If I may inteject a few things about the Westin Grand Bahama Island. It amazes me at the spectrum and vast differences in opinions and perceptions of this place. I feel I am fairly objective, and considering I have my 5th trip planned back to the Westin in August, can offer a pretty unbiased and honest review. I consider myself a seasoned traveler, having been many places around the world. I have stayed in 5 star hotels as well as the likes of Hampton Inns. As with anything, it IS what YOU make of it. The Westin is a beautiful location. Living in Atlanta, it is a quick, easy reach. The water and beach is spectacular which is by far the thing we love the most. The pools are all lovely, there is always plenty of room at any one of them, the grounds are gorgeous and it is a peaceful, relaxing place. My belief is that most people go to Grand Bahama and the Westin because, lets be honest, it is an inexpensive trip. You can get GREAT deals. That's why we first went and have continued to return. The price you pay, and what you get in terms of beach and beauty does not compare. If you pay for a 5 star experience, then yes, you should get it and expect it, but come on people, you all know full well that you didn't pay 5K for a week stay here, thus, there should be some grace offered. Yes, it's a Westin, and true the building itself may lack in areas compared to other Westin's, but it's not awful like many say it is. I can overlook a broken tile in the bathroom for $120.00-$160.00 a night. You can't even rent a condo on the beach for a week in the US for what you pay to have this amazing location. And the staff/people... If you are nice to the people, I PROMISE you, they will return the courtesy. In 4 times, we have never experienced a rude or deliberately mean person. However, we go the extra mile to show ourselves friendly because we do want to have a good expereince. My take on the Westin resort is that it's a low key, inexpensive beach getaway with beautiful surroundings, a nice pool and beach for your kids to play at, above average accommodations, inexpensive food options easily accesible and an experience that will be great should you decide that it WILL be great. It is not 5 star, the food is not 5 star, the island is not 5 star, but I'm not paying 5 star prices, therefore I don't expect it, and in turn, we've had a wonderful time everytime of the 4 soon to be 5 times we've gone.

Stay Away - Beware. The management at this resort does not give a care in the world about their guests. If you have a question, don't expect to hear back for a long time. My wife and I went to enjoy a nice get away and enjoy our Anniversary. Do you think this happened? No! Veronica, Jacqueline, and Judith (the management team) should be known as Hewey, Dewey, and Lewey. Other reviews mention that the culture in the Bahamas is like a different world and that everyone is mean and untrustworthy and rude. Well, believe those reviews because they are true! The same is true for this resort. If you look in Webster's dictionary beside the word Resort (you WON'T) find this resort. Save your $$$ and stay somewhere else.

I found this hotel very relaxing, the amenties endless, and the service very good. The fitness center is very nice!! The pools and beach are awesome! I loved the pool bar. The Cigar bar is also very nice! The grounds of the Westin and Sheraton are large, well kept and beautiful. I went with my wife and two teenage daughters, with one goal in mind (this was the anti-Disney vacation): Relaxtion and we certainly did this! We all read two books, got plenty of sun, enjoyed the banana boats (stay off the front seat!), para sailing, jet skis and the pool bar (oh yeah, I already said that!) No cell phones, newspapers are all two to three days old (so we did not keep with up the outside world for one whole week!) The temps were in the 80's and so was the water in the pool and the ocean.

The Market across the street was great for eating (most breakfasts were under $7), nice seafood at night (under $20) and subway for lunch if you have to eat 3X a day. We didn't.

The rooms were pretty good size, clean, bathrooms very nice, someone always there to help out. We aren't very needy people though.

There was some nightlife across the street in the marketplace (bands, dance contests, kareoke) Don't go for the nightlife. There is none after 9pm. The gambling is nice but smokey.

The rest of the isalnd? Not much to see....yet. Still rebuilding after the hurricane of 2004. We drove around one day in a convertible but were not impressed. The best of the island is right around Lucaya Beach.

My wife and I intend to come back and just relax (again).

Won't go back to the Sheraton or to Grand Bahama Island. The majority of the employees in and around the hotels were RUDE. I have never felt like such an intruder on vacation before. We went on an all-inclusive. 15% gratuity is already added to all meals at restaurants, etc. There is no incentive to give good service. The food choices were nil. You can eat at the sugar mill pool bar, (min. menu) the Prop Club, the coffee bar (coffee, pastries, fruits, or the restaurant inside of the hotel which is ONLY OPEN FOR BREAKFAST. The pool attendant Yelled at my husband. The sugar mill pool slide was only open for 2 hours a day MAX. If you have kids they may be disappointed. There is no concierge. The room smelled like mold and the bathroom floor was continuously wet. Why? We don't know. We asked housekeeping for several items and had to keep calling as they would not accomodate our requests. My Credit Card was charged several hundred dollars for incidentals that were never incurred. Luckily I had an adequate limit on it. If you don't, beware. After complaining at the front desk about the hotel charging up my credit card the hotel employee told me it would take several business days to credit my credit card. Always wanted to go to the Bahamas, spend your money elsewhere. Sad, since this is the primary economy for the country.