get to keep them!

And we have a boutique at the resort, just in case you forget anything!!!!

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Having Fun with Photos and Filters

We have a virtually unlimited supply of gorgeous views at Small hope. That means it is not hard getting a beautiful photo anywhere here at the resort. But I have also recently found new apps that make your photos in to different styles of art and having been having fun playing around with those. Take a look at some of the recent ones . . .

All pretty, but the original, in person are always the best!!!

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Small Hope Bay Lodge is now on Snapchat!

As Bob Dylan said, "Times they are a changin". And we are riding the wave! We are now on Snapchat! Follow us at: smallhopebay

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