The Ocean Club is one of our favorite places. It’s located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas and it truly is paradise! We had the opportunity to visit two years ago to celebrate Jean’s 60th birthday and ever since that trip we’ve been ready to go back! As soon as the Bahamas opened up to visitors, we made plans for our return to The Ocean Club. Since travel is starting to happen again (yay!), we wanted to share all the details about getting to the Bahamas and all about The Ocean Club!
Getting to the Bahamas
A big plus about traveling to The Ocean Club is the non-stop direct flight from DFW to Nassau. It’s about 3 hours and is very easy to do with kids! Currently, because of COVID, you must apply for a Health Travel Visa before flying to the Bahamas. This website has all the info you need, but we’ll break it down here too:
- No more than five days prior to your flight, you must have a negative PCR test or be fully vaccinated for two weeks prior.
- Once you receive the test results, you’re able to apply for a Health Travel Visa on this website
- It takes 24/48 hours to be approved (we were approved the night before our flight).
- Note: Children 10 & under to do not need a negative test to travel.
- The Ocean Club provides on-site testing for travel back to the United States (this was so easy and stress-free)
We booked transportation from the airport through the hotel, including three car seats. We had enough room for nine of us, our luggage and golf clubs! It’s a short 30 minute drive from the airport in Nassau to The Ocean Club.
Staying at the Ocean Club
If you ever have the opportunity to go to The Ocean Club… go! It is magical and so elegantly charming. We can’t put into words how much we love this special place. With just 100 rooms, it’s so peaceful and never seems busy! Most everything is outside, including the restaurants which have the most amazing views of the ocean. Nearly all the guest rooms and suites also have ocean views and it’s a view of which we can never tire.
- Rooms: There are two different wings, the Hartford Wing and the Crescent Wing. We’ve stayed in both areas and there are some differences. The Crescent Wing rooms are all ocean front, a bit more spacious and decorated in a more traditional island style. The rooms in the Hartford Wing have a more modern vibe and can be a better set-up for families (there is a pull out couch and room for a crib). There are ocean view and garden view rooms available in the Hartford wing. All rooms have either a private terrace or balcony, which we love for sitting outside after the kids are in bed and also for room service breakfast.
- Beach: The beach is just a two minute walk from most rooms on property. It’s a beautiful white sand beach that stretches for miles in either direction, with crystal clear water that is so warm and inviting. The boys couldn’t stay out of the water! The hotel staff is there ready to set up lounges, towels, umbrellas and sand toys. The staff brings a bucket of ice cold bottled water and with food and beverage service available at the touch of a button, there isn’t any reason to leave. We spent most mornings here after breakfast!
- Pools: The Ocean Club has three pools available, the Ocean Pool (everyone is welcome), Versailles Pool (adults only) and the Family Pool. Each pool has a lifeguard on duty and food and beverage service available. We spent almost all our pool time at the Ocean Pool, because it has the most spectacular view out over the infinity edge pool, right out to the ocean! After a morning at the beach, we come up for lunch and swimming at the Ocean Pool and generally we spend the rest of the afternoon here. The Versailles Pool is beautiful, secluded and quiet, while the Family Pool is shallow with beach-like access, a waterfall and loads of pool toys and fun activities.
- Kids: One of the reason we love coming here is that the resort is very kid-friendly. The staff go out of their way to ensure that the kids have the best time. Kids 5 & under eat free, there is a kids club, playground and babysitting service available. The staff was always available to give the boys a ride in the golf cart from our room to Gigi’s room and then to breakfast. They loved it.
- Restaurants/Bars: Dune is the main resort restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and our favorite for breakfast and dinner. The views from Dune are breathtaking! A Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant, the food is superb. Ocean is the restaurant adjacent to the pool. We had lunch at the pool every day and it was the best. Great cocktails are also served at the pool and we tried some new ones. The kids menu covered all the bases for the boys, including ice cream sundaes for dessert. Room service is also an excellent option, serving most of the menu from Dune. We enjoyed room service one night for dinner and once for breakfast. The Martini Bar is a must-visit. It’s located in the main house and you may remember seeing it in Casino Royale. The bartender mixes the best selection of martinis you can imagine!
- Spa: The treatment rooms at the Spa are individual Villas each with its own private garden and outdoor bathtub. It’s such a unique experience and so relaxing! The spa menu is extensive with facials, massages and hair and nail services available. We each enjoyed a facial and afterward we were so relaxed, we could hardly move!
- Golf: If you play golf, The Ocean Club golf club is not to be missed. Our husbands and the boys played while we were there and couldn’t stop talking about it. Complimentary transportation is provided.
- Tennis: The six clay courts are so inviting! We really wanted to get a tennis game in during our stay, but it just didn’t happen. Next time!
Our stay at The Ocean Club was everything we hoped for and more… we’re already talking about “next time”!
What to Bring
