33 Best Hotels in Bahamas

The Staniel Cay Yacht Club is nothing short of legendary, once drawing such luminaries as Malcolm Forbes and Robert Mitchum to its property. It's now a low-key getaway for yachties and escapists. The cotton candy–color cottages, perched on stilts along a rocky bank, have broad ocean vistas and dramatic sunsets, which you can treasure from a chaise lounge on your spacious private balcony. Take a tour of the cay in one of the club's golf carts. Meal plans are available.

Although The Delphi Club is billed as a bonefishing lodge, it's a great middle-of-nowhere bed-and-breakfast perfect for anyone looking to get away from it all but not willing to give up style or comfort. The plantation-style lodge boasts a grand great room, where guests gather for multicourse meals at a long wooden table that seats 24 and then retire to one of the comfy couches, the library (where the only television on-property is hardly ever turned on), or a chair on the wide wraparound balcony that offers incredible ocean views. Days are filled with bonefishing or deep-sea fishing for the anglers, bird-watching, or lounging poolside or on the long, private white-sand beach below.  Nonguests can join the group for dinners if space is available. Dinner reservations are essential and must be made before noon that day.

Set atop a rocky cliff on Whale Point, Ocean Tally is a luxurious bed-and-breakfast surrounded by Eleuthera's natural beauty. This adults-only property features three cottages, each with its own sun terrace that has views of the property's private beach. The rooms are spacious, airy, and with a TV, kitchen supplies, and a private bathroom. You can choose to have breakfast on your private deck, on the outdoor dining deck, or in the common area in the lighthouse. There's also an on-site bar where you can grab drinks and food.

With harbor views, luxuriously decorated rooms and suites, and the only restaurant and swimming pool in Schooner Bay right downstairs, this quaint bed-and-breakfast inn is the perfect spot for visitors who want to be taken care of. Three suites are located in the main three-story house, while the rooms are situated in two small cottages right out back. Two beaches—one perfect for lounging or paddleboarding (just grab a board and head into the water), the other great for snorkeling—and a 50-acre protected forest with well-marked walking trails are all just a quick golf-cart ride or five-minute walk away. The Dining Room is the only full-service restaurant in the community serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner (dinner is served Thursday through Sunday only). The menu is often determined by what looks good at the community farm, and they use as much locally sourced product as possible. 

Accessible only by boat, this resort features guest rooms in the main house and one-room bungalows overlooking a gorgeous white-sand beach in a 5-acre compound that stretches from Nassau Harbour to the ocean. Tent sites are available starting at $65 per day outside of the summer months. If you're up for camping but don't want to bring your own gear, inquire about the single and double tent huts. This retreat is for those who are serious about yoga and good health, and accommodations are only available to those enrolled in a program: the community gathers morning and evening for meditation and yoga. During free time from 10 am to 4 pm, the retreat's shuttle boat will take you to Nassau for shopping and sightseeing, or you can stop in for a massage at the Well Being Center on-site. Yoga decks are next to the beach and harbor, and there are also meditation rooms, frequent guest lecturers, and special classes for advanced teacher certification. The per-person price includes two buffet-style lacto-vegetarian meals each day, at 10 am and 6 pm. Rooms range from quite luxurious to austere, and Wi-Fi is available throughout the property outside of morning and evening satsang hours. Alcohol, coffee, tea, meat, fish, cigarettes, radios, and TVs are not allowed, and there is a two-night minimum throughout the year.

An unassuming front entrance hides what many say is one of The Bahamas' top small vacation retreats, and guests love having 7 miles of powdery beach to themselves. The famous, converted beachside mansion was once owned by Earl "Mr. Celebrity" Blackwell and called Carriearl. In the 1970s, Blackwell was New York's social arbiter, publisher of the Celebrity Register, and promoter of star-studded events. He used Carriearl as a party house to entertain a coterie of rich and famous friends who had joined GHC's Tamboo Club. The living areas, restaurant and bar, and four rooms are tastefully furnished. The rooms en suite have air-conditioning, fans, and quality linens, and there's a stunning blue pool and beach lounges, bikes, and kayaks for guests to enjoy between snorkeling and fishing.

Immaculate and generously sized cottages, some octagonal—all with large private porches—have sweeping views of the ocean. The resort has also introduced spacious luxury suites with patio or garden views. The Rainbow Room restaurant is one of the island's best, and islanders drive great distances for a meal here, especially when the famed Doctor Seabreeze or other local musicians strum away and sing island tunes on weeknights (in high season). A sublime beach is a short walk down the paved road along with a tennis court, and a small pool is on the property. The helpful staff will arrange fishing trips and adventure tours.

If you're a dedicated bonefisher, AIBC is the place for you, with access to 100 square miles of lightly fished flats, including wadable (at low tide) flats right out front. The 29-acre waterfront property is laced with palm trees, well-tended gardens and lawns, and even some ruins from the island's sisal plantation era of the 1800s. Rooms, in separate cabins near the water, are basic but comfortable, mainly with double beds, mini-refrigerators, ceiling fans, and air-conditioning. The dining room–lounge has satellite TV and fly-tying tables. Meals are hearty, with Bahamian fare such as fresh-grilled seafood and peas-and-rice served up family-style. Packages include room, meals, water, Wi-Fi, guided fishing tours, laundry service, and transfers to and from the Andros Town airport. Rates start at $1,745 per person, based on double occupancy, for two nights and three days of fishing. For accommodations only, the starting rate is $200 per night.

On the banks of Cargill Creek, this small and charming bonefishing lodge is run by Charlie Neymour, a bonefishing legend, and his wife, Fatiha, who serves deliciously aromatic Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine in the dining room—with tasty fresh seafood Bahamian-style as well. This smart new facility offers four rooms that include satellite TVs, free Wi-Fi, and refrigerators. On the pleasant outdoor patio that overlooks Cargill Creek, be prepared to party on your last night. Service is friendly and prompt. Room-only bookings are not accepted at the resort. Package rates are per person for double-occupancy rooms and include guided fishing, lodging, meals, drinks, and taxes.

These quaint, self-catering full-kitchen suites sit just steps away from a quiet private beach on Salt Pond with a large grassy garden space—perfect for family picnics, naps in the hammock, and a vacation without the bustle of a busy resort. Units are simple but well maintained and nicely decorated, and include air-conditioning, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. Kayaks and beach toys/gear are available for use.

Lining lovely Millers Bay beach, this rustic, remote resort has six simple cabins on stilts right on the beach, making it a real "get-away-from-it-all" place (guests should be self-sufficient and adventurous). Room rates include two meals daily—and Chef Pierre is touted by many as the island's best. Explore nearby cays in available sea kayaks, wade the adjacent flats for bonefish, or just enjoy the peaceful solitude relaxing on a lounge chair (but bring bug repellent). Fishing guides, diving, car rentals, and airport transfers can be arranged. The oceanfront restaurant is worth dining at, even if you're staying elsewhere.

Sandwiched between one beach on the Atlantic and another calmer, sandy stretch on the bay are four spacious cottages—including three three-bedroom cottages and a two-bedroom cottage—and two villas, all with views of the water. Each has lovely rattan furniture and a modern kitchen with utensils. Conch Shell and Conch Pearl, the three-bedroom cottages, each have a master suite with a king-size bed and walk-in closet, washer and dryer, satellite TV, and a DVD player. Snorkeling and diving are excellent around the reef that protects the Atlantic beach. If you rent a boat—it's recommended—you can tie up at the property's bayside dock. 

Five spacious houses on the island, which is 1½ miles long and one mile wide, are separated by lush palm and hardwood hammocks and so far apart that you feel you have the island to yourself. Houses all have spectacular 360-degree water views from atop the limestone hilltops, and some come with 13-foot Boston Whalers. There is a small Dockside Grill for lunch, and a store selling drinks and snacks—as well as hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch during high season. Rates for houses are per week.

Originally deeded in 1796 and built by Thomas W. Johnson, Briland's first doctor and justice of the peace, this handsome B&B, in a garden filled with bougainvillea, royal poincianas, and hibiscus, thrives thanks to the loving preservation work of genial innkeeper John Hersh. The guest rooms are sweetly furnished with a distinctive array of antiques and local artwork and overlook either the harbor or the garden. The inn’s supremely stylish suites have grown to include two cottage accommodations, and there’s a full on-site staff, including a chef who will also prepare in-house dinners, box lunches, and picnics. The property includes a huge courtyard that features a pool and a tiki bar.

This affordable inn is a block from the sea and consists of three brightly colored, two-story Bahamian-colonial-style cottages with five guest rooms in each. They all have front porches and one building has a full kitchen shared by guests; the other has a meeting room. Rooms are spacious, modern, and exceptionally tidy with air-conditioning, bathrooms, refrigerators, microwaves, and flat-screen cable TVs. Across the street is Champ's Chicken takeout and RJ's convenience store. On-site laundry facilities are available as are free airport transfers, and the manager will arrange meals on-site for breakfast, lunch, or dinner upon request.

Perched above the marina in Great Harbour Cay, this inn is basic but conveniently located to the marina, about 3/4 mile from the beach. The suites, clean and neat but in need of renovation, range in size from 450 to 900 square feet, and have private baths, mini-kitchens, and laundry facilities. The larger water-view suites have decks and porches. To make a reservation you must be persistent, as the owners don't always answer the phone. But hey, this laid-back style is one of the main reasons people go to Great Harbour. The owner has a boat and runs snorkeling and scenic island tours to neighboring cays. A rather scrappy 9-hole golf course is also mantained by the property owners, but it has weedy greens.

Great Inagua Outback Lodge is the dream of Inaguan Henry Hugh, who wanted to relax in his own quiet island paradise. Roughly (and the road is very rough) 15 miles from Matthew Town, Outback sleeps six people in two cottages, sited within walking distance of a nice beach and flats fishing. Off the grid, Henry uses sun and wind power backed up by a generator for those who prefer air-conditioning. The nicely designed cottages have full bathrooms and quality beds and linens, along with Wi-Fi, satellite TV, free international calling, and even cell phone coverage. The cozy dining room and bar, with its lovely gazebo, are perfect places to enjoy the scrumptious fresh seafood that Henry catches himself. Make sure your rental car is a high-clearance SUV so you can easily traverse the road. Stay/fish/dine packages are $2,125 per person for a week or $1,215 per person for four nights. Both packages include a tour of Lake Rosa.

In the settlement of Salt Pond is this small private hideaway, a labor of love for owners Kris and Jean, who offer two lovely guest rooms with sweeping decks facing the ocean on the lower level of their home, along with a newer beach house that sleeps five guests. Rooms are spacious and comfortable, each with a microwave, refrigerator, and coffeemaker. This is a perfect place for water-sports enthusiasts as the owners are professional divers and can arrange all sorts of great experiences for their guests. Both have worked on underwater scenes in movies such as Sphere. Grotto Bay practically sits on top of the Salt Pond cave, one of the largest dry caves in The Bahamas, with two enormous chambers featuring stalagmites and stalactites and six documented species of bats. Guests also have exclusive use of the beach, hammocks, horseshoe pit, beach volleyball, kayaks, snorkeling equipment, and an open-air guest kitchen.

Those looking for history and luxury will find much to like about this historic building constructed in 1944 by the first premier of The Bahamas, Sir Roland Symonette. The resort still maintains its historical charm while welcoming modern, eco-friendly additions like solar water heating, solar lights, energy-saving refrigerators, and an outdoor organic garden. Each guest room at the two-story limestone inn has a full kitchen, in-room safe, air-conditioning and a mahogany deck. It's a short walk to the beach.

Sparse white walls and crisp white linens evoke a timeless, understated chic at The Landing, which is acclaimed as much for its singular style as for its superb cuisine. Each of its guest rooms is simply decorated in a colonial plantation style in the Captain's House, built in 1820, and the main house, built in 1800. Want a memorable harbor view? An antique telescope peers out of a lookout nook from the Attic Room, which also has a gleaming white bathroom complete with a sumptuous white chaise lounge. Soothe yourself in the garden's tranquil pool when you're beached out—and don't miss the sybaritic outdoor shower, cleverly designed around the roots of an ancient fig tree.

These three classic Bahamian-style cottages are ideally placed on 22 private acres between Long Bay and Black Sound. Two beachside cottages are on a rise overlooking Pelican Cay and the Atlantic. Each has two comfortable bedrooms, a screened-in porch, a combination living–dining room with built-in settees, a well-stocked library, and a fully equipped kitchen. The Harbour Cottage, with one air-conditioned bedroom, is on Black Sound, steps away from the dock. If you're renting a boat, you can tie it up right out front. Families, groups of friends, and couples looking for an escape will enjoy this location. 

At the mouth of Stafford Creek, self-sufficient anglers and do-it-yourself vacationers can sit on the sundeck or at the bar, sip a cold local beer or a cocktail, and contemplate the superb fishing and diving in Central Andros. Bright pink motel-style rooms are $150/night for doubles. Clean and comfortable, they offer double beds, private baths, air-conditioning, small refrigerators, and coffeemakers. The Turning Tides restaurant overlooks Stafford Creek and serves Bahamian seafood, steaks, chicken, and pork. Sit at one of the outside tables and feed the resident fish, and you're likely to see tarpon and even sharks swimming by. Bonefishing, diving, and nature excursions can be arranged. Fly into either Andros Town airport (26 miles) or San Andros (20 miles). Sheila, the owner, is charming and obliging.

Surrounded by tranquil seas, lush landscapes, and remote island living, this stunning retreat, with six oceanfront cottages and a restaurant, offers the beauty of a tropical paradise and the remoteness of a private escape. The six oceanfront and ocean-view cottages are decorated with simple, contemporary decor, providing just what you need for a true Family Islands vacation. The on-site restaurant serves delicious Bahamian meals and specialty cocktails.

These quaint cottages are nestled into a hillside with an extraordinary view of the Atlantic. Each unit comes with a small kitchenette, satellite TV, and a deck, perfect for watching the sunrise. Proprietor Rose Gibson also runs a restaurant steps from the cottages, where you'll find Bahamian specialties like fresh grouper and conch.

If you prefer down-home coziness over slick glamour, then this basic hotel—on the site of a former orange plantation perched on a hilltop overlooking the ocean—is the place to stay. Irish transplant Judy Lowe, who's owned the inn since the 1980s, and her son Brendan treat guests like family. Orange Hill is across the road from the beach, a half-hour drive from town, and 15 minutes from the Baha Mar resort complex. Rooms and apartments vary considerably in size and are all decorated with simple pine furniture and tropical bedding. Some of the larger poolside rooms lack an ocean view, so be sure to state your preference when booking. There's a small restaurant on-site serving Bahamian and continental fare, and you can help yourself at an honor bar set up in the cozy living room. The inn provides daily trips to a nearby grocery store for guests who want to stock their in-room refrigerator.

This truly one-of-a-kind, eye-popping plot of land fits in 17 rooms, a petting zoo, a small disco, a movie theater, a bar, and a DIY gift shop—made mostly of recycled materials such as tires, reclaimed wood, and seashells. Room interiors also surprise with ecofriendly themes—floors adorned with driftwood, corals, and sand, and beds made from fallen trees. The single rooms are $65 per night, and the suites, which can accommodate up to six people, all have TVs and full kitchens, ideal for self-catering guests, at $150 per night. Pineville is eccentric to say the least, and the enthusiasm of owner/manager Eugene is incredible. The ecotourism motel mainly caters to group buyouts and field trips from neighboring settlements. Individual visitors, however, are also welcome, and it's ideal for backpackers on a budget. Pineville can set up an entire itinerary of activities, from crabbing to fishing, to your own private movie screenings. Eugene also welcomes nonguests (with advance notice) for tours, including wild boar hunting and an enthralling explanation of his vision. During Saturday night happy hour, it's one of the only places you can catch regular Rake 'n' Scrape live music.

This quiet seaside inn on gorgeous, rolling grounds feels far removed from the rest of the island, which is precisely the point. This is not a place you'll be waited on hand and foot. Rather, longtime guests appreciate the lived-in quality of this rambling 1938 New England–style beach house, where you have the run of the place and can be left alone to mix a drink at the honor bar or relax poolside. Guest rooms are simply furnished in a comfortable contemporary style, and bathrooms display colorful tile work and Fresh bath products. At dinnertime, chef Krishna Higgs serves French and Bahamian cuisine, with a focus on local seafood.

One of Andros's few lodging options catering to more than fishermen, Seascape Inn is a small, rustic beachfront gem; five individual, well-maintained cottages with private decks overlook the glass-clear ocean. Many repeat guests, who come two or three times a year, say this is the most relaxing place in the world. The elevated restaurant and beachfront bar is an idyllic place to relax, swap stories, and enjoy cocktails with the locals. Rates also include use of bikes, kayaks, water floats, and Wi-Fi. On-site owners Mickey and Joan McGowan are great cooks and make guests feel like family. Mickey can arrange fishing guides, nature tours, and dives.

Featuring seaside comfort in cozy surroundings, this hotel advertised as a bed-and-breakfast is a three-story colonial-style inn with wraparound verandas, perched on a limestone cliff overlooking the beach, 13 miles west of Nassau. The public rooms and guest rooms have the character of a century-old manor house, with pickled-wood ceilings, pine plank floors, and mahogany antiques. The decor is a bit dated. A dining room serves complimentary continental breakfast daily and most nights serves up Indian fare. You can read on the porch, walk to the beach, or relax by a small pool and waterfall.