Memories Grand Bahama Beach and Casino Resort

This resort was upgraded and rebranded in 2014 with a modern and sleek look that's more urban than island. A geometric theme in the lobby marries square wooden columns with gray abstract carpet and circular lounges and coffee tables. Recessed ceilings are painted a bold yellow and hung with white-floral lighting centerpieces. 

Selections buffet restaurant echoes the lobby decor, but with soaring ceilings, giant hoop lights hanging overhead, and pops of bright red in the seating. The initial visual impact is grand, but a bit undone by the relentless noise from the buffet crowd and cutlery clank. H Steak House and Japanese Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar Nagano step style up a notch, with swanky reservation-only spaces evocative of high-end Las Vegas joints. The steak house occupies a large circular space with a dramatic domed ceiling over a concentric circular layout of dark-brown leather booths with timber chairs and gold accents. Nagano restaurant across the way is a modern Japanese-style space with a black granite sushi bar and a string of bright-red hanging lanterns. 

On the other end of the spectrum, Prop Club is a sports bar housed in a vast industrial shed decked out with plane-wreck-meets-abandoned-marina decor strewn amongst overhead rafters and on walls. There are old wooden boat bodies, oars, buoys, haphazard sheets of corrugated tin, and every wrecked plane part save for the fuselage itself. There’s even a plane cockpit nose-diving the jungle garden entrance for a real plane-wreck effect. By day, the pool tables are dominated by kids learning to play. By night, the space evolves into a crowded booze-fest. The Splash pool bar serves cocktails out of an old stone sugar mill, which gives the pool a quirky fort-like dimension. 

Memories Grand Bahama is set on Lucaya Beach's sandy shore in the heart of Freeport’s touristy resort hub. It’s a six-minute walk from Port Lucaya Marketplace, a bustling hotspot of shopping, dining and nightlife. Reef Course & Country Club is a five-minute drive away. There’s also plenty of entertainment at the nearby Marketplace, should guests feel like a change of scenery. Grand Bahama International Airport is a 13-minute drive away.

Guest rooms are all spacious, clean and comfortable -- if a bit generic in decor with subtle British Colonial nods typical of the Bahamas. Dark-wood furniture and two-poster headboards complement a rich fabric palette of reds and burgundies, offsetting the crisp white bedding. A deep cushion arrangement on beds creates a homey feel, while diamond-patterned carpet and zigzag bed throws add texture. Rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers, mini-fridges, small dining settings, and sofa beds. Bathrooms feature curvaceous vanities with elegant fixtures and large mirrors. Wear and tear (corroded fixtures and grout) shows in some shower/tub combos, but not others, and some guests complain of general in-room wear. Scales and larger-than-average individual toiletries are provided, as are irons and ironing boards, safes, hairdryers, extra blankets, bluetooth audio stations, and USB charging stations. Some rooms have large ground-floor patios and luxurious plunge pools, but they open directly onto resort grounds, which could pose privacy issues for some. Rooms come in double, king, or one-bedroom suite-style configurations, and with or without balconies. Rooms are also divided by their views (Aquatic Club, Street, Ocean, Pool, or Island). 

Being an all-inclusive resort, this property has eateries, bars and features in abundance, and guests can upgrade to Diamond Club status for a range of perks such as personal butlers, discounts, VIP check-in, and access to a club lounge with drinks and canapes available throughout the day. The beach caters to Diamond Club guests on one side, with lavish two-person cabanas, while a little farther down the beach, plenty of deckchairs and sun umbrellas are available for everyone else. Beach volleyball, and non-motorized water sports such as kayaking and sailing are on offer as part of the all-inclusive deal. Guests get free unlimited access to the 18-hole Reef Golf Club Course, although a fee is charged for the mandatory golf cart.

The on-site Treasure Bay Casino is reminiscent of what one might find in Vegas, with its interior sea of slots and card game favorites. The Aquatic Park is so impressive to observe, that rooms overlooking it are promoted for their lively view. Four huge water slides, giant colorful sea creatures, and huge buckets of water that shower the scene are a treat for kids, who also have a choice of decorated indoor spaces in the adjacent Kids’ Club. The Teens’ Lounge is equally impressive with its slick modern interior, air hockey, table tennis, video games, and billiards setup. The fitness center is spacious and well-equipped with modern cardio- and weight-training equipment. 

There are four restaurants: The more formal H Steak House and Japanese Teppanyaki & Sushi Bar Nagano -- where chefs will create meals before guests’ eyes. Bella Cucina is open for Italian dinner, and Selections serves buffet-style breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a mix of American, Bahamian, Asian, Italian, and kid-friendly dishes. Bars are also in abundance: There’s a lobby bar, Waves beach bar, the alfresco Social Bar, and Splash swim-up bar housed in an old mill. Props Club sports bar is decked out in pool tables and TVs for catching a game, and offers snacks, meals, and a full bar until late. Beans Cafe serves a selection of coffees, pastries, cakes and ice-creams, and the Friday night Fish Fry is a local institution, consisting of a buffet dinner on the beach. Room service is also available. Note that past guests have complained that the food is average at best.

Medical services, an on-site wedding center, and photography services are all available, and free Wi-Fi is provided throughout the resort, although it can be hard to connect.