DESTINATIONS CARIBBEAN | BAHAMAS
TRIED & TESTED
atlantis paradise island
Alongside his ambassador role, Kool Aid is a marine biologist and told us about the work of the resort’s animal rescue team, helping protect sea life in the Caribbean. One famous rescue
was that of Manny T, a malnourished manatee, later returned to the sea after a three-month rehabilitation. The Atlantis resort is
home to the largest open-air marine habitat in the world, with 14 lagoons and more than 250 marine species. Guests can view the sea life through a series of walk- through tunnels. We found Nemo (aka clownfish) and spotted ethereal jellyfish, sinister conger eels and curious horseshoe crabs (which apparently have blue blood). Our ‘Snorkel the Ruins
of Atlantis’ experience got us even closer to the sharks, rays and thousands of tropical fish amid the manmade relics. Despite the Jaws jokes, it was very safe and even a bit tame if you’re used to snorkelling in the sea. But for novices or people nervous about fish or snorkelling, it was a relaxing half-hour of gentle paddling, fish viewing and waving at other guests through glass panels.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Some of the Bahamas’ 2,400 cays; cellar at Graycliff; Samantha Mayling at Fort Montagu PICTURES: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism; Samantha Mayling
season, despite wearing shorts and sandals, but queues in the Royal hotel for guests to take Covid-19 tests were less cheery reminders of home. Testing procedures are something to watch out for in the Bahamas, and Virgin Atlantic is keen to make sure passengers are aware that no self-testing or home-test kits are accepted by the destination. Even vaccinated visitors arriving in the Bahamas must take a PCR test conducted by a medical practitioner (private drive-through tests or those done in pharmacies such as Boots are fine) before they fly. On-site testing at the hotel is certainly handy too – just one of the many helpful details that make this such a sought-after resort.
CELEBRITY MECCA Atlantis Paradise Island has reportedly welcomed superstar guests such as Tiger Woods, P Diddy and Michael Jordan – and it’s no surprise that well-heeled Americans flock to the Bahamas, as the capital, Nassau, is just 300 miles off the Florida coast. Celebrities including Eddie Murphy and Johnny
Depp (pretend pirate of the Caribbean) own islands near Nassau, which is connected to Paradise Island by a bridge named after Hollywood star Sidney Poitier, who spent part of his childhood in the Bahamas.
42 13 JANUARY 2022
The mansion was built by an
original pirate of the Caribbean, and now boasts the world’s third-largest wine collection
The country gained independence from the UK
in 1973 and Brits are the third-largest market, after Americans and Canadians. As well as driving on the left, Britain has left a colonial legacy of forts, churches, a parliament, historic buildings and portraits of the Queen. One such historic building is Graycliff in Nassau – famous for celebrity clients, from actors such as Nicolas Cage to musicians such as Jay-Z and Billy Joel. In the 20th century, regular visitors included the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Sir Winston Churchill. The mansion was built in 1740 by Captain John Howard Graysmith, an original pirate of the Caribbean. Now a boutique luxury hotel, Graycliff boasts the world’s third-largest wine collection, with 270,000 bottles from 15 countries. It’s also home to a cigar-making business and chocolatier – both of which
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travelweekly.co.uk
PICTURE: Shutterstock/Pola Damonte
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