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What’s Special About This Resort
There’s no shortage of beautiful golf courses in the Bahamas, but The Grand Lucayan is our choice, as it combines a top course and country club with all the amenities of a full-service, all-inclusive resort. Located in Freeport, on the island of Grand Bahama, it’s an easy resort to reach in a busier but picturesque Bahamian town.
The expansive property sits between a wonderful white-sand beach, the local marina, and the channel that connects it to the sea; the Reef Course & Country Club is minutes down the road. Golfer Magazine has included it in “The Top 100 Golf Courses in the World,” and other publications have ranked it #1 in the Bahamas. Other adventures include cave diving, horseback riding, watersports, and more.
Visitors have the option to book an all-inclusive rate at The Grand Lucayan if they’d like. This includes all dining, drinking, entertainment, and even golf at the Reef Course. Sunday Brunch and Friday Night Karaoke are not excluded, and there are no extra fees, gratuities, or taxes. All details can be found here.
Things we like:
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Free golf (for all-inclusive guests) at one of the top courses in the Bahamas -
Great location: in the center of Grand Bahama, on a white-sand beach, and near the marina for water excursions
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Right next door to a casino
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Great spa and wellness center
Things we don't like:
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Very little entertainment on-property, especially after dark -
Resort offers day passes to non-guests, which may add to the crowd and change the atmosphere
What to Do
The golf course at The Grand Lucayan is just minutes away at Reef Course & Country Club. You can play 9 or 18 holes here at no extra charge if you are on the resort’s all-inclusive package. The course has been described as challenging by experienced golfers, so bring your a-game!
There’s also the massive, oceanfront Senses Spa for after your round of golf – or for those who’d rather not anyway. Island-inspired treatments include massages, body wraps, facials, and salon services. There’s also a large fitness center with trained exercise professionals on-site.
Watersports are available for an extra charge on the wide, white-sand beach, and there are plenty of places to lounge around there and the network of swimming pools. You can also enjoy fishing, diving, and beach horseback riding off-property.
Biking along the island’s network of trails is another popular activity to enjoy on Grand Bahama. Don’t miss an excursion to Lucayan National Park just outside the city either.
What to Eat & Drink
The Grand Lucayan has three restaurants, one bar, and one café. Portobello’s is the main spot with indoor and outdoor tables near the pool and sea. À-la-carte breakfast is served here daily. A late-morning alternative is Aroma Café, the resort’s coffee, pastry, sandwich, and ice cream shop that stays open all day.
For lunch or early dinner, Waves Bar & Grill is the al fresco spot for classic grill food and authentic Caribbean cuisine. You can also try Pizzeria Capri for a Bahamian take on flatbread dishes. In the evenings, this restaurant becomes more upscale for dinner, with a tableside cooking experience.
Portobello’s re-opens for dinner and also becomes a bit more upscale, serving a traditional cuisine menu. The Lobby Bar is the final outlet with pre-dinner drinks and cocktails.
Room Guide
Room options at The Grand Lucayan include three different views and one suite category. All of them guaranteed a furnished balcony from which guests can enjoy the warm island air and whatever view they choose.
Island, Marina, and Ocean View Rooms: These rooms count about 400 square feet of space and can be configured with one king or two double beds. Up to four adults can stay in the latter.
Ocean Breeze Suites: This upgraded room doubles the space with a separate living room. You’ll also get double the balcony space. These rooms come with king-sized beds only.
Special Experiences
The Grand Lucayan offers a few unique experiences that represent special things to do in Grand Bahama. They’re partnered with UNEXSO, or the Underwater Explorers Society, to offer ecotourism activities like dolphin encounters and shark feeding experiences.
Also offered through UNEXSO is cave diving in Lucayan National Park, a one-of-a-kind experience that takes you through a labyrinth of underwater caverns beneath the island. There is a PADI course for this if you find it interesting, but know that this type of overhead diving is not for the faint of heart or the inexperienced.
Land-based experiences include horseback riding on the beach and biking through historic trails. One leads to Owl’s Hole, an inland ocean cavern with owl residents that is both beautiful and fascinating to see.
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