DESTINATIONS WINTER SUN |THE BAHAMAS
BEST Rest OF THE
COUPLES’ RETREAT For a romantic getaway, recommend the newly renovated Sandals Royal Bahamian. This adult-only hotel boasts lavish swim-up suites, six pools and 10 gourmet restaurants. But the real highlight is Barefoot Cay, the resort’s private island. A five-minute boat ride is all it takes to reach the island’s pristine beaches, swim-up bar and luxury spa.
Sandals Royal Bahamian
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar; Baha Bay’s The River and Stingray Cove PICTURES: Jerry Balderas; Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board
it’s the place many international travellers make a beeline for – of the 7.2 million people who travelled to the Bahamas in 2019, 76% visited Paradise Island. I stayed at two of the area’s top-rated hotels to see if the island lived up to its name.
GRAND HYATT BAHA MAR Water wonderland:Wandering through the grounds of Baha Mar, I need to use both hands to count the number of pristine pools, as there are sprawling lagoons, swim-up bars and secluded cove-style pools. But if you’re thinking that pools are the only attraction for water babies here, you’d be mistaken – at the foot of the resort, on a private 900m stretch of sand, sits the jewel in Baha Mar’s crown: Baha Bay. Attractions: The water park, which opened in 2021, boasts 42 attractions, including 24 slides, a 500,000-gallon wave pool and a surf simulator. Guests at the Grand Hyatt enjoy free, unlimited access to Baha Bay. There are 100 daily tickets set aside for people who aren’t staying at the hotel, but these get snapped up pretty quickly. As I explore the park, it’s easy to see why. Thrills and spills: Kids will love Turtle Beach and Stingray Cove, where a rainbow of pint-sized slides and a water fight battle zone make for a miniature water park paradise. The star of the show for adrenaline seekers has to be the Thunderball, which sends riders
40 7 DECEMBER 2023 The star of the show for
adrenaline seekers has to be the Thunderball – a near-vertical drop at speeds of up to 25mph
down a near-vertical drop at speeds of up to 25mph. After climbing the six storeys, my advice would be to not look down. For something a little tamer, hop in a rubber ring and cruise through the park’s tropical foliage on The River as it winds through 400m of twists and turns. Stylish stays: With such impressive amenities, expectations are high for the five-star accommodation. Luckily, the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar doesn’t disappoint. Each of the 1,800 rooms is kitted out with either one king bed or two queens, plus a Juliet or full-sized balcony. From my balcony, I enjoy sweeping views of the calm Caribbean waters, while guests on the opposite side of the building overlook the impressive fountain display, which comes to life with a dazzling nightly show of lights and music. There’s also the option of connecting rooms that sleep a maximum of six, giving families and small groups more flexibility and a total floor space of up to 87square metres. Book it: Major Travel offers seven nights’ room-only
FULL OF CHARACTER In the centre of vibrant downtown Nassau, the boutique Graycliff Hotel is steeped in history. The building dates back to 1740 and features 16 charming guest rooms. There’s also a chocolatier that offers tours and tasting sessions, and a cigar factory where visitors can learn the art of cigar rolling.
BOUTIQUE LUXURY Goldwynn Resort & Residences, which opened this year, has a prime location on Cable Beach. Recommend Goldwynn to clients seeking luxury on a smaller scale – there are 81 guest rooms and suites, plus a beachfront infinity pool and sophisticated spa.
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travelweekly.co.uk
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