Atlantis Paradise Island

Atlantis Paradise Island is not a hotel that happens to have amenities. It’s a destination complex that happens to have rooms, 11 hotels, 40+ restaurants, a casino, a waterpark, and the element that genuinely distinguishes it from other Caribbean mega-resorts: The Dig, an 11-million-litre marine habitat system woven through the resort’s corridors and suites.

The Dig is framed as an underwater excavation of the mythical Atlantis, sunken Atlantean ruins repurposed as aquarium tanks. The narrative conceit is elaborate and largely consistent. Transparent tunnels pass through the water; enormous tanks hold sawfish, stingrays, sand tiger sharks, and tropical fish in volumes that reflect the scale of the system. Guests staying in the Coral Towers or Royal Towers can book suites with floor-to-ceiling windows directly onto the major habitats, which means falling asleep to the movements of sharks and rays in illuminated water. It’s not Jules’ Undersea Lodge, but it’s a genuine and distinctive experience.

Aquaventure is the best waterpark in the Caribbean. The 141-acre complex includes 20+ slides, the Leap of Faith drops riders near-vertically through a shark-filled lagoon, a mile-long river ride, 11 pools, and a private beach. For families, the combination of waterpark and marine habitat is hard to match anywhere in the Atlantic basin.

The dining range at this scale is genuinely varied: Nobu, Café Martinique, and a dozen more. The casino is the largest in the Caribbean. Nassau’s cultural attractions are 20 minutes away by bridge. Atlantis works best for families and groups who want every possible activity in one place and aren’t bothered by the scale of it.