Bahamas: Resort or Airbnb?

Since Air Bnb has grown to locations all over the world people aren’t just staying in hotels for vacation anymore. In searching for accommodations you should ask yourself what kind of trip are you looking to have? Are you traveling with family/kids? Solo Travel? Do you want to stick to the tourist areas? Do you want to explore off the beaten path? All good questions to ask before you book. I’ll go over a few big hotel resorts, staying in an Airbnb, and give pro/con to each.

Atlantis

Ahh, the mothership of Bahamas and I mean mothership because this resort is GIGANTIC! There are various towers, restaurants, bars, pools, aquarium, water activities, beach (Cabbage Beach) and the list goes on. Atlantis is great if traveling with kids and wanting an all in one location destination. There is plenty to do and they also have their own Marina Village for shopping. All Pro’s in my book.

Now for the Con’s: I thought that the overall look of the resort was hokey, it was extremely crowded, didn’t look too clean in some areas and I was very underwhelmed with their beach. There were trash particles, an ugly concrete barrier on one side and the water wasn’t as blue or clear as other parts of the island.

I did not actually stay at Atlantis but I was able to explore on my own and see all of the amenities they had to offer. I love that I could book my offshore activities through their Tours & Excursion Desk in the Coral Towers. In order to book at Atlantis, you don’t HAVE to be a guest. They called the companies and arranged everything for us.

If you want a day pass to their beach it was $80/person and $120 for the beach and amenities.

Baha Mar

Baha Mar is on the main Island of Nassau on Cable Beach. It’s a little far from all of the Paradise Island tourist activities but they have their own island that they share with Sandals to take their guests to. The overall aesthetic was very modern and classy, yet a touch of Vegas since the Casino is close to the lobby. It was busy but it didn’t feel overcrowded and with all of those people, it still felt clean. They also have a grand pool and shop area which stretched down the center of the Hotel with a view leading to the ocean.

The beach was clean, water had better quality, and a dock to take plenty of vacation pictures! Baha Mar also has an activities desk to help you book offshore excursions. They had all of the same companies and activities that Atlantis gave except they leave from a different dock.

A Con if you aren’t staying here is that you can’t buy a day pass to enjoy the amenities. Pro’s it is great for families, young adults, really anyone and everyone.

Airbnb

For the local and tourist experience, I would recommend an Airbnb. Depending on what part of Nassau or Paradise Island you want to stay on you might need to rent a car. If you choose to stay on Paradise Island where everything is shiny and pretty because of tourism then you are able to walk everywhere. If you stay on the mainland I recommend a car or taxi if possible.

I stayed in a great house in an eastern residential part of the island and loved it. We had the entire house to ourselves, could come back to a quiet part of town after exploring, and just relax.

The area that we stayed in was a 20-minute drive to Paradise Island which has some of the best beaches. Because we rented a car it allowed us to see more of the island than I ever would have if I stayed at a resort. The people were so welcoming and kind everywhere I went and in talking to locals were able to discover some great travel spots.

Airbnb is great for anyone and everyone. It can save you money on accommodation to spend a little more on activities. With Airbnb, I was able to experience the Bahamas local culture and get to be a tourist on Paradise Island. It was the best of both worlds.

Like I said it depends on what type of vacation you are planning, how much you can spend, etc. Plan what works best for you. I hope this article helps plan future trips!

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