SLS Baha Mar

This review is intended to help travelers who are not quite sure if Baha Mar and/or the SLS is for them. I had really debated about traveling there because I have heard a lot of negatives but there are also so many devout fans of Baha Mar - so I needed to experience it myself. I wanted to pass on some of what I learned/experienced in the hope that it will help you make a more informed decision. The Bahamas is undoubtedly beautiful - is Nassau/Baha Mar more beautiful than all of the other islands in the Caribbean? No, it is not. It is not uniquely beautiful enough to have the second highest VAT in the Caribbean or to charge close to $100 pp, per day in "resort fees." I read plenty of reviews before I went, every single one of them warned about the expensive food&drinks. I live in the 2nd most expensive city in the United States (NYC). I know all too well about overpriced food and $25 cocktails. And still I was astounded by the prices. Reading on a travel blog that the food is expensive is a very different experience than sitting in a restaurant and contemplating a $25 fruit salad or a $26 order of guac & chips. 2 cocktails and a sandwich by the pool = $75. 2 chicken sandwiches at a “food truck” = $50. The prices are so outrageous it actually feels offensive. Other travelers suggested tips and tricks like bringing your own alcohol and buying food at the supermarket. But doing all of that makes it feel like less of a vacation to me. The feeling of constantly being nickel and dimed by the hotel also makes it feel less relaxing and less hospitable. Many people in the staff were nice enough, but also didn't necessarily seem invested in the traveler's experience. The food was serviceable at many of the restaurants, with the only outstanding meal being at Marcus. The constant need to have a reservation at the restaurants coupled with a cancellation fee ($100pp) also makes it less relaxing and sometimes it felt like I was working for the hotel instead of the hotel accommodating me as the guest. If you're still undecided please see my checklist below. I think you will enjoy Baha Mar if: you've ever been in a frat or a sorority if you enjoy amusement parks/water parks if you enjoy being around kids - all kids, not just yours! if you like a party atmosphere - I don't mean festive, I mean "in da club" if you like to gamble and/or spend time in a mall if you don't mind crowds if you're not a foodie if you like Vegas if you like to do a lot of walking if you're with a big group of friends and or family If you have met some or all of these criteria and think Baha Mar is for you, let's talk about where to stay! I would advise against the SLS. It is VERY much a party hotel, the music is pumping in the lobby and by the pools, Thurs-Sat the rooftop bar is open and packed. It was unfortunate when 1 or 2 people were being escorted out by security b/c they had been over-served. On Friday night it was difficult to go through the lobby and to the elevator bank to get to my room because of the crowd. Other guests who are pre-gaming in adjacent rooms help to solidify the frat house feel, as did the half full cocktail someone left directly outside my door. Before arriving I had been in email contact with the concierge because the front desk/operator NEVER picks up the phone from an outside line. So I emailed to find out if the room I was booking had a separate bath and shower. I was told that all of the suites have a bath and shower, I need not worry. ...and yet upon check in it turned out that I did not have a bath in my room, in fact most of the suites do not have a separate bath and shower - I was then told that the hotel is phasing out of having tubs in the rooms. Disappointing to be misled and equally disappointing not to have a tub, but not a dealbreaker. The room was nice and it was clean, it had storage space, but no top sheet on the bed....and the smallest bathroom I have encountered at a hotel. If I enjoyed a cramped bathroom, I would have stayed home. To add insult to bathroom injury: there is zero privacy. The shower and toilet are enclosed with glass doors. Glass, like the kind you see through, as though they realized that the spaces are too small to have anything but a glass door because it would feel claustrophobically enclosed. I don’t think my knees literally touched the door, but I am 5’4 and they were VERY close. The entire bathroom itself has only a curtain to close it off from the bedroom area. The SLS seems to like this curtain theme: not only are curtains the bathroom "door" they are also the coverings for all the closets. I don't know if they think it looks chic? but it actually looks like they just ran out of money in the construction budget. The bathroom sink was perpetually clogged and the hardware was rusty. MANY of the reviews I read mentioned the peculiar bathroom set up, so I honestly hope that the manager does not have the temerity to comment on my post with the trite and sorry formulaic and utterly false "we are so sorry to hear about this and we are taking this into consideration" because it is as obvious as some clear bathroom glass that they are not, so to continue to mislead potential guests that it will be different is duplicitous. The SLS cannot be everything to everybody but they should be something to someone. Read less

My visit here was for my birthday and let me just say Marinique was great at making sure my stay was worth it. She listened and paid attention to detail when I mentioned it. She went over and beyond from the moment I checked in and even when I checked out. Everything went smooth while I was there. I have already mentioned to my friends about SLS and they now want to visit. Thank you for a great birthday experience Read less

Be careful at the Baha Mar. If you eat in the hotel you be subject to almost 40% up charge in fees and gratuities. Watch out for “private room” charges or $40 “drinking of the day “ charges. It was a vodka and soda. My best advice is venture out. The island is packed with fine dining as well as wonderful local fare. Try Magaro for fine Italian and Poop Deck for great local fish, lobster and don’t forget the chicken. It was said it was awesome!! Read less

This is beautiful property but not worth the hype. We came for a girls trip (13 of us) and it was problematic from the start. Check-in was extremely chaotic and they didn’t seem to understand how to handle a large group. The front desk staff was very slow and seemed confused with basic things. Once we got our room, the sink was clogged and wouldn’t properly drain the entire trip, even after maintenance. The food at the restaurants was great however the service was horrendous. Staff was extremely slow and unbothered. We came to Cleo for breakfast and it was mostly empty, yet they didn’t bring us water for 45 minutes and only after we had to chase the staff down. Dinner reservations were stressful - we booked them well in advance and they seemed to not understand basic coordination. You’re a large resort and don’t know how to manage a large party? We go on vacation to relax yet spent 4 days having to chase everyone to do their jobs. Extremely disappointing experience with an expensive price tag. Read less