This post is long overdue but so worth the read! If you’re looking for a great destination to celebrate a special birthday, anniversary, or occasion, this is the place!

Dan and I spent his 30th Birthday celebrating at Baha Mar in Nassau, Nassau is super close to Orlando and is a quick direct flight via Jet Blue. If you live along the East Coast, a lot of other airlines fly direct to Nassau, which makes this a quick flight and a wonderful weekend getaway location.

Baha Mar is made up of 3 Nassau hotels- Grand Hyatt, SLS and Rosewood each offer their own unique style of luxury and world-class service, so that way you can experience the beauty of a vacation in the Bahamas your own way. When we visited, we stayed inside the Grand Hyatt hotel at Baha Mar. I absolutely loved this option- it works well within a normal budget, and also is right in the middle of everything- the restaurants, pools, a quick walk to the beach, and so much more. The modern rooms and suites provide minibars, as well as free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs and iPod docks. The 1- and 2-bedroom suites feature separate living rooms and balconies, some with ocean views.  Room service is available 24/7!

Baha Mar has a massive casino and multiple dining options, including a French restaurant and a beachfront bar, plus 9 outdoor pools, a swim-up bar and a poolside lounge.  Other amenities include a fitness center, a nightclub, a kids’ club, and a spa with a sauna and a steam room. There is so much to do here and it is absolutely beautiful!

 Dan and I are always on the go and when we vacation, we rarely fully get to lounge and truly sit and relax. When I was planning his birthday trip, I knew I wanted to do something different, fun, but still with plenty of time to relax. We booked a long weekend trip (Thursday to Monday) which was plenty of time to stay and enjoy all the amenities that this resort offers. We spent almost 3 full days at the resort, and then spent 1 day visiting Staniel Cay to swim with pigs and sharks. (You can read all about that portion of the trip HERE.)

Food Options We Tried: All located inside Grand Hyatt

Swimming Pig Gastro Pub

Named for one of The Bahamas’ most popular animals, The Swimming Pig is also a popular destination at Baha Mar.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are offered, as well as late-night dining. Enjoy traditional pub favorites or pick from 24 varieties of beer on tap. This was definitely my favorite restaurant that we tried at Baha Mar. The food was decently priced and offered pub options that we really liked. Not to mention they had all the ranch I could ever want! ;)

Katsuya

Chef Uechi evolves Japanese sushi and robata classics with inspired dishes including Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna, Yellowtail Sashimi with Jalapeño and Miso-Marinated Black Cod in addition to Baha Mar exclusives – Conch Salad and Conch-oyaki. This restaurant is more high end, but the vibe and atmostpher was super cool. The portions are small- Dan and I actually finished our meal and then went back to Swimming Pig for fries and beer because we were still hungry. :)

Fi’lia

Rustic wood-fired oven pizzas and freshly-tossed Caesar salad are what this restaurant is known for. We ordered this exact meal and split it and it did not disappoint. The caesar salad is actually made at your table, which is fun to watch.

Food Trucks

If you’re looking for food near the beach or pool, find a nearby food truck or colorful “shack.” Each food truck offers a different menu. Each menu is infused with Bahamian ingredients and sustainable seafood. Dan and I enjoyed the food trucks each day we were at the pool and beach!

Jazz Bar

 Jazz Bar is an elevated piano bar serving up small-plate menu items and globally-inspired cocktails with a side of live jazz! Enjoy appetizers such as Caribbean lobster bruschetta, fresh crab cakes, and Bahamian-inspired petit fours. This bar opens at 4 PM, so Dan and I came here for a drink and appetizer and got to listen to live jazz on the jazz bar, which was so fun!

Starbucks

Starbucks is where we started every morning of your vacation. This is the only coffee shop located inside Grand Hyatt, and while the line can look long, it moves super fast in the mornings!

There are SO many different food options and styles of food to try. When we visited Baha Mar in December, it was pretty busy since this tends to be a major European travel season along with other sports tournaments like golf taking place here. When the resort is busy, restaurants tend to fill up in advance. I recommend making reservations in advance via Open Table. Depending on when you visit, you may be able to walk up and get a table, but I would opt for a reservation instead. It’s better to be safe than sorry!

Beach:

Umbrellas and chairs are first come, first serve. Lifeguards are also visible. You will also see wait staff walking around to take orders. If you are looking to watch how much you will spend (BELIEVE ME, YOU WILL SPEND A LOT HERE) I suggest walking up to the bar yourself. We found that if you walked up to the bar by the bathrooms right at the top of the stairs that take you to the beach, you pay a lot less than having to be served on the beach. We learned the hard way the first day, but quickly learned how to save some more and not spend as much when drinking on the beach.

With a prime location on Cable Beach, Baha Mar offers a ton of water activities for guests to enjoy. The resort’s complimentary rental program lets guests try out stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, snorkels, and more. They also have motorized watercraft rentals available, such as Jetsurf boards, Seadoos, and Seabobs.

Pool:

Baha Mar includes many different pools to choose from including the swim-up bar pool, cabanas pool, and pool with a secluded grotto! Each pool is different and caters to the type of vacation you are looking to have. I recommend the Dean’s Blue Hole for a laid back environment and fun experience. This pool also includes 8-foot and 15-foot waterfalls, stone gardens, and a secluded grotto with a view of sea turtles and sharks!

While this resort is not an all-inclusive resort, there are so many amenities, entertainment, and food/drink options to pick from that it is worth the visit! Just know that this resort does charge a resort fee of $32.25 per room, per night. This property’s destination fee comprises a mandatory daily gratuity charge, payable on-site

The resort fee includes:

Pool access

Beach access

Beach towels

Fitness center access

Internet access

In-room coffee

Concierge/valet service

Housekeeping

Thinking you may want to visit this amazing resort and destination in the Bahamas? Contact me for details! I can help get you there! ;)

Love and Travel Dust,

Molly