Onsite Review: Nassau Paradise Island offers Luxury Digs, Family-Style

Recommend Standard Image TemplateNassau Paradise Island Offers Luxury Digs, Family-StyleBy Lydia GregoryNassau Paradise Island, Bahamas, is home to beautiful white-sand beaches, turquoise waters and a bevy of high-end family-friendly accommodations—no matter what your client’s family looks like. “If you come to some of the resorts on Nassau Paradise Island, and that includes Atlantis, Baha Mar and Margaritaville, there is something for everyone to do. You can find those pockets where every single generation can be busy,” shares Joy Jibrilu, CEO of Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board. “We are a destination where [luxury family travel] is a perfect offering for us.” Read on for some highlights from Recommend’s most recent trip to Nassau Paradise Island—you’ll want to keep them top of mind when booking a luxe Bahamas vacay for families.Atlantis Paradise IslandIf there ever was a poster child for luxury family travel to The Bahamas, Atlantis Paradise Island would be it. This iconic pink resort has options for clients with kids and without—meaning multi-gen trips with grandparents wishing for a quiet space are very possible. There’s zero chance of boredom at Atlantis and with five different “resorts within a resort” to choose from, you’ll have no problem pairing your clients with accommodations. We stayed at the 1201-guestroom- and -suite Royal Towers in one of the modern, beautifully renovated Grand Suites with a jaw-dropping view of the lagoon and the waterpark (adjoining rooms available). It houses The Dig Aquarium and is convenient to just about everything, including the Marina Village and the Atlantis Kids Adventures (AKA) kids club. Other accommodations include The Cove, offering the most upscale experience with 600 sophisticated oceanfront suites and an adults-only pool (recommend the Sapphire Suite); The Reef, with 497 studios and suites, including the stunning Topaz Suite; the Harborside Resort in the marina, a collection of 392 luxury water-side villas; and, if they want to be luxury-adjacent, you can book the recently renovated Coral Tower with 609 guestrooms and suites, great for the budget-minded and boasting a huge pool area.Pro Tip: Guests staying in a Lapis Club Ocean Suite, Sapphire or Azure suites at The Cove have access to Lapis at The Cove, an exclusive concierge-level club on the 22nd floor. Baha MarBaha Mar is literally three luxury hotels in one—the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar, the adults-only SLS Baha Mar and Rosewood Baha Mar—each with its individual brand’s unique style. Artsy clients will love the many art installations in the hotels and around the grounds, plus The Current Art Gallery and Art Studio. It also has a large shopping gallery, a Vegas-style casino and a ton of dining options, including food trucks near the beach and poolside bars. There’s also an ESPA spa and gym for guests of all three properties. An aside: Baha Mar hosts a members-only NEXUS Club, a very VIP retreat with a Veuve Clicquot Champagne Bar and private pool. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is the largest of the three with 1,800 rooms divided into two towers, East, home to the casino, and West, which has a sleeker vibe and less hustle and bustle. This property has eight pools and its own Wildlife Sanctuary that offers guided tours. Then there’s The Reserve at Grand Hyatt, where your more discerning clients can enjoy the “hotel within a hotel” experience with a separate entrance, private reception and private elevators. The vibe is very different at the 299-plush-guestroom- and -suite SLS Baha Mar—it’s all cool bars (recommend the Sky Bar and the Monkey Bar, to name just two), chic eateries and swanky nightlife: this is the home of Bond, which hosts international DJs and the beautiful party people. SLS also boasts two serene pools surrounded by cabanas, including the adults-only Privilege Pool & Cabanas where adults can enjoy DJ beats and cool drinks, and the Beach Club, with two infinity pools. The 226-guestroom and -suite Rosewood is, of course, all about the VIP life, and you can feel the change as soon as you enter its grounds, particularly in the decor that reflects the brand’s signature sense of place and in its five-star details. Little ones will love the flamingo parade and the complimentary ice cream cart. And while all guests of Baha Mar can enjoy this property’s bars and restaurants, the pools are for guests only. Rosewood also has its own separate spa. The family-friendly star of this complex is undoubtedly the luxury beachfront Baha Bay water park. This is 15 acres of fun, with its own restaurants, numerous thrilling water slides of all sizes (yes, for grownups, too), a lazy river, a special splash pool and slides for tiny tots, a surf pool, the Pavilion—the only casino experience in a water park—and more.Pro Tip: There’s always somewhere to grab a bite at Baha Mar; however, if your clients want sit-down dinners, book their reservations as far in advance as possible—three months isn’t too far. Same goes for poolside cabanas.Recommend Standard Image Template-1696268104Goldwynn Resorts & ResidencesWith only 82 studios, 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom suites, the posh new Goldwynn Resorts & Residences is all about beach chic, friendly yet refined service and even better F&B. Its prime location on Cable Beach means it’s close to town but a million miles away from any hustle and bustle that might disturb your A-list clients. Like Rosewood, Goldwynn is family-friendly but not kid-centric—the suites have kitchenettes or full kitchens, depending on the size, which can appeal to a family with little ones (they can be stocked prior to arrival). However, we envision it more for family reunions where everyone is 18+ and can fully enjoy the excellent cuisine, the gorgeous bar with a view and an extensive menu of libations, the sanctuary-like peace and elevated treatments at the Rhizophora Spa (which has the only chair on the island where you can get a facial, a mani and a pedi at the same time) and the butler service at the poolside private cabanas. Watersports are a must in the calm waters of Cable Beach, especially paddleboarding, snorkeling and paddling in a clear-bottom kayak where you can peer at the green sea turtles going about their business. The boutique resort also has access to Baha Mar’s excellent Royal Blue Golf Course (at a discounted rate).Pro Tip: This is a smart hotel, where everything in the suites is controlled via your phone. Recommend the 3-bedroom Edge Suite if traveling family-style—the 270-degree views are outrageous.The PointeContinuing The Bahamas’ penchant for multiple hotels in one location, The Pointe is home to the family-friendly Margaritaville Beach Resort, the upscale One Particular Harbour condo hotel and the British Colonial Nassau, which is undergoing a massive renovation and is expected to open in December 2023. When done it will have 288 luxury guestrooms and suites that will take your clients back in time in high style. Margaritaville delivers a luxury paradise for families with 255 guestrooms with ocean views and balconies, 68 of them 1- and 2-bedroom suites. This is also home to the massive Fins Up Water Park, the FlowRider Surf Simulator and a luxe high-tech entertainment complex that will keep everyone busy. The resort shares a varied array of top-notch bars and restaurants themed and not (think Cheeseburger in Paradise all the way to the swish JWB Prime Steak & Seafood) with One Particular Harbour’s ritzy accommodations that include studio, 1-, 2-, 3- and even 4-bedroom residential style condos with jaw-dropping views.Pro Tip: For family travel in high style, we recommend One Particular Harbour’s accommodations with the kitchenettes/kitchens, which also have access to all the fun Margaritaville has to offer. Contact InformationAtlantis Paradise Island: atlantisbahamas.comBaha Mar: bahamar.comGoldwynn Resorts & Residences: goldwynnresorts.comNassau Paradise Island Promotion Board: nassauparadiseisland.comThe Pointe: pointebahamas.com

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