MARGARITAVILLE BEACH RESORT NASSAU

Margaritaville occupies number 2 Bay Street, at the western end of downtown, pressed against the cruise pier and Junkanoo Beach. Two hundred and ninety-five units, ten food and drink outlets, four pools and a full water park with a lazy river, four slides and a surf wave pool.

It is by some distance the best family address in downtown Nassau, and its score confirms it: 4.5 out of 5 across more than two thousand reviews, second among the city's hotels. Families with young children find everything they need within walking distance.

Two reservations to know before booking, covered in detail below: the fee stack is the heaviest in Nassau, and the district goes quiet early in the evening.

Fins Up, the water park that makes the difference

This is the central argument. The Fins Up park brings together a lazy river, four slides, a surf wave pool, a zero-entry area for toddlers, a jump platform and a plunge pool. The official site advertises it as included for hotel guests, but some distributors mention a supplement for part of the access: have your advisor confirm the detail at 1 866 628-6241 before you go.

Four outdoor pools round things out, plus a wading pool. The fourth-level infinity pool is adults-only, with an ocean view. One detail several guests regret: it has no swim-up bar.

The beach, said exactly

The hotel faces a cove of Junkanoo Beach, a public beach. The hotel marks out a reserved section there with loungers, palms, security and watersports rental. So this is not a private beach in the strict sense: it is a guarded portion of a public beach, contiguous with the rest.

The sand is fine, the cove is sheltered from waves, and for young children swimming it is excellent. But Junkanoo Beach is one of the busiest beaches in the Caribbean. Loungers go early in the morning, and on heavy cruise days the beach and the water park both fill up.

For a quiet beach on ocean sand, Cable Beach is a quarter of an hour away by road: see the Goldwynn or Breezes.

Ten places to eat and drink

JWB Prime Steak and Seafood holds the fine dining slot. Frank and Lola's runs the Italian pizzeria. The Vacation Café covers all three meals. Feeding Frenzy, by the pool, serves burgers, tacos and salads. Joe Merchant's Bakery and the coffee counter next door handle the morning. Add the Changes in Latitude bar, the water park's S.O.S. Bar, the Milk and Cream creamery and The Pointe market.

All of it runs à la carte: the hotel is European plan. Paid dining packages exist, with contents that vary; your advisor can have them confirmed.

The rooms and residences

The Deluxe categories come as oceanfront with a king bed, oceanfront with two doubles, and poolside. All get quality bedding, a large television and a balcony or terrace.

Above them: the Marina Suite, the Sunset Suite and the Jimmy Buffett Suite. And above all the One Particular Harbour Residences, studio to four bedrooms, with a full kitchen and living room. For a large family or an extended stay, these residences change the equation, exactly as the Reef suites do at Atlantis.

The bill, without detours

Here is the part to read carefully, because it is travellers' first complaint.

On top of the rate come daily resort fees per room, Bahamian value added tax, mandatory service charges and a levy. Those percentages together exceed a quarter of the rate, before the fixed daily fee. Parking is charged, both valet and self-service.

Several guests report that the amount actually billed exceeded what they had been quoted, and that promotional credits were hard to honour. Ask your advisor for the complete total, fees and taxes included, before comparing with an all-inclusive. It is the only way to compare honestly.

What is covered in return: enhanced Wi-Fi, and basic in-room Wi-Fi.

What travellers complain about

The most structural grievance concerns the day passes sold to cruise passengers. Hotel guests feel those visitors are prioritized, which saturates the facilities by day. And when the ships leave, the place empties and some facilities close.

Then come uneven housekeeping, with towels and toiletries not replaced, heavy markups on meals and drinks, a lack of shade on the beach, chairs taken very early, slow restaurant service, and the attitude of part of the pool staff.

One last point, often underestimated: the district goes quiet early. Most restaurants in the area and several at the hotel close in early evening, and there is little going on after seven. A family that turns in early will never notice. A couple who wants to go out will be disappointed.

The conditions

You must be twenty-one to make the booking. Two children per adult, up to eighteen, stay at no extra charge in existing bedding. Cribs are free. The Parakeets Kid's Club takes children, and an adults-only pool lets parents breathe. Full breakfast and supervised childcare cost extra.

The airport is about sixteen kilometres away, twenty to twenty-five minutes.

Who this address suits

It suits families with young children, those who want a water park without paying a resort rate, travellers who like being in the heart of the city, and stays where bedtime comes early.

It suits less well couples after quiet and lively evenings, travellers sensitive to crowds, and those who prefer to pay for everything at once. The formula comparison sits on Nassau all-inclusive, and the whole archipelago on Bahamas travel.