Hotels
All-inclusive resorts in the Bahamas: what to know, and where we would stay instead
The Bahamas sit closer to Florida than to the Caribbean proper, yet the water is every bit as turquoise. All-inclusive is common here, but the wristband tends to keep you inside the gates. We explain when it pays off, and recommend eight resorts we would choose instead.
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The plane comes in low over Nassau, and beneath the wing the water shifts from deep blue to green to almost white, where the sand lies just below the surface. Plenty of people landing here have booked a week of wristbands and swim-up bars. It can be a good week, but it is rarely the best way to see the Bahamas.
The islands spread across more than 700 islands and cays. Most resorts are on New Providence, home to Nassau and Cable Beach, and neighbouring Paradise Island. The Out Islands are quieter and lovelier. We have picked eight resorts that give you more of the islands, from the big names near Nassau to small places in the Out Islands. Links go to Hotels.com, and we always choose the hotel before the link.
In short: all-inclusives in the Bahamas
Choose all-inclusive if a predictable bill matters most, as food and drink are expensive in the Bahamas. Many of the best resorts are not all-inclusive, though. For the best of the islands, choose The Ocean Club or Rosewood near Nassau, or a small place on Exuma, Eleuthera or Harbour Island.
Best for couples: The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort
Best for families: The Royal at Atlantis
Best for value: Sandyport Beach Resort
Best Out Island: Grand Isle Resort, Exuma
Best beach: Coral Sands, Harbour Island
Our first choice: The Ocean Club on Paradise Island, with terraced gardens and a quiet beach. Check availability and prices
How to choose a resort in the Bahamas
All-inclusive or not: Prices outside the resorts are at American levels, so all-inclusive can make financial sense. But the best resorts are not all-inclusive, and many offer half board or meal packages you can add.
Cable Beach or Paradise Island: Cable Beach lies west of Nassau, with a long beach and the Baha Mar complex. Paradise Island is across the bridge from downtown and dominated by Atlantis.
The Out Islands: Exuma, Eleuthera and Harbour Island are quieter and lovelier, but need a domestic flight or a ferry.
Currency: Bahamian and US dollars are used interchangeably. Expect high prices for food and drink.
Leave the resort once: Boat trips run from Nassau to Exuma, where the swimming pigs have become the islands' most famous image, and to sandbars and snorkel spots around New Providence.
Nassau itself: Downtown has pastel colonial buildings, a straw market and the fish fry stalls at Arawak Cay, where locals eat conch, the giant sea snail that is the national dish.
About all-inclusive in the Bahamas
Most all-inclusives are on Cable Beach, Paradise Island and Grand Bahama. Some take couples only and others adults only, so check the age policy before you book. Look for resorts with several à la carte restaurants, and read the latest reviews. Many of the best resorts in the Bahamas sell half board instead, and those are the ones we have picked below.
Paradise Island
The Ocean Club sits on the quiet end of Paradise Island.
Nassau and Paradise Island
Around the capital are the big resorts, close to the airport and to town.
The Ocean Club: terraced gardens and a quiet beach
The Ocean Club sits on the quiet end of Paradise Island, with terraced gardens inspired by Versailles and an old French cloister arch at the top of the grounds. The beach in front is long and calm, even though Atlantis is not far away.
This is our first choice for couples and honeymoons. It is among the most expensive places in the Bahamas, and it is built for peace, not parties.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort
Atlantis
The towers of The Royal at the centre of Atlantis on Paradise Island.
The Royal at Atlantis: the waterpark
Atlantis has one of the world's largest waterparks, with slides, a long lazy river and huge aquariums, plus dozens of restaurants and bars. The Royal is the big towered hotel at the centre of the complex.
It suits families with children who want to spend their days in the waterpark. Food and drink are extra and add up quickly, so set a budget in advance.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Royal at Atlantis
Rosewood Baha Mar
Rosewood is the quietest of the hotels in the Baha Mar complex on Cable Beach.
Rosewood Baha Mar: the quietest corner of Baha Mar
Baha Mar is a large resort complex on Cable Beach with three hotels, a casino and a golf course. Rosewood is the smallest and calmest of them, with light rooms, its own stretch of beach and easy access to the restaurants across the complex.
It suits couples who want luxury and quiet with plenty of dining choice. The casino and the big pools are a walk away, which is the point.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Rosewood Baha Mar
Baha Mar
The Grand Hyatt is the largest hotel in the Baha Mar complex on Cable Beach.
Grand Hyatt Baha Mar: the biggest, with everything on the doorstep
The Grand Hyatt is the largest hotel at Baha Mar, with several pools, the beach right outside and the casino in the same complex. You can pick a different restaurant every night.
It suits families and groups of friends who want choice and buzz. It is big and busy, so if you want calm, Rosewood is the better pick.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Sandyport
Sandyport sits on the beach west of Cable Beach on New Providence.
Sandyport Beach Resort: room to spread out west of Cable Beach
Sandyport sits west of Cable Beach on its own beach, beside a small marina village with restaurants and shops. Rooms are generous, and many have space for families.
It suits families and couples who want sand and calm without Baha Mar prices. Downtown Nassau is a fair distance, so plan on taxis.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Sandyport Beach Resort
Great Exuma
Grand Isle faces a shallow bay on Great Exuma.
The Out Islands: further to travel, more peace
The islands beyond Nassau have fewer hotels and more nature. This is where the loveliest places are, but getting there takes longer.
Grand Isle Resort: villas on Great Exuma
Grand Isle sits on Great Exuma, with villas and apartments facing a shallow turquoise bay. Exuma is the chain with the swimming pigs and some of the clearest sandbars in the Bahamas.
It suits families and couples who want space and plan to spend the days on boat trips. Restaurants are spread out on the island, so plan on a hire car or the kitchen.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Grand Isle Resort and Residences
Eleuthera
The Cove sits between two small bays on Eleuthera.
The Cove Eleuthera: two small bays
The Cove is on Eleuthera, a long, narrow island east of Nassau, set between two small bays of clear water. It is a small place with cottages and rooms scattered through green grounds.
It suits couples who want to snorkel, paddle and read in peace. There is little to do at night, and you will need a car to see the rest of the island.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at The Cove Eleuthera
Harbour Island
The sand on Harbour Island takes its pink tint from crushed shells.
Coral Sands: pink sand on Harbour Island
Harbour Island is famous for a beach with a pink tint to the sand, and Coral Sands sits right on it, with rooms and cottages among the palms. The pastel village of Dunmore Town is a short hop away.
It suits couples who would rather have a beautiful beach and quiet than a buffet. Getting there means a flight to North Eleuthera and a short water taxi across.
Book your stay: Check availability and prices at Coral Sands Inn and Cottages
When to book
December to April is high season, with dry weather and full resorts. Book early for Christmas, New Year and Easter.
May is often a good month, with lower prices just before hurricane season starts on 1 June.
Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the highest risk from August to October. Choose a flexible rate.
Our first choice in the Bahamas
The Ocean Club
We recommend The Ocean Club because it is the quietest of the big hotels near Nassau. It sits on the calm end of Paradise Island, with terraced gardens inspired by Versailles and a long beach in front. Atlantis is close enough for a day at the waterpark.
All-inclusive in the Bahamas: your questions answered
What is the best all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas?
It depends on what you want. The all-inclusives on Cable Beach and Paradise Island suit travellers who want everything paid in advance. For the best stay on the islands, we would choose The Ocean Club for couples, Rosewood Baha Mar for peace and The Royal at Atlantis for families.
Is Atlantis all-inclusive?
No. Atlantis on Paradise Island has a huge waterpark, aquariums and many restaurants, but food and drink are charged separately, which can get expensive for a family. Do the sums before choosing between Atlantis and an all-inclusive. Hotel guests get access to the waterpark.
Is all-inclusive worth it in the Bahamas?
Often financially, because food and drink are expensive. But the wristband tends to keep you inside the gates, and you miss the fish fry at Arawak Cay and the villages of the Out Islands. Many travellers choose half board and eat out a few evenings instead.
How do you get to the Bahamas from the UK?
There are direct flights from London Heathrow to Nassau, or you can connect via Miami and other US cities, from where it is a short hop. For an Out Island, you will usually need another flight or a ferry from Nassau.
Where is the best place to stay in the Bahamas?
Paradise Island and Cable Beach have the most resorts and are close to the airport, which suits a first visit. The Out Islands, such as Exuma, Eleuthera and Harbour Island, are quieter and lovelier but take longer to reach. Many combine a few days near Nassau with an Out Island.