First things first: Baha Mar in the Bahamas includes three hotel brands—the Grand Hyatt, which first opened in April 2017, The SLS, which opened in November 2017, and the Rosewood, which opened in June 2018. As we’re all aware, the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on travel across the world, and after closing for a few months in 2020, Baha Mar has worked hard to keep their resort safe for travelers who are understandably wary about traveling again since opening their doors. If you’re interested in taking a family trip to Baha Mar, we’re breaking it all down, from their COVID-19 safety protocols and assurance program to all the kid activities, to the costs.
What are Baha Mar’s COVID protocols?
To travel to the Bahamas, you will need to apply for and obtain a Bahamas Health Visa before your trip, where you will need to upload all your travel information and proof of a negative COVID-19 test within five days of your travel date. (As of press time, rapid tests were being accepted for adults and kids under 12, and kids under 2 did not need to be tested). For unvaccinated travelers, The Bahamian government requires proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test at least five days before traveling to The Bahamas, as well as a Bahamas Health Visa. You will also need to take a COVID-19 RT-PCR test on the fifth day of your stay at Baha Mar. Before traveling back to the U.S., travelers also need to take a rapid COVID-19 test located at the hotel lobby and show their negative test results at the airport. At Baha Mar, marks are required in all indoor areas, including restaurants and the casino areas, if you are not eating or drinking. Masks did not need to be worn outside, but every Baha Mar employee, including lifeguards and outdoor staff, remain masked. Hand sanitation stations are also available throughout the resort. Baha Mar also offers their ’Travel With Confidence’ Program, which means that if a resort guest tests positive during their stay that Baha Mar, the resort will provide “courtesy suite accommodations and a daily dining credit of $150 per person staying in the suite, per day, for up to 14 days following receipt of the positive test result or, if earlier, when the guest receives a negative COVID-19 test result.” If the guest is a U.S. resident and chooses to return home earlier, Baha Mar will “provide private air travel to return the guest and their immediate family (up to four additional people, occupying the same room as the covered guest) to the U.S. mainland, free of charge.” For more information on the program, click here.
How much does Baha Mar cost?
The Grand Hyatt is the least expensive option with doubles starting at $255/night; SLS is $295/night, and Rosewood offers doublesstarting at $595/night. Right now, the Grand Hyatt and the SLS are offering a free fourth-night stay if you book three nights, plus a $100 resort credit. There’s also free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand. Food and drinks are not included, as Baha Mar is not an all-inclusive resort, but kids under 5 eat free. There are 40+ restaurants, including the brand new beachfront restaurant serving locally and sustainably caught seafood, fresh produce and premium dry-aged cuts, Marcus at Baha Mar Fish + Chop House, which was absolutely delicious, and the brand new kid-friendly Sugar Factory (holy milkshakes!). Another restaurant recommendation? Book your reservations as soon as you can—and don’t miss Costa at Rosewood either. You are charged a daily resort fee per stay ($32-$48) which is why the non-motorized water sports are free, as well as free WiFi, and a free fitness center. Paddleboards, kayaks and snorkeling are all free, as well as beach chairs and umbrellas by the pools and the beach. Baha Bay, Baha Mar’s water park that’s open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., is also free for guests at no extra cost (more about that below!). Are you tempted? While there is an adults-only pool located at the SLS and Baha Mar is a great excuse for a couples’ getaway, it’s also super enjoyable for kids of all ages too. We’re breaking all the child-friendly and family-friendly activities at Baha Mar so you’re entire family doesn’t miss out.
Baha Mar Kid Activities
- Pools Galore for the Little Ones With seven pools, including toddler-friendly 1-2 ft. pool areas and splash pad areas at Baha Bay, your kids will have no problem finding a pool to their liking. At the Grand Hyatt pools, you’ll find shallow entrances, perfect for littles, as well as water lounge chairs. Over at Turtle Beach in Baha Bay, have a blast at the four toddler-friendly slides (kids are allowed with life-jackets on them, but must ride solo, so no lap-holding babies). The slides are two at a time, with no exceptions. This is a perfect place for kids 40 inches and shorter. Over at nearby Stingray Cove, kids can enjoy more slides and a giant splash pad area with bucket dumping every few minutes. Both coves are located in Baha Bay!
- Get your water thrills at Baha Bay Families can spend days at Baha Bay, which is free with your Baha Mar stay (just scan your wristband as you enter). And get ready, because you’re in for all the thrills at Baha Bay. From a dueling water slide to Cyclone Rush, a raft ride that holds four people, and a giant freefall slide called Thunderball, Baha Bay is a blast for tots, as well as tweens and older teens looking for nonstop action. One ride for the ultimate thrill-seekers? Devil’s Backbone, where the floor drops out from under you on this inner tunnel ride. All in all, Baha Bay—which is exclusive to Baha Mar guests—offers 24 water slides, a kids section with toddler-approved slides, a 500,000-gallon wave pool and a Surf Simulator to get your thrill. There are also featured food trucks, including a pop-up Sugar Factory location for sweets on the go.
- Ride the waves at The River My 3 and 1/2-year-old loved The River, which was 4 ft. deep the entire way. With two locations of waves passing through and options to ride single or double, it can easily be a favorite for kids. Free life jackets are available at the entrance, and lifeguards are super friendly as you float on by. The River is also suitable for babies—I saw one baby enjoying a bottle on his float and in fact, I also breastfed my 1-year-old while floating around. #Multitasking.
- Make it a beach day Walk down to Baha Mar’s beautiful beach where chairs and umbrellas are free for guests (kids under 5 also eat free here as well!). In the water, guests can enjoy two giant water mats for sunbathing (or jumping, as my kid loved to do) and two water-emerged floats for relaxation. If you’re looking to order a drink, most frozen drinks start around $16, but there is an ice cream stand nearby with ice cream that is $6 each. Don’t leave without stopping by Daqs near Cable Beach. There, you can create your own custom-blended daiquiris—mango was a favorite. The beach is also where guests can try free snorkeling and free kayaking. Don’t forget to bring sand toys!
- Check out the flamingo parade Every day at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m, head over to Flamingo Cay to see the flamingos in their habitat before flamingo experts take four of them (named Baha, Lynden, Luca and Indy) on a Flamingo Parade to a grassy area where you can get closer and take pictures. My girls loved every second of this. For adults, yoga with flamingos is also offered every Wednesday morning for $40 per person. If your child is a big flamingo-lover and the Flamingo Parade isn’t enough, you can also set up a private flamingo experience at the resort—one 30 minute session costs $65.
- Take a family cooking class Since Baha Mar is known for its unique culinary experiences at each restaurant, it’s no wonder that their culinary classes, offered for adults and kids, are a hit. Chef Michael set us up with all the ingredients and cooking utensils needed to make yummy French Toast, explaining each step carefully to my 3-year-old. Once it was cooked, we enjoyed it outside with fresh lemonade. Simply delicious and fun—my toddler still asks when we are going back to cooking class. The culinary classes offered at The Kitchen include adult culinary classes, Tiny Chef classes for ages 3-12 years old and Family Culinary Adventures, all $65 per person.
- Book the Explorers Kids’ Club The kids’ club area is pretty much the DREAM for all ages: climbing activities for tots, an entire storage closet filled with every art supply you could imagine, colorful tables and chairs, tie-dye activities, basketball and other arcade games, board games, and a huge open movie room with bean bags and comfy chairs scattered throughout. Of course, there’s a popcorn machine to fill your bucket while watching the kid-friendly movie. The Explorers Kids’ Club area is a parent-free zone, so parents can relax at the resort while kids ages 3-12 years old have a blast with the Explorer Counselors. Parents can choose from morning, afternoon and evening sessions, as the club is open 9 a.m-10:30 p.m. seven days a week. All-day camp costs $120 with lunch and snacks included, half-day camp is $65, evening session is $65 and hourly kids club sessions are $25. Babysitting services are also available for children 1-14 years old with staff who are CPR/First Air certified fully-vetted by HR and security. In-room babysitting services are $25 per hour and each babysitter is required to receive a negative rapid COVID test and will have their temperature taken at the hotel.
- Visit the Bird Sanctuary You have to check out the bird sanctuary which is located near the pools and not far from the beachside of the resort. In the enclosed area, you can sit as birds fly all around you, landing to eat on popsicle sticks covered in honey and birdseed ($10 for two sticks, available there to purchase). The birds were friendly and beautiful to watch.
- Stop by the sharks, stingrays, and fish Every day at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm, you and your kiddos can experience the Animal Feeding and Touch Tank Experience at The Sanctuary, a pool with native sea life. Kids ages 3 and under are free with a paid adult (cost $65). During the 20 minute sessions, you can feed and interact with stingrays, sea turtles, fish and nurse sharks. My tot loved petting the stingrays and seeing the giant sea turtles the best! Don’t worry, you’ll still have a chance to see other sea life at the pools located right next to The Sanctuary: there is a 3 ft. kid-friendly pool with two water tanks where kids can also enjoy the sea life while swimming.
- Go on a mega sugar rush at the Sugar Factory Mega milkshakes, sprinkles galore, and colorful animal structures outside for little ones to pose with? Score. Baha Mar’s Sugar Factory, which just opened in May, is literally a sweet treat for all ages. Adults can enjoy alcoholic drinks like The Candy Shop or Astro Fizz for $45 each, and kids can enjoy insane milkshakes starting at $21. My recommendation? The Princess Make A Wish shake at $23 is perfect for those with a sweet tooth, and the fondue for $28 or the cookie skillet for $20 are the ultimate desserts.
- Play a game of mini-golf If your kiddos need a break from the water, head over to the free mini-golf! It wasn’t crowded at all and my daughter enjoyed the break before dinnertime. It was perfect for unwinding after a busy day of swimming and slides.
- Take a stroll through The Current Gallery and Art Center I never took my 3-year-old to an art gallery before, but we walked through when we had a few minutes to spare. The artwork, which is all done by local Bahamian artists and all up for sale, was stunning and breathtaking. My daughter asked so many questions about the colors and what the pictures were of, and it was a peaceful activity to do with her after all the exhaustion of water slides and swimming. Don’t miss it! Check out…25 Best Beach Vacations50 Best Girlfriend Getaways25 Inexpensive Family Vacations
