Nassau - British Colonial Hilton - recent visitor experience?

[Merion_Mom]

Believe me, I looked and read and read and looked, and there are no answers on the Ports of Call board.

 

If you have been RECENTLY to the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau using the resort-for-a-day pass, please tell me:

 

How did you like it? If you had children with you, was that a good place for them?

 

Is the pool open?

 

Is the beach clean?  Good for small children?  Our little ones will be 5 and almost 2.

 

Please tell me about the food and drink available for purchase.

 

The site says it includes umbrellas "based on availability".  Were they available for you?

 

Were the restrooms easy to access, and were they clean?

 

Please tell me anything and everything about your experience there.

 

Many thanks.

 

[John Reid]

8 minutes ago, Merion_Mom said:

Believe me, I looked and read and read and looked, and there are no answers on the Ports of Call board.

 

If you have been RECENTLY to the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau using the resort-for-a-day pass, please tell me:

 

How did you like it? If you had children with you, was that a good place for them?

 

Is the pool open?

 

Is the beach clean?  Good for small children?  Our little ones will be 5 and almost 2.

 

Please tell me about the food and drink available for purchase.

 

The site says it includes umbrellas "based on availability".  Were they available for you?

 

Were the restrooms easy to access, and were they clean?

 

Please tell me anything and everything about your experience there.

 

Many thanks.

 

M M,

The Hilton was my go-to in Nassau. Short walk, good beach, pools, not too pricey, food credit included. It would have met ALL your needs.

But I'm fairly certain that they are permanently closed. Though the buildings are still there, Google Maps lists no ownership of the location. I was considering just walking down to the beach area bringing a Walmart camp chair. The palapas may still be standing. 

Edited January 18, 2023 by John Reid
addition

[A&L_Ont]

It was open for business when RC started up after Covid with Nassau sailings and they did testing there and since then my understanding is it has shut down. 
 

We drove past it a few weeks ago and it looked shut. 
 

Edit, we went there right after Hurricane Dorian and had a great time there. Nice beach, bathrooms, food  and facilities. 
 

Edited January 18, 2023 by A&L_Ont

[MJSailors]

@Merion_Mom You could go to the Hilton website ,or call Hilton to check if the Nassau property is open.

That would be disappointing news that the resort was closed. It was a landmark hotel and part of the Nassau beachfront for so many years.

MJ🙋🏻

[smokeybandit]

The hotel is closed, but they were still doing day passes for the beach area on the property

[John Reid]

Just found this.

[Jasukkie]

You may want to check out the Margaritaville Resort for day passes. It's walkable from the ship. It was clean when we were there and we really liked the lazy river. The beach was rather crowded but we didn't sit there, just went swimming which was very nice. There's an infinity edge pool with a great view of everything. The food is expensive but generously portioned and good for snack bar type food. 

 

I went outside at the British Colonial Hilton when we were waiting there for a cruise and the beach didn't seem that big. 

[Joseph2017China]

Hilton is closed.  However, it is owned by British Colonial or something like that.  So google that, and see.

[mjkacmom]

It has been purchased, you can get a day pass for the beach for $25. I’m not sure if the pool is open, but there are restrooms. 

[south-carolinagirl]

There is a pretty recent YouTube video from fall 2022.  We just reserved for February.  Just wanted a beach without all the vendors hawking their wares like at Junkanoo. 

[Cuckoo7]

20 hours ago, south-carolinagirl said:

There is a pretty recent YouTube video from fall 2022.  We just reserved for February.  Just wanted a beach without all the vendors hawking their wares like at Junkanoo. 

 

YMMV, but we were at Junkanoo last spring and were not bothered at all by vendors.  I had heard the horror stories, but they had guys in security shirts and no vendors on the beach that I saw.

[cruisinc]

I was there in October and it looked like people were on the beach, but it looked pretty run down.  It is sad because it was such a beautiful place.  I would definitely choose another beach day pass.

[L1211]

Also interested - saw day pass for sale, but hotel closed??  Anyone visited recently?  Would also appreciate a private beach.  Any facilities (drinks? Restroom?) thanks!!

[happychippy]

I visited and spent the day at Serenity Beach in November 2022.   Resort itself is closed for renovations, but it's inside work being done so not noisy.  You check in next door at Margaritaville Resort waterpark desk, they escort you over to Serenity Beach.  Lounge chairs, daybeds, and towels are included.  Pool is not opened.  Clean maintained restrooms open behind the bar at the beach, bar service was also open and staffed by Margaritaville staff.     You can order drinks with a credit card, and if you want food you can order from Margaritaville and they will bring it to the bar for you.  Nice way to escape the crowd and for the $25 price tag, it's a good value.  

[L1211]

23 minutes ago, happychippy said:

I visited and spent the day at Serenity Beach in November 2022.   Resort itself is closed for renovations, but it's inside work being done so not noisy.  You check in next door at Margaritaville Resort waterpark desk, they escort you over to Serenity Beach.  Lounge chairs, daybeds, and towels are included.  Pool is not opened.  Clean maintained restrooms open behind the bar at the beach, bar service was also open and staffed by Margaritaville staff.     You can order drinks with a credit card, and if you want food you can order from Margaritaville and they will bring it to the bar for you.  Nice way to escape the crowd and for the $25 price tag, it's a good value.  

This is super helpful!  At first I feared the day pass was a scam.  This actually looks nice given we get into port at 1 and have all a board at 6 - only have a few hours. Thank you!! 

[KarimaJ]

On 1/30/2023 at 5:05 PM, happychippy said:

I visited and spent the day at Serenity Beach in November 2022.   Resort itself is closed for renovations, but it's inside work being done so not noisy.  You check in next door at Margaritaville Resort waterpark desk, they escort you over to Serenity Beach.  Lounge chairs, daybeds, and towels are included.  Pool is not opened.  Clean maintained restrooms open behind the bar at the beach, bar service was also open and staffed by Margaritaville staff.     You can order drinks with a credit card, and if you want food you can order from Margaritaville and they will bring it to the bar for you.  Nice way to escape the crowd and for the $25 price tag, it's a good value.  

 

[KarimaJ]

Do they have an umbrellas besides those broken ones?

[Vacationdreamer<><]

I just reserved this for 3/4.  I'll report back after our return home.

 

 

GETTING THERE: Serenity Beach day pass guests check in at the entrance of Margaritaville Fin's UP waterpark. Transportation is NOT INCLUDED, taxi service is readily available at the cruise pier or you can walk from the port and be there within 15 minutes.

Walking: When you exit the cruise dock you would make a right hand turn and just follow the roadway to its end where you would see Senor Frogs Restaurant. Continue walking past Senor Frogs and follow the sidewalk past the British Colonial and the Pointe where you will see the Margaritaville Fin's Up waterpark entrance on your right. This is the check-in location for your beach day. Access to the waterpark is NOT included.

Taxi: If you take a taxi, we recommend confirming the total taxi rate with the driver before you accept the ride. Taxi drivers accept US cash, be sure to have smaller currency for payment. Serenity Beach day pass guests check in at the entrance of Margaritaville Fin's Up waterpark. We recommend leaving the resort 2 hours before your cruise ship scheduled departure time.

Check-in ADDRESS: 2 Bay St, Nassau, The Bahamas

HOURS and CHECK-IN: Beach Access: 8AM - 6 PM. Be aware if your ships time is different from local time.

Present this PRINTED pass and pay your BALANCE DUE with a credit card for each adult and child pass in your order (cash is not accepted). This is the check-in location for your beach day. Access to the waterpark is NOT included.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Your Serenity Beach day pass include beach lounge chair and towel. Food and beverage is not included, beachside service is available for the purchase of food and beverage.
 

What to Know Before you go:This day pass is beach access only, the British Colonial resort remains closed and access to the resort is not available. However, there are restrooms available by the beach for beach pass guests. The resort is cashless, a credit card is required to make on site purchases, including food and beverage.

Thank you for booking your excursion with us! We appreciate your business!

Edited February 20, 2023 by Vacationdreamer<><

[cbfb]

On 2/19/2023 at 7:16 PM, Vacationdreamer&lt;&gt;&lt; said:

I just reserved this for 3/4.  I'll report back after our return home.

 

 

GETTING THERE: Serenity Beach day pass guests check in at the entrance of Margaritaville Fin's UP waterpark. Transportation is NOT INCLUDED, taxi service is readily available at the cruise pier or you can walk from the port and be there within 15 minutes.

Walking: When you exit the cruise dock you would make a right hand turn and just follow the roadway to its end where you would see Senor Frogs Restaurant. Continue walking past Senor Frogs and follow the sidewalk past the British Colonial and the Pointe where you will see the Margaritaville Fin's Up waterpark entrance on your right. This is the check-in location for your beach day. Access to the waterpark is NOT included.

Taxi: If you take a taxi, we recommend confirming the total taxi rate with the driver before you accept the ride. Taxi drivers accept US cash, be sure to have smaller currency for payment. Serenity Beach day pass guests check in at the entrance of Margaritaville Fin's Up waterpark. We recommend leaving the resort 2 hours before your cruise ship scheduled departure time.

Check-in ADDRESS: 2 Bay St, Nassau, The Bahamas

HOURS and CHECK-IN: Beach Access: 8AM - 6 PM. Be aware if your ships time is different from local time.

Present this PRINTED pass and pay your BALANCE DUE with a credit card for each adult and child pass in your order (cash is not accepted). This is the check-in location for your beach day. Access to the waterpark is NOT included.

WHAT'S INCLUDED: Your Serenity Beach day pass include beach lounge chair and towel. Food and beverage is not included, beachside service is available for the purchase of food and beverage.
 

What to Know Before you go:This day pass is beach access only, the British Colonial resort remains closed and access to the resort is not available. However, there are restrooms available by the beach for beach pass guests. The resort is cashless, a credit card is required to make on site purchases, including food and beverage.

Thank you for booking your excursion with us! We appreciate your business!

We are thinking of booking this in April. What did you think of it? 

[Vacationdreamer<><]

15 hours ago, cbfb said:

What did you think of it? 

 

I am glad you asked.  I was planning to come back and mention it.

 

The pros were it was inexpensive and close. 
The cons was it was extraordinarily loud and we managed to only stay about 2.5 hours.

 

We were off the ship fairly early.  There were four ships in port and streets were crowded.  In order to get to the Fins Up entrance, you overshoot the British Colonial a bit, but it wasn't that much further.  

We checked in and were given outrageous instructions to walk all the way through Margaritaville, only to be redirected back out and past where we'd come in to begin with.  It didn't kill us, but it was a lot of unnecessary walking.  
There was plenty of seating.
Bathrooms were clean and immediately adjacent to the beach.
Beach was clean when we were there.
Waitstaff came around regularly, but not annoyingly.

 

The major con was about 30 minutes after we got there they started playing music VERY loudly on a speaker system.  It was so loud that it was distorted.  Not only was it impossible to hear the waitstaff, it was impossible to hear the person sitting next to you. 

At one point the music stopped, and then we only heard gentle music floating over from Senor Frogs.  That was the most pleasant 30 minutes.  But then our staff fired up the music again and we lasted about 45 more minutes.  

 

We did buy some Cokes for $5 at the bar.

 

Now, maybe if we'd asked them to turn it down they would have.  It may have been worth it, but we did want to hang out on the ship some that day anyway.

 

Just before we left, they started inviting the guests to partake in some games.  

 

All in all, it was not the least bit Serene.  But it was less than $50 and I've wasted more money than that on other things.  

 

I will add photos from my phone; they aren't on the computer yet.

[Vacationdreamer<><]

15 hours ago, cbfb said:

We are thinking of booking this in April. What did you think of it? 

 

[cbfb]

32 minutes ago, Vacationdreamer&lt;&gt;&lt; said:

 

Thanks so much for the information. What a shame it was so loud. It looks like a nice beach from your pictures. We really are looking for somewhere a little bit quiet. Not sure if we will find that in Nassau. Our other issue is the ship doesn’t dock until 10:30 and there are 5 ships in port that day. Again, thanks so much!