by Brian Major
Last updated: 9:00 AM ET, Thu June 19, 2014
PHOTO: Atlantis' iconic towers have become a Nassau landmark. (all photos by Brian Major)
Nassau is a destination teeming with tourist attractions - and tourists. Small wonder, as the archipelago's capital city boasts routinely sunny skies, beautiful beaches and multitude of resorts and activities for families, couples and travelers seeking a quick respite from stressful careers and climates. Unlike some other warm weather destinations, Nassau not only offers an array of land-based resorts but the city's cruise piers are the world's busiest, welcoming thousands of day-tripping guests every week of the year.
Fortunately, Nassau is well-prepared to handle the constant flow of visitors. Transportation is relatively fast and efficient, with local taxi service providing a reasonably priced option to reach local attractions. Nassau's Paradise Island is the center of the city's premiere hotel properties, ranging from feature-filled mega-resorts for upscale family vacationers to boutique luxury properties and even strong value traveler options. However other top properties are located within Nassau's lively municipal environs and in the historic Cable Beach district.
I recently spent several days week exploring five of the best Nassau resorts to determine what each offers in terms of accommodations, amenities, facilities and services.
One note: this list of five properties should rightfully include a sixth, except that resort has yet to open. The $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort is on schedule for a December launch however. When complete the sprawling resort will feature four separate hotel properties and the Caribbean's largest casino, plus shopping and private residences, all set amidst landscaped gardens and natural attractions.
PHOTO: The $3.5 billion Baha Mar resort will open in December.
The Baha Mar hotel properties will include a 700-room Grand Hyatt, a 300-room SLS Hotels property with a rooftop deck, a 694-rooom, all-inclusive Melia Hotels property and the flagship resort, the 1,000-room Baha Mar Resort & Casino. But for now here's a look at four top Nassau properties your clients can visit right now:
Atlantis Paradise Island
The property: The iconic Royal Towers are the best-known physical feature of this massive resort and is centrally located to the resort's multitude of active attractions including The Dig & Ruins Lagoon, where guests can snorkel through an underwater replica of the lost city of Atlantis. The Aquaventure water park is one of the world's largest and features a 120-foot high "Power Tower" and nine separate water slides, plus 11 pools. The resort's Royal Casino is always a hub of activity and connects to multiple dining and retail options. The resort's Coral Towers and Beach Tower wings offer family friendly, value-oriented accommodations while the Cove Atlantis offers deluxe ocean-view suites with facilities including an adults-only pool area.
What makes it special: Atlantis is designed as an all-encompassing resort that offers something for everyone. Vacationers looking for fun and excitement nightlife will enjoy the casino's new Pegasus Race & Sports Book, which features a lounge area where guests can tune into major sports events. Also new among the resort's multiple dining options is Olives Atlantis, a casually elegant dining experience featuring celebrity chef Todd English's signature interpretative Mediterranean cuisine. The staff operates from a broad open kitchen and prepares dishes using a rotisserie grill. With "Ultimate Trainer for a Day," guests can join a marine animal specialist as they feed stingrays and nurse sharks and interact with dolphin and sea lions.
Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island
The property: The Caribbean's all-inclusive resort leader has another winning property here, set on the grounds of the former Balmoral Club. The Club was launched in 1946 as a playground for the royal friends of Prince Edward, the Duke of Windsor, who was then the Bahamas' governor. The property features elaborate and stately architecture, including Roman columns and 25-foot high statues that guard the lushly landscaped cobblestone driveway. Located on a picturesque stretch of Cable Beach, the resort offers 404 rooms and suites spread across 15 acres. Amenities and facilities cover the complete range and include butler service, 24-hour room service and "Club Sandals" concierge accommodations. This deluxe room category features access to a 24-hour lounge offering priority check-in and -out, light cuisine and drinks, weekly activities and staff that assists with excursions, spa reservations and other guest needs.
What makes it special: Sandals Royal Bahamian is one of a rare handful of warm-weather resorts that features it own offshore island, located within view of the property's beach. The island offers a fresh water pool, plus a swim-up pool and pool bar and Stewfish, which serves a la carte Caribbean seafood. The island also offers the Zen Garden, an outlet of the company's Red Lane Spa. Ferries shuttle guests to the island and from the island every hour beginning at 10 a.m.; the last ferry returns at 4:45 p.m.
PHOTO: The Graycliff Hotel's wine cellar is said to be the world's third-largest.
Graycliff Hotel
The property: This historic hotel is located in a beautiful colonial mansion whose history that extends to the 18th century. The hotel offers old-world charm, sophistication and elegance opposite Nassau's Government House. Guest rooms at the luxury property feature elegant antique appointments plus modern amenities including air conditioning, private baths with jacuzzi tubs, mini bars, data ports and cable TV. Accommodations offer views of the Graycliff Gardens and the pool area's lush foliage, and the hotel's Graycliff Restaurant is one of the finest in all of the Bahamas. The five-star eatery features a Wine Spectator grand award-winning wine list and interpretative Bahamian and Continental cuisine.
The hotel also features Humidor Churrascaria, a specialty restaurant dedicated to Brazilian Rodizio, the country's indigenous method for barbecuing and grilling chicken, pork, beef, lamb and other meats. The restaurant has no traditional menu and each guest is served unlimited amounts of every type of meat. The restaurant's fixed price includes continuous tableside service and waiters serve as much barbecue as diners can hold.
What makes it special: The Graycliff wine cellar is said to be the world's third-largest, with an inventory of more than 250,000 bottles from over 400 vintners in 15 countries. The inventory includes an 1865 Château Lafite along with one the oldest and one of the most expensive bottles in the world, a 1727 Rudesheimer Apostelwein from Bremen Ratskeller in the Rheinghau region priced at $200,000. Deep within the wine cellar lies the Cognateque, a formal dining room where guests can enjoy exceptional cognacs and spirits including extremely rare bottles including a selection from the collection of French artist and designer Erte and a Courvoisier reserve of which only 500 bottles were made.
Melia Nassau Beach Hotel
The property: The 694-room, all-inclusive Melia Nassau Beach Resort opened in December of 2013 and today is the first operating segment of the Baha Mar resort. The Melia will become an official part of the expansive Baha Mar resort when the larger property opens in December.
The hotel offers 32 suites with Atlantic Ocean and resort views; three outdoor pools with waterfalls facing the sea; two hydro-massage tubs; a fully equipped 24-hour gym and a variety of dining venues including Aqua, which specializes in Italian cuisine and American barbecue favorites at O' Grille. The resort features free Internet in public areas; a Kids' Club; a gift shop and a gazebo for weddings.
What makes it special: The resort is the all-inclusive option at the soon-to-be-completed Baha Mar resort. Guests at the Melia will receive privileges at the other, adjacent Baha Mar resorts.
Comfort Suites Paradise Island
The property: The all-suite hotel located on Paradise Islands adjacent to Atlantis, allowing guests to move easily among the two properties. Comfort Suites is a value-oriented property that provides cost-conscious travelers with a casual and comfortable base for exploration at Atlantis and the resorts and attractions across Nassau. The 229-rooom property's newly renovated junior suites feature new televisions and free wireless Internet is available across the property. Guests can also partake in the complimentary daily buffet breakfast.
What makes it special: All guests of Comfort Suites receive free access to Atlantis attractions including the Aquaventure water park.
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