Found in the Caribbean, the Bahamas is an archipelago made up of 700 coral islands, each more beautiful than the last. It is nearly impossible to book a bad hotel in the Bahamas, where seemingly every boutique hotel, beach resort or all-inclusive resort property promises white-sand beaches, stellar on-site dining and world-class spas. No matter the type of traveler you are, there’s a Bahamas hotel that promises to pique your interest and cater to your specific getaway. You can swim with dolphins and sea lions at the sprawling Atlantis Reef (where you’ll find enough restaurants to fill a month), or you can enjoy luxury hotels that are tucked into hidden coves and private beaches, giving you the illusion (or, in the case of Kamalame Cay, the reality) of staying on your own private island. From Harbour Island to Paradise Island to Nassau, each of the following hotels offers adventurous, relaxing and luxurious stays on idyllic beaches that look like you’ve stepped into a picture-perfect postcard.
The Dunmore
Nestled on pink sands with endless views of cerulean blue waters, the five-star Dunmore is the quintessential Bahamian luxury hotel. Once upon a time, this resort was an uber-exclusive, invitation-only beach club that catered to elite travelers and the glitterati set. Today, the Dunmore is much more inclusive, throwing open its white-washed doors to welcome all guests to enjoy their oceanfront accommodations and have a relaxing getaway. From cottages to residences, expect a design aesthetic that perfectly encapsulates the surrounding color palette of the island’s sun, sea and sand. The Dunmore is found on the famous Pink Sand Beach on Harbour Island, just north of Eleuthera Island. On Harbour Island, you’ll find slews of pristine pink-sand beaches and coral reefs that make for superb snorkeling, scuba diving and other water sports.
Bahama House
Image courtesy of Eleven Experience (Bahama House)
The four-star Bahama House is located in the heart of Dunmore Town on Harbour Island. Like other hotels in the Bahamas, the Bahama House puts its guests on the beach with enviable views of the pink sands for which Harbour Island is most famous. Checking into Bahama House, you’ll find 11 plantation-style rooms, a fresh-water swimming pool (for those keen to keep the salty ocean out of their noses) and numerous restaurants and live music spots just minutes from the lodge. Of course, this being the Bahamas, you’ll also find a handcrafted and sunken Tiki Bar where you can pull up a bar stool for Caribbean-inspired cocktails and bites.
The Four Seasons Ocean Club
Image courtesy of Four Seasons Ocean Club
A stay at this luxe beach resort really gives you everything you’ll need for a relaxing Bahamas getaway. Found on the north shore of Paradise Island, The Four Seasons Ocean Club sits on five miles of white sand beach — known as Cabbage Beach — and provides guests with a tropical escape replete with world-class dining and accommodations. When you check-in, you’ll be greeted with a gorgeous property flanked by lush foliage and thriving palm trees. On-site are three swimming pools, a Balinese-inspired spa and five restaurants (one of which is the popular DUNE, where renowned Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten curates the menu). From panoramic ocean views to stellar cuisine, this Four Seasons Ocean Club may be sprawling, but it has the feel of a boutique hotel right down to its thoughtful details, such as complimentary beach bags and more.
Fora Perks:
When you book Four Seasons through Fora, you will enjoy exclusive Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits. Your advisor will be pleased to give you more details.
Rosewood Baha Mar
Image courtesy of Rosewood Baha Mar
The Rosewood Baha Mar sits on Cable Beach on Nassau in the Baha Mar enclave. Like other Bahamas hotels, the Rosewood Baha Mar provides its guests with ample access to white-sand beaches, but with a few added bonuses. The Rosewood Baha Mar does a stellar job of connecting its guests to the local culture through a slew of curated experiences meant to help travelers experience island life beyond the all-inclusive resorts. This is worth noting because people often come to the Bahamas without ever venturing beyond downtown Nassau or even their hotel property. There’s something here for even the most discerning of vacationers. For art lovers, you can book an excursion to the National Art Gallery of the Bahamas or visit a traditional Straw Market in Nassau to learn Indigenous crafts. For self-proclaimed foodies, there are culinary classes and even an opportunity to imbibe warm cups of tea alongside stories of Bahamian folklore. Whatever you fancy, Rosewood Baha Mar has something to cater to your interests. Even better, when you book with Fora, you'll unlock exclusive Rosewood Elite perks.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
Kamalame Cay
If your idea of paradise is a quiet beachfront bungalow and never having to wear shoes, then Kamalame Cay is for you. Kamalame Cay offers an all-inclusive stay on (wait for it) your own private island. Yes, the dream of vacationing on a family-run, dog-friendly private island is feasible if you book a stay at this luxury Bahamas hotel. When you arrive at Kamalame Cay, you’ll find villas, bungalows, cottages and beach houses adorned in hot pink bougainvillea flowers strewn across varied landscapes, from coconut groves to the jungle to deserted white-sand beaches. This is the place to come if you are craving a true paradise island where you can disconnect from technology and other travelers and escape the noisy water parks found at other all-inclusive beach resorts. Something worth noting is that Kamalame Cay is home to the only overwater spa in the Bahamas — as if the private island wasn’t enough of a draw.
The Reef Atlantis
Chances are you already know about the Reef Atlantis. Like its competitor, Sandals Royal Bahamian, its defining pink facade is often shown in Bahamas commercials, calling to travelers like a siren call to a passing sailor. This five-star, family-friendly resort sits on Paradise Beach and is so large that it’s almost like its own city. Here, you’ll find everything — and I mean, everything — from a 141-acre water park to a marine habitat where the kiddos can swim with dolphins and play with sea lions, to a sprawling golf course to a 10,000-square-foot fitness center (replete with yoga and Pilates classes). Beyond that, there’s endless shopping (featuring designers like Cartier and Gucci), tennis courts and a bevy of water sports to choose from, including snorkeling and scuba diving. Aside from its dizzying amount of on-site entertainment and amenities, there are also 21 restaurants and 19 bars (yes, you read that number right), which means you could feasibly book a 20-day vacation here and eat at a different restaurant every single night without ever leaving the property.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.
The Cove Eleuthera
Unlike the Reef Atlantis or the Sandals Royal Bahamian, Cove Eleuthera is quieter and far removed from the more touristy parts of the Bahamas. This four-star hotel is a haven for privacy and tranquility, found on the island of Eleuthera, about 50 miles away from New Providence Island. A stay at the Cove Eleuthera feels like you’ve checked into a beach hotel on a paradisical private island. There are two secluded white-sand beaches, a fitness center, an open-air sunset bar and a hilltop infinity pool. For guests keen on achieving the ultimate wellness experience, the Spa Suites inject your day with serenity — from a morning stretch overlooking the Caribbean waters to sunset yoga on top of North Cove Pointe, where you can practice downward dog as the last sunrays dance across the ocean.
Coral Sands Harbor Island
Image courtesy of Coral Sands Harbor Island
Sometimes you want to check into a quiet boutique hotel that is a far cry from the sprawling all-inclusive resorts scattered across the Bahamas. Coral Sands Harbor Island is one such boutique hotel that offers a little sanctuary of peace, nature and wellness. With 38-rooms and two 4-bedroom residences, Coral Sands is smaller than the other hotels on this list, but that’s what makes it so special. Nestled atop the pink sand beaches of Coral Sands Beach (regaled as one of the top beaches in the world), this Bahamas hotel is more low-key than others, but that certainly doesn’t mean it sacrifices service. The accommodations are bold, colorful and stunning — be it a bungalow, villa or suite — and the dining is superb and pulls from Asian and French influences. Here you’ll find all the amenities you’d expect from your hotel — from free wi-fi to fitness centers — in addition to other special offerings, such as in-room massages, beach picnics and curated tours and excursions.
Fora Perks:
$100 food / beverage credit.
Breakfast daily.
Upgrade & extended check-in/out whenever possible.