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HOTEL STYLE
Business
Romantic
Languages Spoken
English
Location
Number One Bay Street, Nassau New Providence Island
British Colonial
202 reviews
Getting there
Great 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.
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The British Colonial hotel is celebrated for its spotless cleanliness and elegant atmosphere, complete with lively music and entertainment, though noise may be a concern for some. While the prime downtown location is a hit among guests for its proximity to shops and beaches, the nightlife is found wanting. Opinions on the rooms are mixed, with comfort sometimes marred by odors and faulty A/C.
The hotel's amenities, including a pool and private beach, are well-liked despite some operational glitches. However, the value proposition is clouded by high prices and additional fees, and while the service is generally friendly, experiences of inconsistent service do surface.
Location
Convenient
Atmosphere
Lively
Rooms
Uncomfortable
Value
Expensive
Cleanliness
Mixed
Service
Inconsistent
Amenities
Well-appointed
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My husband and I do a decent amount of traveling and I must say that the employees at the British Colonial were some of the friendliest we have ever met. We would like to give a special thank you to one of your servers, Charles, and also to 3 of the bartenders, Omar (truly amazing), Raymond and Kendal. They were all fantastic! A few issues we encountered were: no shampoo in our room, had to call to have it brought to our room; no hair dryer in our room, we called and nobody ever brought one to our room; no tv remote in our room, we had to call and have someone bring it to us. The pool never seemed to be clear on on our 3rd day, patrons could not use the pool because chemicals were being added to it. This was a major let down because we were only there for 3 nights/4 days. The hotel did lack any kind of entertainment. If we were going to bring our adult children to the Bahamas, we probably wouldn't bring them to the Colonial because they would be bored. The bed pillows were like bricks after a couple hours of laying on them and actually gave my husband and I stiff necks. Also, the air conditioning didn't seem to be working, we could never get our room to the temperature we wanted. Also, there was a foul smell after our 2nd night. A couple we met who were in the room across from us also had that foul smell in their room. The heavy curtains in our room were possibly the cause because of the humidity that was in the room. I would suggest washing the curtains more frequently or maybe purchasing new curtains that were not so heavy. Another thought was that there was something wrong with the ventilation on that floor (3rd floor) because the ceiling outside of our room was leaking. I understand that the hotel was recently renovated and some of the hotel was still being renovated but that would definitely be something to look into. So I would rate the overall experience a 4, but the staff I would rate a 5.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Staff was amazing! Be prepared to spend your money!
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 General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 22 Mar 2024
Dear Heather, Thank you so much for all the kind words regarding our amazing team members and we're so happy to know that you had a great time with us overall! We apologize for any issues with the accommodations and amenities during your visit and we'll be sure to discuss all of your comments internally. Despite this, we hope you will consider coming back to join us again in the future; we're confident that we can impress you. Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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Excellent customer service when we arrived at the location, the staff was very attractive and friendly. Jasmine in the coffee shop was outstanding. My first experience with him was how warm he greated my son and I. I would recommend this location to anyone looking for a clean, quiet, and safe environment to relax.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with family
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 General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 19 Feb 2024
Dear Natasha, Thank you for choosing British Colonial Resort Nassau, it's wonderful knowing you and your son enjoyed your first-ever stay with us! Your recommendation is something we're happy to hear, and we'll be sure to pass your compliments along to Jasmine and our team so they know how much you appreciate their service. We would love nothing more than to welcome you back, so don't be a stranger! Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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A lot to digest? Read an AI-generated summary of recent traveller reviews.
Stayed at the newly renovated British Colonial for my birthday. The hotel is FABULOUS!! The staff was amazing, the hotel grounds are beautiful and the location is prime. You can walk to Bay Street/Straw Market/Pier/Fish Fry and plenty shops and restaurants. The rooms were great and the hotel has the BEST bed pillows IN THE WORLD!!! I really wanted to pack to in my luggage. I would suggest that hooks be placed in the bathroom (no where to hang your robe or wet towels). The hotel is still in transition: not all of the restaurants were opened yet. I will definitely be back!!!
I want to thank all who made my stay amazing. Please blame my head and not my heart if I didn't mention you by name: the two maintenance men who replaced the fridge in my room, the chef who made my omelet (formerly worked at Nassau Beach Hotel) and Hector and Dynette at the Tamarind Market Place; the staff at the Red Pearl Grille and the amazing bartenders: Kimberly, Devon, David and Omar. Thank you all for making my birthday trip awesome.
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Date of stay: February 2024
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.
Response from General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 3 Mar 2024
We’re so delighted that you chose to celebrate your birthday with us! It was an honor to have been a part of your special day, and we are thrilled our fantastic location, lovely accommodations, and hospitable team helped make it one for the books. You can be sure we'll share your compliments with Kimberly, Devon, David, Omar, and the rest of them! Thank you for your glowing review, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the future to enjoy all that we have to offer. Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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We spent a week at the British Colonial. The property is beautiful and recently redone. The small private beach and pool area are nice. Most of the staff we dealt with were helpful and friendly as well. That said, a number of things are not yet open or still awaiting final improvements.
A concerning item was that they did not honor the rate at which I booked. On arrival they gave us a paper showing higher rates. With VAT and fees (including an extra 5% service charge every day just for the room) the cost for the room itself came to nearly $500 a night, which seems excessive for a property that is essentially still in a "soft open."
There are clearly going to be more restaurants eventually, but in early March 2024 food options were very limited. Since downtown Nassau shuts down at 5 when the cruise ships leave, finding convenient places for supper during our stay was tough. The only option in the British Colonial was bar food, and the pool bar had some lunch items. Both the bar and the grab 'n' go were out of items on the drink and food menu every time we went, and one sandwich we bought from the grab 'n' go was well past its prime.
There are lovely, diverse outdoor lounge areas but nobody yet staffing them. There is also a nice small fitness area with weights and a few cardio machines, but those were not yet fully operational (the screens do not respond), and the staff desk there is vacant. The center had no mats for stretching or yoga, and there were no wipes to clean the machines. Again, I'm sure this will all be fixed eventually.
On the last night of our stay we decided to see if we could get into the pizza restaurant at the resort next door, Margaritaville. When we arrived the attendant said, "Of course, we're all the same family! Just show your British Colonial bracelet and you have access." If this was correct, we wish we had been told on arrival, since Margaritaville is a fully functioning resort with its stores and restaurants open, and we would have taken regular advantage of its amenities.
We went away feeling sure that the British Colonial is going to be a terrific place to stay once it is fully open, all systems are fully working, and there is adequate (and fully trained) staff for the size and the high-end vibe they are going for. The physical plant looks great, and while the downtown location is a challenge at night it offers lots of walkable options during the day. At this point, though, I think it would make more sense to offer reduced rates or free nights or something like that to compensate for how tentative and limited the service is.
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Date of stay: March 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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 General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 15 Mar 2024
Dear BeMay, We appreciate your feedback on your stay. It's great to hear you enjoyed our beautiful property, private beach, and friendly staff. However, we regret the issues encountered, such as limited dining options and the functionality of our fitness equipment. As a newly reopened property, we do have two additional restaurants that are coming on line in the very near future. Your insights about the state of our hotel, combined with suggestions for improved communication regarding access to neighboring resort amenities, are invaluable. We do include a Welcome letter at check in which notes our Guest Directory accessed through a QR code that lists facilities available at Margaritaville Resort such as JWB Steakhouse, FinsUp WaterPark, and other facilities available. We are committed to addressing these issues and enhancing our service and offerings. We look forward to the opportunity to provide you with the high-end experience you anticipate, reflective of our vision for British Colonial Resort Nassau. Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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The staff are absolutely amazing across the board - genuinely friendly, helpful and some of the nicest people you'll meet. We had a hiccup upon checking in (we had paid for ocean view but got garden view) which was quickly corrected and we were moved into the room we had paid for. The room had a slightly fishy smell, but we were able to overlook it. The food is okay, at present there is only one place to eat in the hotel (the bar) and the other restaurants are not yet open. That may change with time. It's very expensive and everything, including water and chips at the store downstairs, has a 10% VAT and 15% tip included. So expect to pay $6.50 for a can of coconut water and $5 for a small bag of chips. The pool area and the drinks are wonderful. The water is warm, towels plentiful, and service of pina coladas and daiquiris is sublime. There is often live (karaoke-type) music at the bar and the singers are not bad. Nice vibe. There is a lot of energy in the surrounding area during the day and much that you can walk to. The big drawback is that after 6pm at night when the cruise ships pull out, literally everything in the area shuts down and there is nothing to do but sit at the bar or go back to your room and watch tv. There are 3 restaurants that serve past 6pm which you can walk to - Oku across the street (okay), Seafood Gourmet around the corner (okay), and the steakhouse at Margaritaville (overpriced with bad service). Do not make the mistake to walk to the fish fry at Arawak Cay after dark. It's not well lit, there are no sidewalks in places and there are groups of motorcycles revving up and down the streets. Yikes. A few weird charges on our card that were reversed. Not sure what that's all about. That's true for every hotel in downtown Nassau.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip 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 General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 5 Mar 2024
Dear Tiffany, We are delighted to hear that our fun and friendly staff could deliver service reflective of our high standards in hospitality and that you enjoyed our pool area and delicious drinks! Rest assured, we hear your comments regarding our prices and the odor you encountered, and we hope to improve your overall experience the next time your travels point you in our direction. Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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Our stay was due to a flight cancellation & a last minute search for lodging for the night. We were disappointed to find a leaking window, with water on the sill & floor, when we got to the room. Attempts to contact the desk went unanswered, so we cleaned up the water ourselves as the tile was extremely slippery. The information was shared with housekeeping working on the hall when we made our way down for a quick late dinner, but no one entered the room to address the concern. For a less than 12 hours stay, at considerable cost, it is doubtful the British Colonial will be a consideration for our next visit to the Bahamas.
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Date of stay: March 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
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 General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 29 Mar 2024
Dear Deborah, Thank you for sharing your experience. We regret to hear about the issues encountered during your unexpected stay, especially the leaking window and the difficulty reaching our desk. We understand the frustration this caused and take your feedback seriously, as we aim to promptly address and rectify such concerns. Should your travels bring you back to the Bahamas, we hope for another opportunity to provide you with the level of service and accommodation you expect and deserve. Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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When you get there they ask for a ridiculous amount of money as a deposit. Had to wait around for an hour to even speak to someone as the staff on reception are uninterested and rude. You have a choice to pay as you go or put your details down to pay it all when you leave and we payed as we went for food drinks etc then they lied when we tried to check out and said we hadn’t payed for anything. Then they ask for more money for ‘tax and extras’ which we had already payed and apparently our deposit of 400 dollars per room we payed at the beginning was ‘never received’. Just a money grabbing hotel do not recommend. No night life or entertainment only set up for the cruise ships.
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Date of stay: August 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
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 General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 5 weeks ago
Dear Tegan, Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s disheartening to learn about the difficulties you encountered with our deposit policy and the service at check-out. It is standard for hotels to process a credit card hold on a guest account unless they do not want to charge to their rooms and we ask the guest to pay directly to the outlets for services or products. We are sorry this standard policy was not explained in a more polite manner. Your feedback will be thoroughly reviewed to address these shortcomings and improve our guest experience. Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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My first impression I was amazed how beautiful the lobby was. I was greeted very politely and Pakesha was kind enough to check me in earlier. I got a standard king room with what I would call a decent ocean view . I was a bit grossed out by the bathroom sometimes old can look gross . It was clean but felt icky because of the old feeling . The hallways smelt amazing but the room had a weird smell let’s just say not a good one . The restaurant food was poor tasting but staff was excellent! Purchased 2 bottles of water which cost me $30 usd save yourself and walk next door to the hotel there are snack and water for $2. This hotel is excellent for downtown and access to food was perfect . It felt safe however if you’re looking for a more clean place to stay I do not recommend this hotel, or maybe ask for a better room.
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â The pool was heated which was perfect after swimming .
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 General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 26 Apr 2024
Dear Mel, Thank you for choosing to stay at British Colonial Resort Nassau. It was our pleasure to welcome you to our resort with friendly hospitality, and it's great to read you received excellent service at our restaurant. Cleanliness is essential, so our housekeeping team will investigate your odor comment. Despite this, it sounds like our location worked perfectly for your trip. Please stay with us again next time you visit Nassau. Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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The issues began when we arrived. There is no parking on property. If you rent a car, you must valet park or park down the street at another property. The cost is ridiculous at $35 per day. WOW!
The hotel is aesthetically pleasing. It's beautiful!
The front desk staff was exceptional! They know their stuff. Katrina, the concierge, was absolutely fantastic. She helped us book all of our excursions. She knows her stuff about the islands.
When we made it to our rooms, they smelled strongly of rotting fish, which never went away. We were told that the smell comes from the water coming through the pipes.
The staff at all of the dining establishments on property were rude. For some reason, they seem to think that a bad attitude is worth more tip money. (FYI: Every place you eat in Nassau adds a 15% gratuity to your ticket, which you cannot change even when the service is horrible.)
We will NOT return to this property!!
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Date of stay: April 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with family
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 General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 27 Apr 2024
Thank you for sharing your feedback. It's great to hear you enjoyed our hotel's design and had excellent interactions with our front desk team and Katrina, our knowledgeable concierge. As it relates to parking; parking is very limited in the downtown area, and most hotels do charge a nightly parking fee with comparable parking rates. We regret the discomfort caused by the room odor. We don’t typically have any challenges on property with our staff being rude in our restaurant outlets. I will be certain to review your comments with our Director of Food & Beverage, Danny Wells, so he can share your comments with the team. We hope you'll consider staying with us again for a more enjoyable visit. We're committed to ensuring our guests have a pleasant and memorable stay. Best regards, Dan McDermott General Manager
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I quite enjoyed my stay at the British colonial. I found the staff to be particularly helpful and courteous and just overall amazing. I want to highlight the women on the cleaning crew during my stay.; unsung hero’s. The grounds are beautiful. The hotel is beautifully kept and I love the privacy even though you’re downtown you do not feel like you’re downtown.
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Date of stay: July 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
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.
Response from General Manager, General Manager at British Colonial
Responded 27 Jul 2024
Dear Ameil, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts on your recent visit. It's wonderful to know you thoroughly enjoyed your stay! Our team will be thrilled to know that they played a pivotal role in your experience with us, and we appreciate you mentioning our idyllic and convenient location. It was truly our pleasure having you here, we'd be delighted to welcome you back. Yours in hospitality, Dan McDermott General Manager
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It recently reopened after a large renovation and was previously known as the Hilton British Colonial and are no longer a Hilton. The phone numbers you are using may be outdated for one of these reasons. A lot of places in the Bahamas have outdated information. This is a serious, refreshed, luxurious hotel. You picked the best thing in downtown Nassau. I booked through Expedia and checked in with no problem. I can’t speak to what you have planned for the rest of your trip, but your stay here will be enjoyable.
There are more places to choose from in the Nassau area.
PRICE RANGE
₹14,818 - ₹23,524 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
CaribbeanBahamasNew Providence IslandNassau
NUMBER OF ROOMS
313
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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