Tamara is just back from a multi-generational trip to the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. If you have ever wondered what it is like to stay at one of the popular Baha Mar Resorts, now is your chance to get the scoop and see if it is really the vacation of your dreams or not.

• This was a multi-generational trip with 14 people ages 17-83. There were a lot of considerations when choosing a destination including budget, activities, direct flights, and mobility issues.
• Tamara also considered the Hyatt in Aruba, the Hilton Zemi Beach House in Anguilla, and the Westin or Kimpton Seafire in Grand Cayman.
• There are three hotels within one resort at the Baha Mar and it has multiple restaurants, making it possible to stay for a week and eat somewhere different every night without taking cabs into town.
• The food is really expensive at the Baha Mar so you need to build that into the budget as it is inline with going out for a nice dinner in a big city, which is similar to many other island resorts.
• The three hotels are:
  • Rosewood Baha Mar - luxury property
  • SLS Baha Mar - good for couples, friends, and more of a party scene
  • Grand Hyatt Baha Mar - good for families and more affordable
  • There is also a "Reserve" section of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar with suites and lounge access that is a hotel within a hotel
• You fly into Nassau and you fill out a form on arrival and then the immigration line was quite short. They pre-arranged hotel transfers through the concierge.
• There are many pools within the Grand Hyatt but if you don't reserve a cabana, sunbed or premium lounge chair it could be hard to find chairs, especially if you want a larger group to be together.
• They rented a cabana at the Nexus Club, which has an indoor section with a couch, television, fridge, and a full bathroom. It also had a sun bed, a table and chairs with an umbrella, and use of two in-pool loungers. It was a private pool just for those renting cabanas or staying at a certain room category that included a hot tub. It also had its own bar and food service.
• The beach isn't deep but it is longed and it is lined with 4-6 rows of lounge chairs packed in together and the beach was quite busy even in June.
• There is also a waterpark that is included for guests with some big slides and a lazy river, as well as a good restaurant.
• You can do paddle boarding and snorkeling and there are also paid motorized water sports and there is an activities desk that arranges excursions and day trips.
• The Baha Mar also has a kids club with daily activities and there are flamingos that do a "parade" every morning.
• The food at Baha Mar was very good and even Tamara was impressed.
• Regatta is where they serve a huge breakfast buffet but it costs about $44 per person.
• Because Tamara is a preferred partner with Hyatt Prive, she was able to get the following perks and amenities:
  • Free breakfast for 2 people per day per room
  • $100 per room resort credit
  • $50 per room beverage credit
  • automatic upgrade within 24 hours of booking
• There are many pool bars serving food for lunch and there are also food trucks by the beach.
• You need to pre-book dinner reservations and they cover the gamut from Italian, Asian, Chinese, Steak, Mediterranean, and some celebrity chef restaurants like Cafe Boulud and Marcus Fish and Chop House (from Marcus Samuelson)
• In Tamara's opinion, the Baha Mar is better suited for families with teens or adults versus with younger kids as the casino is really the center point of the resort.

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Get ready for your summer vacation and future travel with these expert packing tips! From carry-on to checked bags, here are some things to keep in mind when packing for your next trip.

• Use a packing list! It helps you not forget critical items. Start creating your packing list early in your Notes app
• Kim has an outfit planner that you can sign up for on Stuffed Suitcase
• Pay attention to your itinerary to figure out what you need to bring for each activity
• Also pay attention to the weather forecast for your destination
• Try to minimize the number of shoes that you bring on a trip
• Try on your outfits while packing and take a picture of yourself so that you remember what you put together (with shoes, accessories, etc.)
• You can also put the picture into your notes app with notes about what day you were going to wear it to remember
• Packing cubes with compression can be great for saving space
• You can pack the cubes by destination/stop on the trip or daily outfits or just pack all your pants together, all your shirts together, etc.
• If you are flying on an international carrier, make sure to look up their baggage rules to understand the size and weight of carry on and personal items
• Even domestic carriers have different weight limits
• If you are buying new luggage, buy the matching packing cubes that fit perfectly
• Look for packing cubes that zip to a rectangle and not lumpy
• Gonex and Eagle Creek can be great brands to try
• Lay flat bags are great for toiletry bags
• Travelon makes a good organizer for your electronics
• Vodka in a spray bottle can help refresh clothes
• Bring a travel scale to check baggage weights

• Packing tips for family travel

It is summer road trip season so it is time to recap some of our best road trip tips from preparing, planning, packing, and more. Plus, we share some of our favorite road trips.

• Before you head out on a road trip, make sure your car has been serviced recently and check the tires to make sure the pressure is correct. You may also want to top off your fluids and use the bug windshield washer fluid.
• Bring a go-to kit with wipes, sanitizer, tissues, lip balm, moisturizer, sun screen, and eye drops. Also bring a couple of extra baggies or ziploc bags.
• Bring a trash bag for the front and back (or for each kid) and empty the trash at each stop.
• Bring a small cooler and ice pack that you can refreeze each night for left overs and snacks.
• Have a specific spot for your snacks that can be refilled when needed.
• Use a car freshener or car air purifier to help keep food smells away.
• You may want to consider a AAA membership and bring your card with you.
• For longer road trips, consider bringing a carry on bag with a duffle bag instead of a larger checked bag.
• Use a duffle bag to transport what you need in and out each night.
• It is good to have one overnight bag for toiletries and pajamas for everyone that always goes in.
• Bring a laundry bag that you can put your dirty clothes in each day in your car or larger suitcase. Plan an overnight stay at a place that has laundry facilities.
• When choosing where to stay, consider staying just off the highway where you are more likely to find a chain hotel that has free breakfast and free parking (and laundry facilities). Plus it is easy to get on and off the highway.
• Some of the chains like Best Western have summer promotions for multiple stays.
• Some apps to have are Gas Buddy, Road Trippers, and of course Google or Apple Maps. Google Maps is also good at showing you how busy attractions are at different times of the day.
• For road trips in less-populated areas, bring a road atlas or paper maps (you can get free maps at AAA if you are a member)
• Maine Coast road trip - read the full post here: https://we3travel.com/boston-to-bar-harbor-a-maine-coast-road-trip-itinerary/
• Florida Keys road trip - read more here: https://yourtimetofly.com/key-west-girls-trip/
• Canadian Rockies road trip - read more here: https://we3travel.com/canadian-rockies-vacation-itinerary/
• West Coast road trip - read more here: https://stuffedsuitcase.com/west-coast-road-trip/
• Road trip packing list: https://stuffedsuitcase.com/pack-car-road-trip/

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