Nassau’s hotels fall into three clear areas, and the right one depends on whether your trip is about water parks, beaches or walking the old town. Distances are short, but traffic and taxi fares add up, so choose your base carefully. Here are the options, matched to the five hotels on this site.
Paradise Island, around Atlantis: for families and first-timers
The small island across the harbour bridges is home to Atlantis, Aquaventure, the casino, the marina and the long sands of Cabbage Beach. The big advantage of staying here is access: guests at Atlantis and its partner hotels get the water park, pools and beaches included, which is otherwise hard to buy. The Royal at Atlantis, our featured pick, is the iconic twin-towered heart of the resort, with The Dig aquarium under the lobby and Aquaventure a three-minute walk away. It is the choice for families who want the full spectacle. The Paradise Island ferry terminal, where the Exuma and Blue Lagoon boats leave, is close by too.
Paradise Island on a budget
Comfort Suites Paradise Island is just steps from Atlantis and includes full Aquaventure access, a hot buffet breakfast and free parking in the rate. The junior suites are simple but roomy, and the savings can pay for a day trip to the Exumas. For value-minded families, it is the smartest booking on the island.
Eastern Paradise Island: for romance
The quieter eastern end is all gardens, golf and beach. The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, has been the island’s most exclusive address since 1962, with just over a hundred rooms, suites and villas, Versailles-inspired gardens, a beachfront DUNE restaurant by Jean-Georges and a spa of Balinese-style villas. It is the place for honeymoons and milestone trips, and Atlantis is a short shuttle away.
Cable Beach: for Baha Mar and a big beach
West of downtown, Cable Beach is a long, straight stretch of sand lined with resorts, and about ten minutes from the airport. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar is the largest hotel at the Baha Mar complex, with unlimited access to the Baha Bay water park, six themed pools, a huge casino and a Jack Nicklaus golf course. It suits families who want a water park without the Atlantis rules, and golfers. Downtown is fifteen to twenty minutes by taxi.
Downtown Nassau: for history, food and cruises
Staying downtown puts the Queen’s Staircase, Bay Street, the food tour and the cruise port on your doorstep, and the Fish Fry a short ride away. The British Colonial, at One Bay Street, is a 1920s landmark on the site of a 17th-century fort, reopened in late 2023 after a long refit, with its own harbour beach and pools. It is ideal for first-timers who like to walk and for a night before or after a cruise.
Matching base to trip
For the full Atlantis experience, The Royal. For Atlantis on a budget, Comfort Suites. For romance and a perfect beach, The Ocean Club. For a water park, golf and Cable Beach, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar. For walkable history and the cruise port, the British Colonial.
Practical tips
Book early for Christmas, New Year and spring break. Check resort and destination fees, which can add a lot to the nightly rate, and whether breakfast is included. If you stay on Cable Beach or downtown and want Aquaventure, confirm whether your hotel is an Atlantis partner before you go.
