Start with the island, then choose the resort. Cable Beach and Paradise Island put you near Nassau, while Andros and San Salvador suit a trip built around a particular lodge, beach or activity. All-inclusive options vary in scale, age limits and what is included, so compare the package as carefully as the beach.
- Main gateway
- Nassau (NAS) for New Providence and Paradise Island
- Other islands
- Book the correct island airport and onward transfer
- Resort ages
- Adults-only, teen-friendly and family options have different policies
- Passport
- Air travelers need a passport
- check rules for your nationality
- Season
- Winter is cooler
- Atlantic hurricane season is June–November
Where should you stay in The Bahamas?
Choose your island before your hotel. Nassau and Paradise Island offer a different trip from a lodge on Andros or a resort on San Salvador.
Four areas represented in this shortlist. These are starting points, not a ranking or a complete list of the islands.
| Area | Choose it for | Biggest advantage | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
 Nassau & Cable BeachPictured: Sandals Royal Bahamian | Beach time with access to Nassau's sights and restaurants. | Stay on New Providence and arrive through Nassau's international airport. | A Nassau address does not make every attraction or beach walkable. Check the exact hotel location. Nassau (NAS); arrange your resort's road transfer. |
 Paradise IslandPictured: Hotel Riu Palace Paradise Island | A resort base across the bridge from Nassau. | Choose between an oceanfront beach stay and a harbour-side setting. | Harbour frontage and Cabbage Beach are different experiences. Nearby water parks and attractions may require separate admission. Nassau (NAS), followed by a road transfer across the bridge. |
 AndrosPictured: Small Hope Bay Lodge | Diving, fishing and a smaller lodge experience. | Build your stay around the reef, blue holes and time outdoors. | Choose the right island airport and check seasonal lodge closures before buying flights. For Small Hope, arrange arrival at Andros Town / Fresh Creek. Confirm the airport and connection with the lodge. |
 San SalvadorPictured: Club Med Columbus Isle | A beach-and-water-sports stay away from Nassau. | Club Med Columbus Isle offers a resort base close to the island's airport. | Check flight days and the complete itinerary first. This is a separate island, not a road transfer from Nassau. San Salvador (ZSA); confirm whether the airport transfer is included in your package. |
Confirm your island, arrival airport and onward transport together. A flight to Nassau is not a complete itinerary for every Bahamas resort.
A starting shortlist in The Bahamas
Compare these published resort options by trip style and practical trade-offs. Age limits differ, and Small Hope Bay Lodge closes seasonally. Confirm availability and inclusions for your travel dates.
Grouped by area, with official policy and inclusion checks. This is an editorial shortlist, not a quality ranking. See every Bahamas resort in our guide.
| Resort | Who it suits | Why choose it | Keep in mind | Your quote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sandals Royal BahamianNassau & Cable BeachAdults only | Couples wanting a resort stay on Cable Beach | A private offshore island adds another setting for beach and pool time; round-trip airport transfers are included. | Plan around a couples-focused stay and check boat operations for the offshore island. | View on Expedia (opens in a new tab) |
| Breezes Resort BahamasNassau & Cable BeachAges 14+ | Adults, friends and families traveling with older teens | An all-inclusive stay directly on Cable Beach that welcomes both couples and groups. | Children under 14 are not accepted. Confirm check-in and group policies for your dates. | View on Expedia (opens in a new tab) |
| Hotel Riu Palace Paradise IslandParadise IslandAdults only | Adults who want an oceanfront base on Paradise Island | A Cabbage Beach location with RIU's 24-hour all-inclusive service. | Beach conditions can change. Check local swimming advice rather than assuming oceanfront means calm water. | View on Expedia (opens in a new tab) |
| Warwick Paradise Island BahamasParadise IslandAges 16+; seasonal restrictions | Travelers who prefer a harbour-side resort setting | A private harbour beach with a hotel shuttle to Cabbage Beach. | The hotel beach faces the harbour. The published age minimum rises to 21 from February 15 to April 15; confirm your dates and included meal plan. | View on Expedia (opens in a new tab) |
| Small Hope Bay LodgeAndrosFamilies welcome; seasonal closure | Families and divers wanting cabins and outdoor activities | Meals, drinks, kayaks and bicycles are included in a small lodge setting. | The lodge lists a September–October closure. Confirm operating dates, transfers and the cost of diving or fishing packages. | View on Expedia (opens in a new tab) |
| Club Med Columbus IsleSan SalvadorAges 2+ | Travelers wanting beach time and included water sports | Sailing, snorkeling and other activities are included on San Salvador. | Scuba diving costs extra. Confirm flights, transfer charges and age-specific facilities before booking with children. | View resort details for Club Med Columbus Isle |
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Resort policies checked . Beaches Exuma is advertised as coming soon and is not included in this shortlist. See the official Beaches Exuma update.
Where the Bahamas resorts are
7 resorts mapped stars are five-star properties
Which Bahamas island should you choose?
Nassau and Cable Beach are on New Providence. Paradise Island is reached by bridge, but its harbour-side resorts and oceanfront beaches offer different experiences. Choose the actual setting rather than treating every Nassau-area hotel as interchangeable.
Andros and San Salvador are separate island trips. Small Hope Bay Lodge is a cabin-based choice on Andros; Club Med Columbus Isle is on San Salvador. Compare flight days and total journey time before settling on your hotel. The shortlist above covers selected published resorts, not every island or accommodation in The Bahamas.
Which airport and transfer should you book?
Use Nassau's Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) for Cable Beach and Paradise Island. Confirm the road transfer for your exact hotel, including whether it is included. Do not apply one resort's advertised journey time to the whole destination.
For Small Hope Bay Lodge, coordinate arrival at Andros Town / Fresh Creek with the lodge. Its travel page lists connections through Nassau and options from Florida, so an extra flight through Nassau is not always necessary. Confirm the departure airport, baggage allowance and connection time before booking.
Club Med Columbus Isle uses San Salvador International Airport (ZSA). The resort describes a short onward transfer, but its U.S. site says transfers are not automatically included. Check the exact package and flight schedule. Leave room for delays when combining separately booked flights.
When to visit
Winter and spring suit travelers who prefer milder temperatures. Winter evenings can be breezy, so bring a light layer. Summer is hotter and more humid, with thunderstorms that can interrupt beach and boat plans. Conditions vary across the islands; a Nassau weather summary is not a forecast for your resort.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30, with most activity historically between mid-August and mid-October. Storms can occur outside those dates too. Early June is already in the season. Check current forecasts, cancellation terms and the weather cover in any travel insurance before choosing dates.
Check resort operating dates as well as the weather. Small Hope Bay Lodge's published FAQ lists a closure throughout September and October. Confirm the season directly before arranging flights.
Plan outings around your island
Choose excursions after choosing your base. Nassau sightseeing, Andros reef trips and San Salvador water sports are different itineraries. An outing on another island needs confirmed transport, operating days and a realistic return plan.
Ask what your all-inclusive package actually covers. Club Med Columbus Isle lists included water sports but charges extra for scuba diving. Small Hope includes meals, drinks and selected equipment; confirm the dive or fishing package you want separately. Boat trips and swimming depend on current sea conditions.
Entry, money and practical checks
Air travelers need a passport. Entry and visa requirements depend on nationality, travel documents and itinerary; confirm them with the official Bahamas guidance and your airline before departure. Cruise-document exceptions should not be used to plan a flight.
The Bahamian dollar is at parity with the U.S. dollar. Confirm cards, cash and any service charges with the hotel and local operators; smaller island businesses may not accept cards. Check your resort's tipping policy and bill before adding a gratuity.
Read the current travel advisory before booking and departure. Follow local swimming warnings and use established excursion operators. A beach photograph cannot establish safe conditions on your travel dates.
The best all-inclusive resorts in Bahamas
The Bahamas properties we would actually book.
Where to stay in Bahamas
The resort areas we cover, and which properties sit in each.
Nassau & Paradise Island
4The Out Islands
3From our sister site, It’s All Cruises
Would you rather be at sea?
Cruise ships call at seven ports in Bahamas. If you are torn between a week at a resort and a cruise, our port guides show what a day ashore here really looks like.
All 7 cruise ports in Bahamas
Resort chains in Bahamas
The brands operating here. The ones we rank in full link through to the chain, what its plan really covers, and every resort of theirs we track.
Where these companies came from
Almost nobody in this category publishes it. Read oldest first and the list is a short history of how Bahamas came to look the way it does.
Bahamas, head to head
Price, flights, sand, food and safety, compared honestly.
Bahamas vs JamaicaMexicoDominican RepublicMaldivesGreeceSpainTurks & CaicosArubaBarbadosSt. LuciaItalyPortugalTurkeyAntiguaCuraçaoBrazilCosta RicaPhilippinesFrench PolynesiaMoroccoEgyptSouth AfricaMauritiusKenyaTanzaniaMozambiqueThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaPunta CanaCancúnRiviera MayaLos CabosPuerto VallartaMontego BayNegrilOcho RiosGuanacasteCreteBahiaBora BoraMalé AtollsRodney BayBarbados South CoastBarbados West CoastViti LevuVanua LevuCanary IslandsBalearic IslandsCosta del SolSharm el-SheikhHurghada & the Red Sea CoastBelekRhodesLara & AntalyaMaldives Outer AtollsCorfuHalkidikiKosSoufrière & South St. LuciaGrenadaFijiCroatiaU.S. Virgin IslandsSri LankaSeychellesChileArgentinaUnited States
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a passport for the Bahamas?
Air travelers need a passport. Check current passport-validity and visa requirements for your nationality and itinerary with official Bahamas guidance and your airline. Cruise-document exceptions do not apply to an ordinary flight.
Are there all-inclusive resorts in the Bahamas?
Yes. Compare the exact property and rate plan, including meals, activities, transfers and age limits. Breezes welcomes ages 14+, Warwick has a seasonal higher age minimum, and Small Hope Bay Lodge lists a September–October closure. Beaches Exuma is advertised as coming soon and is excluded from our starting shortlist.
Do all Bahamas resorts use Nassau airport?
No. Nassau (NAS) serves New Providence and Paradise Island, but resorts on other islands require their own arrival plans. Club Med Columbus Isle uses San Salvador (ZSA); coordinate the correct Andros arrival airport with Small Hope Bay Lodge.
Is early June before hurricane season in the Bahamas?
No. Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1 and ends November 30. Storms can occur outside those dates, and an individual trip's weather cannot be guaranteed. Check forecasts, operating dates and cancellation terms.