If a complete renovation and conversion to an “Adults Only” all-inclusive hotel on the beguiling shores of Nassau Bahamas—not to mention sparkling turquoise waters and a powder-white sand beach—aren’t enough to entice you to book a winter getaway to the Riu Palace Paradise Island, then perhaps some highlights from my recent 4-day getaway just might lure you to visit.
Upon entering the newly revamped lobby of the Riu Palace Paradise Island you are immersed in a world of understated elegance where contemporary design is enhanced by splashes of vibrant colour, a theme carried throughout the newly reopened 379-room property and into my ocean view room.
The hotel boasts two pools (one with a swim-up bar), five restaurants, three bars, a fully equipped gym, and the Renova Spa which features an array of treatments, an outdoor Jacuzzi and sauna, where I went for a relaxing massage to unwind and destress.
By day I lazed on a pristine beach that looked out onto the turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean overlooked by the hotel’s infinity swim-up pool bar, where I would go to sip on a refreshing “SWITCHA,” a local drink made of fresh lemons and limes, and the occasional Bahama Mama fruity rum punch. As you can see, the view is spectacular!
For lunch I alternated between poolside grilled jerk chicken made with all the fixings or the buffet which served an array of local and international dishes. My favourite was the grilled fish with sautéed vegetables. At night I delighted my palate with savoury cuisine from around the globe. There were spicy delicacies at ‘Chutney’ Indian restaurant, where I savoured Tandoori chicken and samosas, as my friendly waiter explained how the hotel chefs underwent extensive training on how to make authentic Indian cuisine. Other restaurants included 'Tengoku' Japanese, 'Krystal' fusion cuisine, 'Bahamas' Steakhouse, international buffet at 'Atlantic' and speciality coffees and pastries at ‘Capuchino’ located in the main lobby.
At night the 24-hour ‘Calypso’ bar is the place for drinks - four times a week the room transforms into an entertainment venue with performances and shows. If drinks and dancing induce the craving for a late night snack then this is the place to be. Of course, you could always opt for the 24-hour all-inclusive room service complete with a friendly smile.
Being in Nassau, my thoughts turned to James Bond and his world of speedboats, beautiful beaches, fine dining and casino nights, all of which set the scene for what I would experience when I headed next door to Atlantis – the largest casino in the Caribbean. I decided to test my fate and play the slot machines. Well, not entirely true. That is, I did play the slot machines, but I only bet and lost $1. Clearly not enough to make a purchase at one of the many designer shops located inside the hotel. My friends on the other hand played Black Jack and won enough to purchase some Cuban cigars, which they enjoyed with a nice glass of Cognac. Now we were really on the set of a James Bond film, or at least we felt like we were.
The Riu Palace Paradise Island is located minutes from the fascinating colonial architecture, historic sites and fun attractions of Nassau, so guests can enjoy an array of activities like sightseeing, sailing, shopping and dining at local hotspots. And with Sunwing Experiences you can rest assured knowing that Sunwing’s local experts have hand picked a wide range of top-reviewed experiences that you can pre-purchase at the best price in Canadian dollars to save you time and money.
All of the All-Inclusive Riu Palace hotels provide free WiFi in all areas of the hotel, 24-hour room service and 'hammock-side' service. The hotels in the Riu Palace 'Adults Only' collection also provide additional services like a welcome glass of champagne, concierge service, premium beverages throughout the hotel, bathrobes in all rooms, turn-down service and, for an additional charge, a special wine list and a romantic dinner on the beach.
About Signature Vacations and Sunwing
Signature Vacations by Sunwing is the only Canadian tour operator that sells vacation packages to RIU Hotels & Resorts in Canada. Plus, when Canadians book a package there are exclusive benefits to be had, including:
- RIU-topia features (welcome cocktails, the fabulous in-room liquor dispenser, 20% discounts on select local excursions, spa credits, a Signature/Sunwing hour from 4-5 PM).
- RIU Palace inclusions (all RIU-topia features plus poolside waiter beverage service, daily champagne breakfast, turndown service and more).
As Canada’s #1 to the sun, Sunwing provides more direct flights to the sunny south than any other leisure carrier.
There are 2 weekly direct flights from Toronto to Nassau each Thursday and Sunday until April 29, 2018. Their award-winning flight service includes an extensive buy on board menu with selections by Celebrity Chef Lynn Crawford, complimentary checked baggage allowance of up to 23kg on the first bag*, in-flight entertainment and knapsacks for children filled with toys and games. Passengers can upgrade to Elite Plus class from just $50 a sector and enjoy perks like extra leg room, priority check-in and boarding, and increased baggage allowance of up to 30kg on the first item of checked luggage*.
*not available on domestic and US routes