The Bahamas: How Long Islanders can escape to the other Nassau

The Bahamas just got a taste of Long Island.

The revered Greenport restaurant Claudio’s recently opened an outpost at Atlantis, the mega-resort on Paradise Island in Nassau. "We fit right in," said Celeste Fierro, managing partner at Claudio’s. She said plans to open at Atlantis have been in the works for a couple of years, part of the resort’s efforts to revamp the property.

"They have such a great reputation," said Audrey Oswell, president and managing director of Atlantis. "They’re known for their commitment to great service and pleasing the guests," adding that even with their many restaurants, "it offers something different."

The transformation of the space (it was once Virgil’s BBQ) is fantastic, said Oswell. Just as in Greenport, the new restaurant is near the water, said Fierro, who lives in Amagansett.

"We’re in the Coral hotel, near the lagoon with the stingrays," said Fierro. The restaurant has a beachy vibe, she said. "It’s a good feel for us."

"It was surprising and exciting to see a Long Island restaurant at Atlantis," said Deborah Linneman, who’s been vacationing at the resort periodically over the last 19 years. Her daughter discovered Claudio’s during its soft opening, and thought it was just as good as the Long Island location.

But it’s not really the food that keeps the East Islip resident from returning to the island every other year or so — it’s the beaches. "It’s the kind of relaxing vacation I like," said Linneman, whose most recent visit was in late May.

GETTING THERE

American, Delta and Jet Blue have nonstop flights from Kennedy. Most visitors don’t rent a car because the resorts are so contained. Taxis are readily available at Lynden Pindling International Airport, but people headed to Paradise Island often hire a car service so they can stop at a store to stock up on water, drinks and snacks.

THE DRAW

Linneman has a lot of company. Only three hours away by plane, Nassau draws vacationers who love the many beaches, along with the amenities offered by the island’s major resorts. Atlantis is about 30 minutes from the airport, and with its five hotels, big-name restaurants and an expansive water park, is the best known. But in recent years a new resort, Baha Mar, only 10 minutes from the airport, has been getting a lot of attention. And while those two resorts dominate, there are other properties, ranging from high-end (Four Seasons’ Ocean Club) to economical (Comfort Suites).

The gorgeous water is a big draw, said Fierro, who travels to Nassau multiple times a year. "The water is among the bluest around," she said, but beyond that, the island offers something for everyone. There's gambling for those interested, she noted, and people love the water parks at Atlantis and Baha Mar, with their lazy rivers, wave pools and water slides. She is especially captivated by the marine life, particularly at Atlantis, where you can kiss a dolphin, feed a stingray or swim in a reef-like enclosure next to giant groupers and sharks. "It’s like you’re getting your own aquarium," she said.

Linneman would be happy just sitting on the beach, but she will go off exploring on occasion. Her family enjoyed swimming with the dolphins, she said, and on her most recent visit her daughter and a friend took a tour to Rose Island where the main attraction is swimming with pigs. Her brother and his family joined her on this trip and "they’re really not beach people," she said. "But in the end, he found he really like a vacation where he could just relax."

CHOOSING A RESORT

The hardest part of making this trip is deciding where to stay. Every place has something to offer, said Fierro, who, along with Atlantis, has stayed at the ultra-luxe Ocean Club on Paradise Island, Baha Mar, and the smaller Goldwynn Resort & Residences. Linneman sticks with the Harborside, where she purchased a vacation ownership plan during her first visit. Somewhat off the beaten path at Atlantis, it features roomy apartments (one to three bedrooms) with kitchens that attract families who don't want to eat every meal out. One of the best bargains is Comfort Suites, where guests get a free breakfast and full access to most Atlantis amenities (it's about a 5-minute walk).

For many travelers, the choice comes down to Atlantis versus Baha Mar, a topic that comes up frequently in social media discussion groups dedicated to each resort. Not surprisingly, there's no clear winner. Baha Mar comes out on top for its rooms because they're newer and more modern. The Grand Hyatt, the largest hotel at Baha Mar, has an upgraded area called The Reserve, offering perks like butler service, dedicated check-in and a private pool area. Other hotels at the resort include the stylish, trendy SLS Baha Mar, with a focus on nightlife and an adult-only pool, and the more intimate Rosewood Baha Mar, offering a luxury boutique experience.

Atlantis comes out ahead with its beaches-a total of six-where it is possible to swim with sea turtles and tropical fish while snorkeling right offshore. The water parks are a close call, with Aquaventure at Atlantis standing out for its thrilling Rapid River and multiple water slides, while Baha Bay at Baha Mar, which also has a lazy river along with a wave pool, is slightly better for families with younger children. Crowds can be a problem at both, especially on days when cruise passengers with day passes join the throng. Both resorts have multiple pools, including some designated for adults only. Dean's Blue Hole is a popular pool at Baha Mar, featuring aquarium views and a cliff-jumping wall. One of the most interesting spots at Atlantis is the Baths Colonnade Pool, where rock structures decorated with hieroglyphs make you feel as if you are swimming in an archaeological dig. A word of warning: pools at both locations close on the early side.

Another gripe, judging by comments on social media: Food at both resorts is very expensive. "Restaurants don’t have maître d's, they have loan officers," groused one commenter. Linneman said she noticed restaurant prices were much higher on her recent trip. "This is probably the most we every spent," she said, especially at her favorite restaurant, the Seafire Steakhouse. In any case, no one is going to go hungry on this vacation and it’s possible to spend a little less if you leave the resort and venture into town, where a waterfront area known as the Fish Fry has restaurants and food stalls featuring authentic Bahamian cuisine.

At the resorts, restaurants cover a vast range — from pizza joints and burger places to restaurants run by some of the culinary world’s top names — among them Marcus Samuelsson’s Fish and Chop House at Baha Mar and Fish by José Andrés at Atlantis. "We’re placing ourselves in the midrange," said Fierro, noting that Claudio’s is open from breakfast to late-night. "You can come for a sandwich, you can come for a great meal," she said, adding that the restaurant is working local foods like conch and grouper onto its menu. Our goal, she said, "is to have a little bit of everything for everyone."