Baha Mar with Kids: A Family-Friendly Trip to the Bahamas
- Taryn
- Feb 11
- 5 min read
Updated: Feb 22
Proof that luxury and kid-friendly can coexist.
A Guide to Navigating Baha Mar With Kids
This resort is one you'll considering revisiting in years to come! Here are some of the things that made our trip easily navigable:
Kids 5 and Under Eat Free
(at participating restaurants with an adult entree purchase)
Check out the full list of participating restaurants here, and book your reservations up to 60 days in advance. Dinner reservations to popular picks like Costa, and Marcus go quickly, so be sure to look for reservations once you've confirmed your trip!
A few of our kid-friendly favorites include:
Costa- Nestled within the Rosewood section of the resort, this restaurant serves delicious Mexican fare. It's a top family favorite as the restaurant is surrounded by a Koi fish pond, where the kids can feed cups of fish food before their meals. Bonus tip- this location participates in the kids eat free promotion, and for parents they have the most amazing cocktails!
Marcus Fish + Chop House- Also part of the kids eat free promotion, and serves fresh, local food in a beautiful outdoor setting. We love this restaurant for the atmosphere and the kids enjoyed the kind service and kids meals.
Pizza Lab- If you want a quick meal to-go, or you have more selective eaters, order pizza from their takeout counter. We grabbed pizza and sat outside around the resort a few nights when my kids needed a break from sit down meals.
Other kid friendly mentions include Swimming Pig and North25.
Reserve Encounters at the Wildlife Sanctuary
This was a highlight of our trip! We booked the Wildlife Feeding and Touch Tank experience that included watching the specialist feed sea turtles, nurse sharks, and stingrays. There is a touch tank at the end of the activity where you can also get up close to starfish and other invertebrate. Such a cool experience, especially if your children love sea creatures!
Price is per person, and offered a few times daily. Some activities have age restrictions, but this one was all ages and free admission for kids 3 and under.
Check Out the Flamingos
You can find the flamingos in Flamingo Cay, and also catch the free flamingo parade each morning at 9:30am! If you want a closer look, book an official encounter offered a few time daily.
Visit the Waterpark
The Baha Bay Waterpark is one of the top reasons to book this resort with kids. This far exceeds your typical waterpark experience. From the lazy river, to slides for all ages, this park has enough for the whole family. Waterpark entry is included with your resort stay and wristbands are assigned at check-in. (This is your pass to enter the park each day, so be sure to have the correct number of guests stated on your hotel reservation.)
It's very clean, lifeguarded, and has food on site. As a parent to four, I love that once you're there, there's no reason to leave for the day. There are also plenty of chairs, so no battling to get there early. The waterpark doesn't open until 10am each day, so it's nice to be able to enjoy a leisurely breakfast before the day begins.
We love the Turtle Beach area because the slides are small enough that the boys can go independently, but adults are also permitted to slide with younger kids if needed. Stingray Cove is another section my elementary age boys love. The structures are a bit bigger, with taller slides. Both of these areas are great for younger crowds, and the slides all empty into shallow water.
The lazy river is also a family favorite, and includes double tubes adults can use with younger kids.
Baha Bay also includes the Beach Club, which is a small section to the right when you enter the park. Here you can reserve chairs for the day, and it includes access to a private infinity pool overlooking the ocean. The fee for this reservation is returned to you in the form of food credit for the day, so it's a great deal if you have older children that will navigate the waterpark on their own while you relax.
(There is discourse online about this section of the park, but mainly in confusion over whether reserving chairs in the water park is necessary. If you want to access this specific pool, than yes reserving chairs here at the Beach Club is the only option. Everyone in your party over the age of 11 needs their own chair at the Beach Club, however if you are just visiting the water park for all of the other amenities, reserving chairs here is not a necessary, but rather an additional luxury.)
Turtle Beach- Perfect for toddlers and small children. These multi colored slides empty into a shallow pool
Stingray Cove- Great for elementary aged kids with bigger slides, but still easily navigable
Lazy River- All ages can enjoy the river. Be sure to stay to the left for a smooth ride, or shift to the right for more speed.
Beach Club- An optional private section of the park. A reservation is required, but the fee is applied as a food credit. Anyone over the age of 11 needs their own chair, and it comes with access to their infinity pool overlooking the beach.
Food vendors and ice cream are available within the park, as well as access to the lagoon style wave pool and larger slides for teens and adults. Bathrooms are widely available and maintained nicely. Overall such an enjoyable way to spend the day!
Download the Activity Calendar
Here you can find activities around the property, or search Family Activities in the Baha Mar app to see daily complimentary activities including Bingo, Crafts, Sandcastle building and more!
If you're looking for a secluded space to take a break with the kids, check out the lesser known Sandy Cay playground, located near the Kids Explorer's Club.
Schedule the Kids Club
One of the greatest features at Baha Mar is their extensive kids club. Designed for kids ages 3-12 years old, activities range from crafts to mini golf, nature walks, scavenger hunts, and more.
Note- kids must be potty trained in order to book the drop-off program.
Book Transportation Ahead of Time
Swift Transportation is a private transportation company that we had an excellent experience with. Their pricing includes car seats, booster seats, and even stops at a grocery/and or liquor store! Our trip cost $65 for 6 people ($130 round trip) and can be booked right online at the link above.
Other Tips
A small refrigerator and/or microwave can be requested in-room for a small fee.
Purchase a reusable cup at the Drift Bar or Umami Burger at the beginning of your stay. Save money by getting refilled at the pool bars and pizza restaurant throughout your stay!
Prior to your stay make any restaurant reservations, especially for dinner. Then book any cabanas or chaise lounges, including chairs at the Beach Club. Finally, reserve any paid activities ahead of time.
Checklist
Prior to your stay make any restaurant reservations, especially for dinner. Then book any cabanas or chaise lounges, including chairs at the Beach Club (scroll up for more on this). Finally, reserve any paid activities ahead of time. All of this can be completed online!
Traveling with family doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury. This trip exceeded our expectations and we didn't even experience all the resort has to offer. Next trip we plan to check out the complimentary kayaking, book time in the Kids Club, and spend more time enjoying the crystal blue beaches!
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