20 Best Hotels in New Providence and Paradise Islands, Bahamas

The antithesis of the big resorts typically found in New Providence, The Island House delivers casual sophistication with high-end yet understated amenities and features at every turn. Some of the 30 rooms, which can be configured as one-, two-, or three-bedroom cottages, are situated poolside in the heart of the boutique resort, while others offer a greater degree of tranquility and privacy. All offer mahogany furnishings, limestone floors, rain showers, freestanding bathtubs, original Bahamian artwork, and private balconies or terraces. A few of the rooms even have fully private outdoor showers. On-site are four restaurants and bars, a 25-meter lap pool, a Movement Studio offering barre and yoga, and a fully equipped fitness center with two squash courts. There's even a 48-seat cinema showing a mix of indie and blockbuster films each night and an art gallery, as well as a Bamford Spa with a mani-pedi room and three treatment rooms. Wi-Fi (accessible throughout the property) is complimentary as is shuttle service to the stunning beach within the nearby Old Fort Bay gated community.

This all-suites hotel in the middle of Paradise Island is a great spot for families; guests have access to the features of nearby Atlantis, including the Aquaventure water park and the kids' club Atlantis Kids Adventures. For added convenience, enjoy signing privileges throughout Atlantis and a special Comfort Suites guests–only walkway to The Coral at Atlantis. If you're looking to get away from the hubbub at the larger resort, try a poolside lunch and a drink at the swim-up bar at the Comfort Suites. Large rooms have sitting areas with sofa beds and dividers for added comfort and privacy. Cabbage Beach is just steps away. Rates include a full American breakfast and free Wi-Fi, a complimentary business center with wireless printing, and the Manager's Rum Punch Party poolside three nights a week. Packages with discounted rates are often available online. Rates are usually (but not always) cheaper than those of the The Beach (Atlantis), but the inclusion of breakfast usually makes this a better value.

Worlds away from the other properties within the Atlantis resort in terms of overall look, experience, and sophistication, this high-rise overlooking two stunning white-sand beaches is a true grown-ups' getaway. The 600-suite hotel has step-down living areas and luxurious modern furnishings. It is home to an uber-exclusive adults-only pool area open only to Cove guests. This haven has private poolside cabanas stocked with everything from gourmet treats to en suite spa treatments. Families are welcome to stay here—there is a separate pool for kids—but it's a hike to the fun-filled Aquaventure. A $70-per-room daily resort fee includes Wi-Fi, reusable water bottles, and access to Aquaventure, the movie theater, and the fitness center, as well as shuttles throughout the sprawling property.

It you want more space to stretch out during your Paradise Island vacation, consider these one-, two-, and three-bedroom town-house–style villas that can accommodate up to nine guests and are fully equipped with separate living/dining areas, kitchens, and private laundry facilities. The pastel-color four-story buildings are situated across the marina from the main Atlantis resort, offering both peace and quiet; however, it is a 10-minute walk (or a shuttle ride) to the popular water park, beaches, amenities, and restaurants of the rest of the resort. Shuttles run throughout the sprawling property from 8 am until midnight. There is no beach here, but you'll have two relatively quiet pools to enjoy if you decide to stay on-site. Although you have access to the Atlantis restaurants and their meal plans, many guests hire a provisioning company to stock their villa before they arrive or take advantage of daily food-store runs. There is also a casual poolside restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and tropical drinks.

The newest resort addition to the downtown Nassau scene pays homage to the late Jimmy Buffett, the legendary musician whose song "Margaritaville" lent itself to the resort brand. Expect imagery of parrots, palm trees, and flip-flops at every turn, including the larger-than-life flip-flop statue in the spacious and airy lobby. Most guests will stay in Margaritaville, but those opting for premium suites or longer-term stays can enjoy the more exclusive and slightly more upscale One Particular Harbour residential property right next door. Regardless of which property you choose, every room guarantees sweeping ocean views. Even the elevators and the spa treatment rooms come with full ocean views. Those staying in the residences have access to an exclusive pool and hot tub and fitness center, but all guests can enjoy the other amenities, including the Fins Up water park, the beach, and a variety of restaurants and bars.

Once the private hideaway of A&P supermarket heir Huntington Hartford, this exclusive Four Seasons Resort on magnificent Cabbage Beach's quietest stretch provides the ultimate in understated—and decidedly posh—elegance. Its Versailles Gardens includes 35 acres of terraced serenity and an imported French cloister. Set amid private gardens, the spacious colonial-style rooms and villas have intricately carved furniture, marble bathrooms, and private butlers. Special touches include unpacking service, champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries in the afternoon, regular shuttles to and from Atlantis, and privileges at the nearby golf course. The open-air restaurant and bar, Dune, is perched over the beach.

At centrally located The Royal, spend your days riding the slides at Aquaventure and your nights in the casino and the nightclub. While The Coral offers comfortable accommodations for less, this is the section of the hotel where you'll experience luxury. Regular rooms are large and well appointed, with a (fake) French balcony. But if you dream of sitting outdoors looking at the ocean, waterscape, or Nassau Harbour, opt for one of the even more spacious and luxurious suites. Fun fact: Michael Jackson was the first guest in the Bridge Suite, the nearly 5,000-square-foot, 10-room suite suspended between the two Royal Towers; it includes access to seven full-time staff members who cater to your every need. A $59-per-room daily resort fee includes Wi-Fi, reusable water bottles, and access to the water park, movie theater, and fitness center, as well as shuttles throughout the sprawling property.

Cable Beach's most expensive all-inclusive resort recently underwent a year-long, multimillion-dollar facelift; more than 200 rooms have been upgraded, and they've added trendy swim-up river suites that come with personal butler service. If the 15 acres aren't enough for you, catch the hourly ferry over to Sandals Barefoot Cay to really get away from it all. An array of activities on land and water, including scuba diving, are all included. Indulge in a massage or facial at the Red Lane Spa. There's a state-of-the-art fitness club and a multilingual concierge service that assists foreign guests. Ten restaurants offer cuisines ranging from Caribbean to Japanese (make reservations well in advance), and nightly entertainment takes place in the resort's amphitheater.

Accessible only by boat, this resort features guest rooms in the main house and one-room bungalows overlooking a gorgeous white-sand beach in a 5-acre compound that stretches from Nassau Harbour to the ocean. Tent sites are available starting at $65 per day outside of the summer months. If you're up for camping but don't want to bring your own gear, inquire about the single and double tent huts. This retreat is for those who are serious about yoga and good health, and accommodations are only available to those enrolled in a program: the community gathers morning and evening for meditation and yoga. During free time from 10 am to 4 pm, the retreat's shuttle boat will take you to Nassau for shopping and sightseeing, or you can stop in for a massage at the Well Being Center on-site. Yoga decks are next to the beach and harbor, and there are also meditation rooms, frequent guest lecturers, and special classes for advanced teacher certification. The per-person price includes two buffet-style lacto-vegetarian meals each day, at 10 am and 6 pm. Rooms range from quite luxurious to austere, and Wi-Fi is available throughout the property outside of morning and evening satsang hours. Alcohol, coffee, tea, meat, fish, cigarettes, radios, and TVs are not allowed, and there is a two-night minimum throughout the year.

This 4-acre condominium resort has a lush, intimate character, and guests can socialize around three pools that are surrounded by tropical plants, including several hibiscus and bougainvillea varieties. Choose between one- or two-bedroom suites, villas, and town houses, all of which are spacious, fully equipped, and with enough closet space for a long visit. All rooms have private balconies or garden terraces. Cabbage Beach is a 10-minute walk away. The property includes a coin-operated laundry facility, small fitness room, tennis court, and basic convenience store.

This 1899 landmark hotel is the social heart of Nassau; it's the setting for political meetings and events, and offers guest rooms with views of the harbor and old Nassau. The first colonial hotel, built by Standard Oil cofounder Henry Flagler, attracted socialites, royals, and industrialists at the turn of the 20th century and during the boom years of Prohibition. That building was destroyed by fire in 1921, and the present Mediterranean-style British Colonial—an exact replica—opened a year later, featuring a lustrous saffron facade, gleaming marble floors, and soaring arched ceilings. Those elements remain today, with modernized interiors dappled with stylish velvet and rattan furniture. The onsite dining options cater to your every need, whether it is a hearty poolside bite or a sophisticated dinner: The Mahogany Club, the hotel's flagship restaurant, offers a delightful mix of pan-European plates with Caribbean influences; the Woodes Rogers Tavern, a moody, high-ceilinged bar with dark walls and a glistening chandelier, is a popular gathering place; and the Sakana Noodle & Sushi Bar, a lively sushi bar using handmade noodles and fresh local fish for the perfect light bite. The fitness facility overlooks the garden, and though petite, gets the job done.

The family-friendly Coral is at the heart of the Atlantis resort, giving you good access to all the top amenities—including the casino and Aquaventure—at a moderate price point. There's a pool just for guests of this tower that includes a swim-up bar; in the lobby is a kids' concierge desk to help kids and their parents plan their vacation days. Some of the top Atlantis restaurants are located in The Coral, and Marina Village is just steps away. Good-size rooms are decorated in a sophisticated beach theme. A $59-per-room daily resort fee includes Wi-Fi, reusable water bottles, and access to Aquaventure, the movie theater, and the fitness center, as well as shuttles throughout the sprawling property.

This boutique oceanfront 5-story hotel extends the Cable Beach strip eastward with an air of sophistication and relaxation. The eastern wing is home to 78 residential units, and to the west is the 81-room hotel, with oceanfront or golf course views. Studios include kitchenettes and the one-, two-, and three-bedroom suites include fully appointed kitchens with top-of-the-line appliances. All rooms include full balconies with ample space for lounging and enjoying the stunning scenery. The infinity pool gives the illusion that you can step right into the ocean, but in reality, the hotel is situated on white-sand Cable Beach, away from the other resorts. Although there are limited amenities on-site, the activities at Baha Mar are just a 15-minute beach stroll away. Two restaurants and a coffee bar serve up breakfast, lunch, and dinner for guests who don't want to venture off-property.

The old-world flavor of this Georgian colonial landmark—built in 1740 by ship captain John Howard Graysmith—has made it a perennial favorite among both the rich and the famous (past guests have included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Winston Churchill, Aristotle Onassis, and the Beatles). Al Capone stayed here in the Roaring Twenties when it was owned by his sweetie, Polly Leach, and Lord Mountbatten visited when Lord and Lady Dudley were the proprietors. It's easy to forget that you're steps from downtown Nassau when you stay here. Thick foliage envelops a series of garden villas and cottages, amid limestone courtyards with ponds, pools, and fountains. Rooms have been renovated, giving life to the plush upscale interiors. They each bear a Bahamian name for the road they overlook—Hibiscus, Yellowbird, and Baillou. For refined continental fare, the hotel's namesake restaurant is one of the island's premier places to dine. The hotel also operates cigar and chocolate factories on the grounds and a small shopping village across the street.

This simple and quiet six-floor hotel is a welcome addition to the New Providence budget-lodging market. It's clean and well kept, with pleasantly decorated if a bit outdated rooms. Ask for a room with an ocean view as many rooms have only a partial view or none at all. In fact, the rooms vary wildly in size, with a few just barely bigger than the bed. Sliding-glass doors open to false balconies but allow nice cool breezes in. Breakfast is included.

If you prefer down-home coziness over slick glamour, then this basic hotel—on the site of a former orange plantation perched on a hilltop overlooking the ocean—is the place to stay. Irish transplant Judy Lowe, who's owned the inn since the 1980s, and her son Brendan treat guests like family. Orange Hill is across the road from the beach, a half-hour drive from town, and 15 minutes from the Baha Mar resort complex. Rooms and apartments vary considerably in size and are all decorated with simple pine furniture and tropical bedding. Some of the larger poolside rooms lack an ocean view, so be sure to state your preference when booking. There's a small restaurant on-site serving Bahamian and continental fare, and you can help yourself at an honor bar set up in the cozy living room. The inn provides daily trips to a nearby grocery store for guests who want to stock their in-room refrigerator.

This 497-suite tower has exquisitely outfitted studios or one- and two-bedroom condominium-style accommodations. Each unit has a stainless-steel kitchen or kitchenette (some have washers and dryers), which makes this setup perfect for self-sufficient families or those trying to stretch their dollars. There's no restaurant in the tower, so unless you plan to cook, be prepared for a bit of a walk or a shuttle for meals. The Reef has the best access to the most beautiful and least congested beach in all of Atlantis. As with other Atlantis properties, A $70-per-room daily resort fee includes Wi-Fi, reusable water bottles, and access to the Aquaventure water park, the movie theater, and the fitness center, as well as shuttles throughout the sprawling property.

Featuring seaside comfort in cozy surroundings, this hotel advertised as a bed-and-breakfast is a three-story colonial-style inn with wraparound verandas, perched on a limestone cliff overlooking the beach, 13 miles west of Nassau. The public rooms and guest rooms have the character of a century-old manor house, with pickled-wood ceilings, pine plank floors, and mahogany antiques. The decor is a bit dated. A dining room serves complimentary continental breakfast daily and most nights serves up Indian fare. You can read on the porch, walk to the beach, or relax by a small pool and waterfall.

Lushly landscaped with crotons, coconut palms, bougainvillea, and hibiscus, this low-rise, family-run resort on Cabbage Beach has a tropical wonderland feel. Two pools sustain the aura with statuary and tropical plantings, and the beach is accessible via a long flight of wooden stairs built right into the cliff. Choose from one-bedroom town houses with spiral staircases that lead to an upstairs bedroom; two-bedroom apartments; or three-, four-, or five-bedroom villas with a mother-in-law suite. Each has a unique decor, but all have fully equipped kitchens, king-size beds, and patios. The concierge can arrange a private chef to prepare special meals, and housekeeping will do your laundry.

Privacy is the lure of these time-share villas, with balconies and patios overlooking oceans and pools on Cable Beach's west end, 6 miles from downtown. Two-bedroom, two-bath condominiums have fully stocked kitchens but are in need of some updating. The reasonable prices and relaxed vibe are ideal for families or groups on a budget, and the pleasant, quiet location—off the road amid manicured lawns and pruned gardens—gives children the freedom to play outdoors. West Wind II shares a stunning beach with Baha Mar, so more activity and motorized water sports are a short walk away. A bus stop and taxi stand are right outside. The on-site bar and grill serves breakfast and lunch daily. There is no dinner option on property, but it is walking distance to a variety of restaurants, including a vast selection at Baha Mar next door.