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Dining at Sandals Grand Bahamian
The Cricketer's Pub
This is one of the restaurants at Sandals - Guests just walk in, sit
down, order from the menu - a waitress takes your order - and eat just
like any other restaurant - with one exception- you don't pay at the end
of your meal because it is included! It took me awhile to get used to
this because every other all inclusive resort I have been to had a
moo-cow style cafeteria - buffet and self-serve.
Inside The Cricketer's Pub
Talk about Retro - the interior of the Cricketer's Pub was a treasure
trove of antiques. This particular Sandals Resort was once a fancy
estate and Sandals has gone to great lengths to furnish it with
authentic period pieces - from the wooden bar to the mirrors and
pictures hanging on the wall to the beautiful inlaid tile on the floor.
Beautiful Carved Chair
Look at this chair! The resort is full of pieces like this! If I knew
more about antiques I would tell you what type of chair it is...but I
don't so I can't!
Baccarat Restaurant
The Baccarat Restaurant Serves Classical French Cuisine - Decor of the
Restaurant is Art Nouveau. Quite Snazzy.
MY CARIBBEAN VACATION
Sandals Grand Bahamian in Nassau
Our stay at the Sandals Grand Bahamian in Nassau, Bahamas was most enjoyable! They say that the Sandals Grand Bahamian resort was voted the Caribbean's top spa and resort, and I can see why.
First of all, location, location, location... Cable beach has a reputation for being the nicest beach in Nassau, and this is quite true. It is absolutely beautiful and just how I imagined a Bahamian beach should look. It is a very long beach and the water is that beautiful blue green color that makes you just want to jump in.
The water off the beach is also very shallow for quite a ways out, so
you can swim and snorkel around without losing sight of the bottom.
There is lots to do, if you are the active type, volley ball,
snorkeling, puttering around on a catamaran, and my all time favorite:
nothing! I did a lot of that and turned out to be very good at it! My
favorite place to do nothing was the little island they have right off
of Cable beach - called Sandals Cay.
Sandals Cay - The Private Island
The Private Little Off Shore Island and Ferry at the
Sandals Resort.
Sandals has a private ferry that runs at 10 minutes to the hour which will get you over there (it is really close; the ferry ride takes about 5 minutes) and back.
The Sandals resort actually shares the little
island with some cruise ships (they went halvsies), so you really only
have access to one half of the little island, but that is more than
enough.
There is a little restaurant there with a swimming pool and the ever-so-important pool bar (swim up variety) and then lots and lots of solitude, beautiful foliage and well placed chairs and tables.
Sandals Cay is also an excellent place for a picnic
lunch - no need to pack your own picnic basket though, just let your
butler know that you would like to lunch on the island and would he be
so kind as to arrange it?
There are ample, secluded locations for just such a thing on the
island - each one prettier than the last - landscaped just enough to
know they care, but not enough to disturb the natural harmony of the
island.
I even snagged a few design tips for my garden back home!
Madame also thinks she might fancy a massage afterwards, and then
would like to be left alone to read her book, ZEN out and become one
with nature. (Madame has a few hippy tendencies now and again...)
Madame could get used to this!
A Note On Service
The staff at all of the Sandals resorts understand the meaning of service - they are trained professionals - the private butlers have been schooled in the English traditions. Accordingly, they understand that their job is to make sure you enjoy yourself while you their guests, to act as facilitators who take care of all the bothersome details of everyday life.
They do not try to become your friends, nor pester you every 5 minutes to ask whether "everything is OK", nor wait around with their hand out until you tip them. They come when you need them, do what you ask and disappear.
For me, this alone is a reason to go to Sandals - nothing is more stressful than constantly worrying whether I have enough cash on hand for a proper tip, not to mention the uncertainty of when and how much to tip. I end up spending my whole time trying to duck the resort personnel - which takes away from the entire experience. Sandals has a neat solution to this: Sandals Resorts DO NOT ALLOW TIPPING!
Water Sports at Sandals
Sailing on a Catamaran
A lone catamaran off of Cable Beach in Nassau, Bahamas.
The Pool at Sandals
With the ocean in the background, the swimming pool appears to extend
right into the waters of the Caribbean. (There are a total of 8
pools, btw.) The resort was nearly full
when we were there, but never appeared crowded. Sandals resorts are
large and there are so many little nooks and crannies that you can
always find private areas. I liked that.
The Swim-Up Pool Bar
Forgot your wallet? No Problem - they don't accept money anyway - just
order a drink already!
Other Activities at Sandals
Chess Anyone?
Life Size Chess Game
This is a picture of one of the little bungalow suites - they are
secluded and each has a little private garden which is lovingly
maintained by one of the many gardeners. The gardens are also full of
surprises - like this chess game - you round the corner of the garden
path and voilà - a scene right out of Alice in Wonderland
- minus the crazy queen shouting "Off with her head" - that
wouldn't do at all!
The Red Lane Spa
Crystal Room Restaurant
"Masterpiece cuisine is served in white-gloved splendor in The Crystal Room, the most stunning room in the islands"
Worth a visit just to take a gander at that chandelier - made of crystal...get it?
