One & Only Ocean Club, Bahamas

Amenities at the One & Only Ocean Club, Bahamas

Honeymoon Reviews

07/20/2006   Just got married and went to the Ocean Club last week for our honeymoon. After reading reviews of the place before going, I was quite nervous. It sounded old and horrible! We went thru a travel agent, and booked probably the lowest priced room ($600 per night - off season rate, 2nd floor ocean view). Sure, the room that we didn't spend a lot of time in had old carpet that really needed replacing, and we didn't get the nice separate tub which we wouldn't have used anyhow. But the view was awesome and it was very comfortable. I concluded that yes, it was expensive to stay there, but that we were at the low end of the scale. If we paid $600 at other places, we'd be a few notches higher in what we got with the room. And, we didn't get rose petals on the bed with candles lit all over, which happens for honeymooners. That's ok though. There are many perks to staying there that I thought helped warrent the high room rate. They are: 1. Gated community. 2. Celebrities around (although I didn't notice any on my stay. Maybe next time!) Were told that before we arrived, there were some celebrities there (Michael Bolton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Oprah, Robert DeNiro (whose wife went on quite a shopping spree while there. He's making a new movie we found out), a couple of stars from Desparate Housewives, Emmitt Smith) 3. Beach was very nice, and not crowded. The public beach down the road was kind of gross and hard to get to. 4. The place was fully booked during our stay (160 rooms), however, many times it felt like we were the only ones there, something they aim to do. 5. Cadillac Escalades at our service to/from Coral Tower area all day/evening - free. Drivers were all awesome - just loved them, friendly, helpful, respectful. 6. Butler service. There's a button on the phone in the room that says 'Butler'. Just hit it and you can be in touch w/the butler on duty at that time. He/she makes dinner reservations and suggestions where to go. Yes, there was a lot of tipping, but they are earning a living, and if tipping is a problem, the Ocean Club is not the place to stay. 7. Grounds are impeccable, expansive, and lovely to see. 8. Full access to Atlantis included (all water rides free, etc). 9. Champagne and strawberries each evening. Yes, you have to be in your room when they stop by with it. That's fine because if they just left it there for you, the chocolate on the strawberries would be a melted glob due to the heat. 10. Godiva chocolate on the bed each night left after the final turndown. Twice a day is more than enough for a turndown. I don't think I could warrant the 3-times in a day they offer if I tried. 11. Slippers left for you at night-time and flip-flops for the day (beach). Ours to keep. Nice touch. Now, some downsides, yes there always are. Ours were not much to worry about though, and with the place at full capacity, things are to be expected: 1. Service was slow at times (drinks on the beach, ok, pity party please). 2. Water was rough at times, however, a kiddie pool compared to the Jersey shore. 3. Pool closes early. But who wants to be in the pool when there's that clear caribbean water to swim in. 4. The room needed new carpet as it was so old, but a minor issue as again, we were in the lower end rooms, to be expected, even if $600 a night off season. Kind of like renting a place in NYC, you'll pay a fortune for a place the size of a closet, but, you are in NYC with all it offers. There's always living in the country in a bigger/nicer place for the same $, but you get nothing that NYC offers. Food: We at at Nobu, Robert Deniro's restaurant. Very pricy and small portions (huge plate/bowl, tiny portion). $150 for 2 people with just 2 entrees and 1 appetizer. Sorry Robert, just being honest! Food tasty though and ambience nice. California rolls just average in presentation, however, ginger was fresh (not that artificial orange color). Dune restaurant - great food, best scorched conch yet, service impeccable. Wine expensive, cheapest is $250 a bottle, going all the way up to $14,000 a bottle. Again, this place is in Ocean Club, where many celebrities and the wealthy eat. I was glad to just be eating there, even if not ordering soup to nuts. Would go back there again if lucky enough to. Sean Connery was eating there a couple nights prior I heard. Big 10 in the Fish Fry Area - native area, a bit run down, stray dogs wandering around (poor things, I felt so sorry for them). Food authentic Bahamian, low prices, large portions, delicious. Ate outside on upstairs porch area, plastic chairs, a few flies roaming around. Best plaintains I ever had. Conch and fish, etc are caught that day and brought right to the restaurant by boat. Nothing is saved at end of day, seafood all tossed out. Place next door, Seafood Haven, was closed for renovations. Michael Jordan goes there to eat frequently as do the other stars. Mama Loos - Asian food. In Atlantis. Glorified chinese food I thought. Ambience great, low lit, service great. The 'Captain' made sure we were satisfied. My husband's chicken and black bean sauce was not up to par, and he had it taken back for another dish, which they gracefully fulfilled his request. His new dish, Grouper saute had a great broth but some pieces were too fishy tasting. Then again, I eat at many nice places in Jersey, so my food standards are very high. Columbus Tavern - very good food. Would go back again. Waiter very friendly. Ambience is casual with open air windows letting in the salty air. Husband had snapper with a red-based sauce, so delicious I wish I ordered it instead of the grouper which was on the smaller side portion wise. Those fish are as big as a large dog, something to see in the aquarium. Poop Deck - Best lobster tail I've ever had. Huge and moist and so fresh. Probably caught that day. Not a fancy place, overlooking bay and boats, open air on upper deck. Nice to eat there at sunset. Overall, food is expensive there. Many items need to be imported. The Big 10 was inexpensive, but the cab round trip was $30. Seafood was awesome and worth it. The Jamba Juice was terrific, and sipping them while admiring the multi-million dollar yaghts parked there in the water was nice. Also there was a great ice-cream place, the only one we saw. Packed all the time, but so tasty. Hagaan Das is the brand used there. Clothing is super expensive as well. Efficiency abounds Atlantis with cabs readily available and bell captains to assist. We just told the bell captain to call for the escalade at the ocean club, and they did so respectfully. The most we waited for the escalade at Atlantis was 10 minutes. The most we waited for one at Ocean Club was 2 minutes. Would I go back? Sure! Hopefully next year we can go. But I don't think we'll be affording the $4,500 a night villas there. That can be saved for Oprah, who frequents the place. I'll just be glad to be staying there, even if the carpet is old in the room and we don't get a separate tub that we'd never use anyway. Otherwise, I guess we could spend $600 a night at a lesser hotel to get a better room, but that would be it, just a nicer room, that's all. So the Ocean Club really is the place to be when staying in the Bahamas.

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