Bay View Suites Paradise Island

From the surprisingly small lobby and entrance to the aging facilities, the Bay View Suites Paradise Island  is pretty uninspiring. The property’s suites, townhouses, and villas are set on an attractive four-acre property covered with bougainvillea, flowering hibiscus, and palm trees. It’s a lovely setting, but the rooms and facilities themselves are noticeably past their prime. Despite its lackluster decor, the hotel is a competitive choice for guests on a budget. It’s one of the best-value properties on Paradise Island. 

Guests are a mix of couples and families, and the atmosphere is subdued. This is a hotel that guests choose for its location and price rather than its on-site amenities, and therefore you won’t see many guests on the property during the day. Additionally, the self-contained apartment-style units seem to encourage guests to keep to themselves, cooking inside or relaxing on their private terraces, rather than socializing with other guests.

 Bay View Suites Paradise Island is located on a nondescript side street off Paradise Island Drive, the island’s main thoroughfare. Paradise Island is tiny, so most of its attractions and amenities are within easy walking distance of the hotel. It’s less than a 10-minute walk from Cabbage Beach, one of New Providence Island’s most stunning beaches. Atlantis resort can also be reached in five minutes on foot, and it’s possible to purchase day passes to access the complex’s huge water park, aquarium, and other features. A number of restaurants and shops are about a 10-minute walk away at the end of Paradise Island Drive. A 10-minute drive across the bridge will take you to downtown Nassau and attractions like the Nassau Straw Market and Pirates of Nassau. The airport is a 30-minute drive away from the hotel. 

Guest rooms at Bay View Suites Paradise Island are large and practical, but the decor could use an update. All rooms feature big living areas with work desks, sofa beds, and dining tables. Living areas also have flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi is available throughout. The color scheme is drab and old-fashioned, with little coordination between the various fabric patterns. Bedrooms are similarly bland, offering additional flat-screen TVs, as well as closets with personal safes. Rooms also include full kitchens with ovens, four-burner stove-tops, full-size fridges, and ample cookware. Ovens look at least two decades old, and off-white cabinets further age the kitchens’ appearance.

Basic bathrooms feature shower/tub combos and bottles of shampoo, body wash, and lotion. All rooms have furnished balconies or terraces with pretty gardens. Despite the hotel’s name, most rooms do not have bay views. Townhouses and villas offer two bedrooms and two bathrooms.  

Features at this hotel are nice, but nothing special compared with other mid-range hotels in the area. The hotel offers three large pools, one of which is reserved exclusively for guests in the villas. The pleasant pools are surrounded by the property’s lush grounds. The hotel’s restaurant, Hibiscus Terrace, is located by the main pool. This small restaurant offers sandwiches, salads, and other light fare as well as drinks. Its no-frills seating area is set under an awning, facing toward the pool.

The tiny fitness center and convenience store are both located next to the restaurant. The fitness center is limited, offering three cardio machines, exercise balls, and some free weights. The convenience store mainly sells snacks and sodas, along with sundries like sunscreen and toilet paper.

The compact laundry room has coin-operated washers and dryers, as well as an ice machine and a single shelf of well-used books. The property also includes a tennis court. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, and free parking is available in a front lot. Babysitting services can be arranged for a surcharge.