Paradise Island



Paradise Island is a small island just off of Nassau, Bahamas. It is dominated by the Las Vegas-style Atlantis resort, which is responsible for an amazing 11% of the Bahamas' GNP.

Get in
Paradise Island is connected to New Providence Island (Nassau) by two bridges (one incoming, one outgoing). There's an entrance fee of $2 per vehicle.

There is also a ferry from Paradise Island to the main land. The schedule for the ferry is somewhat regular, but they try to wait until it is filled before departure.

If you're sailing your own yacht, you can dock at Hurricane Hole Marina, which has 90 slips for yachts that can be over 200 ft in length.

Get around
Most people get around the island by taxi, plenty of which can always be found hanging around outside the resort entrances. Since this island is small, many choose to walk. There are car companies available for those who have ether large parties, have trouble getting around, or like to make a grand entrance. There's Bahamas Experience and Majestic Tours Unlimited Hillside Manor.

See


Sights within Paradise Island are concentrated almost exclusively in the Atlantis resort, and are accessible only to resort guests or to those who rent a day room for $220 and up (usable by a maximum of 4 people). While it's not too hard to sneak in even without a pass, the guards keep an eye out for visitors without pass bracelets and the odds of getting busted are high.


 * The Dig, Atlantis. As you may know, Atlantis was rumored to be a lavish island that existed many, many years ago that happened to submerge underwater. While no one can actually prove that it ever existed or where, people like to believe that maybe it was located in The Bahamas where this resort now resides. The dig is an underwater tour of the supposed ruins. There are several logoons that house sharks and manta rays including The Predator Lagoon as well as The Mayan Temple Shark Lagoon.

Do

 * Watch a Junkanoo Rush on Friday and Saturday evenings at Marina Village.
 * Take a walk To the Versailles Gardens and French Cloister. About a 15 minute walk from the Atlantis resort. The beautifully manicured gardens are part of the One and Only Ocean Club of "Casino Royale" fame but they don't mind visitors. Its the perfect place to have a picnic or a photo shoot. If you have a few extra minutes walk north through the Ocean Club and find the beach access. Walking back to your hotel along the beach is a great way to spend an evening.

Buy



 * Marina Village, next to Atlantis. A shopping street built according to plans originally made for rebuilding Bay Street, the main shopping street in Nassau.  A confection of pretty pastel houses, it's very pretty indeed and well worth a stroll, but the shops within are exceedingly pricey &mdash; you can find most of what they sell in Nassau at much lower prices.

Eat

 * Dune, Ocean Club. Good food, good service, great views and an incredible price tag: a fruit platter costs $22 and a bottle of water $10.  But if you want to eat where James Bond did...  Open to non-guests, just tell the gate attendant that you're eating there.

Drink

 * Dune Bar, Ocean Club. If you want to check out the Ocean Club without paying through the nose for a room or dinner, this is your cheapest option.  Open through the day and great sea views onto the beach.  Drinks from $10, or go for the Royale Martini at $15.
 * Hurricane Hole, just east of the bridge (in the marina). Officially the Waterfront Bar and Grill, this is an un-touristy outdoor drinking joint frequented by a motley mix of locals and yachties from the marina.  Very generously poured rum-based drinks from $3.50.

Sleep




Stay safe


Signs around the Ocean Club warn of the danger of getting bonked on the head by an errant golf ball, which is indeed probably the main security risk on this heavily policed patch of prime property. By Bahamian law, all beaches are public property, but you can expect to get hassled if you go as much as one step on to private manicured lawns.

Go next

 * Nassau, just across the bridge
 * Exuma, accessible on day trips from the ferry terminal