Why Honeymoon in Nassau and Paradise Island
Convenience is the big one. Nassau has nonstop flights from about a dozen US cities, many under three hours. You also clear US customs before your flight home. For a short honeymoon or a long weekend minimoon, that saves real time.
The resorts here are among the most developed in the region. You can choose a sprawling place with water slides and casino tables, or an old school retreat with formal gardens and a hushed beach.
There is also more history than people expect. Nassau was a pirate haunt in the early 1700s and later a hub for blockade runners and Prohibition rum smugglers. Forts, colonial government buildings and old churches line the hills above Bay Street. Add easy day trips to quiet cays and the swimming pigs of Exuma and you have a base with range.
When to Go
December through April has the most dependable weather: sunny, breezy and dry, with highs in the mid 70s to around 80°F. It is also the busiest stretch. March brings spring break groups to the big Paradise Island resorts. Holiday weeks book out early.
May is a lovely month to visit, warm and sunny with fewer crowds and lower rates. June and July turn hot and humid with brief afternoon storms.
The hurricane season runs from June through November, with the highest risk from August through October. Nassau's big resorts stay open year round, unlike many in the Out Islands, which makes it a safer bet if your honeymoon falls in the fall. Book flexible rates and check forecasts before you go.
If you can, time a visit for Junkanoo on Boxing Day or New Year's Day, when Bay Street erupts with drums and costumes before dawn.
Where to Stay
Paradise Island is the classic choice. Atlantis is a small city of a resort, with a marine habitat, a water park and several hotel towers; it suits couples who want to stay busy. The Ocean Club, now run by Four Seasons, is the opposite: low buildings on a quiet beach, terraced Versailles-style gardens and a medieval cloister brought over from France. It is one of the most romantic hotels in the country.
Cable Beach is quieter and closer to the airport. Baha Mar groups the Rosewood, the SLS and the Grand Hyatt along one beach with shared restaurants, a casino and a large spa. Rosewood is the most intimate of the three. Sandals Royal Bahamian, an all-inclusive for couples, sits nearby with its own small offshore cay.
Downtown, Graycliff is a historic hotel in an 18th century mansion, better known for its dining room and wine cellar.
Romantic Things to Do
Start downtown in the cool of the morning before the cruise passengers arrive. Climb the Queen's Staircase, 66 steps carved from limestone, then walk up to Fort Fincastle for views over the harbor. John Watling's Distillery, in an old estate on the hill, offers rum tastings in a pretty courtyard.
Book a boat to Rose Island or another nearby cay for a day of snorkeling and lunch on the sand. For a bigger outing, fast boats and short flights run day trips to the Exuma Cays to see the swimming pigs and Thunderball Grotto.
In the evening, walk the Ocean Club gardens at dusk, then have dinner at Dune overlooking the beach. On another night head to Arawak Cay, the strip of colorful seafood shacks locals call the Fish Fry, for conch salad and a cold Sands beer.
Getting There and Around
Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) has nonstops from cities including New York, Newark, Boston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Flights from South Florida take about an hour. Fixed-rate taxis wait outside arrivals; expect roughly 15 minutes to Cable Beach and 30 minutes or more to Paradise Island, depending on traffic.
Taxis are the easiest way to get around. Use only licensed cabs with yellow plates. Agree on the fare before you set off. Jitneys, the local minibuses, run from downtown to Cable Beach during the day for a dollar or two, but they do not serve Paradise Island. Water taxis shuttle from the downtown wharf to Paradise Island until early evening.
Renting a car is possible but rarely worth it; traffic is heavy, cars keep left and parking is scarce downtown. When flying home, allow extra time for US preclearance.
Food and Drink
Nassau has the best restaurant range in the Bahamas. Resort dining rooms at the Ocean Club, Baha Mar and Atlantis bring in big-name chefs. Reservations are needed on weekends. Graycliff is known for its huge wine cellar and an old-world dining room that feels made for an anniversary.
The Fish Fry at Arawak Cay is the local counterpoint. Dozens of brightly painted shacks serve conch salad, fried snapper, cracked conch and peas and rice. Go hungry, go with cash and ask which spot your taxi driver prefers.
Downtown has a handful of good cafés and casual seafood places around Bay Street. For drinks, try a Bahama Mama or a Goombay Smash, then switch to a local Kalik or Sands. Rum lovers should leave time for the tasting at John Watling's, made on the island.
Honeymoon Tips
Read the State Department advisory before you go. Nassau has more crime than the rest of the country, but it is concentrated in neighborhoods away from the resort areas, especially Over the Hill south of Shirley Street. Stick to well-trafficked areas after dark and take licensed taxis.
Book boat trips and jet skis through your hotel or a well-established company rather than vendors on the beach. The advisory warns that some watercraft are poorly maintained or uninsured.
Check the cruise schedule. On days with several ships in port, downtown gets packed from midmorning until late afternoon, so plan your town visit for evening.
Resort fees, VAT and service charges add a lot to the room rate. Ask for the full price up front. Many resorts offer honeymoon packages with credits that make the math better.
