We're super excited to tell you about our recent stay at SLS Baha Mar - a Bahamian, beachside resort within a mega resort where playful and chic, meet luxury, community and convenience. Our three day getaway left us feeling pampered, reinvigorated and - most importantly - ready to book a return trip.
Here's our review of why with photos that seal the deal.
One thousand acres. Wow! It's hard to imagine a playground this huge, but that's exactly what is at your disposal as a guest of SLS Baha Mar.
Along with its neighbor, Grand Hyatt, one thousand acres of palm trees, pools, shopping boutiques, dining venues, activity centers and beachfront property are yours for the taking.
Later this year, a Rosewood Resort will complete the triad, adding additional amenities to what some already call the Bahamian Riveria. Ooh la la! It really is better in the Bahamas!
Vacationing Inside and Out
You know you've found a special place when you both can agree that staying inside is almost as fun as heading out for another day on a Caribbean getaway.
Getting past the lobby - where cozy nooks beckoned us to sink in and make plans for the day, read from a favorite book, shoot a game of pool or try a signature cocktail from the Monkey Bar - was nearly impossible.
And just beyond the lobby, a 100,000 square foot casino, an ESPA spa, an art studio and a collection of boutiques, restaurants and lounges were plausible excuses to stay indoors just a little while longer.
Baha Mar: awash in splashes of tropical color
Living the Suite Life
Our room at SLS Baha Mar combined minimalism, luxury, technology, whimsy and comfort.
Bright and airy, it offered us a treat wherever we looked. The signature SLS monkey smiled at us from artwork, logos and (surprise!) under the light shade. The bathroom was stocked with luxurious Ciel Reserve bath products, a plush robe and complimentary terry-cloth slippers. A mini-bar featured sin and sun treats and alcoholic beverages (careful, these were at cost). Flat screen televisions, Bose speakers and tablets for checking news or easily booking a restaurant reservation provided all the tech comforts of home.
Stepping out onto the balcony each morning, we counted the cruise ships sailing into Nassau and watched as other guests set out for the day.
Funny how one of the toughest decisions for the morning was if and when to tear ourselves away from our fourteenth floor oasis in the sky.
The amenities may make a stay here better, but the staff guarantee it will be the best. Providing world-class service with a smile, SLS Baha Mar staff are the special touch your luxury vacation always wished for.
Choosing Pool Views
SLS Baha Mar makes pool time a VIP experience. Just steps from the main lobby, it is a chic oasis where lounging includes concierge staff, sultry music and tasty treats from the Bungalow Pool Bar and Grill. Add this to a second SLS pool and five others spread throughout the Baha Mar grounds and you can make a goal of sampling one pool a day during your vacation in paradise.
Experiencing a Tropical Sanctuary
As though seven pools weren't enough to satisfy our dreams of beach bliss, Baha Mar also wowed us (well, all of its guests) to a nature-themed experience called the Sanctuary. On the aquatic-side, there is a pool for feeding stingrays and turtles. It features snorkeling with nurse sharks too. And on its land side, a bird aviary that plans to fill itself with beautiful birds from the tropics.
Will Trek for Food
Dining was its own excursion at Baha Mar. With a range of options spanning from casual to four-star, we had a blast creating an itinerary from among its poolside bars, beachfront food trucks and upscale venues offering everything from gourmet hot dogs, to Italian, Mediterranean and Japanese delights, to late-night pub fare. For us, this vacation was as much of a culinary adventure as it was a trek to the beach.
Create your dream culinary itinerary from the treasure trove of eateries at your doorstep. Clockwise from top left our itinerary included: 1) my favorite fried chicken and jalapeño sandwich from Bungalow Pool Bar and Grill, 2) El Jefe food truck by the beach, 3) hangar steak and roasted veggies from Fi'lia Restaurant, 4) fresh-off-the-grill burrito from El Jefe, 5) bacon cheeseburger and fries from Drift Bar and Grill, 6) coconut, blueberry pancakes from The Swimming Pig, 7) watermelon mojito from Drift Bar and Grill, 8) tropical conch salad from The Conch Shack, 9) Stix Noodles Bar, 10) Daqs Bar, 11) meatballs in marinara sauce from Fi'lia Restaurant, 12) Janapolitan signature cocktail (light rum, strawberries, lime juice and basil) from the Monkey Bar 13) sweet potato waffles from The Swimming Pig
Baha Mar After Dark
Sleepy is not the word to describe evenings at Baha Mar. Although a moonlight stroll or a quiet nightcap at the bar were always options, we could never resist the energy from venues elsewhere on the resort. Sports nights at Swimming Pig, smooth jazz at the Blue Note Lounge, blues and pop at the T-Squared Cigar Bar and lively dancing at Bond nightclub filled our evenings and rounded out our sun-kissed days.
Special thanks to Guest Experience Manager, Fred Paul and his staff (including Lenny and Jermaine) for making this an unforgettable soul trek to Nassau, Bahamas. We are already making plans for a return trip!
Credits:
All photos and video are sole property of Caribbean Soul Trekkers