See full version: Atlantis vs. Baha Mar: Which Bahamas Resort Is Best for Your Family
With the completion of Cable Beach’s renaissance in 2018 in the form of Baha Mar, the reigning resort giant Atlantis is getting nudged a bit in the realm of Nassau-Paradise Island vacationing. Which fantasy kingdom best fits your family’s vacation vision? We compare Baha Mar vs. Atlantis, based on 10 different criteria.
Atlantis could be called the ultimate kid resort for its endless list of water amenities, diverse entertainment options, and wide variety of restaurants and snack stands. Its accommodations options are more extensive than Baha Mar’s, and we found its website more family-informative by far. But a stay at Atlantis is hardly what one would consider on a typical family budget—more like a once-in-a-lifetime splurge for most, and that goes for everything from room rates to restaurant prices and family programs.
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But despite its sheer size — 1,800 rooms spread across two main towers and a separate building for elite guests — the Grand Hyatt managed an almost magical feat: I felt, upon entering my room, as though I had accidentally checked into a brand-new property from a lifestyle brand.
Otherwise, the experience was impressive for the most inexpensive room at the most inexpensive property at the resort. An excellent value and proof that even large resort hotels from major brands can execute stylish designs with a sense of place.
Great, friendly service was a highlight during my stay at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. Though the resort had clearly gone to great lengths to keep people from getting lost (signs everywhere, mostly), I kept finding myself backtracking on footpaths and wandering around the casino floor, wondering if I’d ever find my way back to my room. It took me an entire day for me to locate the 3 Tides Fish House. Trying to get there only using the signs, I had almost moved on to a different restaurant when I realized it was downstairs. And so I found myself asking for directions, a lot. Yet I was never met with anything other than a smile, and maybe a chuckle — I suspect the staff members feel quite a lot like tour guides most days.
Eat: Rosewood guests can stroll along the beach to the SLS Baha Mar, which has a number of high-end restaurants perfect for date night. Share Mediterranean-inspired tapas at Cleo Mediterráneo or wood-oven pizzas at James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz’s Fi’lia. Continue the evening at the Jazz Bar, off the casino floor near the Grand Hyatt’s West Tower. more
Do: Sleep in before making your way downstairs to Cleo for brunch. From here, you can slip into the shallow Bungalow Pool or sidle up to Daqs for a vast menu of Bahamian spins on the daiquiri. Starting on Thursdays and running all weekend, the adults-only, swan-float-filled Privilege Pool hosts wild DJ parties. [links]
Resorts such as Baha Mar are designed to take some of the guesswork — and, yes, the stress — out of traveling. You pull up to the resort, drop your suitcase and find everything you need for an entire weeklong stay at a single site. But at the 1,000-acre Baha Mar property, with its Las Vegas-style show fountains, 18-hole golf course, racquet club and myriad diversions for children, don’t be surprised if you find yourself standing in the middle of the 100,000-square-foot casino paralyzed by all the options.
Though the properties share a single stretch of Bahamian beach, this too becomes a tricky choice: Sunbathe on a lounge chair or an oversized float? Paddle around on one of the complimentary kayaks or take a dip in the famously turquoise water with a noodle in hand?
PHOTO: Grand Hyatt Baha Mar (Courtesy Hyatt)
Your Bahamian Home Away From Home more
The Baha Mar - the much anticipated luxury hotel and mega-resort development in Nassau, Bahamas - is now completely open and operational. The Baha Mar resort destination is made up of three major hotel brands that seamlessly work together, yet function separately, to provide an unforgettable luxury experience. Although facets of each hotel are open to both the general public and anyone staying on the Baha Mar property, there are a few things you should know about each hotel before choosing the right accommodation for your client. more
If their logo of four monkeys playing in a chandelier is any indication of who this hotel is best suited for, I’d say it’s perfect for those looking to be playful and perhaps a bit mischievous while on vacation in the Bahamas. The SLS Baha Mar is SLS’s first international property outside the US and typically attracts a younger crowd interested in luxury culinary experiences and a celebratory lifestyle. The hotel itself consist of 299 rooms, almost half of which are suites (109 suites), all beautifully decorated with white modern decor. SLS Baha Mar is not only home to Skybar, the first rooftop lounge on New Providence island in the Bahamas, but they also have their own private pool with cabanas where they host exclusive pool parties for guest of the hotel only. On Friday’s DJ-led pool parties kick off the weekend starting at 11AM and often end with fog machines and champagne showers. Many of the high-end restaurants within the Baha Mar resort destination are managed by SLS including: Fi’lia, a new Italian concept; Cleo, a Mediterranean inspired restaurant with sharable plates, flatbreads and mezzes; Katsuya, a modern twist on traditional Japanese; and Carna by Dario Cecchini, a contemporary steakhouse concept. SLS also manages the only nightclub on the Baha Mar property, Bond Nightclub, a 10,000 square foot venue with table-side bottle service to ensure you can keep partying well into the night. here