The Five Best All-Inclusive Resorts in the Bahamas

In this land of palm tree groves, white-sanded beaches, turquoise shallows and deep blue seas, luxury accommodation is never too far away. Since time immemorial the Bahamas have been the stomping ground of luxury vacationers; home to some of the world’s most famous all-inclusive resorts and five-star hotels; the spot where celebrities would unwind and the rich and famous could splash their cash in the mega-pools and Jacuzzi baths of their penthouse suites.

More recently though, the destination has levelled out a little. It’s now become much more accessible for family groups and individual travellers alike, home to a greater number of holiday resorts than ever before and coming without that brazen tag of exclusivity.

Here’s a list of five of the top all-inclusive resorts in the archipelago, with options for mature travellers, adventure-seekers and those simply after relaxation in this paradisal corner of the globe.

On the glistening sands of the Exumas at the Sandals Emerald Bay

When it comes to the Sandals Emerald Bay resort, it might be better to list the things it doesn’t have! 500-acres of leaning palm trees and Robinson Crusoe sands meld together to provide one of the most idyllic settings on all of the Exuma Islands, while a healthy array of night time entertainments, no fewer than seven on-site restaurants, access to a championship level golf course and countless full-service cocktail and drinks bars, make it a resort at once lively, relaxing and truly Bahaman in its unashamed luxury.

Walking in the footsteps of royalty at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island

Stately European styles and the tropical Bahaman character combine at this luxurious and elegant resort in Nassau, New Providence. Strewn over two sections of land, Sandals Royal boasts its own private island, a number of secluded beach coves and fully-fledged butler services for every guest, not to mention the prestigious Balmoral Club which was proudly once the haunt of luminaries, from English royalty to the Beatles themselves. With such a line-up of luxury amenities it is little wonder this one keeps raking in the awards!

Club Med Columbus Isle: where the jet set go to jet ski

The beach bars and seafood restaurants of this Club Med resort spill out onto the sparkling sands at its front, offering up 180-degree panoramas of the seas around the remote and paradisal Island of San Salvador. Here, guests enjoy some of the best scuba and snorkelling conditions in all the Bahamas, not to mention inclusive diving lessons for all guests. If you’re looking for something a little more off-the-beaten-track and immersive, then this isolated resort is definitely the one for you!

Enjoy the isolation at Small Hope Bay Lodge

Hammocks swing between the leaning palms of Andros Island, while fishing charters and diving groups depart each day from the timbered pier that juts out from the end of Small Hope’s private beach, a world apart from the bustling mega resorts elsewhere on the Bahama archipelago. Small Hope Bay offers a supremely relaxed atmosphere in a truly remote setting, with rustic, beachfront cabins that cluster just metres from the shore and a supremely personal level of care from the get go.

The Cove Atlantis is perfect for the mature traveler

This high-rise, high-luxury resort on New Providence Island is one of the largest in all of the Bahamas, offering guests unbridled luxury and an endless stream of all-inclusive benefits during their stay. With a focus on romance, relaxation and night time hedonism, The Cove is best suited for mature travellers and groups without children. On site, there are numerous gaming lounges and fine-dining bistros, not to mention the sprawling ‘ultra-pool’, Cain at The Cove, which comes complete with private cabanas and an outdoor gaming room.