Marley Resort & Spa

-- Hotels, 7/18/2008 2:27:00 PM

NASSAU, BAHAMAS The family of the late musician Bob Marley has opened the 16-suite Marley Resort & Spa in Nassau. The resort is an experience of art, history and spiritual sensibility, where discerning travelers will find a blend of exquisite natural beauty, romantic heritage and rustic luxury.

Once a governor's mansion, Rita Marley purchased the property after falling in love with it at first sight and the family used it as a summer getaway for many years. Today, it echoes the path of the Marley family.

Marley Resort celebrates the enduring creative spirit and traditions of the Marley family. Located on a private and secluded stretch of Nassau's famed Cable Beach, the resort is an elegant microcosm of African and Caribbean style, with sculptured hand-carved doors, mosaic tiles, intricate stonework and sandstone walls. Its 16 luxurious themed suites blend history and convenience.

Generations of Marley music infuses the entire resort. Each of the 16 themed suites center around Bob Marley’s song titles, including "Kinky Reggae," "Nice Time" and "Kaya," among others. Suites feature chic furnishings and up-to-the-minute amenities. Tropical rain showers, whirlpool tubs, flat-screen televisions, high-speed Internet and in-room Bose entertainment systems come standard. Unparalleled service, a result of a greater than 2-1 staff-to-guest ratio, begins the moment guests are greeted at the airport and continues throughout their stay.

For even greater luxury, three Royal Suites push the pampering to new heights. Royal Rita features a signature Royal chaise lounge, rich mahogany furniture, African prints, hardwood floors and oceanfront views. Legend is designed with the King in mind, offering a separate living room, a signature Marley bed, private balcony, hardwood floors and fully stocked wet bar. "One Love," the resort’s signature honeymoon suite, has an intimate, in-room Jacuzzi tub for two, dual rainfall showers and stellar views.

To ensure attention to the smallest detail, a personal concierge service is available along with in-room dining. A host of excursions are available, from diving to dolphin encounters. Some guests may choose to stay in-house and lounge in the two, free-form swimming pools, or on the stunning beach. The resort also retains a "love expert," who helps with wedding, honeymoon and vow-renewal packages.

Marrying Rita Marley’s passion and traditional secrets, the Natural Mystic Spa offers treatments blending ingredients from Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, as well as Rita’s herbal bath rituals. Limestone steam therapies are on offer, along with herbal body scrubs and wraps, nail care, and hot and cold plunges. This serene space includes a greeting room, the Uprising Tea Lounge, unique water passage, massage rooms, a couple's suite and beach-hut treatment areas.

Simmer Down, the resort’s restaurant, offers gourmet Caribbean cuisine with some of Bob’s favorites on the menu, as well as classic family recipes. Organic produce and fresh seafood play host here, where diners have the option of sitting on the beachfront patio, interior dining room, or in the courtyard. A stage hosts various artists playing melodic renditions of Marley tunes with instruments.

Rates start at US$450 based on double occupancy, including continental breakfast. and subject to 22% tax and service. For more information, visit www.marleyresort.com.