102 TRAVEL OK! THE BAHAMAS
AFTER THE DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY HURRICANE DORIAN, THE BAHAMAS ARE WELCOMING VISITORS TO PARADISE AGAIN
WHY GO NOW?
Stretching from the south of Florida to the east of Cuba, The Bahamas are a collection of 700-odd islands and islets of which only around 30 are inhabited. Some of the islands in this former British colony were hit hard by Hurricane Dorian in early September, but many were untouched and are very much open for business. As tourism is the lifeblood for many of the islanders, they’re welcoming visitors back with open arms and friendly faces. If you time your visit to coincide with The Bahamas International Film Festival in December, you might even catch a glimpse of Johnny Depp and Sir Sean Connery who are past attendees.
WHERE CAN I STAY?
If you like large-scale Las Vegas-style hotels, you’ll love Atlantis on the aptly named Paradise Island. Just over the bridge from the capital Nassau, this mega-resort has 3,400 rooms, 11 pools, 21 restaurants, a huge aquarium, cinema, nightclub and the Caribbean’s largest casino. Each of the five hotels – The Beach, The Cove (ideal for couples with its adult-only pool and beach club with DJS), The Coral, The Royal (famous for its iconic penthouse which spans two towers) and The Reef have their own style and personality, while the harbour-side villas are perfect for extended families. OK! checked in to one of the newly refurbished condo-style studios at The Reef that are popular with families as they have a kitchen and living area as well as a balcony that overlooks the lush grounds and white sandy beach. You can walk to all the amenities from The Reef or hop on board the free shuttle bus.
WHAT ARE THE MUST-DO ACTIVITIES?
Atlantis is truly a playground for both adults and kids. You can just lie on the beach or by one of the pools, but OK! couldn’t resist the thrills and spills of the 141-acre Aquaventure water park. We started off on the mile-long Current river ride with rolling rapids and wave surges, then progressed to the Serpent Slide, which ends in a tube that runs through a lagoon leaving you feeling like you’re swimming in an aquarium. Then we plucked up the courage to go on the Mayan Temple’s Leap Of Faith, an adrenaline-pumping slide that starts with an almost vertical drop and ends with you shooting through a seethrough tube running through a shark tank.
For those who like to get up close and personal with animals, swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Cay is a truly memorable experience. We were also given a behind-the-scenes tour of the marine hospital and the chance to release a teenage sea turtle back into the sea. Elsewhere you can tee off at the 18-hole golf course, enjoy a massage at the Mandara Spa or a flutter at the casino.
WHERE CAN I DINE AND BE SEEN?
Keep an eye out for Katie Holmes, Drew Barrymore, Hilary Duff and Fergie, who may be eating at celeb-favourite Nobu, famous for its innovative Japanese cuisine and huge sake cellar. Or try the newly relaunched Café Martinique in the beautiful Marina Village, where you can also listen to live music, shop in the boutiques or grab an ice cream. The gourmet seasonal menu uses local organic produce, with highlights including seared five spice king scallops and piña colada sorbet. The colonial plantation-style restaurant is a recreation of the original eatery where scenes from James Bond’s Thunderball were filmed, so we just had to order a martini – ‘shaken, not stirred’! The poolside terrace restaurant Sip Sip At The Cove is the perfect place for a light lunch and a few rum cocktails.