Romantic Escapes in the Caribbean

by Paris Permenter & John Bigley

ROMANTIC RESORTS

NASSAU-NEW PROVIDENCE ISLAND

Atlantis, Paradise Island
Paradise Island
242-363-3000, Fax 242-363-2493
Reservations: 800-321-3000
www.atlantis.com
$$$
We looked up through the sea water, the sun filtering down in liquid shafts and illuminating the hundreds of fish around us. Suddenly, the light was blocked by an sinister silhouette -- a shark.

Directly overhead, the six-foot predator swam with deliberate slowness, making schools of yellow grunts scurry closer to sheltering rocks.

But, unlike the school of fish and the large spiny lobster on the sandy floor below, we were not worried. Along with other visitors in the 100-foot long clear tunnel, we just delighted in the view, surrounded by thousands of tropical fish, sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles in the world's largest open-air aquarium.

The tunnel and the water gardens surrounding it are found at the Atlantis Hotel on Nassau's Paradise Island. The resort is one of several changes that have brought glitz and glamour to what was formerly called "Hog Island". Thanks to investment from Donald Trump, Merv Griffin, and now South African businessman Sol Kerzner, Paradise Island could now be renamed Fantasy Island -- a place where high dollar hotels meet gourmet dining and world-class shopping to create a lavish playground.

Kerzner is well known for themed resorts in South Africa (including one with a zoo), and his Sun International worked to give visitors to this resort the feeling that they were discovering the lost city of Atlantis. Inclusion of marine life, or at least symbols of it, starts with dolphin fountains at the entrance and continues with conch shell carpet and even marine-themed slot machines in the casino.

Nowhere is the marine theme more evident than in the waterscape, now bigger and better than ever thanks to the most recent expansion. Here waterfalls splash and churn sea water into fish-filled lagoons that weave among walkways, open air bars, and bridges. Guests flock to the Predator Lagoon for a close-up look at the half dozen reef sharks that swim a constant pattern alongside barracudas and rays. Above the water's surface, guests watch for the shark's tell-tale fin to break the lagoon's surface; underwater, encased in the clear tunnel, they stand within inches of the sharks. The Predator Lagoon is popular with all ages of visitors, from small children who delight at the diving turtles and crawling spiny lobsters to the older visitors and non-swimmers looking for the sensation of scuba diving without getting wet.

Viewing in the tunnel and from the adjacent "sea grottos" created from molds made of actual Bahamian sea grottos, visitors hear the sounds of the sea. Lighting in the grottos comes from flickering "whelk" lanterns, creating the mood of an underwater civilization.
Water activities continue above the surface as well. Near Predator Lagoon, a rope suspension bridge swings and sways over the water. Nearby water tricycles churn across Paradise Lagoon, a salt water lagoon that opens to the sea where the resort hopes to introduce tropical fish. The protected, calm waters will be used by beginning snorkelers as well as scuba diving classes. And if the two of you are thrill seekers, you can also plunge down the Leap of Faith slide on a replica of a Mayan temple. The slide takes an almost vertical 60 foot drop, plunging riders into an acrylic tunnel in a shark-filled lagoon. The temple is also home to the Serpent slide, which spins through the interior of the dark temple before emerging into Predator Lagoon. For something a little quieter, hop an inner tube and set off on the quarter-mile journey pushed by a gentle current.

This resort truly transforms Paradise Island into Fantasy Island. Along with an elegant hotel, it brings to the Bahamas a water park that's unequaled in the Caribbean. Here you can walk through a 100-foot-long clear tunnel, surrounded by thousands of tropical fish, sharks, manta rays, and sea turtles in the world's largest open-air aquarium. From above, a lagoon bar and several bridges look down on these denizens of the deep. The tunnel and water gardens surrounding it are the kind of place travelers either love or hate. Don't expect to find peace and quiet here, or even a Caribbean atmosphere. This is Vegas-goes-to-the-beach, but if you're into non-stop fun it's the place to be on Paradise Island.

Breezes Bahamas
P.O. Box CB 13049
Nassau
Reservations: 877-GO-SUPER
242- 327-6153, Fax 242- 327-5155
www.superclubs.com
$
This may just be the all-inclusive bargain of the Caribbean. Part of the SuperClubs chain, Breezes is a moderately-priced property offering only slightly less than others in the chain. Unlike the sprawling resorts of the SuperClubs chain, the Breezes properties (there are also two Breezes in Jamaica) are somewhat smaller and charge a fee for some premium activities. Breezes does offer all the amenities of the SuperClubs chain, including excellent meals (one of our tastiest meals in Nassau was a buffet lunch at this property), watersports, bars and nightclubs, and even free weddings. (See Chapter 2, Wedding Packages)
This 400-room resort emphasizes fun and relaxation. No one under 16 is permitted in this singles and couples resort. Breezes is decorated in bright tropical pastels, from its open-air lobby to the rooms located in the lemon yellow hotel.
Hotel Features: beachfront, all-inclusive, adults over 16 only, tennis, buffet dining and Italian restaurant, watersports, rollerblade and jogging track, circus workshop

Club Med Paradise Island
Paradise Island
242-363-2640, Fax 242-363-3496
Reservations: 800-CLUB MED
www.clubmed.com
$$-$$$
This recently renovated property offers not only double rooms with queen or two twin beds but also a two-story villa called House in the Woods with a living room with television and stereo, fully equipped and stocked kitchenette, bedroom with queen size bed, wrap around porches, and more. "No facilities in Nassau or Paradise island offer the kind of privacy, space, luxury, and pizzazz that Club Med's House in the Woods does," says Kamal Shah, President, Club Med North America. The villa was built as a set for the 1978 movie Le Sauvage starring Yves Montand and Catherine Deneuve and later brought to Paradise Island and renovated. Three restaurants are located on property and guests enjoy a full menu of activity as well: billiards, deep-sea fishing, fitness center, golf, kayaking, sailing, scuba diving, 18 Har-Tru tennis court, windsurfing and more. All ages are welcomed at this property although special children's programs are not offered.
Hotel Features: beachfront, all-inclusive, watersports, fine and casual dining

Compass Point
P.O. Box C.B. 13842
Nassau
242- 327-4500, Fax 242- 327-3299
Reservations: 800-OUTPOST
www.islandoutpost.com
$$-$$$
You won't find many resorts that list "state-of-the-art recording studio" among their features, but here's one, thanks to owner Chris Blackwell. The creator of Island Records has a string of small, fine hotels in the Caribbean, including Jamaica and Young Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Located about 25 minutes west of Nassau, Compass Point is away from the hustle and bustle of Cable Beach on a quiet stretch of the island near the upscale Lyford Cay, where stellar residents such as Sean Connery and Mick Jagger have residences in the private no-visitors-allowed compound. (You might get lucky and spot a familiar face at Compass Point, however. There's a dock for Lyford Cay residents to cruise up to the restaurant for a night out.)
Compass Point only has 18 rooms, but you can't miss this rainbow property. Look for the festive colors of the Junkanoo festival: vibrant tones of purple, blue, yellow and red. Each individual cottage is decorated in a style that might be described as Caribbean kitsch meets "Gilligan's Island". Guests can choose from five cabana rooms (the only air-conditioned accommodations) or the larger, more private huts and cottages (which include a downstairs open-air kitchen and picnic-table dining room). Every room is hand-crafted and faces the sea. The two of you can complete your day in the rocking chairs on your private porch that looks out to the sea, then come in to sleep beneath a ceiling fan in a hand-made bed covered with a Bahamian batik spread.

Hotel Features: oceanfront (next to Love Beach), watersports, dive shop, freshwater pool, casual restaurant

Graycliff Hotel
West Hill Street
242-322-2796, Fax 242-326-6110
www.graycliff.com
$$-$$$
This historic building is located next to Government House and offers 14 luxurious guest accommodations and spacious pool cottage suites. This building dates back to Nassau's swashbuckling days. The mansion was originally built by Captain John Howard Graysmith, a pirate who commanded the schooner Graywold and plundered treasure ships along the Spanish Main. In 1776, the mansion became the headquarters for the American Navy when Nassau was captured by the soldiers. In 1844, Graycliff became Nassau's first inn.

The home has a rich history of celebrity visitors. During Prohibition, Graycliff was owned by Mrs. Polly Leach, a companion to Al Capone. Later Graycliff was purchased by Lord and Lady Dudley, Third Earl of Staffordshire, who hosted many dignitaries including Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Lord Beaverbrook, Lord Mountbatten, and Sir Winston Churchill. In 1973 Enrico and Anna Maria Garzaroli purchased Graycliff and turned the mansion into a hotel and restaurant.

Guests can choose from old and new decor. Those with a flair for historic furnishings will like the Pool Cottage where Winston Churchill used to say or the Baillou, the original master bedroom in the main house. Travelers with a taste for modern decor find it in the Mandarino Cottage with an extra large bathroom and whirlpool tub. All rooms are air-conditioned and include a private bath. Breakfast is served to hotel guests only.

Hotel Features: fine dining, saltwater Olympic sized lap pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, fitness center,

Hilton British Colonial
One Bay Street
Nassau
Reservations: 800/445-8667
242- 322-3301, Fax 242- 302-9010
www.hilton.com
$$-$$$
This historic hotel sits at the head of Bay Street, a reminder of Nassau's early hotel days. It's a warm reminder of our early hotel days as well, as the scene of our first visit to the Caribbean. Following a recent renovation, the hotel is now one of the top business properties in the islands but offers a convenient address for the leisure traveler as well; you're just steps from the duty free shops of Bay Street here. The 291 guest rooms include satellite TV, desk with modem and power outlet, minibar, voice mail, and more. Business and executive floors are available.

Hotel Features: downtown location, small beach, full health club, dive shop, four restaurants

Marriott Crystal Palace
P.O. Box N-8306
West Bay Street
Nassau
Reservations: 800-222-7466
242- 327-6200, Fax 242- 327-6818
www.marriotthotels.com-NASBS
$
Cable Beach's largest hotel is tough to miss. The large room property literally glows in the dark, with colored lights over each balcony giving the hotel the look of a seaside candy cane. This is one of the liveliest nightspots in town, thanks to its super-sized casino and glitzy revue (see Nightlife).

Hotel Features: beachfront, casino, fine and casual dining

The Ocean Club Paradise Island Drive
Paradise Island
Reservations: 800-321-3000
242-363-3000, Fax 242-363-3703
www.sunint.com
Expensive to Deluxe
This ultra-elegant resort is the stuff of the rich and famous. Cindy Crawford recently married here and the small resort received worldwide attention, but the well-heeled have been coming here for many years. The resort has entertained Ronald Reagan, Sean Connery, Michael Caine, Sidney Poitier, Magic Johnson, and many other celebrities. The estate was first named Shangri-la, purchased in 1962 by Huntington Hartford, heir to the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company fortune. The estate had formal Versailles-inspired gardens and statues of Napoleon's Josephine, FDR, David Livingstone, and more. Huntington built a 51-room resort and restaurant and renamed what was then Hog Island as Paradise Island.

In 1994, Sun International (the same company that owns Atlantis and well as South Africa's Sun City) purchased Ocean Club and totally renovated the resort. The hotel now offers 71 guest rooms including four suites and five two-bedroom villas, each with a private whirlpool. All accommodations in the main building have central air conditioning, indoor ceiling fans, outdoor ceiling fans on balconies or patios, mini-bars, safes, and 27-inch televisions.

Hotel Features: beachfront, gourmet dining, gardens, marble sculptures

Radisson Cable Beach
P.O. Box N4914
Nassau
305-932-0222, Fax 305-932-0023
Reservations: 800-432-0221
www.radisson.com
$
Sporting a new renovation, the Radisson Cable Beach offers round-the-clock action both on and off the beach. Every room in the high-rise hotel offers an ocean view. For real luxury, splurge with a junior suite located at the end of each floor. We did and enjoyed sunrise from the bedroom balcony and sunset from the living room balcony. A shopping arcade (with surprisingly good prices, we found) connects the Radisson with the Marriott Crystal Palace Casino.
The hotel's all-inclusive program is available for $100 per person per day. Participants wear a wristband that allows them unlimited use of all sports, plus all meals, drinks, snacks, and tips.

Hotel Features: beachfront, casual and fine dining in six restaurants, adjoining casino, pools, shopping arcade, golf, tennis, watersports

Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort and Spa
P.O. Box 39-CB 13005
Cable Beach, Nassau
242- 327-6400, Fax 242- 327-6961
Reservations: 800-SANDALS
www.sandals.com
$$
This luxurious Sandals offers couples a romantic, elegant atmosphere with all the options of all-inclusives. Along with a full menu of watersports fun, a highlight of this resort is its excellent spa. Guests can purchase spa treatments a la carte or in packages, selecting from facials, massages, body scrubs, aromatherapy, and reflexology treatments. Amenities such as manicures, pedicures, paraffin hand and feet treatments, and more are also available.

Hotel Features: beachfront, all-inclusive, couples only, fine and casual dining, spa, watersports, freshwater pool

Sheraton Grand Resort Paradise Island
6307 Casino Drive Paradise Island, Nassau
242-363-3500, Fax 242-363-3900
Reservations: 800-782-9488
www.sheraton.com or www.sheratongrand.com
$$
Located just down the beach from Atlantis, this beachfront resort is well known in the world of business and meeting travelers but is also a good choice for families with children. There's plenty of activity here: banana boating, parasailing, jetskis, windsurfing, and snorkeling. There are also bike rentals and tennis courts available. The resort also features many daily complimentary activities such as snorkeling, native dance, arts and crafts demonstrations, and more.
Hotel features: beachside, pool, restaurants, watersports

GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND

Westin Lucaya
Across from Port Lucaya
$$-$$$
The newest addition to Grand Bahama is this expansive resort. When completed, the resort will boast a full-service spa, two 18-hole championship golf courses, five tennis courts, 15 restaurants, a casino, three pools, and a 10,000-square-foot shopping complex, this mega-resort has something for everyone.

Hotel Features: beachfront, golf, large pool complex; will include casino, spa, 15 restaurants, shopping complex

HARBOUR ISLAND

Pink Sands
Harbour Island
242-333-2030, Fax 242-333-2060
Reservations: 800-OUTPOST
www.islandoutpost.com
$$$-$$$$
This 29-room resort offers 21 one-bedroom cottages and four two-bedroom cottages with a living room area. Located on, yes, a pink sand beach, the resort boasts a laid-back atmosphere. Guests find plenty of amenities such as a freshwater pool, three tennis courts (one lit for night play, exercise studio, Club House, library, and more. The resort can arrange for golf cart and bicycle rentals as well. Two restaurants serve up local dishes with a gourmet flair. The Blue Bar serves lunch dishes right on the beach while breakfast and dinner are served in the main dining area.

Hotel Features: beachfront, fine dining, watersports, pool, tennis