Freeport Hotels and Accommodation

(Freeport, Grand Bahama, Bahamas)

Most of the accommodation on Grand Bahama is located around Freeport and its flashy neighbour Lucaya. Despite being the second-largest island in the Bahamas, the majority of Grand Bahama remains in a natural undeveloped state.

Hotels are clustered around the International Bazaar shopping nexus, as well as Port Lucaya, which is closer to the beach. This concentration of lodging in just a handful of spots helps keep the rest of the island pleasantly quiet and culturally intact.

This doesn't mean that development has stopped around Freeport and Lucaya though. Hotels and resorts are shooting up in these urban hubs as fast as the concrete can be poured. The Bahamian Tourism Board has spent a lot of effort promoting Grand Bahama and its accommodation in recent years. This has kept tourist numbers high, as well as the new cruise ship docks that bring a lot of foot traffic to the Freeport area.

Where to Stay

All this idyllic Caribbean vibe doesn't come cheap, however. Budget lodging in Freeport is very hard to find, and usually not good value.

It is far better to plan to spend a little more on your accommodation and choose one of the nicer luxury resorts. They are often just a few dollars more than the cheap hotels.


Keep in mind that an eight percent resort tax and 15 percent service charge will be added to most hotel bills. Chances are, you will be staying around Freeport or Lucaya. A few nice self-contained resorts exist in the outlying parts of the island, but you will be far from the action in Freeport.

The International Bazaar is home to the Bahama Princess, arguably the grandest hotel on the island. It contains the only casino on Grand Bahama, as well as a dozen bars and restaurants, two golf courses and two massive swimming pools on its grounds.

The other hot spot for lodging is Port Lucaya, just a few minutes east of Freeport. Its newer Port Lucaya Marketplace is just as huge as the International Bazaar and the beach is only a matter of steps away from the accommodation.

The nightlife is better in Lucaya and the proximity to water sports and beach activities make it a preferable choice for many. Its newest hotel is the Lucayan, a posh address right across from the shopping complex.