Grand Hyatt Baha Mar

Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is the rival to Atlantis, and for many families the better value. It is the largest of the three hotels at Baha Mar, the resort that opened on Cable Beach in 2017, with about 1,800 rooms across two towers. The big draw is Baha Bay, a beachfront water park with around ten slides, a FlowRider, an action river and a wave lagoon, where Grand Hyatt guests get exclusive and unlimited access. Around it are six themed pools with cabanas and daybeds, direct access to the long white sand of Cable Beach with free paddleboards and kayaks, and a 100,000-square-foot casino that Hyatt calls the largest in the Caribbean. Golfers have the Royal Blue course designed by Jack Nicklaus, tennis fans the John McEnroe Tennis Center, and children the Explorers Kids Club for ages three to twelve. Dining runs to ten restaurants and three beach bars, including Marcus Samuelsson’s Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House.

Location and getting around: Baha Mar is on West Bay Street at Cable Beach, about ten minutes by car from Lynden Pindling International Airport and around fifteen to twenty minutes by taxi from downtown Nassau. Paradise Island is a longer ride across town. Self-parking is free and valet is charged daily, so this is a good base if you plan to rent a car.

The rooms: rooms are spread across 28 floors in two buildings, with many looking over the beach and the pools. Suites and villas suit larger families, and the top floors have the widest ocean views.

Who it suits: families who want a water park without the Atlantis price tag or crowds, golfers, and couples who like a big resort with plenty of dining and nightlife. It is large and can feel busy at peak times.

Good to know: a nightly resort fee covers beach and pool access, towels, loungers, the health club, water and coffee, and a deposit is held per room per day. Breakfast is extra. There is also a wildlife area with turtles, nurse sharks, stingrays and flamingos, where hands-on encounters cost more.