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The Best Romantic Hotels & Resorts
- Sandals Royal Bahamian Hotel & Spa (Cable Beach, New Providence Island; tel. 800/SANDALS or 242/327-6400; www.sandals.com) is one branch of a Jamaica-based chain of couples-only, all-inclusive hotels that are favorites among honeymooners. This one is more upscale than many of its Jamaican counterparts and offers 27 secluded honeymoon suites with semiprivate plunge pools. Staff members lend their experience and talent to on-site wedding celebrations; Sandals will provide everything from a preacher to flowers, as well as champagne and a cake. It's more expensive than most Sandals resorts, but you can usually get better prices than the official rack rates through a travel agent or a package deal.
- The One&Only Ocean Club (Paradise Island; tel. 888/528-7157 in the U.S. only, or 242/363-2501; www.oneandonlyresorts.com) is elegant, low-key, low-rise, and exclusive. Guests include many older honeymoon couples. With waterfalls, fountains, reflecting pools, and a stone gazebo, its formal terraced gardens were inspired by the club's founder (an heir to the A&P fortune) and are The Bahamas' most impressive. At the center is a French cloister, with carvings from the 12th century.
- Old Bahama Bay (Grand Bahama Island; tel. 800/444-9469 or 242/350-3500; www.oldbahamabay.com) is perfect for honeymooners seeking a hideaway in a boutique-style hotel with cottages adjacent to a marina. The casinos, entertainment, shopping, and dining of Freeport/Lucaya are 40km (25 miles) away, so it's ideal for quiet luxury, solitude, and romance.
- Kamalame Cay (Staniard Creek, Andros; tel. 242/368-6281; www.kamalame.com) requires deep pockets; it's one of the most exclusive resorts in the Out Islands, a perfect honeymoon retreat for the couple wanting to escape casinos and resorts. With its 5km (3 miles) of white-sand beaches in both directions, this pocket of posh specializes in luxury and comfort. And don't worry if you've already taken your honeymoon; this is the perfect place to take a second one, or even a third.
- Romantics appreciate the Green Turtle Club (Green Turtle Cay, the Abacos; tel. 242/365-4271; www.greenturtleclub.com) for its winning combination of yachting atmosphere and well-manicured comfort. It's small (31 rooms) and civilized in an understated way. The charming, clapboard-covered village of New Plymouth is nearby, accessible by motor launch or, even better, a 45-minute walk across windswept scrublands.
- Abaco Inn (Elbow Cay, The Abacos; tel. 800/468-8799 or 242/366-0133; www.abacoinn.com) provides barefoot elegance and romance in the sands. This sophisticated little hideaway is one of the gems of the Abacos. Luxury villa suites with sunrise and sunset views are the way to go. You and your loved one should seek out a hammock in the gardens.
- The Bluff House Beach Hotel (Green Turtle Cay, the Abacos; tel. 800/745-4911 or 242/365-4247; www.bluffhouse.com) was named for its location atop a 24m (79-ft.) cliff towering over a pink-sand beach. Its 4.8 hectares (12 acres) front the Sea of Abaco on one side and the harbor of White Sound on the other. The accommodations are very private, with a rustic, seafaring decor that has its own elegance. In addition to rooms, the hotel offers beach and hillside villas, and colonial suites with private balconies that overlook the water.
- Pink Sands (Harbour Island, Eleuthera; tel. 800/407-4776 or 242/333-2030; www.pinksandsresort.com) allows for a spectacular getaway at an elite, 11-hectare (27-acre) beachfront estate owned by Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records. Its location on a 5km (3-mile) stretch of private pink sand, sheltered by a barrier reef, is just one of its assets. You can ask for a bedroom that evokes an upscale bordello in Shanghai to put you in a romantic mood, and you can also enjoy the best meals on the island.
- Stella Maris Resort Club (Long Island, the Southern Bahamas; tel. 800/426-0466, 242/338-2051, or 954/359-8238; www.stellamarisresort.com) is right on the Atlantic, built on the grounds of an old plantation, and has become a Long Island social hub. Sailing is important here, as are diving and getting away from it all. Many of the guests hail from Germany, lending the place a European flair. The sleepy island itself is one of The Bahamas' most beautiful, and honeymooners fit into the grand scheme of things perfectly.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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