Located 180m (591 ft.) off Nassau's north shore, Paradise Island is a favorite vacation spot for East Coast Americans fleeing their icy winters for the stunning white sands of Paradise Beach. In addition to its gorgeous strands, the island boasts beautiful foliage, including brilliant red hibiscus and a grove of casuarina trees sweeping down to form a tropical arcade.
Now the priciest piece of real estate in The Bahamas, this island once served as a farm for Nassau and was known as Hog Island. Purchased for US$294 (£147) by William Sayle in the 17th century, it cost A&P grocery-chain heir Huntington Hartford US$11 million in 1960. He renamed the 6.5km-long (4-mile) sliver of land Paradise before selling his interest in it. Long a retreat for millionaires, the island underwent a massive building boom in the 1980s. Its old Bahamian charm is now gone forever, lost to the high-rises, condos, second homes of the wintering wealthy, and gambling casino that have taken over. The island's centerpiece is the mammoth Atlantis Paradise Island Resort & Casino, which has become a nightlife mecca and a sightseeing attraction in its own right.
For those who want top hotels, casino action, Vegas-type revues, fabulous beaches, and a posh address, Paradise Island is the place. It's sleeker and more upscale than Cable Beach, its closest rival. True, Paradise Island is overbuilt and overly commercialized, but its natural beauty still makes it a choice vacation spot, perfect for a quick 3- or 4-day getaway.
Note that we treat Paradise Island as a separate entity in this guide, but it is actually part of New Providence, connected by a bridge. You can travel between the two on foot, by boat, or by car. It's easy to stay in Nassau or Cable Beach and come over to enjoy Paradise Island's beaches, restaurants, attractions, and casino. You can also stay on Paradise Island and head over to Nassau for a day of sightseeing and shopping.
