- Sandals Royal Bahamian Hotel & Spa (Cable Beach, New Providence Island; tel. 800/SANDALS or 242/327-6400; www.sandals.com): This Jamaican chain of couples-only, all-inclusive hotels is a honeymooners' favorite. The Bahamas' branch of the chain is more upscale than many of its Jamaican counterparts, and it 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.
- One&Only Ocean Club (Paradise Island; tel. 800/321-3000 in the U.S. only, or 242/363-2501; www.oneandonlyresorts.com): It's elegant, low-key, and low-rise, and it feels exclusive. The guests include many older honeymoon couples. With waterfalls, fountains, reflecting pools, and a stone gazebo, the Ocean Club's formal terraced gardens were inspired by the club's founder (an heir to the A&P fortune) and are the most impressive in The Bahamas. 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): Perfect for honeymooners seeking a quiet 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, but here you can sneak away for luxury, solitude, and romance.
- Kamalame Cay (Staniard Creek, Andros; tel. 242/368-6281; www.kamalame.com): You'll need deep pockets to afford one of the most exclusive resorts in the Out Islands, a perfect honeymoon retreat for the couple who wants 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.
- Green Turtle Club (Green Turtle Cay, the Abacos; tel. 242/365-4271; www.greenturtleclub.com): Romantics appreciate this resort's 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): For barefoot elegance and romance in the sands, this sophisticated little hideaway is one of the gems of the yachting haven known as 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): This place was named because of 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/OUTPOST or 242/333-2030; www.pinksandsresort.com): You can have a spectacular getaway at this elite retreat on an 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): Right on the Atlantic, built on the grounds of an old plantation, Stella Maris has become a social hub on Long Island. Sailing is important here, as are diving and getting away from it all. Many of the guests hail from Germany, and they lend the place a European flair. The sleepy island itself is one of the most beautiful in The Bahamas, and honeymooners fit into the grand scheme of things perfectly.
The Bahamas Travel Experiences
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FORFAR Field Station, Andros Island, Bahamas
Once we arrived at the FORFAR Field Station in Andros we had some lunch then went to the campsite to set up our tents for the week. We s... Continue reading »
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CocoCay
Hello everyone, a lot has happened since my last entry. We embarked on the very spacious and beautiful cruise ship "Mariner off the seas... Continue reading »
