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The best hotels in the Bahamas: ten places to stay, from Paradise Island to the pink beach

The flight from Miami takes less than an hour, and from the window you can see why people come: shallow sandbanks in every shade of turquoise and islands that look empty. The Bahamas is both the big resorts around Nassau and small hotels on islands where golf carts are the only traffic. These are the ten hotels we recommend.

Small islands and turquoise water in the Exumas, Bahamas

On a first trip, and with children, stay on Paradise Island or Cable Beach near Nassau, where the airport is close and everything is on hand. For peace and the finest beaches, take a small plane on to Eleuthera, Harbour Island or the Exumas.

Picolo picks

The white beach and villas at The Ocean Club, seen from the air.

Paradise Island

1. The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort

The gardens and the beach

The Ocean Club occupies the quietest part of Paradise Island, with a long white beach and terraced gardens modelled on Versailles. At the top of the gardens stands a 12th-century cloister brought over from France. Scenes from the James Bond film Casino Royale were shot here, and the restaurant Dune is run by the chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

This is our romantic pick, if you want a quiet stay that is still close to Nassau. It is among the most expensive hotels in the Caribbean. Walk through the gardens early in the morning, before the gardeners arrive.

Check availability and prices at The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort
The twin towers of The Royal at Atlantis and the bridge between them, above the lagoon.

Paradise Island

2. The Royal at Atlantis

The water park and the aquariums

The Royal is the pair of towers joined by a bridge at the centre of Atlantis. Guests have access to the Aquaventure water park with its slides and lazy river, large aquariums, several beaches and a casino.

This is our family pick, as children never run out of things to do. The resort is huge and busy, and food is expensive. Book a high floor facing the sea to escape the noise from the pools.

Check availability and prices at The Royal at Atlantis
The Atlantis marina at sunset, with the Royal towers behind.

Paradise Island

3. The Reef at Atlantis

Atlantis with a kitchen

The Reef is a tower at the quieter end of Atlantis, with studios and suites that have a kitchen or kitchenette. It has its own pool by the beach, and guests use the water park and the rest of the resort.

It suits families who want to make their own breakfast and save a little on meals. Rooms are larger than in the other towers. It is a fair walk to the casino and most of the restaurants.

Check availability and prices at The Reef at Atlantis
Loungers on the terrace facing the sea at Rosewood Baha Mar.

Cable Beach and Baha Mar

4. Rosewood Baha Mar

The calm corner of Baha Mar

Rosewood is the smallest and calmest of the Baha Mar hotels, with bright rooms, terraces facing the beach and a large spa. Guests can use the casino, the golf course and the Baha Bay water park elsewhere in the resort.

It suits couples and families who want luxury and calm with the facilities of a big resort nearby. The beach is public and shared with the other hotels. Ask for a sea-view room, as the best have terraces right on the water.

Check availability and prices at Rosewood Baha Mar
The pools and beach at Baha Mar on Cable Beach, seen from the air.

Cable Beach and Baha Mar

5. Grand Hyatt Baha Mar

The big hotel by the casino

Grand Hyatt is the largest hotel at Baha Mar, with towers next to the casino, many pools and a dozen or so restaurants. The Baha Bay water park is right next door.

It suits you if you want buzz and choice and do not mind plenty of other guests. Expect queues at reception and the restaurants in high season. Book a room in the tall wing facing the sea.

Check availability and prices at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar
Goldwynn Resort & Residences on Cable Beach at sunset.

Cable Beach and Baha Mar

6. Goldwynn Resort & Residences

A suite with a kitchen on the beach

Goldwynn opened on Cable Beach in 2022, with large suites that have kitchens and balconies in a building that steps down towards the sand. There is a pool, a restaurant and beach service.

This is our pick for a longer stay, when it helps to cook for yourself and have plenty of space. It is a smaller property with no casino or water park. Baha Mar is a short taxi ride away when you want more going on.

Check availability and prices at Goldwynn Resort & Residences
Grand Isle Resort with its pool and the neighbouring golf course, seen from the air.

The Exumas

7. Grand Isle Resort & Residences

A villa on Emerald Bay

Grand Isle sits on Emerald Bay on Great Exuma, with villas that have a kitchen, a living room and a balcony facing the sea. A large pool sits on the edge of the beach, and the neighbouring golf course runs along the coast.

It suits families and groups of friends who want space for a week in the Exumas. There are few restaurants nearby, so a hire car is useful. Book a boat trip to the pigs on Big Major Cay well ahead.

Check availability and prices at Grand Isle Resort & Residences
The lawn and palms running down to the sea at The Cove Eleuthera.

Eleuthera and Harbour Island

8. The Cove Eleuthera

Two coves to yourself

The Cove sits on the north of Eleuthera, on a headland between two small coves. Rooms are in cottages and villas spread through the gardens, and the pool looks out to sea.

This is our pick for peace and quiet, if you want to read, swim and snorkel. There is little to do nearby, and you need a hire car to see the rest of the island. Drive to the Glass Window Bridge, where the Atlantic meets the calm water on the inside.

Check availability and prices at The Cove Eleuthera
The dining terrace by the pool at La Bougainvillea, with the sea behind.

Eleuthera and Harbour Island

9. La Bougainvillea

A beach hotel in central Eleuthera

La Bougainvillea stands at North Palmetto Point in central Eleuthera, with a private beach, a pool and a beach bar. Rooms and villas look out to sea, and the restaurant serves every meal.

It suits couples who want a small beach hotel with good service at lower prices than Harbour Island. The island is long, so plan on a hire car. Governor's Harbour and its airport are a short drive away.

Check availability and prices at La Bougainvillea Hotel and Villas
Coral Sands above the pink sand beach on Harbour Island.

Eleuthera and Harbour Island

10. Coral Sands

Right on the pink beach

Coral Sands sits directly on Pink Sands Beach on Harbour Island, a beach several kilometres long where the sand has a pink tint. The hotel has cottages and rooms in the gardens, a pool and a restaurant overlooking the sand.

This is our beach pick. Harbour Island is small, and you drive a golf cart into Dunmore Town for shops and restaurants. Fly to North Eleuthera and take a short water taxi across.

Check availability and prices at Coral Sands Inn & Cottages
How Picolo chooses

Our editors pick every hotel and experience themselves, and most of them we have tried. Nobody can pay to be included or ranked higher. When you book through our links, Picolo earns a small commission. It never changes the price you pay, and it never decides what we write.

The Bahamas is an island nation south-east of Florida, with around 700 islands and cays. Almost every visitor lands in Nassau on New Providence, where Paradise Island and Cable Beach hold the big resorts. From there, small planes and boats head out to the quieter islands: the Exumas with their sandbanks, Eleuthera with its long beaches, and Harbour Island with its pink sand.

We have chosen ten hotels in four areas and say who each one suits. Every hotel has a guest rating of at least 8.8 out of 10 and more than 50 reviews on Expedia. The links go there, and we always pick the hotel before we look for a link. If you would rather go all-inclusive, we have a separate article on that.

How to choose the right hotel in the Bahamas

  • Nassau or the out islands: Paradise Island and Cable Beach have restaurants, casinos and water parks. The smaller islands are quiet, and you will often eat at your hotel.

  • Island hopping: domestic flights from Nassau take 30 to 45 minutes. Ferries are cheaper but less frequent and much slower.

  • Hurricane season: June to November. Prices drop, but the weather is less reliable, especially in September and October.

  • Costs: almost everything is shipped in, so food and drink are expensive, even on the small islands.

  • Currency: the Bahamian dollar is pegged to the US dollar, and both are accepted everywhere.

The areas

  • Paradise Island: Paradise Island sits just over the bridge from Nassau and is dominated by the pink Atlantis complex. Its eastern end has quieter hotels and beaches.

  • Cable Beach and Baha Mar: Cable Beach is the long stretch of sand west of downtown Nassau, about twenty minutes from the airport. It is home to Baha Mar, a development with three hotels, a casino, a golf course and a water park.

  • The Exumas: The Exumas are a long chain of islands and sandbanks south-east of Nassau. Great Exuma has the airport, and boat trips leave from here to the swimming pigs and the sandbanks.

  • Eleuthera and Harbour Island: Eleuthera is a long, narrow island east of Nassau, with beaches on both sides. Harbour Island lies just off its northern tip, with the pink beach and the colourful houses of Dunmore Town.

Frequently asked questions about hotels in the Bahamas

Where should I stay on a first trip to the Bahamas?

Stay on Paradise Island or Cable Beach near Nassau. The airport is close, and beaches, restaurants and excursions are on the doorstep. With a week, spend the last few nights on Eleuthera, Harbour Island or the Exumas to see the quieter islands.

How do I get to the Bahamas from the UK?

British Airways flies direct from London Heathrow to Nassau. Otherwise you can connect through Miami, New York or other US cities, which requires an ESTA. For the smaller islands, take a domestic flight from Nassau.

Is all-inclusive a good idea in the Bahamas?

It can be at the big resorts, because food and drink are expensive. The smaller islands have few all-inclusive hotels. We have a separate article on all-inclusive in the Bahamas, with resorts and what to know before you book.

Where is the pink sand beach?

Pink Sands Beach is on Harbour Island, off the northern tip of Eleuthera. The sand gets its pink tint from crushed shells and coral. Fly to North Eleuthera and take a water taxi across in under ten minutes.

How many nights do I need in the Bahamas?

At least five to seven nights, as the journey is long. Split the stay: three nights near Nassau and three or four on one of the smaller islands. That way you get both resort life and the quiet beaches.

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