Came to this former British colony made up of 700+ islands for my birthday! This was my second time to the Caribbean (the first being the DR) and both times I stayed at an all-inclusive resort. So here are some tips for those of you thinking of going to an all-inclusive resort:
Where I stayed: Warwick Paradise Island – Bahamas
Located on Paradise Island next to the bougie Atlantis resort, Warwick Paradise Island – Bahamas is about a 30-minute+ car ride from Nassau International Airport. Note that taxi drivers are required to charge fares according to industry standards, so the fare amount should not vary regardless which taxi car you hop into. I would say it’s $40-$45 USD (exclusive of gratuity) for a one-way ride from the airport. You CAN arrange your own private shuttle from the airport, but I don’t believe the fare price should vary that much from a taxi ride.
Price:
Per night, this calculates to be about $150 USD – and yes, this includes all meals, drinks, lodging, and some entertainment on the premises (exclusive of excursions that you may opt to sign up for). You would also want to bring some $1 bills to tip your servers/bartenders/staff, which, while not required, is certainly appreciated.
THE GOOD
Warwick is a nice looking resort that comes with 2 bars, a handful (ish) of restaurants, and an Instagram-worthy harbor area. I especially enjoyed Edgewater Grill, the waterfront restaurant, with my delish steak meal and the view of the harbor in the evening. For Edgewater Grill and a couple of the other more upscale restaurants at the resort, you’ll need to make a reservation at the concierge area beforehand. I would note that this time when I went was a few months post-hurricane, so the crowds were drastically reduced and getting a reservation was a non-issue (I would note for the record that the hurricane everyone was freaking out about only affected a few of the Bahamian islands; the Bahamian government needs tourists to visit since the island nation relies heavily on its tourism industry).
The resort has an elaborate pool area with a nearby beach area. You can borrow one of the large beach towels in exchange for your room number. The Hog Bar is the bar by the poolside and you can either hang at the counter and chat with other guests (or not) or a server can grab a drink for you while you spread out on a poolside chair.
One of the best things about this resort is HANDS DOWN the staff: incredibly friendly and helpful, as well as always making sure I was having a good time! They also have this very down-to-earth demeanor to them along with a great sense of humor – makes sense since life in the Caribbean is just slower and more chill than the hustle and bustle in a large U.S. city.
Finally, while Warwick is an adults-only resort (no screaming kids!), it is by the famous Atlantis resort. Within reasonable walking distance, you can visit certain parts of Atlantis for free as a Warwick guest – namely, the casino and shopping area.
THE MEH
I’ve only had about 3 all-inclusive resort experiences, so my critique of Warwick is based on the other 2 all-inclusive resorts I’ve stayed at. While Warwick does cover its bases with bars, restaurants, a pool, and some entertainment in the form of Foosball, table tennis, and a giant-sized chess board, I do wish there was more entertainment available on the premises. When I stayed in the DR last year, the resort I was at had an on-premises golf course (I believe this costs extra to use), casino, nightclub, bowling alley, and MULTIPLE bars. The resort is also so spacious that there is a shuttle available that takes you from one part to the other. More notably, however, are the amount of water activities at my disposal, including but not limited to paddle boarding, snorkeling, and windsurfing. Warwick is a great place to unwind and chill, but do not expect water sports/activities while you are there.
While dinner at Warwick rotates with one of their nicer onsite restaurants, breakfast and lunch is buffet style at the main restaurant. There was a decent variety of foods – both warm and cold dishes – but you will eventually notice the spread is more or less the same each day. That brings me to another point about all-inclusive resorts in general: I don’t believe I could stay at one for more than 4-5 days at a time, especially when food selection does not rotate as often as I’d like or when the aquatic entertainment is lacking. In any event, you know your own self more than I do, so just a heads up if you plan on staying at an all-inclusive resort.
Check out fine hotel & resorts with amex. We’ve enjoyed it, especially when traveling in Asia.
I remember that as one of the Amex perks. Good to know you enjoyed using it – I’ll check it…