Where to Stay in the Bahamas

The Bahamas offer a wide selection of accommodations, ranging from small private guesthouses to large luxury resorts. Hotels vary in size and facilities, from deluxe (offering room service, sports, swimming pools, entertainment, and so on) to fairly simple Out Island inns.

Hotel properties in the islands aren't rated according to any rigid classification system or "star system." The word "deluxe" is often used (or misused) when "first class" may be the more appropriate term. "First class" itself often isn't first class. Even in the deluxe and first-class resorts and hotels, don't expect top-rate service and efficiency. "Things," as they're called in the islands, don't seem to work as well here as they do in certain fancy resorts of California, Florida, and Europe.

The best places to get away from it all

If your idea of a vacation is solitude and no cell phone signal, these options might entice you:

One&Only Ocean Club (Paradise Island; 800-321-3000 ): This hideaway is the most exclusive on New Providence and the adjoining Paradise Island. A true pocket of posh, the Ocean Club was once a private club owned by A&P zillionaire Huntington Hartford, but today it's a glitzy sanctuary of elegance and charm. Surrounded by splendid terraced gardens, it offers a country-club ambience, prime beachfront, and gourmet dining.

Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach (Grand Bahama Island; 242-373-4000): Away from the hordes of Freeport or Lucaya, this resort hotel sits on 11 hectares (26 secluded acres) and opens onto one of the best white sandy beaches on the island. A stay at this hideaway on the water is like being in a world far removed from bustling Lucaya. Like an Italian version of Club Med.

Hope Town Hideaways (Elbow Cay; 242-366-0224 ): This series of gingerbread villas lies across the harbor from where the ferryboats from Marsh Harbour arrive. The "hideaways" in this resort's name is apt. It is reached only by boat and lies on its own 11-acre site. The grounds are beautifully landscaped and some of the villas are large enough to sleep six guests comfortably.

Green Turtle Club & Marina (Green Turtle Cay; 800-963-5450 ): Boasting the most complete yachting facility in its archipelago, this resort is one of the most charming of the "in" spots. Green Turtle Club has some of the best fishing and diving facilities. The villas include kitchens, and standard rooms are decorated in the colonial style. Two small, white sandy beaches are within walking distance.

Treasure Cay Hotel Resort & Marina (Treasure Cay; 800-327-1584 ): Boaters, golfers, fishermen, divers, yachties, and just plain escapists retreat to this luxurious resort on remote Treasure Cay. This resort boasts 5.5km (3-1/2 miles) of spectacular sandy beach, and guests stay in privately owned condos when the owners aren't using them. The standout attractions here are the superb 18-hole golf course and the 150-slip marina.

Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma at Emerald Bay (Exuma; 800-819-5053 ): The grandest resort to open in the Out Islands, this 183-room resort is waking up this sleepy archipelago, whose tranquil waters are loved by yachties. At the Four Seasons' centerpiece is an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman, and the resort's full-service spa and health club is also the finest in the Out Islands.

The best honeymoon resorts

For some romantic quality time with your new life mate, consider these:

Sandals Royal Bahamian Hotel (New Providence; 800-SANDALS ): If you're "any couple in love," you can receive the most lavish and catered honeymoon in New Providence or Paradise Island. The way to go, of course, is to book one of the 27 secluded honeymoon suites with semiprivate plunge pools. The staff handles on-site wedding celebrations, and you're supplied with everything from the minister to the flowers, not to mention champagne and a wedding cake.

Wyndham Nassau Resort & Crystal Palace Casino (New Providence; 800-222-7466 ): If you and your loved one want glitter and bright lights instead of romantic isolation, this mega-resort is for you. Honeymooners flock here for its wide array of drinking, dining, and gambling options. Of course, when it's time to put up the DO NOT DISTURB sign and retreat to a king-size bed, that's all right, too. Ask about honeymoon package deals.

Dunmore Beach Club (Harbour Island; 800-891-3100 ): The quintessential elegant hideaway. Dunmore Beach club stands on its own 3.2 hectares (8 acres) of landscaped rooms and opens onto the most beautiful beach in The Bahamas — and pink at that. You sleep in romantic cottages with private patios and can use the hot tubs in the units to get better acquainted with your mate.

One&Only Ocean Club (Paradise Island; 800-321-3000 ): On lush acres between the golf course and a white sandy beach, this resort is a chic — though costly — address. Ocean Club is a haven of tranquility, with fine dining, formal gardens, luxury rooms and suites, and even reflecting pools that stretch toward a cloister assembled stone by stone from Europe. No staff on the island pampers honeymooners more, but if you want to be left alone with your mate, the staff gently retreats.

Abaco Inn (Elbow Cay; 800-468-8799 ): For barefoot elegance in the sands and romance, this sophisticated little hideaway is one of the gems of the yachting haven known as the Abacos. Luxury villa suites with sunrise and sunset views are the way to go. If you and your loved one find a hammock in the gardens, the day is yours.

The best family resorts

For some fun with the family, consider these resorts:

Radisson Cable Beach Resort (Cable Beach; 800-333-3333 ): A well-organized kids' camp lures families to this sprawling 691-room resort, which opens onto some of the best sands along Cable Beach right outside Nassau. The resort's children's activities are the best organized on New Providence (though they're nowhere near the equal of Atlantis on Paradise Island). An added plus is that many of the bedrooms contain two double beds, making them suitable for families of four. Dining is no problem here because of the vast array of possibilities.

Atlantis Paradise Island Resort & Casino (Paradise Island; 800-ATLANTIS ): Imagine yourself and your kids washed up on the shores of the lost continent of Atlantis. The Bahamas don't offer any other choices that are more fun for a family vacation than this sprawling mega-resort, a true fantasy world that's nautical with a vengeance. The children's programs (for ages4-12) are the most spectacular in the country. Better yet, kids can spend hours cavorting through a "sea world" of underground grottoes that sprawls across 5.7 hectares (14 acres) and includes aquariums, underwater viewing tunnels, and cascading waterfalls.

Ritz Beach Resort (Lucaya; 242-373-9354 ): Think Disney on Grand Bahama Island. Surrounded by semi-tropical gardens, the Ritz is in the midst of all the fun, next door to a water park and the Pirates of The Bahamas Theme Park (all that's missing is Johnny Depp). Efficiencies, one-bedroom suites, or multi-level studio penthouses with private pools are available to suit the needs of your family.

Lofty Fig Villas (Marsh Harbour; 242-367-2681 ): This family-owned bungalow colony is for self-sufficient types who want more of a Robinson Crusoe holiday. Vacationing families meet like-minded people around the outdoor barbecue or the freshwater pool. Each bungalow comes with a fully equipped kitchen and a private screened-in porch.