What to expect: Primarily a destination for cruise-ship passengers arriving from Florida, the resort also attracts leisure travelers seeking moderately priced accommodations in downtown Freeport.

Amenity highlights: The resort includes an L-shaped pool measuring 40 feet on the long side. Complimentary shuttles operate to a partner resort 2.5 miles away, where guests are permitted to use a 400-yard beach, a freeform pool, and spa tubs. The partner resort has a water-sports center that rents personal watercraft and snorkeling gear and offers parasailing, banana-boat rides, deep-sea fishing, reef fishing, glass-bottom boat trips, and snorkeling and sunset cruises.

Insider tip: Deadman's Reef, 13 miles from the resort off Grand Bahama's southwest coast, is a prime snorkeling site and is within swimming distance of the beach.

What to expect: Designed for long-term stays, the resort attracts couples and families who don't mind being away from a beach, enjoy home-away-from home living with cooking facilities, and value rest and relaxation. The resort provides complimentary shuttle service three times weekly to a supermarket and twice weekly to a beach less than two miles away.

Amenity highlights: Although not located on a beach, the Ocean Reef Yacht Club & Resort includes two pools next to the yacht harbor, each with an adjacent bar/restaurant. A large pool located next to the building housing suites features a swim-up bar and a section with a tile-top table rising above the water that provides in-water socializing for group of eight. On the sundeck surrounding the pool, a raised area contains a 12-person spa. A medium-size pool and expansive sundeck offers swimming and sunbathing in the townhouse/apartment section.

Insider tip: One of two golf courses at Our Lucaya Resort lies approximately two blocks away.