The Exuma Cays from the air, sandbanks in turquoise water
BahamasUSA12 days

Bahamas island hopping and Florida – trip for licensed pilots and passengers

Twelve days, one Cessna — from Tampa via Eleuthera to the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay, near Staniel Cay, Exumas.

A 12-day trip to Bahamas and USA by Cessna 182. Accommodation: JW Marriott Tampa Water Street, French Leave Resort, Staniel Cay Yacht Club and Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort & Villas. From €11,649 (per person in a double room with breakfast).

In Tampa, you validate your European EASA license locally into an American FAA license and take the controls of a Cessna 182 yourself for an island-hopping trip across the Bahamas — Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island, Thunderball Grotto, the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay near Staniel Cay in the Exumas, and Dean's Blue Hole included. Anyone without a pilot's license flies as a passenger alongside an experienced pilot.

WHO IS THIS FOR?

Licensed Pilots
For Passengers
Luxury Travelers

ITINERARY

A journey in chapters

Airbus A330 von Discover Airlines auf dem Vorfeld
DAY 1

Arrival in Tampa

Business class scheduled flight from Germany to Tampa (approx. 11 h). Overnight at the JW Marriott Hotel Water Street.

Cockpit einer Cessna 182 bei der Einweisung
DAY 2

License revalidation

Conversion of the European EASA license to an American FAA license, briefing and check flight (incl. biennial flight review) at an American flight school.

Strand von Tampa Bay
DAY 3

Tampa and Ybor City

Explore Tampa and the historic Ybor City district, a buffer day for license formalities, or an optional Cessna excursion to Key West.

Anflug auf den Salty Approach auf North Captiva Island
DAY 4

Flight to the Bahamas

Flight along the coast via Salty Approach and Boca Raton, continuing to Governor's Harbour, overnight at the French Leave Resort Bahamas.

Der Pink Sands Beach auf Harbour Island
DAY 5

Harbour Island and Pink Sands Beach

Day trip to Northern Eleuthera and drive to Harbour Island to Pink Sands Beach.

Der Staniel Cay Yacht Club mit seinen bunten Bungalows am Wasser
DAY 6

Flight to Staniel Cay

Flight via Norman's Cay to Staniel Cay, 2 nights at the Staniel Cay Yacht Club.

Schwimmende Schweine im flachen Wasser vor Big Major Cay
DAY 7

Thunderball Grotto and the swimming pigs

Optional visit to Thunderball Grotto (a James Bond filming location) and the swimming pigs of Big Major Cay near Staniel Cay, Exumas — alternatively a day at the hotel.

Strand und Bungalows des Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort
DAY 8

Little Farmers Cay and Long Island

A short flight to Little Farmers Cay with direct beach access from the airstrip, continuing to Stella Maris/Long Island, 2 nights at the Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort & Villas.

Dean's Blue Hole vor der Küste von Long Island
DAY 9

Cape Santa Maria and Dean's Blue Hole

A beach day at Cape Santa Maria or a local flight over Dean's Blue Hole and the surrounding islands.

Der Pool des JW Marriott Tampa Water Street
DAY 10

Return Flight to Tampa

Flight via Boca Raton back to Tampa, overnight at the JW Marriott Hotel Tampa Water Street.

Palmenallee an der Promenade von Tampa
DAY 11

Tampa and a cigar factory

Time to unwind in Tampa, optional visit to the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory in Ybor City.

Business Class im Airbus A330 von Discover Airlines
DAY 12

Return Flight to Germany

Business class scheduled flight back to Germany (approx. 9 h), arrival the following morning.

THE HOUSES

Where you stay

The pool of the JW Marriott Tampa Water Street between the towers

Tampa, Florida

JW Marriott Tampa Water Street

Setting

The house stands in the Water Street district right on Tampa's Riverwalk. The old quarter of Ybor City, with the J.C. Newman Cigar Factory and the Columbia Restaurant, is a few minutes away by car. Tampa International airport is around 20 minutes out.

Rooms

This trip is booked in a Deluxe room with a king-size bed, around 37 m². The rooms sit in one of the two towers, looking out across the bay or over the city. Larger suites are bookable on request.

Pool & terraces

The long outdoor pool occupies its own level between the towers, with loungers and cabanas. On the roof there is a terrace and lounge overlooking Tampa. A fitness area and spa belong to the house as well.

Your stay

You stay here twice on this trip: at the start after arriving from Germany, and again after returning from the Bahamas before the flight home.

JW Marriott Tampa – living area of a suite overlooking the city
JW Marriott Tampa – rooftop terrace and lounge above Tampa
JW Marriott Tampa – pool and hotel facade
The French Leave Resort on the rocky coast of Eleuthera from the air

Governor's Harbour, Eleuthera

French Leave Resort

Setting

The resort lies near Governor's Harbour on Eleuthera, on the sheltered Caribbean side of the island, with its own jetty into the turquoise water. Governor's Harbour airfield is a short drive away, as is the settlement with its restaurants.

Villas

The accommodation is free-standing colonial-style villas with white verandas, set along the shore. This trip is booked in a partial ocean-view villa with a king-size bed at around 65 m²; larger villas are available for a supplement. Inside, pale colours, timber floors and plenty of light set the tone.

Around the resort

You can swim and snorkel from the jetty, and a pool sits among the villas. It is no distance to the other side of this narrow island, where the Atlantic runs along long, empty beaches.

French Leave Resort – villas with verandas by the water
French Leave Resort – the bright living and sleeping room of a villa
French Leave Resort – covered terrace looking out over the bay
The colourful bungalows of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club above clear water

Staniel Cay, Exumas

Staniel Cay Yacht Club

Setting

The Staniel Cay Yacht Club sits in the middle of the Exumas, on a small island with its own airstrip and harbour. Thunderball Grotto, from the 1965 Bond film of the same name, lies just outside, as does Big Major Cay with its swimming pigs.

Bungalows

The rooms are brightly painted waterfront bungalows on stilts, around 35 to 45 m², each with its own veranda over the water. Two nights are booked here. Boats can be hired straight from the dock.

Dining & tone

The club restaurant is the island's meeting point, colourful and entirely unstuffy; the lobster at Sea Level has a reputation well beyond the Exumas. The tone of the place is a flying club by the water rather than a resort.

Staniel Cay Yacht Club – room with a four-poster bed looking onto the veranda
Staniel Cay Yacht Club – veranda with a hanging bench above the water
Staniel Cay Yacht Club – restaurant with its colourful interior
The Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort along the long white beach of Long Island

Long Island, Bahamas

Cape Santa Maria Beach Resort & Villas

Setting

The resort lies at the northern tip of Long Island on a white beach that runs for kilometres and shelves very gently. Stella Maris airfield is a short drive away. Dean's Blue Hole, one of the deepest in the world, lies to the south of the island and makes a rewarding local flight.

Bungalows

The accommodation is single-storey bungalows and villas set among palms immediately behind the beach. A bungalow of around 37 m² is booked for two nights. From the veranda it is a few steps into the sand.

Water & quiet

The beach counts among the finest in the Bahamas and is usually all but empty. Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and snorkelling gear are on hand, and the water stays shallow a long way out. The restaurant sits directly above the sand.

Cape Santa Maria – the long white beach in front of the resort
Cape Santa Maria – bungalows among palms behind the beach
Cape Santa Maria – a laid table on the terrace looking out to sea

INCLUDED

What's included

  • Scheduled flight Germany–Tampa–Germany in business class
  • Hotels incl. breakfast
  • 18 flight hours with a Cessna 182 included (2 hrs/day minimum while the aircraft is on the road); additional hours or alternative routing available on request
  • Costs for the Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) and local transfers not included

TRIP DETAILS

DURATION

12 days

AIRCRAFT

Cessna 182

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL

year-round (best time to travel on request)

FROM

€11,649

per person in a double room with breakfast

SERVICE TYPE & PROTECTION

Service type: Package trip and brokered individual services (§ 651b BGB). Customer fund protection: Tour operator insolvency insurance (Reisepreissicherungsschein) with R+V Versicherung.

GALLERY

The Exuma Cays from the air with their pale sandbanks
Turquoise water over pale sand seen from the air
A chain of small islands in the shallow water of the Bahamas
Looking past the Cessna's wing onto a sandbank
A sandbank in the Exumas washed by the sea
Beach and palm shadows from above
Beach with palm shadows and coloured water
The terrace of the Staniel Cay Yacht Club above the water
A snorkeller in Thunderball Grotto

ENTRY & HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

As of: 21 June 2026 – USA: ESTA required (online, at least 72 h before departure, approx. USD 40), e-passport required, return or onward flight ticket mandatory. No ESTA if you have visited Cuba since 12 Jan 2021. Bahamas: visa-free for up to 90 days, passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the trip, proof of sufficient financial means (approx. USD 200/day).

SOURCES

The details on this page come from these sources. Entry requirements change – the authority's own information is what counts, not our summary.

AUTHORITIES

Frequently asked questions

BOOKING & PROCESS

What's the easiest way to book?

The quickest way to reach us is by phone at +49 30 89065233, or by mobile and WhatsApp at +49 172 1999835. Alternatively, send us your travel wishes by email to info@fly-unique.com — we'll get back to you promptly with a suitable offer.

Can I also book my flight through Fly Unique?

Of course. Whether a scheduled flight, a charter flight on a private plane, a private jet, or an aircraft to fly yourself — we handle every form of travel for you.

Can I also book excursions through Fly Unique?

Gladly. Whether excursions, safaris, a yacht, a rental car, or individual requests on-site — we organize this for you.

What services are included in my trip?

All included services are listed in detail in your trip offer as well as in your booking confirmation.

Can I reserve my seats in advance?

Yes. We take your seating preferences and reserve them in advance for you, subject to availability.

Can I book a suite instead of a double room?

Subject to availability, you can upgrade to a larger suite for an additional charge.

TRAVEL & COMFORT

Can I be picked up directly from my doorstep?

Yes. We're happy to arrange a private transfer that picks you up at home and takes you directly to the airport.

Can I book a VIP lounge with direct access to the aircraft?

Yes. We book you a VIP lounge from which you're escorted directly to the aircraft, relaxed and without waiting.

How do I check in online for my flight?

For trips with a scheduled flight, you can usually check in via the airline's website or app. On request, we can handle online check-in for you and send your boarding pass via WhatsApp — where this is technically possible for the respective airline and route.

Can I add a Rail&Fly ticket?

For trips with a scheduled flight, this is possible, usually for an additional charge, unless the airline already includes it.

How much luggage am I allowed to bring?

This varies by airline and fare. We'll let you know the exact free baggage allowance along with your trip offer.

What happens if flight times change?

We inform you immediately by email as soon as we're notified of a change.

PAYMENT & PROTECTION

How much is the deposit?

As a rule, the deposit is 20% of the trip price. For peak-season dates it may be higher; this will be stated in the respective offer. For non-refundable special-fare flight tickets, the deposit may also be higher, as the ticket must be paid in full immediately.

When is the balance due?

As a rule, 30 days before departure. We'll point out any deviations already at the time of booking.

How do I pay for my trip?

Payment is conveniently made by bank transfer.

Is my trip protected by a tour operator insolvency insurance (ATOL licence)?

Yes. As a German tour operator we are legally obliged to protect your trip with a tour operator insolvency insurance (ATOL licence). Fly Unique has a contract with the R+V Versicherung. You will receive your insurance certificate automatically with your booking confirmation.

Do you recommend a travel cancellation insurance?

We generally recommend travel cancellation insurance and are happy to advise you on suitable options.

Are rebookings or cancellations possible?

Yes. The exact terms and costs are set out in our General Terms and Conditions and can of course be requested from us at any time.

Where can I find the General Terms and Conditions?

Our General Terms and Conditions (available in German) can be found on our website. View Terms

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

When will I receive my travel documents?

You'll receive your booking confirmation immediately after booking, and the complete travel documents no later than two weeks before departure.

What travel documents do I need?

This varies depending on the destination and nationality. We provide comprehensive information on the required documents and, if needed, also assist with obtaining visas.

FOR PILOTS

I'd like to fly myself — what do I need?

Send us a copy of your pilot's license. We'll then support you with the license revalidation and inform you about all the documents required for it.

Which aircraft is right for my trip?

We're happy to advise you on the choice — whether for flying yourself, joining as a passenger, or a trip by private plane or private jet.

Do you assist with route planning and permits for pilot trips?

Yes, we're happy to handle route planning and support you with any permits that may be required.

FAMILY & SPECIAL REQUESTS

Can allergies or dietary preferences be reported in advance?

Yes. We're happy to pass on your allergies and dietary preferences to the airline and hotel in advance.

Can we bring our children?

We're happy to book child-friendly hotels suited to your trip with children.

I'm pregnant — can I still travel?

In principle, traveling is possible with an uncomplicated pregnancy up to week 34/35; the second trimester (weeks 14 to 28) is considered ideal. The exact rules vary by airline: many require a medical certificate of fitness to fly from week 28 onward, and most airlines decline to carry passengers from week 36 onward. Feel free to reach out — we'll check individually for your airline and route how your desired trip can be arranged.

SAFETY

Is there an emergency number during the trip?

Yes. We're available around the clock and here for you should anything not go according to plan during your trip.

REQUEST

Coordinate Departure Time

Designed by Lars Holling, a passionate pilot himself and a friend of the Bahamas

info@fly-unique.com+49 30 89065233

Mobile & WhatsApp: +49 172 1999835

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