flying from ft. lauderdale to paradise island
 

I'm in a wedding in March of 2006 at the Atlantis Resort. Unfortunately I'm a poor medical student and am trying to figure out the cheapest way to get to the resort. When should I start looking for flights or should I look to land on the water at the resort? I'm flying from Ft. lauderdale so I'm curious if I should look at arriving by boat? Thanks

The airport on PI was closed a while ago so your best option is to fly into Nassau and take a cab over to the resort. It's about $25 from the airport to Atlantis, and maybe you can find someone else in the wedding to travel with you.

Probably the best flights will be out of Miami to Nassau, but check, American, Delta, USAir and Continental all fly into Nassau.

Have a great time.

Another exciting way to go is with Chalks Ocean Air seaplanes. They take off in the water in Miami and on the tarmac in Ft. Lauderdale, but you'll land in the water and roar up onto a cement lot right on PI. The cost is minimal, with no lines or waiting. They have a website. Robert

Sadly today a Chalks airplane crashed taking off from Miami going to the Bahamas. It assumed that all 20 aboard including 3 infants were killed.

Kath; I just got home from work and heard it on the news. I know several of the pilots. It had a stellar record for air safety...indeed tragic for only a 20 minute flight to Bimini. Robert

Witnesses say the plane exploded not just crashed after taking off

So sad; through the years, I've become familiear with some of Chalk's pilots when I go to Bimini for reef surveys. I called Chalks this morning to give my sympathies. One was a female pilot. I don't know the other one, though. There was a younger pilot named Jim, I believe, who was single and who my daughter liked, but they assured me it wasn't him. Although I think I know the female pilots name, I can't give it out. It will be interesting to find out the NTSB's outcome. Robert