Frommer's Review
This all-inclusive property is the most upscale Sandals resort in the world. It's shockingly expensive, though you can often get special promotional rates that make it more reasonable. The property originated as a very posh hotel, the Balmoral Beach, in the 1940s. In 1996, the Jamaica-based Sandals chain poured $20 million into renovating and expanding the resort, and additional renovations have been ongoing ever since. Everywhere, you'll find some of the trappings of Edwardian England in the tropics: manicured gardens, rich cove moldings, neoclassical/Palladian architectural themes, plus hidden courtyards tastefully accentuated with sculptures. The resort is located on a beach a short walk west of the more glittery megahotels of Cable Beach.
A favorite for honeymoon getaways, Sandals offers well-furnished and often elegant rooms, all classified as suites and positioned within either the resort's core Manor House or the circa-1998 Windsor Building. Others, including some of the most upscale and expensive, occupy outlying villas known collectively as The Royal Village. The villas are preferred because of their rigorously secluded settings and easy access to nearby semiprivate plunge pools. Bedrooms, regardless of their location, have thick cove moldings, formal English furniture, and tub/shower bathrooms loaded with perfumed soaps and cosmetics. The rooms that face the ocean offer small curved terraces with ornate iron railings and views of an offshore sand spit, Sandals Key.
For a long time, only heterosexual guests were allowed at this resort. But the British and Canadian governments said they wouldn't allow Sandals to advertise its resorts if it continued discriminatory policies against same-sex couples. In 2004, Sandals capitulated and ended the ban. Today self-defined gay couples are accepted as guests, but their numbers since the corporate policy changes haven't been particularly visible.
Bahamian and international fare is offered in generous portions in the property's restaurants. In addition to spectacular buffets, the options include white-glove service and continental dishes in the Baccarat Dining Room. The two latest additions include Kimono's, offering Japanese cuisine, and Casanova, specializing in Italian fare. Other choices include Arizona for Southwestern-style grilled specialties, and Spices for upscale buffets three times a day. The pool here is one of the most appealing on Nassau, with touches of both Vegas and ancient Rome (outdoor murals and replicas of ancient Roman columns jutting skyward above the water). Complimentary shuttle bus service goes to the casino and nightlife options at the nearby Wyndham Crystal Palace complex; concierge service is offered for residents of the resort's higher-priced accommodations.
The Art of the Massage -- The Red Lane Spa at Sandals Royal Bahamian Hotel & Spa in Nassau has repeatedly made the top 10 list of spa resorts in the Condé Nast Traveler reader's choice survey. The decor features walls and floors of Italian Satumia stone, rich mahogany doors, and a collection of pre-Raphaelite prints in gilded frames. One service offered, Massage Duet, allows couples to learn the art of massage from a professional so they can practice on each other in the comfort of their hotel room.
Facilities:
8 restaurants; 9 bars; 6 outdoor pools; 2 tennis courts; health club; full-service spa; watersports equipment; nonsmoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility
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.
