Most great vacations come down to making great choices. Where to go, how hard is it to get there, where to eat, what to do when you arrive, decisions, decisions, decisions.
But what if there was a resort so large to take all your decisions and hold them in one property and big enough to allow you to change your mind any number of times?
Such is the case with the Baha Mar Resort, the $4.8 billion multi-faceted, multi-restaurant, multi-just about everything in the Caribbean.
Start with three separate resorts within the same property: the expansive Grand Hyatt Resort, the luxury Rosewood and the modern SLS, all within the massive Baha Mar facility.
There are 45 restaurants — yes, 45 — enough pools, bars, beaches, shade trees and various activities to keep you entertained, fed, cooled and relaxed for as long as you are here.
How To Get There — Where To Stay
But to start off, there are direct international flights from DFW to Nassau, the first good decision, and an 8-minute taxi ride to the resort. Then you can make plenty of decisions.
The first is where to stay on one of the three properties on site.
“It’s not like we’re brother and sisters,” said one Baha Mar executive, “more like cousins who get along and cooperate very well.”
The Grand Hyatt is by far the largest of the three properties, with more than 1,100 rooms and great views of the beach and the adjacent golf course. It is well suited for families with a variety of things to keep them busy or perhaps new couples looking for a fun week or weekend without going into much debt before their married life even starts.
The Rosewood, which has its corporate headquarters in Dallas, is a luxury stay with intimate settings, larger, more plush rooms, plus private pools and areas of the beach that are for Rosewood guests only.
The SLS (Style Luxury Service) is the place for a more upbeat party scene with live music and various nightclub venues.
Dine, Play, Shop And Relax
As for the 45-plus restaurants, most are open to anyone regardless of where you’re staying, with a wide variety as you could expect. Almost anything from hot dogs and pizza (Pizza Factory) to steak (Carna), ethnic (Katsua & Shaung Ba) to just good places with interesting names, such as The Swimming Pig and Sugar Factory.
If you can’t find something you want to eat at Baha Mar, you’re probably just not trying hard enough.
Of course, for games of chance, it has the largest casino in the Caribbean at 100,000 square feet, which sits on the ground floor and connects all three of the hotels together. There is a large sports book where you can watch any number of games and then walk a few feet to your left and bet on the games you watch and more.
Of course, if your luck or your money has run out, there’s always the beach and lavish outdoor recreations, relaxation and fun.
The beach stretches out more than 3,000 feet in almost every direction, with the 15-acre water park, giving the young and young at heart a chance to go down some huge solo and duo slides, plus a 500,000-gallon wave pool. There is also a 24,000 square foot beach club if sitting in a shaded cabana with TVs, fans, food and drinks is your idea of a day at the beach.
If the showing of the 50th anniversary of Jaws was enough to scare you out of the ocean, then there are 10 resort-style pools, some with private watery oases and cabanas.
When it’s time for the families or couples to split up, indoors offers 30-plus retail outlets with some of the biggest names in shopping, while outdoors there is a 9-court tennis and pickleball facility, an 18-hole mini-golf course and an indoor/outdoor 30,000 square foot spa.
We’ve got great golf in North Texas — heck, even the PGA of America calls it home — but there’s something about playing in the tropics that just hits different. Maybe it’s the ocean breeze, the palm trees lining the fairways or the fact that your post-round drink comes with a tiny umbrella.
Within walking distance or an easy hotel shuttle is the Royal Blue Championship Golf Course, a par 72 layout by legendary designer and player Jack Nicklaus. It combines the natural beauty of its surroundings with elevated views of the water, plenty of sand, foliage and a challenge to attract all levels of golfers
The course is the annual home of the Derek Jeter Celebrity tournament along with the Baha Mar Golf Invitational, raising money for the Baha Mar Foundation, befitting as the resort is one of the largest employers on the island.
For those who must fit some work into every situation, there is a conference center here along with a workout area to stretch your mind and your muscles.
A lot of decisions here, but all pleasurable and plenty of chances to change your mind or vacation direction at a moment’s notice.
For more information, go to www.bahamar.com and let the decisions begin.
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