Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas hotel resort review

The resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023

The Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas resort is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2023

(Image credit: Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas)

published 13 December 2023

Seven hundred islands make up the Bahamas archipelago, about 30 of them inhabited. Almost 70% of the 300,000 Bahamians live on 21-by-seven-mile New Providence, home to the capital Nassau (rhymes with "saw"). The Bahamas celebrated 50 years of independence from Britain in July 2023, but some colonial traces remain: driving on the left (although most cars are left-hand drive US imports), red pillar boxes, police-station lamps, royal coats of arms, and a Queen Victoria statue in Nassau's Parliament Square. Nowadays 80% of visitors have American accents – Miami is less than an hour's flight away.

As you leave Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau you'll catch your first glimpse of this enormous coral-coloured edifice, named after the lost city in Greek mythology. Wondering what the link is? A Bahamian island has been identified as Atlantis's potential location.

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From the west tower of the centrally located The Royal, we looked out over the resort, with a bird's-eye view of rays swimming below, to the Atlantic beyond. The light, large rooms feature soft, natural sand and sea tones, with driftwood touches. On arrival we were ready to flop onto our comfortably firm yet yielding twin queen-size beds after our nine-hour flight. Two pairs of curtains, sheer and blackout, also contributed to a deep sleep, as did easy-to-control air con.

Storage is plentiful, with a large chest of drawers and double wardrobe, and there's a velvety padded bench at the end of the bed, and a table with two sturdy armchairs. Tech-wise, there's a massive flatscreen TV, USB sockets, and you can borrow a plug adaptor from housekeeping. The bathroom is big, with a separate loo, and a shallow, short bath with shower and, thoughtfully, a washing line for drying wet swimwear.

At Nobu, the Japanese restaurant renowned for black cod, I enjoyed oh-so-fresh vegetable maki and crisp tempura. Innovative Italian, with the focus on seafood, is served at Paranza by Michelin-starred chef Michael White; book a table on the terrace amid tropical planting. More casually, in Shake Shack, we fought jet lag listening to the bartenders' banter, watching them mix cocktails (and sampling them), like the "Bahama Mama", made with dark rum, coconut rum, orange juice and pineapple juice.

On the relatively gentle "Rapids River", we floated in inflatable rings along its one-mile course, admiring the scenery, occasionally buffeted by rapids, while screaming (me) and laughing (me and my partner). At the extreme end is the "Leap of Faith", which plunges vertically down a slide from the Mayan Temple. Lifejackets are supplied for all ages, and there are three pools for younger children, full of aquatic apparatus and gentle slides.

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Adrienne Wyper has been a freelance sub-editor and writer for The Week's website and magazine since 2015. As a travel and lifestyle journalist, she has also written and edited for other titles including BBC Countryfile, British Travel Journal, Coast, Country Living, Country Walking, Good Housekeeping, The Independent, The Lady and Woman’s Own.