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Grand Bahamas is a sleepy island, but thanks to new cruise ship traffic and a concerted effort by the Bahamian Tourism Board and local government, it’s growing at breakneck speed. New resorts and luxury hotels are in every stage of development, and the older hotels are renovating constantly. Timeshare operations and condominium complexes vie for the dollars of mature, successful vacationers.
Room rates in Freeport remain mainly within the USD 85-USD 140 bracket. Most lower-priced accommodations are found in small, independently owned hotels—some of them a fair distance from the center of Freeport. While budget lodgings are hard to find, it’s easy to get a room in a luxury hotel for a very reasonable rate. Most tour operators can find package deals to any hotel on the island, and if you opt for a package, you can stay in one of the most luxurious hotels on the island for only a few dollars extra.
While Grand Bahamas is a large island—the second largest in the Bahamas—most of it remains undeveloped. The two busiest sections of town are the International Bazaar" area and Port Lucaya, each of which contain one of the island’s two major shopping centers. Hotels and resorts are clustered around each shopping complex. There are a few accommodation choices in the outlying areas—mainly self-contained destination resorts that offer guests a full range of dining, entertainment and daytime activities. It’s best to choose accommodations based on what you want to do during your stay, not how much you want to spend.
International Bazaar
The grandest hotel near the Bazaar, both in name and in stature, is the Bahamian, formerly known as the Bahama Princess. It boasts the island’s only casino, which is in itself enough of a lure to draw any visitors with a yen to gamble. However, the Bahamian offers much more than blackjack and slots. Nearly a dozen restaurants and bars, an enormous rock-formation Jacuzzi, two pools and two golf courses are located on the expansive grounds.
Should you wish to take advantage of the Bahamian’s amenities and the Bazaar’s attractions without paying the Bahamian’s rates (which are not terribly expensive, all told) you might want to check out Castaways Resort. Guests of Castaways can access all the amenities of the Bahamian. The lowest rates in this area can be found at the Royal Islander, a basic budget hotel.
Opt for a hotel in this area if you want to be close to shopping, dining and of course, the casino. While all the hotels have swimming pools, and all offer shuttle service to the beach, you can’t step outside and see the ocean. On the other hand, if you want to grab a bite to eat at midnight, you’ll be able to walk to a place that’s open.
Port Lucaya
This may be the best location on the island. The Port Lucaya shopping center is nearly as large as the Bazaar, and has many of the same stores. There are quite a few places to dine, and the nightlife is better in the Port than at the Bazaar. Most importantly for some people, the beach is only footsteps away. A myriad of motorized and unmotorized water activities, aquatic adventures and guided tours can be booked at the port.
The newest and most luxurious hotel in the area is the Lucayan. Indeed, it is so new that parts of it haven’t even opened yet. Several restaurants and bars, a golf course and one of the best open-air Jacuzzis on the island are also open. The Lucayan is directly on the beach, and is across the street from Port Lucaya Marketplace.
A number of other hotels are equally well situated, though not quite as luxurious as the Lucayan. The Port Lucaya Resort and Yacht Club is a mid-priced hotel that offers a number of amenities and activities, including its own marina. Pelican Bay at Lucaya is a smaller luxury property, appropriate for guests who want a little bit of peaceful environment. One budget choice is the Bell Channel Inn, which is located two minutes from Port Lucaya by taxi.
Around the Island
A number of hotels and resorts, ranging from tiny to decent-sized, are scattered around the periphery of Grand Bahama Island. If you want to do a lot of snorkeling, diving or sunbathing, you may want to look into a vacation at one of these properties. All of them offer a wide array of motorized and non-motorized water activities, and many of the non-motorized ones are free to guests.
Club Viva Fortuna, located in Mather Town, is the island’s only all-inclusive resort. It’s a great choice for families, and is a popular destination for European tourists. The property spans several hundred yards of pristine white sand beach. The price of accommodations also includes the price of meals, alcohol and non-motorized sports. A disco, theater and pool bar offer entertainment that ranges from professional to impromptu to slightly silly.
The Xanadu Beach Resort, located on its own beach just a five-minute drive from the Bazaar, is another good choice for sport enthusiasts. Two of the island’s dive centers are located on the beach; one of them is operated by the resort. The resort has its own marina, as well as three restaurants and one bar.
Of all the hotels on the island, the Paradise Cove Beach Resort might offer the most unique vacation experience. This tiny place (only five rooms in total), is located on Deadman's Reef, near the tip of the island. Each of the rooms is fully equipped with kitchen facilities and in-room VCRs. Deadman’s Reef affords some of the best snorkeling, diving and sunning on Grand Bahama—indeed, many guests of other hotels pay to take the tour out to Paradise Cove.
One final note: When calculating the cost of hotel accommodations, don’t forget to ask if tax is included in the rate. Usually it isn’t. If it isn’t, you need to assume that an extra USD 12 will be tacked onto the nightly price.
A little bit of research goes a long way when choosing the right Grand Bahama hotel. While you might not stand to save or spend a lot of extra money, you can assure yourself of an enjoyable and appropriate vacation before you ever set foot on the island.
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