Sheraton, Grand Bahama Island, January 2005
I would definitely stay here again. We were able to buy 3 nights and get a 4th one free. However, we wanted to stay 5 nights. If we asked for a 5 day reservation we'd pay full price for each night. To remedy this, I bought the 4 nights through Sheraton and the 5th night through Travelocity. No problem, we let them know at checkin and were able to stay in the same room. They just had us check out on the 4th day & check back in, a formality. The rooms are not large, since it was converted from another resort. Bathrooms are tight, one person at a time, please!
Alcoholic drinks at the poolside are $8 each. If there was a Happy Hour we weren't aware of it or weren't around.
We felt relatively safe on the resort grounds but they are not private so be aware. One time my mom and I were walking between Westin and Sheraton and two young men were walking towards us & nearly bumped into us--we had to maneuver around them. It did seem a little intimidating, but they didn't rob us. There is a casino on site open only to island visitors. We both lost a bit of cash there!
The restaurants were alright, but the breakfast brunches at Barracuda's and Willie Broadleaf's were overpriced ($18/person plus 15% gratuity) and the some of the food seemed, well, reheated. Nothing special. China Grill (pan-Asian) and Portobello's (Italian cuisine) are better options, good ambience, mood lighting, and discreet service. Since we spent quite a bit of money on food (made the mistake of adding another 15-20% or more on the standard 15% tip at the Prop Club--gratuity is usually already on your bill) there were times when we were glad for a simple Subway or convenience store snack. We liked Zorba's Greek Restaurant at Port Lucaya Marketplace for a casual, cheap lunch of gyros and Greek salad.
Overall the island itself seemed a little light on the attractions we were looking for, not as well-maintained as we were hoping, but we went for a relaxing getaway and that's what we found, and were more than satisfied with Our Lucaya Resort.
Unique Quality: As a guest of the Sheraton, you may use the facilities at the Westin next door and Pelican Bay across the street (and vice versa). There is a large fitness center at the spa at the far end of the Westin. Bit of a walk, but if you are concerned about fitness, not an issue. The whole resort has several pools and never felt crowded during our stay.
Front desk service was fantastic, not rushed, and attentive. There was no mini-fridge in our room when we arrived so when we called about it, they apologized and sent one up promptly, then offered to take $25 off our bill for the inconvenience.