Bahamas

Dream vacations in the Bahamas

Like thousands of precious stones on a blanket of pure blue, the Bahamas has been a veritable tourist treasure for many years. Who has never dreamed of basking in the sun on one of its pink sand beaches lying on the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean? Whether one is seeking to follow in the footsteps of princes and Hollywood stars or simply looking for the solitude and wild nature of a luxurious Robinson Crusoe type vacation, the Bahamas has everything to offer. Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover the wonders of these islands where pirates hid themselves and their bounty and where British royalty built their holiday homes. Today however, one can find some of the world’s most beautiful hotels to welcome international visitors in search of a “get away from it all” destination.

Tropical Exoticism

The first stop is Nassau, the glamorous and cosmopolitan capital, on the island of New Providence where 60 percent of the archipelago’s population lives. We find a touch of madness, tropical exoticism, modern architecture and vestiges of the island’s colonial past. Visitors can take pleasure in becoming part of the vitality of this thriving metropolis which owes its prosperity to the advent of mass tourism. The best place to enjoy the colorful atmosphere is the Compass Point Beach Resort just a few steps from Nassau. The typically Bahamian ambiance of this art deco hotel with its vivid and flamboyant colors is reminiscent of the island’s traditional Junkanoo parade. The hotel is the work of the celebrated fashion designer, Barbara Hulanicki who invented the concept of tropical luxury.  It’s easy to imagine oneself dancing barefoot on the paradise-like Love Beach to the sound of Caribbean rhythms with a fruit flavored cocktail in hand. Visitors enchanted by the Compass Point should make Harbour Island their next stop in order to discover the Pink Sands Resort, another luxurious tropical temple created by the same designer with its sober décor, filtered lighting and its “feet in the water” atmosphere in the middle of a mangrove. The neighboring beaches and those of Eleuthera Island are especially famous for their pastel pink sand blending in with millions of coral crystals creating a truly magical site.

Private & Confidential

Also on Harbour Island, near the port of the charming village known as Dunmore Town, we find The Landing, a restored former colonial mansion which offers visitors intimate and peaceful surroundings. Stars from the entertainment world and crowned heads in search of privacy have opted to stay here. This confidential style is also present at the One & Only One Ocean Club on Paradise Island. The colonial architecture of its cottages and the sober ambiance of its interiors create an exclusive VIP setting. Enhanced by magnificent gardens inspired by those of Versailles, the One & Only possesses a rare elegance designed for a truly romantic vacation.

Excess & splendor

Paradise Island, linked to Nassau by an immense suspension bridge above the transparent Caribbean waters, is also home to another type of establishment. The Atlantis Paradise Island’s concept of luxury is based on excess, splendor and exuberance, with millions of dollars invested in making the hotel an attraction of its own. Built around the ancient legend of Atlantis, guests here are immersed in an unreal setting with an infinite number of swimming pools restaurants, casinos and a giant aquatic park.

Eco-chic on the island of Andros

And if the luxury of huge hotel complexes isn’t your style, the Bahamas also possesses a great many “end of the world” retreats all of which strictly respect the islands’ lush vegetation. South Andros, also known as the “land of blue holes” because of its strange natural pools, is one of the archipelago’s largest islands as well as being one of the most well preserved. In the shade of the cottages on stilts of the Tiamo Resort eco-lodge, as time seems to stand still and the hyperactivity of daily life vanishes, guests can enjoy the peaceful surroundings without thinking about tomorrow. Thanks to its discreet luxury and total respect for the extremely rich biodiversity of its environment, one can combine all of life’s comforts with a love and appreciation of nature. Everything here functions with the energy of the same sun that tans our skin and brightens our vacation.