A Review of the “Free Bahamas Vacation” Win: Understanding Costs and Legitimacy

Winning a “free” vacation sounds like a dream, but often raises immediate questions: Is it real? What are the hidden costs? Having recently experienced a 7-day/6-night Bahamas trip won through a similar promotion, I wanted to share a detailed review. This specific offer was associated with a company operating as a Licensed And Bonded Fla. Seller Of Travel Reg. No. St37536, leading me to investigate its legitimacy and true value beyond the initial enticing promise. This article aims to provide clarity for anyone considering a similar ‘free’ Bahamas vacation prize.

How I Won the Trip

Back in June 2017, while waiting in line at a liquor store in Colorado, I noticed a kiosk promoting a “WIN A FREE VACATION TO THE BAHAMAS!” contest. With my wedding approaching, I filled out a slip, thinking it could serve as a honeymoon trip, and promptly forgot about it. We ended up having our honeymoon in the stunning Cook Islands, which was perfect. Upon our return, I found a voicemail congratulating me on winning the Bahamas trip after all. I called back and was greeted by a friendly representative who directed me to a lengthy recorded message about the trip details. After confirming I had listened, I was informed it would cost $19.99 per person to cover taxes and secure my spot. Naturally, I felt a slight hesitation, wondering if it might be a scam, and requested time to consult with my husband.

Evaluating the “Free” Claim: Scam or Legitimate Opportunity?

Deciding to take a calculated risk, we paid the initial $39.98 fee. While it quickly became clear the trip was far from “free” due to a growing list of both disclosed and undisclosed small fees, and the information provided was sometimes misleading, it was definitely not a scam. Instead, it proved to be a semi-affordable vacation opportunity that we were ultimately glad we pursued and enjoyed. Here’s a breakdown of the costs we incurred and our overall experience with this offer from the company regulated under Licensed And Bonded Fla. Seller Of Travel Reg. No. St37536.

After paying the $39.98 setup fee, I learned that one transportation option involved taking a cruise to and from the island, following the 4-day island stay. This cruise option was priced at $79.99 per person per night. Considering this fee included all meals and nightly entertainment shows onboard, we felt it was a more cost-effective choice than flying and a reasonable value. The option to break down payments was offered, and I appreciated the email notifications regarding upcoming charges to my card. Trip information was sent from bahamaslanding@bahamas5-4.com, and setting up an account to explore hotel choices was straightforward. The email specified that we would be responsible for port fees, which amounted to $119 per person. It also stipulated that the trip had to be redeemed within 18 months and booked with at least 3 months’ notice. When we selected our preferred dates and hotels (options included the Wyndham Resort, Taino Beach Resort, and Bell Channel Hotel, all on Grand Bahama Island), we found the Wyndham was booked solid for many months and numerous blackout dates applied to all options. However, we were able to find suitable dates and submitted our request. About a month later, we received confirmation for the dates. A month after that, I called to check on the status, and the assigned “travel specialist” sent an email prompting us to finalize our hotel choice. It was frustrating to discover then that the Taino Beach Resort had an additional resort fee of $29 per person, per day, which did not cover any food or alcohol. (The Bell Channel Hotel had no resort fee, while the Wyndham had a $79 per person, per day fee that was all-inclusive). I expressed my disappointment to the “travel specialist” about being informed of this fee so late, having previously been assured there would be no extra charges. He offered to waive the fee for one person, which I declined, requesting instead to be placed in the Bell Channel Hotel with no fee. To my pleasant surprise, the travel vouchers arrived showing we were booked at the Taino Beach Flamingo Bay Hotel, with no additional charge for either of us.

The Positives: What We Enjoyed

Despite the initial fee complexities associated with the offer from the entity identified as a licensed and bonded fla. seller of travel reg. no. st37536, there were many genuinely positive aspects to the trip. We found the contact number provided connected us to a real person, and wait times were consistently short, which was helpful during the booking process.

The cruise journey to Grand Bahama was a great experience; we were satisfied with the food, service, our cabin, and the entertainment provided onboard.

Grand Bahama itself is a stunning island, and we found the local residents to be incredibly friendly and welcoming throughout our stay.

Our room at the Taino Beach Flamingo Bay Hotel was clean and comfortable. It included a television and a convenient kitchen area equipped with a fridge, sink, microwave, dishes, dish soap, coffee maker, and coffee, allowing us to prepare some of our own snacks and drinks.

The hotel’s pool area was truly impressive, featuring a fun water slide, a relaxing lazy river, and a swim-up bar offering a reasonably priced happy hour with generous pours of rum.
Beach chairs and palm huts offering shade on a sunny Grand Bahama beach, part of the "free" vacation review.

The beach was conveniently located just a three-minute walk away from our hotel. It offered plenty of chairs and small “chickee” huts providing welcome shade.
The lazy river section of the Taino Beach Flamingo Bay Hotel pool, surrounded by palm trees and loungers.

The hotel also featured an affordably priced convenience store. Its prices were comparable to or even slightly better than the local grocery store, saving us the effort of traveling off-site for essentials and snacks.

The Misleading Aspects

While the trip was legitimate, there were certain aspects of the initial offer and experience that felt misleading. The Taino Beach Flamingo Bay Hotel, where we stayed, is indeed affiliated with the larger Taino Beach Resort. However, it is located across the street and is structured more like a hotel than a resort, lacking the sprawling grounds and ambiance depicted in many promotional images. Although it was a nice hotel, it wasn’t the “resort” experience we initially expected based on the visuals. Interestingly, we met other guests staying in the same Flamingo Bay building who had paid the daily resort fee, suggesting the waiving of our fee was an exception, but the distinction between the hotel and the main resort remained.

Another point of confusion involved the $25 Casino Money promotion. To utilize this offer, we were required to match it with $25 of our own money, effectively making it a match-play bonus rather than truly “free” casino cash.

Perhaps the most frustrating misleading element was the timing of fee disclosures. The resort/hotel fees, specifically, were not mentioned to us until shortly before our scheduled travel date, despite earlier assurances that there would be no further charges beyond the initial setup and cruise costs. This late notification was a significant source of irritation.
Detail of a tiled wall feature at the Taino Beach Flamingo Bay Hotel, observed during the Bahamas travel experience.

Calculating the True Cost

When evaluating a “free” prize from any travel provider, including those like the licensed and bonded fla. seller of travel reg. no. st37536, it’s crucial to calculate the actual out-of-pocket expenses. Here is the breakdown of the unavoidable fees and transportation costs we incurred for our 7-day/6-night trip:

• Fee to claim the trip: $39.98
• Cruise transport cost: $319.84 (for two people, round trip)
• Cruise gratuity: $51.80
• Port fees: $238 (for two people)
• Hotel taxes: $144
• Taxi ride from port to hotel: $35
• Taxi ride from hotel back to port: $18

Adding these up, the total unavoidable costs for our trip amounted to $846.62. Had we not successfully negotiated the waiver of the Taino resort fee, that would have added another $232 to this total.

In addition to these required fees, we had various other expenses based on our personal choices for spending money on the island and cruise:

• Duty-free alcohol (one bottle each of Bushmills, Malibu Rum, & Skyy Vodka): $43 (This was our only expense on the cruise itself)
• Convenience store items (bread, patties, butter, jelly, cookies, juice, soup, candy, etc.): $37.10
• Happy hour drinks at the swim-up bar (Bahama Mama and Goombay Smash): $10
• Beer: $17
• Restaurant meals (Piña Colada Chicken Sandwich, Nachos, and a Burger split over two nights): $47
• Postcards and souvenirs: $21.52
• Ferry to Lucaya Marketplace: $12
• Ice cream and patties: $6

Including these optional expenses, our “free vacation” ultimately cost us a total of $1037.24. While significantly more than “free,” the unavoidable fees ($846.62) still represent a cost that, for a 7-day cruise and hotel package to the Bahamas, is quite affordable compared to booking such a trip outright. Despite the costs and some rain every day we were there (echoing a previous rainy Bahamas trip), we had an amazing time and the experience took us to a beautiful part of the world we might not have visited otherwise.
The author and companion enjoying the balcony view from the cruise ship during their trip to the Bahamas.

Summary: Key Takeaways

Based on our experience with this travel offer, promoted by an entity like licensed and bonded fla. seller of travel reg. no. st37536, here are the key points: The trip is not a scam; it is a legitimate travel package. However, be prepared to incur significant costs beyond the initial “win,” likely totaling around $1000 or slightly more per couple once all mandatory fees and taxes are accounted for. There is often an option to upgrade to an all-inclusive hotel, which comes with a higher upfront fee but covers meals, drinks, and activities. Also, expect some blackout dates and the need for patience when attempting to book your preferred travel dates and hotel.

A Note on Location

It’s important to remember that our travel originated from Florida, where we were living at the time. This meant getting to and from the departure port was straightforward and did not involve additional travel expenses. If you do not reside in Florida, you will be responsible for all travel costs required to reach the departure port. Factor this significant expense into your decision-making when evaluating if this “free” trip is truly worthwhile for your specific circumstances.