BAHAMAS

The most asked about question of the month was about our Bahamas trip….

Let me start by saying that we have now been to Baha Mar 3 times. I love the Bahamas, and it really is such a close and easy trip. I know the thing everyone is most curious about is how it is with COVID, so let’s start there.

COVID

It’s fairly easy to travel to Nassau during COVID. I am not vaccinated so this is my experience as an unvaccinated traveler. One person we were with was vaccinated and she had to do most of the same things we did, aside from testing upon arrival day one.

1. You need to take a PCR test within 3 days of traveling. We took ours on a Monday, flew out on Wednesday. We did pay to do a private lab guaranteed 24 hour turnaround time and I recommend doing that especially because you never know how long the tests take when you do the free ones.

2. Once you have your test results, you will need to fill out a Bahamas Health Visa here. It will ask for your test results and passport info as well as all the details of your travel. You get approved fairly quickly (mine took about 5 hours) and then you pay the associated fee which is currently either $40 or $60 based on your length of stay. I already had a profile from last January, because I had to do all the same COVID protocols when I went last year as well, so you can reuse the same profile and it’s quick since all of your info is saved.

3. You will get a QR code which is your health visa, screenshot that, screenshot your negative COVID test, also print them out so you have physical copies just in case. You will need to upload your test and QR code for your airline to travel or present it at check in for your flight.

4. Upon arrival you do a day Rapid test and go straight to your room where you get your results in about 30 minutes then you are cleared to go enjoy yourself. The test is free and provided by the hotel. You need that QR code so they can upload your results to your Health Visa.

5. The following day (day 2) you need to do another rapid test. Same thing, free and bring your QR code. Make sure you also fill out your daily health survey. Those are sent via email and you must complete them every day. It asks if you feel sick. That’s it. takes 30 seconds.

6. If you are staying 5 nights, you need to do a day 5 test as well, we left on day 5 so we avoided that one, but last year we did the day 5 test cause we stayed a week. All the testing is extremely easy. You can pop in and test and go right back to the pool. They email you your results.

7. Before you leave back to the US you need another test. It has to be within 24 hours, we took ours at 5:30 Saturday night then flew on Sunday at 3:45. You will need to upload those test results to your airline and bring them with you to fly back in.

Baha Mar really makes it so easy to do. There was never a line to test and it took 5 minutes out of my day to do each test needed. It also just adds peace of mind that everyone around you is tested 24/7. If you do test positive their current policy is they will fly you back private med evac or you quarantine at the hotel free.

Now for the Resort.. I won’t lie, since COVID things aren’t as amazing as they were before as far as hospitality goes. I feel like that’s how it is EVERYWHERE though. They just lost a lot of their staff when they had closed down and now being fully reopened they are having staff shortages like everyone else plus training new people. I think every single meal we had, something was forgotten. It was always something I ordered (lol). But that’s okay we are going to give a pass! They are working on it! And the grounds make up for that. They are stunning and there is so much to do. It is great for a family or for a couple’s trip. You won’t be disappointed by the resort at all. One other thing we noticed was that the food prices have SKYROCKETTED. Be prepared for that. They were always expensive because Bahamas has a high tourist tax called a VAT plus Baha Mar has a service charge which is not a tip. So for every meal add about 30%, even coffee. And like I said, that doesn’t include a tip. Honorable mention restaurants are COSTA and MARCUS. Costa is Mexican food and the atmosphere is my favorite. It is surrounded by water with koi fish. Marcus was brand new and on the beach. It was beautiful. Get the Whole fried chicken!!! You can pass on Carna, overpriced and the food is meh. If you want cheap bites don’t forget they have a pizza place, sugar factory, and food trucks. I also love Cafe Madeline for breakfast and pastries. You can see all of the food options here.

Activities on the property: the infinity pool that is on the beach is Baha Beach Club. It’s roped off and you have to pay. I think chairs start at $75 and then they charge up to $1000 for cabanas on busy days. It’s secluded and not super busy since they manage entry and it is roped off. That is actually right inside of their new waterpark which was incredible. We spent so much time here. It is only open to resort guests so it’s not too busy. If you go before 11 there will be absolutely no lines at all. The other infinity pool you may have seen on my page in photos is the Nexus club. You have access to that if you stay in the Hyatt Reserve. There is honestly an endless amount of pools on the property. You’d have to stay for over a week to be able to enjoy them all. They are all different. Another favorite of mine is the pool that has a cave and a tank of turtles, fish, and sharks. Those same turtles and sharks you can do an experience with and go feed them. They have a whole array of wildlife on the property. They have flamingos and tortoises they walk a few times a week, and you can also do experiences with them. We did the flamingos when we took Emmy last year. It was awesome. They even had a bird aviary, which we didn’t make it to this time, but you can feed the birds and they will land on you. They’re all tiny tropical parrots. Another activity is the mini golf, don’t forget that it’s there cause it’s fun! But you have to know it’s there or you won’t find it. It’s by the tennis courts. Lastly (other than the ocean which you can obviously do many things to enjoy) is the casino. It’s so fun! There was a few fights when we were there this time which we had never seen in the past, so just a heads up. Be smart. Watch your drinks. Be with a group.

Off the property activities: The first time we wen to Bahamas we did the swimming pigs experience which was SO fun. We did a private flight there, but there’s also a boat ride. The private flight is kinda a sketchy plane but it will get you there quicker cause the boat is 2.5 hours there, then 2.5 hours back. Set it up through the hotel.

Okay now let’s talk about the hotels themselves. There are three on the property. I have only ever stayed at the Hyatt. It is the cheapest (except the Reserve which is a more expensive part). It is not like your typical Hyatt- it is VERY nice. The basic level rooms are gorgeous. John wants to try the Rosewood next time just to experience it, but I seriously could stay at the basic Hyatt rooms every time and that would be fine with me - and I am boujee about hotels so I promise that’s saying a lot. To me, the Rosewood and the SLS don’t offer anything more, and the rooms are not much different The style is just different. That’s really all you are paying for because the restaurants are all the same. You will use the Hyatt property the most on your stay even if you stay at Rosewood or SLS cause the Hyatt has all of the main stuff within it. I would save your money.

For bigger rooms or a more luxe experience there is The Reserve within the Hyatt. We stayed here the last two times in two different kinds of rooms because last year we had Emmy and our nanny with us, and this year we brought some friends with us so we shared a two bedroom villa. The reserve is cool cause you get access to the Nexus Club and you get 24/7 butler service, but to be honest I didn’t even know what to use the butler for and only had him bring Starbucks to us once and he changed one reservation once. It’s nice that you can text someone if you have a question at any time. I like the regular Hyatt rooms the best still as far as the style goes.

If you have any other specific questions you can ask in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer!