SLS Baha Mar or Grand Hyatt? I did not make my Senior Spring Break Trip to the Bahamas in 1980. I finally made the trip in 2022. Although I continue to cut down my list of states to visit, I am also working on places I missed over the years. I booked my flight on Southwest first and made reservations at SLS Baha Mar and Grand Hyatt. In this post, I share my experience at each hotel. I stayed for two days and used my Amex Platinum benefits to book at SLS Baha Mar. Then I made a reservation for two days at the Grand Hyatt using my World of Hyatt credit card. Finally, I headed to Miami when I left the Bahamas. You are too close not to take the trip or vice versa. Do not forget to purchase my favorite sunscreen using the link below.

Airport Transfers to SLS Baha Mar and Grand Hyatt

The weather in Fort Lauderdale caused Southwest to issue a weather alert for passengers holding tickets. Therefore, I waited until I landed in the Bahamas (New Providence Island) to arrange transportation to the hotel. At the time of this post, rideshare is unavailable in Nassau. A taxi with a tip is slightly cheaper than the transportation service recommended by SLS. For me, it was easier to take a taxi to and from the airport.

There are two types of taxis: yellow license plates with black letters and black license plates with yellow letters. The latter is more expensive. You pay a base fare of $22 and $2 for each piece of luggage. My taxi to the property was $32, but the taxi to the airport was $28. Bring plenty of singles and or small bills. Change is hard to come by in the Bahamas.

Keeping it Real with the Taxi Driver

My taxi driver, Ken, gave me an impromptu tour of the Bahamas as he drove to the hotel. He is not a fan of SLS. At first, I dismissed his rhetoric. However, I witnessed the behavior he mentioned while watching guests interact with staff. Although economic injustice or rude behavior by guests is unfortunate, I was mindful of good customer service. Look for a service charge on your receipt at most bars and restaurants on the property. However, I left extra gratuity when customer service was exceptional.

On the return trip to the airport, the driver told me not to go to Freeport after mentioning Ken suggested I visit. This driver stated Freeport never recovered from the hurricane in 2017.

SLS Baha Mar and Grand Hyatt Shareables

I received a pink bracelet for SLS and a white bracelet for Grand Hyatt as my room key. I prefer the bracelet-style key system. The property is massive, and you can use the facilities, lounges, pools, and unlimited access to Baha Bay with either reservation. If you like to gamble, you will enjoy the casino. I walked from the SLS to the Grand Hyatt West when it was time for me to switch hotels. Take advantage of 40 restaurants, bars, and lounges to accommodate your dining needs. By the way, if you are vacationing during the 4^th of July, you will see fireworks on the property. I could also see fireworks on one of the other islands from my room.

Dining Options

The front desk clerk at SLS recommended the Stix Noodle Bar. I enjoyed the Drunken Noodles and Summer Gaisha cocktail. The dish was shareable. I had complimentary breakfast at Cleo, named #5 on OpenTable’s list of the hottest US restaurants. The BBQ Short Rib Nachos at the Swimming Pig Gastropub was delicious. You can watch a sporting event on one of the TVs throughout the pub. By far, the customer service at Marcus at Baha Mar was exceptional. I was seated beachside and ordered the conch croquettes and fried yard bird. I had leftovers. Finally, I spent my hotel credit at the Bungalow Pool Bar. An order of Buffalo Wings, Cesar Salad with shrimp, two cocktails, tax, and service charge was $100. I enjoyed my meal in the room.

SLS Baha Mar

The attention to detail for SLS included robes, slippers, designer hair products, monogram bedding, alkaline water, and a martini shaker. As part of the benefits of making a reservation through the Hotel Collection with Amex, I received a $100 credit and complimentary breakfast at Cleo each morning. The buffet is $47.50. The front desk clerk claimed the SLS Baha Mar is for adults only. I saw children. There are three outdoor pools. However, children were not present near the Bungalow Pool Bar.

Grand Hyatt

When I checked in at the Grand Hyatt, I did not receive a complimentary breakfast, but the front desk clerk referred to the SLS as the party hotel. I did not have access to a robe or slippers. In addition, I called maintenance to fix the toilet that stopped flushing. The hotel should have been proactive and not allowed guests to enter the room until maintenance fixed the toilet. The housekeeper at each hotel left extra water when I tipped.

SLS Baha Mar or Grand Hyatt

I applied my $200 Hotel credit and 22,000 membership rewards points from Amex to the cost of my room at SLS Baha Mar. In addition, I factored in the $100 hotel credit that I used to save money on a meal. I also earned 5X membership rewards points for my prepaid booking. I did not receive anything extra from Grand Hyatt. There were fewer benefits to help offset the cost, but I earned 9X total points for my Hyatt stay. If I return to the Bahamas, I will reserve a room at SLS because of the credits I received using my Amex Platinum card, and I liked the adult-friendly vibe. The Grand Hyatt is more family-friendly. As an educator, I prefer being around fewer children during summer vacation.