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78°F / 25°C
(Passing Clouds. Warm.)
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If you've got money to burn and energy galore, Nassau is the place to be. Hotels on the island are large, busy, opulent and expensive. The majority of them are just steps away from the beach, shopping and dining. The island is small, and the tourist districts—of which there are just a few—offer a bit of everything. Most of the major hotels offer a number of on-site dining and shopping options, just in case visitors are too lazy to even venture outside.
While it's possible to find mid-range accommodations on the island, budget lodgings are hard to locate. Budget hotels tend to be shabby or in a seedy location. In order to get good prices, the best idea is to book well ahead of time, and to take advantage of special deals or packages. By doing this, you can shave up to 50 percent off the rack rate of even the finest hotels. That will leave you with more money in your pocket to spend at the shops or the bars.
Cable Beach
This strip of beach is Nassau's most famous hotel district. While only about five hotels are located on Cable Beach, all of them are large and luxurious. Each one has a distinct personality, so if you don't like the atmosphere of one, you'll probably like another. Sandals, the Bahamas' most famous all-inclusive resort, is the first hotel you'll see when coming from the airport. While it's unassuming from the outside, once you get inside it is a veritable fantasy palace. With colonnaded aquamarine pools, white marble spas and opulent restaurants, this is a honeymooner's paradise. Further down are the three major business-or-pleasure hotels: the Radisson Cable Beach Resort, the Marriott Crystal Palace and the Nassau Beach Hotel. These three are linked together; guests of one can easily enjoy the facilities of another. The Marriott is the most expensive of the three, and the most elegant. With its two shopping arcades, several restaurants and enormous casino (one of two on the island) it is almost like a small city. The Nassau Beach Hotel has a smaller, homier feeling, and is the least expensive. The Radisson lands somewhere in the middle. Cool and elegant, it is the quintessential business hotel. A bit further down is Breezes, a fun, wild, all-inclusive resort that's popular with vacationers of all ages and nationalities. All of these hotels are set on the beach, with restaurants and shops located across the wide, busy street.
Downtown Nassau and Bay Street
Hotels in this district are scattered, unlike the hotels on Cable Beach. They range in price and quality from economy to ultra-luxurious. While some of the hotels are medium-sized, none of them are overly large or busy. Three of Nassau's best boutique hotels are located in this district.
Easily the most famous hotel in downtown Nassau is the stately British Colonial Hilton. With its hundred-year history, opulent décor and serene ambience, this hotel proudly distinguishes itself from the other major hotel franchises located on the island. For business travelers who can't afford to splurge, the Holiday Inn Junkanoo Beach offers pleasant and functional accommodations about two blocks from the British Colonial. The Red Carpet Inn, located a few miles down Bay Street—past the major shopping area—is a great choice for families and budget travelers. It's quiet, clean and close to the center of the action.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are two hotels in and around Bay Street that offer the ultimate in luxury accommodation. Both of these hotels are beautiful, unique, and seemingly set apart from the hustle and bustle of Nassau. The lovely Compass Point Beach Club, which is part of the opulent Island Outpost chain, has a tastefully tropical theme, complete with wooden furniture and bright, cheerful trim. The majestic Graycliff Hotel is set in a 250-year old mansion, in the midst of a lush tropical garden. It is favored by royalty and international luminaries.
Paradise Island
Just over the bridge is the Bahamas' little patch of Paradise. While it's certainly a sight to behold these days, just a few years ago it was largely undeveloped, and graced with the title "Hog Island." One resort in particular is responsible for the transformation of Paradise Island, and that resort is also the island's primary attraction.
The Atlantis Resort is in a class of its own in the Bahamas, and there are few places that can compare to it anywhere in the world. With several hundred rooms, seventeen restaurants, a dozen bars, an aquarium and a water park located on the property, it's enough to impress even the most seasoned travelers. On a typical day at the Atlantis, two major pop stars and the entire editorial staff of a world-famous fashion magazine were all guests of the hotel.
Several other fabulous properties are located on Paradise Island. While none of them can match up to the Atlantis in terms of sheer size and theatrics, they offer elegant accommodations and top-notch service. The Sheraton, the Clarion South Ocean Resort and tiny Club Land'Or all have a loyal following among Nassau visitors. Club Med, the original all-inclusive vacation resort, occupies a large strip of property known as Porcupine Island. If you want to take a peek at the fabled Club Med action and see if it's your cup of tea, get an evening pass, which allows you to dine, drink, and take in the entertainment. If you're looking for mid-priced lodging on Paradise Island, the closest you'll come is the Comfort Inn. The Paradise Harbour Club is also reasonable. Many of these hotels have an arrangement with the Atlantis that allows guests to have full access to the Atlantis's guest services. It's worthwhile to find a hotel that has this privilege, as the Atlantis's facilities are unparalleled.
While much Bahamian business is conducted in Nassau, it is well aware of its "tourist attraction" status in the rest of the world. Nassau hotels cater to pleasure travelers, and the results are delightful, if not always economical: while it's almost impossible to place a direct phone call from a hotel, it's always easy to find a good tropical rum concoction and a chaise lounge in the sun.
And it's possible to get a bargain, if you start looking in plenty of time. Remember to book well a month or two early, and be flexible with dates. Check the Web sites of each hotel for special deals and corporate rates—more than likely, they'll be listed. Always ask travel agents for good package deals. Don't forget the various Bahamian hotel taxes, which raise the rates a bit. When quoted a rate, ask if taxes are included—it makes a difference.
Millions of visitors come to Nassau, as part of conventions or retreats, Spring Break and wedding parties, in groups, and alone. No matter what your status or your requirements, you can be accommodated here. It's all a matter of finding the hotel that can best match your needs.
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