Rosewood Baha Mar Review

Situated within the impressive Baha Mar Resort, Rosewood is one of the three hotels on site: Rosewood, SLS (adults-only) and Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. Built in 2015, the sprawling 1,000-acre property has grown into one of the biggest beach resorts on the Islands. Families seeking fun and thrills can enjoy the Baha Bay aqua park, whilst adults can indulge in luxury shopping, visit the casino, and savour a vast array of culinary options, with over 45 restaurants and eateries to choose from.

Rosewood offers families travelling together the benefit of experiencing the amenities of the entire resort before returning to their luxurious sanctuary, complete with hotel-exclusive pools and guest areas.

Background and Concept

The $5.2 billion mega-resort is one of the most expansive resorts in the Caribbean and is home to three world-class hotel brands. It offers travellers an exciting culinary scene with over 45 food and beverage venues to choose from, two luxury spas, an 18-hole signature golf course, and 30 luxury retail outlets, including Rolex and Bvlgari, ensuring the amenities are as world-class as the hotels themselves.

The resort is innovative in its commitment to sustainability, with its on-site sanctuary offering a hands-on, fun learning experience about the local marine life and the various sustainability initiatives, including Conch and coral restoration and preservation. They also have a ‘pack with love’ initiative, encouraging guests to bring a backpack filled with clothing, educational toys, and books that are then given to local children in need; this initiative aims to make tourism an investment in the local community by supporting those who need it most.

Location

Located on the white sands of Nassau’s Cable Beach within the vibrant Baha Mar Resort, Rosewood is just a 13-minute transfer from Lynden Pindling Airport, which can be arranged by the guests, or through the hotel for an additional fee. This stunning setting offers guests a wealth of cultural and leisure activities to enjoy in the surrounding area, and a beautiful tranquil base where guests can relax and unwind.

Food and Drink

The culinary scene at Rosewood really shines, with five distinct options in the hotel itself, and over 40 additional destinations throughout the Baha Mar Resort, including restaurants lead by renowned chefs such as Dario Cecchini, Daniel Boulound, and Marcus Samuelsson.

Tingum on the Sand

There is nothing quite like savouring a delicious, traditional Bahamian breakfast, while feeling the sand between your toes. Their selection of breakfast and lunch dishes are well matched by the refreshing cocktails and fine wines that are also available.

Café Boulud The Bahamas

Bringing a European element to the Bahamas, guests can indulge in classic French cuisine while basking in the Bahamian views. The Eggs Benedict were a personal favourite for comfort food with a touch of elegance to start the day off well.

Costa

Offering up coastal cuisine infused with a captivating Mexican twist, these classic seafood dishes are as far removed as possible from the coffee brand that shares its name. The kids had a blast feeding the Koi fish, and our meals were freshly caught and truly delightful.

The Library

As the name would suggest, this cosy lounge is the perfect place to curl up with a book before dinner, with a selection of champagne, wine, and afternoon teas to enjoy. The Library also offers an array of sweet and savoury treats for a little afternoon pick-me-up

Manor Bar

At the Manor Bar, it’s always happy hour. Sit back and watch as they create delicious artisanal cocktails, crafted with premium spirits, and carefully curated ingredients designed to complement each element of the drink.

Rooms and Suites

Known for its modern, luxury interiors and styling, Rosewood takes inspiration from its beautiful island surroundings. Each guest room and suite is meticulously designed with the relaxed Bahamian culture and history in mind. With upscale guest rooms decorated in coastal palettes of corals, blues, and neutral tones, the rooms are truly inspired by the colours and life of the island. Guests can expect beautiful custom artwork throughout the hotel and guest rooms, with plush soft furnishings and curated collections of art, books, and decor in each of the 224 guest rooms and suites.

Each guest room and suite provides a seamlessly luxurious experience with Revolta Carmignani linens, Maison Caulieres bath amenities, a selection of fine Bahamian teas, and daily housekeeping and turndown service. Rosewood provides a gift of a reusable water bottle featuring artwork by Bahamian artists for every guest. This can be utilised throughout the resort, before taking it home as a memento from your travels.

Our Room During Our Stay

As this was a family vacation and our boys aren’t so little anymore, we opted to stay in connection rooms, which offered us the best of both worlds: a space where we could all relax separately while having the comfort of knowing the kids were just a connecting door away.

Our Premier Ocean View King Room was inviting and warm, combining elegance and contemporary elements to create a beautifully relaxing space. The modern poster bed, individual seating area, and full working desk allowed for both work and leisure spaces, and the in-room bar and decadent bathroom with a freestanding bathtub offered the perfect place to unwind with a long soak at the end of the day.

The connecting Premier Ocean View Queen Room, provided the boys with a queen-sized bed each, ample wardrobe space for even the over-packing travellers, and a full bathroom with its own freestanding bathtub, rainfall shower, and double vanity sinks. They were both very pleased with the welcome amenities, especially the homemade cookie pops, they were truly a lovely touch.

Both rooms had their own fully furnished balconies, with views of the resort pools and the ocean, which we enjoyed using in the evenings to watch the sun set before dinner, or to gaze at the beautiful night sky before bed.

Other Facilities

Baha Bay Waterpark

Guests from all of the Baha Mar Resorts have complimentary, unlimited access to the thrilling on-site aqua park. The 15-acre Baha Bay is a vibrant and Caribbean-themed water park, which is home to 30 attractions, nine food and beverage options, and the Caribbean’s only aquapark casino. The exclusive Baha Bay Beach Club, featuring private cabanas, infinity pools, and relaxation areas offers a haven for guests seeking something a little more exclusive and a little less thrill-based.

The aqua park offers something for everyone to enjoy, whether that’s Turtle Beach for the littles swimmers, or the adrenaline-pumping ‘Thunderball’, a high-speed drop slide that’s perfect for those brave travellers looking for the biggest thrills.

The boys particularly loved ‘The Surf,’ a three-lane surf rider simulator where guests could experience the thrill of surfing the waves, without the unpredictability of the ocean. Their experienced trainers were always on hand to offer tips and tricks to help the kids advance their skills. I was even brave enough to give it a go, and I have to admit, it was great fun! Though I’d say my personal favourites were the Beach Club infinity pools – they were just so relaxing.

Sense®, A Rosewood Spa

The brand’s desire to showcase the location of each resort is evident in their stunning Sense®, A Rosewood Spa. Guests can indulge in treatments inspired by local traditions and ingredients, creating a beautifully holistic experience.

The boutique spa is a soothing space, reflecting the relaxing colours of the island and inviting you to leave your troubles at the door and let your worries melt away. The spa menu offers a wide range of unique experiences and therapies designed to stimulate the mind and restore the body

I particularly enjoyed the ‘Bahamian Mood’ signature treatment. Using a beautiful blend of massage oils, including lemongrass and neem, it was truly a wellness journey. It was a gentle, relaxing, and invigorating experience, and I loved the elements that stemmed from the island’s rich culture and warm hospitality.

The Sanctuary

The Baha Mar’s on site Wildlife sanctuary provides guided tours and educational tours, designed to encourage and engage both adults and children alike. With animal feeding opportunities, and touch tank demonstrations, guests receive a hands-on insight into the brand’s commitment to nature conservation in The Bahamas. Guests can learn about the natural behaviours of the local marine life, and about the impact of tourism and how we can all contribute to ensure all creatures live long, meaningful lives in the wild.
The resort also offers a wide range of wildlife experiences, including an Aviary, Sanctuary, Flamingo Cay, and the resort’s most recent addition; the Aldabra Tortoise habitat.

Flamingo Cay

We were lucky enough to experience the Flamingo Encounter, which gave us an up close look at the iconic national bird of The Bahamas. Our incredible bird whisperer told us lots of interesting facts about the birds, and allowed us to spend time with them, and feed them. This was one of our favourite family moments from this trip. Guests who don’t fancy the Flamingo Encounter experience can still meet the beautiful birds at the daily flamingo parade.

Health and Fitness Facilities

The resort’s state-of-the-art gym is open 24/7 and offers various opportunities to stay on track with fitness goals, even from an ocean or two away from home. Guests can choose from outdoor experiences, including the unique Flamingo Yoga, where the resident birds join in for an outdoor yoga class. With curated trails for runners, tennis, and pickleball; there are plenty of ways to keep active at the resort.

Rosewood Explorers Kids Club

For little travellers, Rosewood Baha Mar provides an enriching and engaging kids club program run by dedicated and trained team members. With creativity in mind, the Rosewood Explorers Club offers a sanctuary of exploration, arts and crafts, and exciting activities to choose from. The kids club program caters for kids aged 4-12 and offers a variety of carefully curated daily activities designed to keep young explorers entertained, giving adult guests a moment to unwind.

Unique Selling Points

• Rosewood is a boutique retreat within a large, vibrant resort, offering guests the sanctuary of the hotel, while still having access to all the amenities of the whole resort.
• Truly a family retreat, with exclusive pools and cabanas available only to Rosewood guests, and the Rosewood explorers kids club on site to keep younger guests entertained.
• With the wildlife sanctuary, flamingo yoga, and Aldabra tortoise habitat, there are so many opportunities for unique wildlife interactions.
• The vibrant culinary scene offers 45 incredible, distinct food and beverage venues throughout the resort, ensuring meals will never feel repetitive.
• The resort takes pride in their sustainability initiatives and social responsibilities, as well as working to reduce the impact of tourism on the environment.

TLE Top Tips

• Whether you’re a yoga pro or a newbie, try flamingo yoga. The elegant birds will help you feel at home with nature and instantly feel at ease, and the gentle movements will refresh tired muscles.
• Ask for fish food from Costa and feed the beautiful Koi fish. The kids (and adults) will love watching the impressive, vibrant fish swim up for a snack, while you enjoy your own beautiful meal.
• Book a private cabana at the Baha Bay Beach Club and make use of their exclusive infinity pools while basking in the breathtaking ocean views. It’s the perfect way to spend a relaxed day at the resort for guests who don’t need the extra adrenaline of the waterpark rides and activities.
• Get involved with helping the community. Rosewood’s ‘Pack with Love’ program encourages guests to bring a backpack filled with learning tools like books, clothing, and essentials. This initiative is perfect to get children involved with, to help them understand how they are contributing to helping children in need.
• The Baha Bay Aqua Park offers thrilling attractions, delicious food outlets, and multiple relaxation areas. With unlimited entrance, make the most of this thrilling perk – whether you visit once or once a day, guests will never be bored here. The 500,000-gallon wave pool was a firm favourite; we enjoyed being thrashed around in the massive waves, and it was smiles all around, even from our teenager (travel win)

Final Thoughts

As a family, we had a wonderful experience staying at Rosewood Baha Mar and experiencing everything the Baha Mar Resort had to offer. The warm and attentive service we received at Rosewood was unwavering, and the team’s commitment to ensuring every little detail was flawlessly executed was refreshing. The beautiful Bahamian culture followed us back to the hotel after busy days exploring and indulging in the fun activities of the resort. The hotel was a sanctuary, despite being part of a large resort, it never felt overwhelming there. The brand’s commitment to sustainability and social responsibility was inspiring and helped our family understand the true meaning of travelling with a purpose. Rosewood was family-friendly, engaging and fun for all the family, and before the plane had even left the runway, the boys wanted to know, “When can we come back?”

Rosewood Baha Mar, features in our guide to the best hotels in the Bahamas