Best Pool Resort Stays in Nassau
Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, offers pool stays at very different scales. SLS at Baha Mar is a beachfront resort with two outdoor pools, a fitness center, a tennis court and water sports, while Ocean West Boutique Hotel is a small property with a pool that looks over the ocean and a private beach area. Orange Hill Beach Inn, A Stone's Throw Away and the historic Graycliff Hotel each give the pool a different setting, from a hillside garden to a waterfall. Guest ratings here run from 7.5 to 8.4, so I compare each option below by setting, size and what surrounds the water.
Where to stay
Pools by the sea, large and small
What sets Nassau pool resorts apart is how different the settings are. One address has two pools and a tennis court on the beach, another has a quiet pool with ocean views, and a third has a pool with a waterfall in a Bahamian-style guesthouse. I would choose by the kind of stay you want, because the ratings in this selection are close and the character differs far more.
SLS at Baha Mar, rated 7.8 from 280 reviews, is the large resort of this selection. It offers ocean-front rooms and suites, two outdoor pools and a range of dining options, plus a fitness center, a tennis court and water sports facilities. That mix makes it a full-service base for a family or a group of friends who want to move between pool, beach and court without leaving the property. Its rating is the lowest of the larger options, so I would read recent comments, but if you want everything on site, it is the address I would look at first for scale.
Ocean West Boutique Hotel, rated 8.4 from 168 reviews, is the highest-rated stay here. It combines a private beach area, a swimming pool with ocean views and lush gardens, with air-conditioned rooms, private bathrooms and balconies with sea views. A fitness center and a bar complete the picture. I would choose it for a quieter trip where the pool, the garden and the view matter more than a long list of facilities. With 168 reviews, its score rests on a smaller base than the big resort, so I treat it as promising rather than proven.
Orange Hill Beach Inn, rated 8.2 from 371 reviews, sits on a hill overlooking Orange Hill Beach, with tropical gardens, a swimming pool and air-conditioned rooms with balconies. Guests can choose a pool view or a sea view, and some studios have kitchenettes for longer stays. A Stone's Throw Away, rated 7.5 from 107 reviews, is a Bahamian-style bed and breakfast with an outdoor pool with a waterfall, on-site dining and private balconies in every room. It is a short walk from the beach and a quick drive from the airport, which suits a short or practical stay.
Graycliff Hotel, rated 7.5 from 48 reviews, adds history to the pool question. This historic hotel has a year-round outdoor pool, a lush garden, a sun terrace, a pool bar and family rooms, and its restaurant serves French, Italian, seafood, steakhouse, European and Caribbean cuisines. With so few reviews, I would not lean on its score. My advice for the whole selection is to decide between a large resort with facilities, a boutique stay with a view, and a small guesthouse with character, then use the ratings only to break ties.
A traveler's takeI would choose SLS at Baha Mar for a group that wants two pools, tennis and water sports in one place, and Ocean West Boutique Hotel for a quieter stay built around a pool with ocean views. Nassau is the capital of the Bahamas and a Caribbean destination, so the pool is only part of the trip, and a short walk to the beach, as at A Stone's Throw Away, can matter as much. My notes rely on facts listed for each property, not on a single stay.
Pool ResortOcean West Boutique Hotel
Private beach, ocean-view pool, and serene gardens in Nassau
Why guests love itOcean West Boutique Hotel suits a calm family beach stay in Nassau rather than a busy one. There is a private beach area, a pool with ocean views and gardens to wander, and rooms have balconies facing the sea. A bar and a fitness center complete the list, but there is no restaurant or kids' club listed, so I would plan most meals out. The 8.4 score from 168 reviews is very good for a three-star boutique hotel.
Pool ResortOrange Hill Beach Inn
Hilltop inn with tropical gardens, a pool, and beach access
Why guests love itOrange Hill Beach Inn sits on a hill above Orange Hill Beach in Nassau, a two-minute walk from the sand, and is rated 8.2 from 371 reviews. Every air-conditioned room has a balcony with a pool or sea view. Studios come with kitchenettes, handy for families who prefer to prepare some of their own meals. A pool set among tropical gardens and a restaurant serving international dishes complete the stay, and Caves Village Plaza is a short walk away.
Pool ResortSLS at Baha Mar
Ocean-front rooms, two outdoor pools, and diverse dining in Nassau
Why guests love itSLS at Baha Mar gives families enough to fill a beach day without leaving the property: two outdoor pools, a tennis court, water sports facilities and several dining options are all on site. Ocean-front rooms and suites keep the sea in view from your room. The 7.8 score from 280 reviews is solid rather than outstanding, so I would book it for the facilities more than for flawless service. Teenagers will probably enjoy the water sports most.
Pool ResortA Stone's Throw Away
Bahamian charm with a waterfall pool and private balconies
Why guests love itA Stone's Throw Away is a Bahamian-style bed and breakfast where children will most likely head straight for the outdoor pool with its waterfall. Rooms are spacious with private balconies, there is dining on site, and the beach is a short walk away. The quick drive from the airport makes arrival day easier with tired children. The 7.5 score from 107 reviews is only fair, so I would read recent reviews before booking and treat it as a simple base.
Pool ResortGraycliff Hotel
Historic elegance with a year-round pool and diverse fine dining
Why guests love itGraycliff Hotel is a historic five-star address in Nassau with family rooms, which helps when travelling with children. The year-round outdoor pool, the lush garden and the sun terrace give the family space to spend time outside, with a pool bar close by. The traditional restaurant covers French, Italian, seafood, steakhouse, European and Caribbean cuisines and offers special dietary menus, so mixed tastes are easy to please. Guests rate it 7.5 from 48 reviews.
Local tips
- 1Decide first between a large resort and a small property: SLS at Baha Mar has two outdoor pools and a tennis court, while the other four are smaller and quieter.
- 2For a pool with ocean views, look at Ocean West Boutique Hotel, which also has a private beach area and balconies with sea views.
- 3Orange Hill Beach Inn lets you choose a pool view or a sea view, so say which you prefer when you book.
- 4If you want a short walk to the beach and a quick drive from the airport, A Stone's Throw Away fits a practical stay.
- 5Graycliff Hotel has a year-round outdoor pool, useful if your dates fall outside the warmest months.
- 6Read review counts with the scores: Graycliff Hotel has 48 reviews and SLS at Baha Mar has 280, so the same rating means different things.