My family and I recently visited Hyatt’s largest property, the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar in The Bahamas, which opened earlier this year after much anticipation. The 1,800-room mega-property is comparable to an upscale Vegas-style casino/resort, and the beautiful resort grounds are shared with two other new and upscale luxury hotels – the Rosewood and SLS Baha Mar.
Our visit to this resort was during Thanksgiving, and we were surprisingly able to book such a reasonable cash rate at the last minute.
I’ve read many fantastic reviews about this resort, and I must say we truly did have a fantastic experience during our stay. Rather than a standard review of my own, in this post you’ll find a condensed trip report with lots of pictures and 10 tips I think you’ll find useful if you’re planning a visit to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar soon.
Views of the East and West Towers
Free Nights Are Possible
As I mentioned earlier, I was able to find a great $200/night rate that I booked using my Citi Prestige to utilize the “4th night free” benefit, which made more sense than redeeming 20,000 Hyatt points per night in my case.
The new World of Hyatt Credit Card offers a sign-up bonus of 50,000 points (25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. Plus, 25,000 Bonus Points after you spend $6,000 total within 6 months of account opening), which covers two nights.
Additionally, Ultimate Rewards points from the Chase Sapphire Preferred transfer 1:1 into Hyatt points, and right now that card comes with a sign-up bonus of 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, which would cover you for 3 free nights.
If you are looking to redeem points at this property, it still can be a great value at just 20,000 points per night for a standard room or 27,000 points per night for a room that has Grand Club lounge privileges if you don’t have Hyatt Explorist or Globalist status.
I will get into how amazing the Grand Club is later in this post, but I absolutely recommend booking a room that gives you lounge privileges, especially if you are traveling as a family because it kept our food and beverage costs down tremendously during our stay.
Also keep in mind that if you have top-tier Globalist status, you are exempt from paying the hefty resort fees each day if you book using points.
Check for Best Rates
While redeeming points at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar can be an exceptional value, I’d still first recommend checking for the best available rate. I like to get a minimum value of 2 cents per point when redeeming my Hyatt points, so I was better off paying this time around and earning points for my stay.
As a bonus, consider booking the room with the Citi Prestige card if you plan on staying at least 4 nights, so you can take advantage of the 4th night free rebate. It’s also worth noting that you can upgrade to a room with Grand Club access for just 3,000 points per night on paid rates.
In my case, I thought I scored when I found a $227.50/night rate at first, but when I was playing around on the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar website, I accidentally stumbled upon an even better deal by clicking on the “special offers” tab.
Resort Fee/Service Charge
I absolutely despise resort fees and think they are pretty deceitful in general, so I’ll be the first to say it’s pretty ridiculous that not only is there a mandatory daily resort fee of $30 (plus taxes and fees), there’s another daily fee that’s automatically added your bill as well – a $20.63 “service charge”:
The $20.63 service charge per night added to your room rate includes gratuities for doorman, bellman, housekeeping and lifeguards. Please note, a 15% gratuity is included in all food and beverage outlets. 100% of all service charges and gratuities go directly to the associates of Grand Hyatt Baha Mar.
While I will agree that the service during our stay was legitimately impeccable (especially housekeeping, who went the extra mile to fold all clothes and truly provide 5-star service) and it was nice having peace of mind that there were 1-2 attentive lifeguards in every pool and on the beach at any given time, I find it kind of a nuisance to have automatic gratuities added to my stay, especially when there is a hefty resort fee to begin with (which came out to $40 per day once all was said and done).
With the two mandatory fees together, we’re talking over $60 in charges per day on top of your room rate, taxes, fees, and incidentals. On a 4-night stay, those charges can get heavy, adding a bit more than $240 to your bill! So be prepared for that.
The good news is, you are not subject to these fees if you’re a Globalist when you book your stay using points. It’s also a case of YMMV asking for the fees to be waived or reduced during checkout if you have Hyatt status, even on paid rates. It’s certainly worth asking!
Getting There
Getting to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is very simple. It’s a 15-minute taxi ride from the airport that will cost around $25. If you are a gambler, a casino host can arrange and comp you a fancy roundtrip airport transfer (more on that below).
East vs West Towers
The rooms are split into two towers, and they each have a distinguished vibe and style. The attention to detail and the overall design around the resort is just amazing. At times, I felt like I was walking through an updated Wynn resort, and I had to remind myself that I was indeed on a Caribbean island!
West Tower Elevators
When the resort first opened, only rooms in the East Tower was available, but we arrived a week after the West Tower became fully operational. I was offered a room in my choice of towers, and I chose the West because I wanted to be one of the first to review it, and also because the Grand Club is located on the ground floor of the West Tower, so it seemed like the more convenient option for our many visits there.
In terms of the design, the rooms in the East Tower are definitely more “Cosmopolitan”, and our room in the West Tower felt more relaxed, kind of like an  “Andaz Maui” island vibe. The designs between the towers are very different, but both are nice and were beautifully-appointed.
We were assigned an ocean-view room view with two double beds and a small walkout balcony. While I was not offered a suite upgrade as a Globalist, I really enjoyed our room, and it was perfect for a family of 4.
Two double beds in the West Tower
Ocean view upgrade
The bathroom was very nicely designed and featured a tub, rain shower, and one vanity sink. The provided amenities were large bottles of ESPA products (which in my opinion, smelled heavy and masculine – perhaps a lighter, island-appropriate scent would have worked better).
Bathroom in the West Tower
Pools & Beaches
After visiting this resort, I was shocked to learn that there really are just 6 pools because it truly felt like at least 12. The pools at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar are pretty spectacular to say the least. There are pools to suit every pool desire you may have – from waterfalls, canopies, cabanas, fountains, and rain. There’s also a hidden infinity pool on top of the Palm’s Cafe.
One of the many beautiful pools
From what I observed, none of the pools were ever overly-crowded and all seemed to be family-friendly. All of the pools were heated, and some pools were warmer than others, but all were perfectly comfortable to get right in.
Plenty of chairs available to choose from
My absolute favorite was the pool closet to the beach that featured a cave where you can see stingrays, sharks, and all sorts of tropical fish (behind glass, of course).
The shark tank pool was a hit for my kids
This pool seemed to be the main attraction, because it also has a beautiful rock-jump cliff that allows you do plunge from 10-15 feet above into 14 feet of water.
We also spent a lot of time at the pool pictured below, which was great for families with young children. It  gets deeper gradually, and the water fountains can easily keep kids safely entertained while adults can kick back in a nearby lounge chair.
A great pool for families with young children
Though none of the pools feature a water slide, there are plans to build a waterpark on the resort grounds soon (or so I’m told).
The beach at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar was awesome and great for families. The waves were gentle and the sand was soft, powdery, and clean.
All non-motorized water sports are free to use (paddle boards, kayaks, lounging floats, etc.), and there was also an abundance of life vests available in all sizes (even for tots). We didn’t feel bothered by vendors soliciting us at all.
There are plenty of lifeguards and individual restroom huts all around the pool and beach areas. There are many towel stations that all offered sunscreen and water.
Picturesque beach
Casino
The casino at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is simply stunning. lt’s huge, grand, and comparable to a casino you’d find in Las Vegas (though not nearly as busy). Though Hyatt does have a partnership with MLife, the casino here is not affiliated with the MLife loyalty program, but they do have their own independent Players Club that you can sign up for. I’m not aware of status match opportunities.
If you are a gambler, I did get in touch with a casino host at the property, and comps and airport transfers are available depending on your level and duration of play.
Gorgeous casino floor
Chandelier on casino floor
Car transfer arranged by casino host
Grand Club
As I mentioned earlier, Grand Club access is 100% worth it, and I’d urge you to book a room with access ahead of time if you don’t have Hyatt status benefits that offer Club Lounge access already.
At check-in, I’ve heard mixed reports of buy-up offers ranging from $50-$100 per night. The lounge was extremely impressive for a North American Hyatt property, and the service was attentive and impeccable.
Soft drinks and hot beverages
The Grand Club is located on the ground floor of the West Tower and is open daily from 6:30am – 9pm. The lounge is beautiful and massive in size, with plenty of tables (indoor and out), and comfortable lounge couches.
Grand Club seating
There is a nice breakfast spread each morning and evening appetizers start around 5pm. Though you can drop in any other time throughout the day, don’t expect to find much when it comes to snacks outside of the scheduled breakfast and evening offerings. It’s always nice to pop in for a cold drink or coffee though.
In the evenings, there are plenty of delicious pickings like grilled vegetables, salads, sushi, sandwiches, and rotating hot dishes. On Thanksgiving, the lounge had turkey and stuffing, and that was a hit.
It’s safe to say that we definitely had almost all meals here during our stay, except for lunch, which we found was reasonably-priced by the pool. Beer, wine, and mixed drinks are complimentary as well. If you grab a seat outside, you can enjoy the fountain shows while enjoying your food.
Grilled veggies and salad station in the evening
Stuffed turkey breasts on Thanksgiving
Fresh fruit and cold cuts at breakfast
Kids Club
The Grand Hyatt Baha Mar offers a complimentary kids club for children 3-12 years old called “Chickcharnie Explorers”. Registration is required ahead of time and is based on availability.
What a cute kids club!
When we first arrived, the resort was operating on a “soft-opening” kids club schedule, and only had a 1-hour block for children 3-5 years old called “Marine Encounters”. While that was just a short amount of time for the kids, it did allow me to get some work done as they were entertained, and it wasn’t too long for them to leave them wondering where their parents were.
The kids get some up close and personal time with the sharks during marine encounters
After I picked the kids up, they told me that they had fun feeding the sharks and stingrays and visiting the koi pond. They also did indoor arts and crafts and got butterfly tattoos. They were very happy and had a lot of fun.
The next day was when they launched a “full time” schedule with slots from 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm, which may be more convenient for some families.
Since my kids are on the younger side, we only kept them in the kids club for no more than 2 hours each morning, which allowed me enough time for me to work out and check out the spa (which was amazing, and I’ll get to that next). The staff was great and enthusiastic, and they all remembered my kids’ names after the first day.
The Spa & Fitness Center
The spa and fitness center at this resort is amazing! The gym is massive and has everything you could possibly need for a full workout. My favorite feature of the gym was biking with a view:
Spa access is available to all resort guests, and I will have to say it it pretty amazing! The spa is very high-end, beautiful, huge, and includes plenty of serene areas to kick back and lounge. During my visit, there were separate steam rooms and saunas in the mens’ and women’s locker rooms, but I was told they were soon opening up co-ed steam rooms’ saunas, and relaxation areas too.
A beautiful place to lounge in the spa
I highly recommend that you carve in some time to visit the spa and fitness center during your visit – you will not be disappointed.
Food + The Conch Shack
A visit to the Conch Shack is a must
There are a number of restaurants to choose from at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar ranging from upscale dining to pubs to local, casual eats.
If you’re a seafood lover like me, I highly recommend you stop by the Conch Shack for some incredible and tasty conch salad (a Bahamian speciality) made fresh to order in front of you. You’ll watch the conch get extracted from the shell and prepared right in front of you. If you’re daring and want a natural aphrodisiac, ask the chef to pass “the pistol” your way.
Insanely tasty and fresh traditional conch salad is the perfect lunch
The Tropical Conch Salad
To add to an already perfect Caribbean meal, it’s worth treating yourself to a homemade daiquiri (entirely made from fresh fruit and great rum) at the DAQS shack conveniently located right next to the Conch Shack.
Definitely a great tropical treat
Bottom Line
I’ve rambled a lot in this post, but I hope I was able to provide some helpful information to those who are planning a trip to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. I truly enjoyed my stay, and it’s a great family destination that I hope to visit again soon.
If you have any other questions, please feel free to comment below, and I’ll do my best to answer them.
For those who have visited the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar already, what were your impressions?
Great and timely review Angelina! We are headed down there in early June(after school). As Explorists we certainly plan on using 2/4 of our Regency club passes. Seems they will save a boatload on food!
Resort looks a lot like a Vegas hotel only at the beach and closer to the east coast.
You will definitely enjoy your stay! And using lounge passes here is certainly a smart move
Are they double beds in West tower.. I was pretty sure the East tower they are 2 queens which will make a difference if traveling with more then 2 people.
Hi Karen, they were queen beds. I’ll update the post to reflect that
My understanding is that resort fees are waived for points stays for all members, and Globalists get resort fees waived regardless of booking method (i.e. paid and award nights).
I was there when they first opened and resort fees were waived but the VAT tax was not.
Thanks Angelina for the great tips. Heading to this property in two weeks. Can’t wait to check it out!
@Angelina, how did you get there? Which airline, routing, miles, cash, coach, first?
Hi fester! We flew nonstop from Ewr on United on a paid ticket and then we flew to FLL with JetBlue on points
Hi Angelina I am a Globalist Member and have booked for December 2018, I was charged the resort fees, can you confirm did you pay these fees upfront? I booked online and they were automatically charged?
I assume we get free access to the Lounge.
Michelle
Perfect timing. I made a reservation for Grand Hyatt Bahamar for the end of January. I’m trying to escape frigid NYC with a 4 year old. Last year I can travel outside the school calendar. I called the hotel and they said I can use my Explorist lounge access.
I have a question about the kids club. Do they offer open house (for free play)? Also do they have beach toys? I sent a message to the concierge but they had no idea about beach toys.
Thanks for the super detail review. I’m positive my son and I would love our mini vacation.
Hi Tania! You and your son will have a blast. Unfortunately there were no beach toys for kids but there’s a little beach hut store that sells them or you can bring your own. My kids used empty plastic cups to make sand castles and were happy with that haha. The kids club is pretty structured and they don’t offer open play. If 9-12 or 1-4 is too long for your son, you can always take him out earlier like we did :)
Hi Angelina,
Thanks for you answer.I might bring 1-2 toys because my son is almost 5 and very moody – the teenage years of the infancy :)
As far as the kids club I might leave him for 1 hour in the morning and maybe in the afternoon. He is not a big fan of kids club. Last year we were at the Disney Cruise and he did not enjoy much. 1-2 hours per day is enough for me to escape to the spa or enjoy the pool by myself.
I think we will enjoy to feed the rays and to see the sharks.
Keep up the good work. Great blog for traveling families.
Thanks for the GREAT review. I was all set to bring my family here (wife and 3 kids ranging from a 6 month old to a 5 year old) in march and then I read Trip Advisor. The folks on there made it sound as if it was an adult preferred resort. Your review makes it sound very family friendly. I am assuming you would say “go for it” with the kids?
Absolutely go for it! It’s super family friendly and you’ll have a blast
MY family always travels with my 8 year niece and we were just discussing a spring break trip so definitely adding this resort to our list! Thanks Angelina! We loved your recommendation of the Andaz Papagayo last year so we have no doubt we will love the Baha mar.
Thinking about spending a week there. But we have 5 in our family. Kids ages between 4-10 years old.
Do you know if they had adjoining rooms?
Yes they did!
Personally I think one week there is overkill but that’s just my opinion. I think 4 days is plenty.
Can you please give me the contact information for the casino host? thanks
Sure please send me an email
Hi. How does the casino host work if you have never been there? We are Mlife members but you said they don’t accept that. Thanks
Hi Sandra, if you play at other properties, you can send me an email and I can refer you to the host. He may be able to help you out in some way.
Hello. I am comped at Venetian and palazzo in Vegas. Who do I need to contact at bahamar? Thanks for your help. Also I want club access. Who do I need to contact for this? Thanks leo
What are the fees you have to pay for comped rooms? Do you have to pay the
room taxes or just the resort fee and housekeeping fee? Thanks
Hi Angelina, great information about beautiful resort. Thank you. Will you be able to share the Casino Host info, I am a player and wanted to check on their comps. Thank you in advance, d
Hi Dmitry, sure I’m happy to share. Please send me an email at hello@angelinatravels.com
Angelina,
I found all your information very helpful. My husband and I are arriving April 19 2018 and so look
forward to our trip. I am celebrating a big Birthday as well. We plan to play at least one round of golf and have been advised they have clubs we can use., Correct? We also enjoy the casino life in the evenings. Any suggestions? I have also read it may be a requirement for my husband to wear a jacket in some of the restaurants. We love fine dining and want to be prepared and make this trip as special as possible. I will be working in the early AM, :( do hotel guest have access to printers and fax machines if needed.
I look forward to your response.
Thanks
Hi Lyn! I hope you are enjoying your stay. April 19 is my birthday too :). Unfortunately I do not know anything about golf at Baha Mar. Yes, there are some restaurants that are fancier than others and dressing up is encouraged and the ambiance is beautiful so you wont feel out of place doing so. Yes, there is a business center where you can print/fax. Hope you have a great trip!
How do I get lounge club access when I’m just a new Hyatt member? I know Globalist get access but is there any way that I can just pay to access?
If you’re staying at any of the three hotels, are you able to use all the pools or are only some pools for some hotels? Thanks!
You can use all the pools
Hello! We are going to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar next week, I was considering signing my kids (ages, 9. 12, 14 and 17 ) up for the Marine Encounter, where they swim the sting ray, turtles and nurse sharks. Did you happen to do this or hear or see anything about it? Wondering if its worth it or too young for my teenage boys.
Also, did you do any off property excursions we were looking into a half day snorkeling trip with either Stuart’s Cove or Flying Cloud, both which were recommended by the hotel.
Thank you,
Colleen
Hi Colleen! We visited during what seemed to be more of a soft opening so the marine encounter that you described was not offered at the time of my visit. I would personally hold off on pre-registering until you arrive so that you can get more info in person and take a look at where the encounter is held. We did not leave the resort during our stay but there are plenty of nice snorkeling day trips and excursions that you can book. I don’t have any experience with either your company you mentioned but I’m sure they are fine if they were recommended by the resort. check TripAdvisor for additional reviews. Sorry I couldn’t be more of a help! Enjoy your stay!
Hey!!
I’m currently in medical school and studying for boards. However, I’m looking to get away to do so for a few days! Can you tell me how the internet quality is? Does it work at the pool? Inside?
Also, the lounge you mentioned…does the internet function there? Can anyone pay to access it? I’m not a member or anything or have any points. Etc. How much does that cost?
Thank you!!
Hi Angela,
The wifi all around the resort was strong. Yes you can pay for access to the lounge (there’s internet). I’m not sure what the current price is outside of using points.
Hi Angelina,
Thank you for your advice.
I’m am going to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar for our honeymoon Friday 13th – 24th July.
We are coming all the way from England – I saw your advice on wavering the resort fees, do you think this is possible, its added an additional $350-$400 to our stay. Unfortunately we don’t have member access as we dont have as many Hyatt hotels here in the UK.
I am thinking of upgrading to the Grand Club access as my husband is a professional athlete and takes a lot to feed, do you think the food is good enough? I was hoping to be able to get his agent to do something, but he hasnt been able to sort “deal” out.
Any advise would be much appreciated!
Thank you
If he likes breakfast it will be worth it for that alone. As far as dinner goes he will be hungry everynight. It is good for appetizers/salad and drinks but not a meal for a grown man. Lol
Thank you for the information. I am headed there next week.
Is there a kids game room/arcade on property?
I didn’t see one during my stay
Hi, I am trying to plan a trip there in a few months. When booking, the resort fees seem to be paid upfront. Did you pay those first, and then get them waived during your visit? Or prior? Thank you :)
Hi PJ, yes I paid upfront and got them waived during my visit. Enjoy your trip!
Great review, Angelina!
What is the policy for visiting the other properties at Baha Mar? Were you able to go to the pools, beaches, restaurants at the SLS or Rosewood?
Hi John, Yes you can dine at other properties and the pools/beaches are shared.
Hi Angelina, Love your review! I am traveling to the Baha Mar this coming Sat-Tues from Chicago. I’m going solo, as my husband and girls have sports/dance etc…So, its a fun solo mom trip! Questions for you:
1-The wine selection looks fine, but crazy expensive at $16/glass of Beringer?? Yikes! And Vodka cocktails at $15 each. In your opinion, would it be worth it to buy a bottle or two of wine in the local grocery store on my way from the airport? I do have Club access, are drinks available all day, or only at the 5 o’clock hour? Not that I’m a big lush, but $15 for a glass of very basic wine is a lot!
2-I’m gluten free. I looked at every single menu and while I don’t expect all islands/countries I visit be able to accommodate my diet, in your opinion, is the staff readily available to make changes to the menu items? I usually wind up eating only fruit/veggies and cheese on my vacations, but I’m curious if they’d be willing to make changes to menu items…
3- I’m traveling with only a carry on bag. Are there any dress codes at restaurants? I don’t want to pack anything dressy, but if need be, I can pack something….
Thanks for your input!!
Great reviews! Thank you for all the great info. My husband and I are looking to book a Caribbean vacation in April with our two boys. We are looking between this hotel in the Bahamas or going to Aruba to the Grand Hyatt. I’ve read your reviews of both- which would you recommend?
Thanks!
Thanks Carla! Hmm tough call between the two – but I’m partial to Aruba as there are more things to do and you can walk around vs be confined to a mega resort.
What is there to do near the hotel? What excursions or sites would you recommend? We just want to make sure there are other things to do on top of all of these great features of the hotel.
Thanks so much for all the information in your review! My husband and I are traveling in early March to Baha Mar and wanted to know about making reservations. Is it necessary to have restaurant and spa reservations in advance, or can you make them when you arrive? How would I go about making the reservations, either before or when I arrive? What restaurants would you recommend? We really enjoy our food and a nice sit down meal.
Thanks!
Christine
Hello.
Do you have any information about the Reserve Lounge? I’ve seen lots of photos of the Club Lounge, but we will be staying in the East Tower and have access to the Reserve Lounge and can’t find any photos or reviews.
Thanks so much for your our help.
Hi Sandra, I’m sorry but I do not have any info
Thanks for your review.
Going next week with the entire family: 8 adults and 8 kids(6 months to 11 years)
How do I get club access? I am new member . Can you upgrade your rooms and buy club access?
Thanks
Recommend this resort for a bachelor party? Deciding between this and Atlantis.
I am trying to decide which tower to stay in and great review on the west tower by the way. Anyone have any words abut the east tower? I raised my children so not feeling the west tower due to the family atmosphere. Same on the east tower anyone know? I also wanted to take advantage of the butler services and curious if that service is available at both towers? Is the service over and above the suite prices do you know? Thanks in advance.
Would you be able to estimate daily food costs per day (assuming an average adult consumption, no alcohol)? If you know what the beers and drinks costs, I’ll take that info too! Thanks
awesome information.! i am traveling with my wife on the 15th of April. can you recommend your casino host.
thanks
This review is great, and so helpful. I am going in a few weeks with my husband and 2 year old son. We have booked a room with 2 Queen beds. Would you say the room in the West Tower or East Tower is designed to be more spacious?
Hello. Thank you for such a great post! Questions, is there any nightlife? Shows? Live music? Also, I hear they rip you off on the water bottles, do you think they would refill water bottles at bars and restaurants or they will make people purchase their $8 water bottles? Thank you!
Hi Angelina,
Everyone has a question about the resort, but my question is what’s the best way of becoming a points and miles fanatic? I have an American Express Delta Platinum card so for every purchase I earn miles. also get free companion flight tickets, but for Domestic travel only. HOWEVER, I hardly ever travel but feel I’m getting ready start traveling. Life’s too short you know and I really want to explore.