When most people think of beach holidays in the Caribbean and other similar locations they think of relaxing at an all-inclusive resort. And when most people think of the Bahamas they think of pristine beaches. Unfortunately, the Bahamas doesn’t offer many all-inclusive resorts other than a handful. Even the famous Atlantis isn’t all inclusive, and the cheaper options on Paradise Island will run you about $600 a night (not all inclusive). When browsing for hotels for our stay in the Bahamas we came across Sandyport Beach Resort. Then we stumbled across their Instagram page; the resort, the beach and photos looked phenomenal. We wouldn’t have the luxuries of Atlantis, and like Atlantis Sandyport isn’t all inclusive but the resort had good reviews and was just over $300 CAD a night with taxes and fees. For the Bahamas that is pretty much a steal.
We booked our 5 night stay at Sandyport and continued to follow their Instagram which helped to build anticipation for our vacation. Sandyport Beach Resort clearly had a great social media team, but would the resort live up to the photos?
When we arrived, we were shocked at how big the resort was. In addition to the beach resort, Sandyport consists of a marina village and gated residence. All 3 sections are centered around the lagoon which is fed by the Caribbean Sea just around the corner. Across from the resort you can see the colourful luxury homes and yachts lining the lagoon. In the lagoon there is a beach, mind you it is shallow and has some weeds, but the sand is fine and the water is clear and warm. Right next to the lagoon is a beach volleyball court and a pool that is surrounded by sand. There are two waterslides, mind you they are far from thrilling but fun to go down once or twice. And still on the resort is the private beach and signature white gazebo perching out into the ocean. The water and sands are nice, but there is a rocky reef so you can’t go out too far without watershoes. Only on our second last day did we learn that the private beach on the other side of the lagoon tributary, which is more sandy and even nicer was also part of the resort. But this beach is a little bit further of a walk.
The beach, pool and lagoon were beautiful and so were the grounds of Sandyport which are filled with hammocks throughout. There are a ton of colourful villas and they are all located in different units throughout the property. The rooms were big and have balconies. From our balcony we had a partial pool view and the view of a field which could have been put to better use. The rooms were dated but they did the job. The AC worked wonderfully in the scorching heat and the small kitchenette was a bonus for us, especially having a baby. We didn’t have the time to go grocery shopping and cook, but I made a pot of coffee every morning and used the kitchenette to wash and sterilize our babies’ bottles. The washrooms were sufficient but probably the most dated part of the room. The bed was big with lots of pillows and it was decently comfortable.
One downfall of the resort is that it is about 20-25 minutes from downtown Nassau. Taxis are expensive and it’ll cost about $25 into town. But instead, you can take the number 10 or 12 jitney bus into town for only $1.50. The only problem is they stop running around 6 PM so if you want to stay in town late you’ll be forced to ride an expensive cab back to Sandyport.
Despite being far from Nassau, the resort and surrounding marina village has everything you need. There are several restaurants including Twisted Lime which had amazing Cracked Conch and Mac N’ Cheese, Spritz and Blue Sail which is located on the main beach. Just down the road and located on the beach is the Poop Deck which was probably the best restaurant on the resort. There is also a gas station and convenience store and two cafes including Café Bon Vivants which has good coffee, famous cocktails and an array of late-night snacks. So, despite being far from town, if you are looking to relax in the paradise of the Bahams you could spend a good amount of time relaxing on the beach at Sandyport and eating at a wide range of restaurants and cafes on the premises.
The food and the variety of options were good but one of the things that stood out most about Sandyport were some of the staff. From their shuttle drivers to maintenance workers and the front staff, everyone was super friendly, welcoming and helpful. You will also be provided with beach and pool towels, the room will be cleaned everyday and if you want you can get a volleyball, basketball or tennis rackets for the many activities in the resort.
So if you want to stay in the Bahamas and stay in close proximity to all the action of Nassau but avoid the chaos of the town packed with cruise ship and save some money, Sandyport is ideal. The grounds are beautiful to walk through and there are plenty of places to eat and relax, including the many hammocks, tiki huts and chairs located throughout the resort. You will feel welcomed and will be relaxing in paradise. The only negative is if you are looking for nightlife or want to be right in Nassau you may have to dig into your pockets a bit deeper and stay right in Nassau. Overall, it was a great stay and I’d recommend Sandyport Beach Resort, especially for those looking for a quiet vacation or young families.
Here is how I’d rate Sandyport Beach Resort:
Price: Good
Rooms: Good
Cleanliness: Excellent
Amenities: Good
Staff: Excellent
Atmosphere: Good
Food: Very good
Location: Okay
Beauty of the resort: Excellent
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