Sandals Royal Bahamian – Nassau

Sandals Royal Bahamian – A resort steeped in history
with a brand new look!
I am personally familiar with all Islands and Resorts I suggest in my newsletters.
“Been There – Got the Tee-shirt!” ~ Molly
Sandals Royal Bahamian – Nassau
I returned from Sandals Royal Bahamian in June so I want to pass on my impressions. The resort re-opened in February, 2022. The exterior has been repainted in white and the accents (chairs, furniture, art, tiles, carpets, etc.) are in shades of blue and sand – capitalizing on the colors of the Caribbean Sea. Very fresh and appealing. I stayed in the East Bay Village (the old Balmoral building) and was quite pleased with the room. Located on the 6th floor of the East Bay Village is the Fitness Center with the finest view of the Sea at any resort – not to be missed! There are Swim-up Butler Suites on both the East and West sides of the West Bay Village (the old Windsor Building) and they are amazing! The third Village, one I am particularly fond of, is called the Island Village and is located in the beautiful gardens. Private pools and Tranquility Soaking Tubs in both Butler Suites and Club Level Suites make this tranquil setting particularly desirable for those who seek quiet and privacy.

The West Bay pool is loud and raucous with music and games; the East Bay Village pool is quieter. Both have swim-up pool bars. My very favorite quiet pool has always been the small “Lazy Pool” located at the back of the Royal Village – hardly anyone hangs out there so most times I was alone! The island, Sandals Barefoot Cay, is very busy with a long line for the boat trip on the first runs in the morning. The island restaurant and bar are very busy. There is a broad range of dining experiences. The unique Gordon’s Pier Restaurant has been retained while the others have been renamed. The new Food Trucks located next to the Coconut Grove are fun and good. The Royal Bahamian staff is amazing! For many years I was reluctant to recommend Royal Bahamian because the Nassau locals were grim and aloof and unfortunately that extended to the resort staff. That has all changed at Royal Bahamian. The Staff are young, energetic, excited and eager to please.

The Graycliff Hotel
This historic hotel (circa 1740) with a fascinating history is located in downtown Nassau. The current owners of the hotel, the Garzaroli’s, purchased the hotel in 1973. They maintain a collection of 250,000 bottles of wine, the 3rd largest private collection in the world! Several wines dating back to the 1800’s; one, under glass, is dated 1727. Check out the Graycliff Wine Cellar video.
Graycliff Experiences – I was particularly interested in the Graycliff Chocolate and Spirits Pairing Experience because I am promoting Sandals Resorts at the Seattle Chocolate Festival November 5 & 6th and am considering offering that kind of Experience to attendees after the Event. Other Experiences include wine tasting, culinary and cigar rolling.

Tip: A local bus stops outside of Sandals Royal Bahamian for an easy and economical ride into downtown Nassau. If you prefer private transportation, I did use two local taxi drivers that I can recommend.



by Molly Sumption, Caribbean Honeymoon / Sandals Expert, Seattle & Portland / subscribe to RSS feed