Paradise Island Hotels - Things to Do
Things to Do in Paradise Island: Paradise Island Hotels travel guide on the best things to do in Paradise Island. Have a look below for more details on Paradise Island Attractions, restaurants, nightlife, bars, clubs, events and shopping.
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Top things to do and Attractions in Paradise Island:
Paradise Island, originally called Hog Island, is connected to the city of Nassau (the island of New Providence) by two 600-foot bridges. The first was built in 1966 and the second in the late 1990s.
The 685 acres of Paradise Island are developed almost exclusively to accommodate travelers, with resorts, hotels, restaurants, shops, a golf course, an aquarium, and a casino rounding out the amenities. Very few private residences exist on the island.
No matter where you hang your hat at night, your hotel staff or concierge will be more then happy to help plan any sort of trip or tour you would like to take. Most hotels offer free shuttle service to and from the most popular beaches. You can also book trips for scuba diving, snorkeling, and fishing through your hotel. Thanks to Paradise Island’s proximity to Nassau, you can also enjoy some of the best attractions in Nassau. Paradise Island also has a couple of great golf courses, or you can always book a trip to visit Grand Bahama Island, as well.
Paradise Island Hotels - Things to Do & Attractions - Starwood Properties
Paradise Island is still the most expensive piece of real estate in the Bahamas, and in general guests find that a vacation there is more expensive than on other islands. Restaurants and nightclubs will reflect the higher cost, as will the hotels. Paradise Island can’t be beat, though, for having so much to do in one small place. Depending on how would like to spend your vacation time, Paradise Island can be an excellent choice.
Beaches on Paradise Island:
Cabbage Beach
One of the more beautiful beaches on Paradise Island is Cabbage Beach. It is ideal for beach walking, swimming or sunbathing. Such water sports as water-skiing, snorkeling and parasailing take place.
Montagu Beach
East of Paradise Island is the Montagu Beach and Fort Montagu. This historic fort was constructed in the 18th century to guard the eastern entrance to Nassau Harbour. There is usually a lot of activity at Montagu Beach, and it is the site of the annual Valentine’s Day Sailing Regatta. Also, local vendors sell fresh seafood (fish, conchs, and lobsters), fruits and vegetables here year-round.
Boating and Sailing at Paradise Island
Paradise Island offers gorgeous waters and spectacular vistas to explore by sea. Marinas and hotels offer a wide range of charters and rentals: fully crewed and catered sailing trips, “bareboat” rentals for experienced sailors, day cruises, small sailboats, motorboats, and jet-skis.
Diving at Paradise Island
Warm, crystal-clear waters and drop-offs close to shore make our islands a diver’s dream. Mysterious blue holes and caves, historical wrecks and vibrant living reefs, soaring wall dives and thrilling shark watches, all await learning and experienced divers.
The Lost Blue Hole
This natural hole in the open ocean floor is about 100 feet across and 200 feet deep. Here you will find large schools of reef fish, such as sergeant majors, chromis, and angelfish.
Trinity Caves
These caves are a collection of shallow caves with three major openings. In 45 feet of water, the caves go in about 30 feet with the largest opening being eight feet across and four feet high. Look for large lobsters and reclusive groupers.
Southwest Reef
Paradise Island Hotels - Things to Do & Attractions - Underwater aquarium
This dive site has a huge, healthy expanse in 15 to 30 feet of water. This reef has beautiful fields of Blade Fire Coral, punctuated by pristine elkhorn and brain corals, providing refuge for schools of grunts along this picturesque reefscape.
Paradise Island Landmarks and Attractions
Versailles Gardens
The entirety of Paradise Island was once owned by a man named Huntington Hartford, who purchased a set of Cloisters and statues from an estate in California, originally purchased from France and brought them to Versailles Garden in the Bahamas. The pieces did not arrive at the Versailles Garden with any instruction on their original arrangement or set up, and it wasn’t until 1962 that Huntington employed Jean Castre-Manne to reassemble the pieces in the Versailles Gardens.
The pieces themselves are a collection of statues and art fragments dating from the 12th century. As mentioned above, the arrangement of the pieces themselves throughout the Versailles Gardens may feel a bit random, since they are not necessarily arranged according to their original intentions. The Versailles Gardens also feature some unique flowers and plants, as well as a small temple facing the ocean and a gazebo facing Nassau Harbor that is often used for weddings and other events.
Top Attractions at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island:
Paradise Island Hotels - Atlantis Resort, Mayan Temple
Atlantis is a vast water world. Its theme is the Lost Continent of Atlantis, which is no surprise. No expense has been spared to bring the illusion to reality. Nothing does this better than The Dig, a believable representation of an undersea archaeological site. It’s like something straight out of a Jules Verne novel complete with Atlantian diving suits, underground passages, artifacts and ruins, all done on a grand scale. And, as if that’s not enough, The Dig is surrounded by huge plate glass windows that turn the ocean itself in a vast aquarium and provide fantastic underwater views of still more ruins and ocean life, including a giant manta ray and innumerable sharks. The dig is open to guests at no charge, and to day-visitors to Atlantis – admission is included in the visitor fee. The Dig is a must visit.
It’s All About the Kids
The amusements include a floating pool; no it doesn’t float, you do. You take to the gently moving waters in an inner-tube and for 20 minutes, or so, meander along a concrete river that makes its way around a number of ornamental gardens, through palm-covered glades, past closely manicured lawns. It’s definately one for the kids, and for grown-ups who like to take things slowly; in fact, it’s about the only amusement at Atlantis that does go slowly.
Then there are the water slides. These come in various levels of scary: there’s one for the smaller kids that’s quite tame, one that even I could probable handle, but still provides a thrill; and then there’s one with an almost vertical drop that takes you down through the waters of a shark-infested lake to drop you with a huge splash in a shallow wading pool. As I mentioned before, the only problem with these amusements is that you might have to wait in line for 20 minutes, or more, in order to enjoy a thrill that’s over in a matter of seconds. Still, you’ve got to give it go.
Incredible Gardens
The gardens of Atlantis are worth a visit all by themselves. Acre upon acre of fantastic and exotic landscapes and plant life, dotted here and there with ornamental pools and vast lakes, some of which are stocked with the predators of the ocean: sharks of every size and description; rays, even the odd barracuda patrols the larger lakes. Again, in the larger lakes there are hammerhead sharks, tiger sharks, swordfish, and the list goes on.
And if You’re a Player
Finally, no description of Atlantis would complete without at least a mention of its casino. Like everything else at Atlantis the casino is presented on a grand style. Again, the theme is that of the ocean and the ancient god of the sea: Neptune. The decor is sumptuous, the furnishings luxurious, and the play international. The entertainment – nightclubs, shows, lounges and bars – is also international in scope; there’s even a superb cigar shop – don’t forget: you can’t take Cuban cigars into the United States. If I were a betting person, which I’m not, I’d lay odds there are more slots in this casino than all the rest of the casinos in the Bahamas put together. Above all, though, is the casino’s opulence; it borders on the decadent. You don’t have to gamble to enjoy this casino, just walk around: you’ll see what I mean.
Hotels….
Paradise Island is best known for the sprawling ‘Vegas-by-the-sea resort’ Atlantis.
Bahamas, Paradise Island hotels
5* Paradise Harbour Club Marina Hotel Paradise Island
5* Riu Resort Hotel Paradise Island
5* Atlantis Coral Tower Resort Hotel Paradise Island
5* Atlantis Royal Towers Hotel Paradise Island
5* Atlantis Beach Tower Resort Hotel Paradise Island
5* The Cove Atlantis Hotel Paradise Island
5* One & Only Ocean Club Hotel Paradise Island
4* Comfort Suites Hotel Paradise Island
4* Reef Atlantis Hotel Paradise Island
4* Harborside Resort At Atlantis Hotel Paradise Island
3* Sunshine Suites Hotel Paradise Island
3* Best Western Bay View Suites Hotel Paradise Island
3* Paradise Island Harbour Resort Hotel
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