Viva Fortuna Beach By Wyndham, Grand Bahama Island

The Viva Fortuna Beach By Wyndham is a top value Bahamas all-inclusive that boasts non-stop activities, dining and a friendly staff. In my book, that’s everything you need to make this beach vacation one that’s sure to appeal to every family member.

The Viva Fortuna Beach By Wyndham lies just 55 miles off Florida’s east coast in Freeport. That’s the heart of Grand Bahama Island, the fourth largest of 700+ sister islands. (Freeport is also home to the legendary Toni Macaroni’s Conch Stand, if you chase amazing conch fritters like we do.)

In 2022, it beat out Abaco and Nassau in popularity with a 33% growth in foreign air arrivals. Several new GBI resorts in the pipeline mean this place is hot. Grand Bahama, however, is best known to families as the filming location for Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. That cinematic success guaranteed even more visitors to this friendly isle.

Fortunately for families, the island’s Viva Wyndham Resort is one of the greatest value all-inclusive resorts in the Bahamas. If your idea of vacation is someplace warm and friendly where you can eat, drink, snooze, dance, snorkel, and lounge to your heart’s content without reaching for your wallet, then Pilgrim, pull up a chaise. The Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach is a casual, wallet-friendly getaway destination for friends traveling together and families with kids.

The 26-acre oceanfront property promises access to 4,000 feet of pristine white sandy beaches and tropical weather, more good reasons to visit Grand Bahama Island.

Why Families Like the Viva Fortuna Beach By Wyndham

The Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach has 274 ocean- or garden-view rooms set in two-story housing blocks. The rooms are clean yet, as many reviews mention, can be somewhat worn. However, you won’t be spending a lot of time in them. Simple furnishings include two queen-size beds with enough space to accommodate two adults and two younger children – or a crib – in comfort.

Rooms feature easy-to-control A/C, color satellite television, telephone, mini-bars stocked with fruit drinks, soda, water and beer. There is WiFi, but don’t count on remote working from here since it can be sketchy. Dream away the hours perched on your roomy private balcony, gazing out over the water, or up at the moon hanging in the balmy Bahamian skies.

Tell the kids that ecotourism and sustainability are prioritized at this 26-acre resort. First, the resort has been certified by the Wyndham Green program for operating at maximum efficiency while minimizing their environmental footprint. Second, the Viva Wyndham’s great attraction may be its enormous coral reef. Together with local partners, they manage a coral reef protection project located on Grand Bahama Island. Plus, Viva Resorts Diving has created a “coral forest” at Arrow Point, 10 minutes by boat from the resort.

Great Diving, Beach and Plenty of Recreational Facilities

Of course, the resort’s nearby reef makes for inviting snorkeling and diving. An expert on-site diving staff oversees everything from PADI Scuba certifications to group and night dives. They also have a Scuba Pool Experience for 8- to10-year-old divers, as well as daily packages for certified divers. The prices include all materials and equipment. The certified PADI Instructor or Divemaster who remains underwater with all divers ensures a safe adventure.

Fronting the warm, gentle surf, the resort’s white sand beach is roomy enough to allow privacy between sun bunnies and splash sports enthusiasts. (Think sailing, wind surfing, stand up paddleboarding.) The resort also features an oceanfront pool, jacuzzi, sauna and multiple bars.

Sports buffs find tennis, trapeze, basketball, a the fitness center, sauna, volleyball — even pickleball. I-Can’t-Get-Enoughs indulge themselves on free meals, snacks, drinks, entertainment and the dance club. Other activities include exercise and dance lessons, cooking classes, meditation and yoga classes, bicycling, archery and dance classes. During holiday periods, themed activities are on deck.

Let’s just say the Viva Fortuna Beach by Wyndham’s got your active family covered.

At Viva Fortuna Beach, Unlimited Dining & Drinking

Everyone’s needs are accommodated here. All-inclusive resorts are judged by most travelers on the quantity and quality of their food and beverages. Here again, the Viva Fortuna Beach is an excellent value. Encourage kids to try new dishes at the varied — if not gourmet — breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. This large open-air, two-level room in the heart of the resort, Junkanoo, serves Bahamian specialties as well. It is named for the holiday once granted to the island’s enslaved people. Today, Junkanoo has developed into a winter festival when costumed revelers parade in the streets.

Directly behind the Junkanoo is the Main Hall, where the bar and lounge area is. Come snack on small sandwiches, cakes, and pizza 24/7. It is very easy to make a meal of these tasty snacks. Note that the reservation-only Italian and Asian-themed restaurants require booking ahead before arrival to snag a table, indoors or out.

The bartenders are happy to whip up tropical drinks, some of which they’ve invented. They are equally attentive to those ordering coffee or water as they are to tipplers. Head to the Club, a/k/a Party Central, around 10:30pm to work off some of those calories on the dance floor, either with your companion or with members of the staff.

Viva! The Vivitos Kids Club & Staff

One of the great family features is the complimentary Vivitos kids’ club, open daily for kids ages 4- through 12-years. The club has a full schedule of fun activities. Encourage kids to try painting, drawing and reading or Olympics, Ping Pong and games on the beach.

There are always two or three trained staffers with the kids. Activities are interspersed with snacks and a kid-friendly video break in the afternoon. Some evenings, there’s even a mini-disco for kids to learn the latest moves. Babysitting is also available if Mom and Dad want to slip off for a romantic rendezvous.

The Fortuna Beach staff, who seem to be everywhere all the time, want all ages to have a great time. They’re multi-lingual and multi-talented as well. The Italian girl or Venezuelan guy who leads your merengue dance class in the afternoons is likely to star in that evening’s show. They are not only terrific, odds are they will be handing out towels on the beach the next morning. Across the board the staff was just great, particularly with kids.

Swim with Pigs & More Fun Grand Bahama Island Adventures

If you want to see more of this “movie star” island, or catch a peek at vacationing celebs, here are some fun festivals and two excursions we enjoyed. Summer festivals kick off Thursdays in July with the Bahamas Goombay Summer fest on Taino Beach. Go for the fun traditions such as Junkanoo rush-outs, rake and scrape, quadrille dancing, authentic cuisine and artisanal crafts by locals. Another memorable and kid-friendly night out is the Wednesday Smith’s Point Fish Fry, where sampling the latest catch under the night sky is followed by music and dancing.

The most Insta-worthy activity may be Swimming with Pigs, which is done on Crystal Beach. The backstory: The Bahamas became known for having friendly, wild pigs on Big Major Cay off Nassau. While tourists now know that islet as Pig Beach, the attraction has expanded to other islands as well. The pigs, thought to have been abandoned by sailors or self-rescued from a shipwreck, don’t seem to mind visitors. They swim out to boats to be fed with government-approved food, while piglets remain on the beach to play.

Pigs may not snuggle up and kiss you like a dolphin would, but you will have a great story to tell afterwards. Don’t miss strolling the boardwalks above the region’s largest underwater cave system in Lucayan National Park, another thrilling experience.

Another fun option, perfect for photography buffs and school age kids, is the Bahamas Native Experience. A guide and driver whisk you to a produce market to identify all those brightly colored, mysterious things seen at the resort’s buffets. Then, visit a locals’ beach and some small businesses and learn the history of Grand Bahama Island.

Four Top Reasons To Choose Viva Fortuna Beach By Wyndham

Let me summarize aspects of this budget resort that make it a worthwhile family vacation choice for the less fussy. “Less fussy families” are those, like mine, who don’t mind if a resort on a gorgeous beach has worn guestrooms, slow WiFi and less than gourmet cuisine. (These are complaints I heard but didn’t experience.)

Nonetheless, you get what you pay for, and for a very affordable price, families find:

1. Easy to get to resort with fast and affordable transportation.

• Viva Fortuna Beach is a quick flight just off the coast of Fort Lauderdale and Miami
• Large choice of domestic flights, reasonable connections, as well as ferry access.
• So close for American families, you won’t have to spend time recovering from long travel.

2. A budget-friendly family vacation experience.

• Viva Fortuna Beach is good for multigenerational groups seeking rest and relaxation.
• You pay up front at this all-inclusive resort so no one has to argue about splitting bills.
• They have supervised activities for every age and interest, plus kids clubs for ages 4-12.
• All-inclusive pricing includes live nightly entertainment so you can celebrate together.

3. This resort features world-class snorkeling and diving.

• The island is surrounded by water that are arguably the clearest in the world.
• Divers discover amazing wrecks, reefs, underwater walls and marine life experiences.
• The local UNEXSO offers open-ocean dives with dolphins and shark dives.
• Snorkeling gear is free, and the Viva Fortuna Beach is a perfect spot for beginners.
• Introduce Scuba to your kids here, where there’s a very affordable onsite PADI dive center.

4. Introduce kids to Bahamian culture through immersive dining and music experiences. 

• The resort feels local because they celebrate Bahamian traditions wherever they can.
• Try the colorful fusion of Caribbean and South American food,drinks, dance and music.
• Meals and nightlife are included in rates — no worries if your family wants to ignore them.

Vacation Planning Details for the Viva Fortuna Beach by Wyndham

The Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach is located at Churchill Drive & Doubloon Road, Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, 42398 Bahamas. It is perfectly situated a quick 20-minute ride from Freeport International Airport. It’s just 10- to 15-minutes away from downtown Freeport. Discover the open-air Port Lucaya Marketplace and its collection of shops, casual eateries, the Treasure Bay Casino and more nightlife.

Seasonal rates for this all-inclusive range widely depending on season, and sometimes drop to $100 per person per day. Multigenerational groups appreciate the Boomers Package. This deal takes up to 10% off any sale rates, plus provides free travel insurance, Covid testing and other perks. An added Grandparents bonus: children under 3 are free and children ages 3-17 stay, play and eat for extremely low prices. Note that pre-summer sales typically feature a “Kids Stay Free” deal for kids 12 and under — a really great offer.

You won’t find the variety of dining choices or posh amenities you’ll get at a five-star resort, but for the money, this place deserves an A. Check the Viva Fortuna Beach By Wyndham site for air/land package deals as well. Are you looking for that very special 5-star experience? Review the other Viva by Wyndham Resorts including their latest development on the heavenly beach at Miches, Dominican Republic.