The Best Resorts in the Bahamas

Hotel chains don’t get much more luxurious than the Four Seasons. The Ocean Club is no exception. Originally opened in 1962, the property is located on a 5mi (8km) stretch of white sand beach on the aptly named Paradise Island. The island itself is connected by bridge to downtown Nassau, meaning the bars and boutiques – not to mention transport hubs such as the cruise port and the Bahamas’ main airport – are within convenient reach. Though the bustle is nearby, the Ocean Club’s 5 acres (14ha) of preened grounds and low-rise buildings feel secluded. Hit the golf course, relax in the Balinese-style spa, or have a nightcap at the Martini Bar.

Feel the warm ocean breeze whip around the colonial-styled gardens and generous balconies of this 230-room resort on Nassau’s Cable Beach. Part of the Baha Mar development, the hotel borders a number of other properties, a casino, and mall, meaning there’s plenty of entertainment options on your doorstep. In fact, guests visiting Baha Mar’s 40 bars and restaurants can sign charges to their room. Rooms themselves are monochrome with splashes of aqua, marble bathrooms, generous furnished balconies, and Nespresso coffee machines. The old-school luxury vibe is continued with daily afternoon tea. Family-friendly, there’s a kids club for when you need some grown-up time, or to relax on the private beach. Opt for a suite or villas if you truly want to put your feet up, as butler service is included with most.

Hang with the beautiful people in the Miami-esque, ice-cream coloured interiors, or people-watch by the pool with a glass of fizz in hand. SLS – which actually stands for ‘Style, Luxury, Service’ – is a place to see and be seen, with its theatrical stylings of marble, hues of sky blue and flamingo pink, and even a giant bathtime duck garden sculpture. Enjoy the Baha Mar complex – alongside SLS’ five restaurants and lounges, two pools, and Nassau’s only rooftop bar. Instagram-friendly, this hotel tends to attract a fashionable crowd who order punch poolside to a soundtrack of funky house. Seek shade in the pool grotto.

Fraternize with dolphins, spend the day at the waterpark, then hit one of the world’s swankiest nightclubs, all without leaving your hotel. Put simply, there are resorts, and then there are mega resorts. With over 2,500 rooms, the world’s largest open-air marine habitats, a 14-acre dolphin habitat and education centre, marina, golf course and water park, Atlantis definitely qualifies as a mega-resort. When it comes to rooms, there is a plethora of choice. Pick from all-suite luxury, to five- or four-star options in the property’s hotels-within-a-hotel.

Paddleboard your way back to your hammock, and reward yourself with a cold beverage. For the Cove, with its secluded location, calm turquoise bay, and all-white suites, is all about taking it easy. If you’re inclined to explore the exceptionally slender, 175km-long scribble on the map that is Eleuthera, you’ll be rewarded with pink-sand beaches, surf spots, and top restaurants. Hire a vehicle from the hotel, or book a charter to visit the infamous swimming pigs, just off the north tip of the island. On site, there are three restaurants, including a sushi bar and cocktail bar on the bluff to take in those sunset views. Opt for a butler-serviced villa to be closest to the ocean.

Let’s preface our description of this hotel with those magical words – all-inclusive. Here are two more – adults-only. That’s right, peace and quiet awaits at this waterfront property opposite Nassau Harbour. Boasting its own private harbor, all rooms – furnished with splashes of yellow and housed in a tower – have water views. Though the harbor beach is fairly small, there’s a massive free-form lagoon pool that more than makes up for it.

Combining the privacy of a villa, with the convenience of a hotel, you won’t find any stuffy airs or graces at this Eleuthera resort. Instead, time passes breezily as you lap the oceanfront infinity pool, or stroll the 10-minute walk from the pink sand beach to the restaurants and shops of nearby Governor’s Harbour. Quaint but modern timber-shuttered villas all have kitchens or kitchenettes and ocean views. Don’t worry, there’s no obligation to lift a finger – call for service from your in-room iPad. Head to the 1648 restaurant for killer sunset views – don’t leave without the pineapple island cake, or the fried fresh-caught grouper for dinner.

If visiting the Bahamas’ famous swimming pigs is on your bucket list, or your golf dreams are based on playing the Caribbean’s longest course, then base yourself on Emerald Bay. The Grand Isle combines villa comfort with the amenities of a resort, including that golf course. In fact, for an extra fee, you can rent a golf cart to keep at your villa, and explore the resort, course and trails. Villas are opulently furnished with floral print soft-furnishings, large marble bathrooms with L’Occitane amenities, and full kitchens. Save your appetite for the weekly barbecue and bonfire on the beach.