🇧🇸Abaco

Checking Into Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina

Ever notice how hot shot general contractors tend to have the shoddiest looking houses? It’s like all the genius and effort they have for creating curb appeal gets exhausted on their clients.

In my travels I’ve found that it’s much the same way with marina hotels, where an emphasis on keeping yachts and sailing vessels ship shape and well-provisioned often yields rooms, food, hotel service and amenities that are pedestrian at best.

There are exceptions, of course, the Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina among them.

Considering the age of the resort (ABR welcomed its first guests in 1955), I was half-expecting the opposite when I checked in here back in March. A comfy yet dated reception area furthered the notion, as had my many boat captain friends who had docked here in recent years. They raved about the marina, one of the largest in The Bahamas, and the bar, but not much else.

Abaco Beach Resort Bar | SBPR
Abaco Beach Resort Bar | SBPR

Could the resort itself be an afterthought; the grounds unkempt, the rooms plain/lame?

Answers would come as I made my way to my room, first passing the bar and primary pool area, which looked to offer all the fun my boat captain friends had already told me about.

Then, to my left, this…

Swaying palms are everywhere at Abaco Beach Resort | SBPR
Swaying palms are everywhere at Abaco Beach Resort | SBPR

Oh yeah, I’d say the grounds at the Abaco Beach Resort are well cared for, alright. Beautifully swaying coconut palms are sprinkled about the entire property, but I was most fond of the ones dressing up this wide grassy area. The whole scene invites you to slow your pace, or even stay and relax for awhile.

That would work particularly well for those staying in these bungalows directly facing the grassy area and the sea…

Abaco Beach Resort Bungalows | SBPR
Abaco Beach Resort Bungalows | SBPR

My room, however, was in one of the resort’s original buildings, affording the not-too-shabby balcony view pictured at the head of this post. There would be no complaints from me about the view, or my room…

My room at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina | SBPR
My room at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina | SBPR

A dreamy bed, tons of space, fresh and tropical blue walls, new tile, and choice furniture pieces bearing the West Elm brand belied the age of this section of the property.

The beauty and comforts at the Abaco Beach Resort extended to the marina area as well, of course.

Abaco Beach Resort is home to one of the largest marinas in The Bahamas | SBPR
Abaco Beach Resort is home to one of the largest marinas in The Bahamas | SBPR

Just a few steps from the bar, Angler’s Restaurant serves up excellent eats in an elegant atmosphere. The turf part of the surf ‘n turf dinner I enjoyed on my first night still sticks out in my memory, as does the waitstaff service – just excellent all the way ’round!

Angler's Restaurant sits on the waterfront at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina | SBPR
Angler’s Restaurant sits on the waterfront at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina | SBPR

One look at the caliber of yachts in port here and the excellence at Angler’s makes sense…

Winning Drive in port at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina in Marsh Harbour, The Bahamas | SBPR
Winning Drive in port at Abaco Beach Resort and Boat Harbour Marina in Marsh Harbour, The Bahamas | SBPR

This 130-foot Westport, dubbed Winning Drive, is the property of billionaire Steve Bisciotti, owner of the Baltimore Ravens. It was one several similarly-sized luxury yachts in port during my stay. The marina has 198 slips and can accommodate vessels up to 200 feet in length, so crowding was not an issue.

Truly, for landlubbers staying at the resort or seafarers docking at the marina, there really are very few, if any, issues here.

For rates, reservations, and more info on Abaco Beach Resort, be sure to visit them online.

Last updated by Steve Bennett on .

Related Posts

Whatchamacallit cocktail
🇧🇸Abaco

Whatchamacallit Cocktails are Berry-licious at Abaco Beach Resort

The Whatchamacallit is the signature drink at The Abaco Beach Resort and basically has just about everything in it.
158
Shares
🇧🇸Abaco

On-Site Abaco: Stopping For Lunch at Tahiti Beach

Many were the choice lunch spots we had to consider while boating about the Abacos a few weeks ago.
1.1K
Shares
Tahiti Beach, Elboy Cay, Abacos, Bahamas
🇧🇸Bahamas

Strolling on Tahiti Beach

If someone were to press me for a list of my favorite beaches, the singular sands of Tahiti Beach would be high on the list.
156
Shares
Send this to a friend