As Grand Bahama Island's most hospitable hotel, the Pelican Bay is a joyful mix of colorful Bahamian architecture and the finest guest service in the Caribbean. Unique waterside rooms and waterside state rooms enfold you in comfort, while offering special guest touches. Renowned standards of hospitality and attention to guest happiness assure you of a memorable stay in the Bahamas.Part of the Pelican Bay experience is located within steps of your room. In addition to our waterfront Sabor Restaurant and Bar, more than 30 restaurants, bars, shops, live entertainment, the Dolphin Experience, scuba diving, snorkeling, and deep-sea fishing trips are a short stroll away.Immediately across the street are two miles of white sand beach, a full service spa, four "Grand Slam" surface tennis courts and a casino. All this is the happy Pelican Bay experience, one you will remember with fondness.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Family
Business
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Sea Horse Rd, Freeport Grand Bahama Island
Pelican Bay Hotel
1,151 reviews
Getting there
Good for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
The complex and rooms are nice. They are doing some construction work but it didn't disrupt my stay. The Lucaya Bay shopping complex is about 3 blocks away and has a few restaurants. Prices there are on the expensive side but you can deal with it for a few meals. While the staff at the hotel is good, food is expensive. You will be greeted by a completely empty refrigerator when you arrive at your room. How expensive can it be to put a few cold drinks in it for all patrons for the year? The answer is that is much less than the profits they would earn if I were to book just one 4 day stay, which won't be happening. To add insult to injury, the price of cold drinks in the cooler in the lobby is marked up 200%. In other words, they sell a 12oz can for $3. I wonder if there is a connection between these 2 policies. So if you are arriving in the evening, better come with your own food until you can get a lay of the land to avoid being held hostage by the hotel. A typical breakfast of eggs and bacon or sausage costs $20 in their restaurant. Better to skip them and walk down to the Zorba restaurant a few blocks away and pay $8 or $9.
The room was nice but I had a problem with the AC. It cooled the room well but even if you set it at the highest temperature of 78 F, you would still be too cold. I had to unplug it in order to sleep. I also had an issue with the bed. They seem to use some awful smelling disinfectant on the mattress or in washing the linen that made it difficult to sleep. Maybe they can try a lavender smelling disinfectant instead.
While the staff is good, apparently the management hasn't figured out that generosity (especially with small, relatively inexpensive things) goes a long way towards ensuring customer satisfaction. They better figure it out before other hotels come online in the area.
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Date of stay: September 2022
Value
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Check that the AC is fully adjustable
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed at Pelican for 3 nights. We were upgraded to a beautiful suite overlooking the bay. The suite was very spacious, and immaculate. There was plenty of space if you're traveling with friends or family to entertain. It had a wet bar, refrigerator, microwave, Nespresso machine, and dishes and glassware. The king size bed was very comfortable, and the bathroom was spacious, with plenty of room for toiletries.
We took the Balearia ferry from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport. It was a comfortable ride, but when we were to return to Fort Lauderdale, the ferry was canceled due to windy weather. It makes one trip a day, and doesn't run every day. I got the notification the afternoon before, but didn't see it until 5:30pm, because we were at the beach. We went to the front desk for assistance, and Kimberly Russell and Racquell Harvey were working, and they made arrangements for us to get home the following day. We would have been delayed for a few more days if it weren't for their help. They both were very accommodating and knowledgeable, and always very pleasant and friendly.
I would definitely return to the Pelican for their excellent customer service. All the staff are very friendly, always smiling, and the hotel is gorgeous! The food at Sabor is delicious, and it's convenient to the Marketplace.
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Date of stay: March 2020
Value
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Suites overlooking the bay
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Our group of 7 booked 4 rooms. Check in was fast and easy, and we enjoyed a fre welcome drink at the pool and waterside Sabor restaurant and bar. From there a free ferry runs hourly (til 11 on) to and from Taino Beach. The suites were spacious, spotless, and very comfortable. There’s a Nespresso and a Mr Coffee in the kitchenette and a free liter of water. The beds were very comfortable and the hot water was practically instantaneous. A closet safe, iron/ironing board, and bathroom amenities include bar soap, shower gel, skin lotion, shampoo and conditioner. The flat screen TV was uncomplicated, but paled in comparison with the spectacular view. Do not miss the Bahama bread at the breakfast buffet! The staff is exceedingly friendly and welcoming. Situated next to the Port Lucaya Marketplace Definitely will return! Highly recommend.
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled on business
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The place itself is quite alright, they say it's a 4 star hotel but it's pretty much what you would expect from a 3 star hotel in the U.S. Our renovated room was "quickly and cheaply" renovated but still, the bed was comfortable and there was hot water. Anyway, the problem here is the fact that most employees just don't care about you. On arrival, they couldn't find our reservation and we felt like it was our problem. We had a confirmation email so in the end they had to make it right but it was a pretty long process. Also, my wife is celiac, she can't eat gluten. At breakfast when we asked if there were any gluten free options, we were simply told "NO". We weren't asking for anything special, just to confirm if there was gluten in the scrambled eggs for example. Checking with the kitchen or the chef is too hard. So NO. We were there for 2 weeks and no breakfast even if it's supposed to be included. I wouldn't like to know how they would deal with someone in a wheelchair or other disabilities. They advertise a ferry service to a nearby beach, it should operate until 11 pm. The service is actually down (you'll find out once at the dock) and replaced by a small van/shuttle service that ends at 6 pm. Both times we tried to take it, it never came, hotel staff kept saying it should come without trying to find what was happening. The hotel restaurant is open everyday for lunch and dinner unless they find a reason to keep it closed... You'll only know once you're there. The pools aren't heated. If you have a suite, you'll get a dishwasher but don't expect detergent for it. Don't expect dish cloths either. Service is everything and you won't get much at the Pelican Bay, unfortunately.
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Date of stay: December 2023Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Della Bridgewater, Guest Services / Front Office at Pelican Bay Hotel
Responded Jan 11, 2024
Dear travellingJF, We are saddened to read your view and deeply sorry that you left feeling that we don't care. As we were made aware of your complaint we made it a priority to address within the same day. We did have certain gluten free items you requested such as fruits and ham. We have had other gluten free requests in the past and the standard is to simply treat them as a special order request to our kitchen. Our Front Office agent Latoya spoke with you directly and advised you that we would be able to accommodate your request, however you indicated that you would upgrade to the stateroom where you could cook your own meals. In an effort to express our goodwill and commitment to your satisfaction, we also extended a goodwill gesture on your upgrade. We hope this gesture demonstrated our dedication to making amends for any shortcomings in your experience. Taino Beach Resort, which runs and operates the ferry did have difficulties during the month of December and we acknowledge that they used an alternative mode of transportation by van. We will certainly review this and try to find an alternative that allows for a later return time. Our Restaurant closed early on New Years Eve to prepare for the Dinner Party and we were closed New Years day to give our team members an opportunity to rest. We do apologize that this was an inconvenience to you. A listing of other restaurants were available at our Front Office. Once again, I genuinely apologize for any lapses in our service that may have tarnished your stay. We genuinely value your feedback, and your insights will certainly guide us in enhancing our offerings and ensuring a more seamless experience for our guests.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
The hotel is great, location is excellent. You can walk next door to aport Lucaya and several restaurants with excellent food onsite, Sabor, Flying Fish. The staff is always friendly. We atayed for two weeks, Dec through Jan 4 and we went back earlier this month, I am staying there again this weekend for a girl's trip and will be back for spring break in a couple of months with my family.
The only suggestion I would make is to bring flip flops to wear in the room and dont wear white socks on the floor, they vet really dirty.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Room Tip:Â Wear flip flops in the room. You can walk to Port Lucaya. There are restaurants on site that...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a fourth floor room with lovely view of the harbor. It was wonderful to wake up each morning to the sun and gorgeous water. The room had a living area and bedroom which is uniquely decorated. The hotel has a bar and restaurant and the food is good quality. Hotel is located near the Lucaya Market which has a number of fun restaurants and shops and tour companies offering snorkeling and diving and tours of the island.
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Date of stay: February 2020
Rooms
Cleanliness
Service
Room Tip:Â Get fourth floor facing harbor. Best view. Separate bedroom and living area.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed here during my birthday and had a nice stay. Considering the island suffered damages from Hurricane Dorian two years ago and repairs are still being done, the hotel, the grounds and staff are amazing. There are restaurants and shops in walking distance and a restaurant and bar on the resort grounds.
The only negative thing is that the hot water in the shower takes about 10-15 minutes to heat up. Other than that our stay was perfect.
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Date of stay: July 2021Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This is a nice hotel with a very pleasant staff and adjacent to a small tourist village with some nice restaurants. The rooms were newly done since the terrible hurricane that decimated Freeport. They were clean, spacious, nicely laid out and with a lovely view from the balcony. The furnishings are comfortable utilitarian and showed little sign of wear and tear. The bathroom was well lit, nice sized and with a shower that was a cinch to turn on and use. Bones Bar has great beer. We recommend the locally brewed Bones Ale. The breakfast buffet is a bit disappointing without fruit on 2 days and never any yogurt. Dinner at Sabor was excellent as they cooked our fresh catch perfectly. (Why the restaurants throughout the island refuse to serve tap water is shrouded in mystery. Apparently there was some salt intrusion but this is now corrected. Could this be a ploy to improve the bottom line). This hotel is close to being 4 stars But to achieve a better rating I would ask for cleaner elevators, utensils and dish towels and some kitchen soap for the small kitchenette. A better buffet breakfast would also help. We look forward to visit again next year with these improvements in mind.
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Date of stay: May 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The hotel was very clean and the location was excellent. It is within walking distance to the Lucayan Marketplace where you will find your typical vendors working hard to make a living. The property has 3 pools and all of them offer a nice view of the harbor in the background. Only negative was the breakfast. It has a nice offering but the staff do not keep things running well. Out of Coffee, out of Eggs, out out of silverware, out of cups. For $20 per person, you should not have to wait on all these things. After day 2, we decided to eat at the local market so management is really losing business. .The people here are similar to the great people of Bahamas. I’ve travelled to many Caribbean nations and islands and I’ve never met nicer, more polite people.
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Date of stay: April 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pelican Bay Hotel is an exceptional find in the Freeport area. We got a spacious, clean and majestic room for a reasonable price that was incomparable from those found back in the states. The front office personnel was friendly and accommodating, and the grounds were immaculate. A quiet setting offers two restaurants, which our favorite was Bones, a laid back Bahamian bar that typifies the life-style of the islands. Set next to the Lacaya Market Place, which is rebounding from the triple whammy of the recent hurricane, Covid, and the shutdown of the cruise industry, the Pelican offers a free water taxi on an hourly basis to an exceptional beach nearby. Will return again if the opportunity arises.
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Date of stay: February 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Go to the local Spirits Shop in Lacaya Market Place. You'll get some exceptional deal, especially...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I believe the casino you are referring to is closed. I was there at the end of Sept. and it was closed and someone said something about the property being sold.
New Providence Island500 contributions151 helpful votes
The room I stayed in had a living area with kitchen, a separate bedroom and a bathroom. The bathroom was accessed from the living area but it is all part of the one suite, you don’t leave the room to use the bathroom
You will enjoy your time! Yes, U.S. currency is excepted. There is an on site restaurant and Bar. There are countless restaurants and bars within walking distance. Some don't serve dinner before 5pm. So, if there is a specific place you want to go make sure you verify the business hours.
There are more places to choose from in the Freeport area.
PRICE RANGE
C$248 - C$392 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
pelican bay at lucaya hotel freeport, pelican bay at lucaya freeport, pelican bay lucaya
LOCATION
CaribbeanBahamasGrand Bahama IslandFreeport
NUMBER OF ROOMS
183
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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