Day 1: Rum, rainbow streets and a speedboat ride home We started our first full day by hopping on the water ferry from Paradise Island over to downtown Nassau. It is the loveliest way to arrive: the breeze in your hair, colourful buildings sliding past, big‑name cruise ships towering over the port and even a glimpse of Royal Caribbean’s private island, CocoCay, in the distance. The port area was everything I wanted it to be: bustling, bright and full of life. From there we took a gentle 20‑minute walk through the streets to John Watling’s Distillery, expecting a quick wander, a few information boards and maybe a taster shot of rum. What we actually got was one of the best experiences of the whole trip. We found ourselves in a private rum mixology class. The team at John Watling’s were incredibly friendly and clearly loved what they do. First, they took us through how rum is made, then the music went up, the shakers came out and we were guided through creating three classic rum cocktails from scratch. Each one was totally different and let us show off our inner bartenders. They were generous with the pours, the vibe was fun but never rushed and after each drink we were encouraged to take our creations outside, sit in the sun, sip slowly and just enjoy the moment. If you like the sound of a relaxed, grown‑up “drinking and sort‑of‑learning” experience, this is perfection. By the end we had “graduated” as John Watling’s mixologists, feeling pleasantly tipsy and very pleased with ourselves. We wandered through the small distillery tour, took far too many photos, then set off to explore a little more of the city. The Queen’s Staircase Our next stop was the Queen’s Staircase, a peaceful little oasis tucked away from the busy streets. Carved by hand in the late 18th century from solid limestone, the 66 steps were created by enslaved people and later named in honour of Queen Victoria. Today it feels like a cool, green escape: high stone walls draped in tropical plants, a small waterfall tumbling down one side and dappled light filtering through the trees. It was the perfect pause point: a chance to catch our breath, take in the history and enjoy the contrast between the stillness of the staircase and the buzz of downtown Nassau. From there we made our way back via the Straw Market, weaving between stalls piled high with colourful crafts and souvenirs, before jumping on a speedboat taxi back to Paradise Island. Wind in our hair, sun on our faces and the city slowly shrinking behind us: not a bad way to end the day.

Day 2: Atlantis, water slides and facing my fears Day two was all about going luxury‑theme‑park for the day with passes to Atlantis Paradise Island. Even if you are not staying there, it is worth seeing at least once. We started by wandering through the casino and shopping area, feeling very much like kids in a very glamorous sweet shop. Then we found our way into Aquaventure, the waterpark and marine area that Atlantis is famous for. Here we met rescued turtles gliding lazily through their pools, watched sleek sharks cruise past in huge tanks and generally had our minds bent by how clear the water was and how close you could get to these incredible creatures without ever touching or disturbing them. After the obligatory “we were here” photos in front of the iconic Atlantis towers, we headed straight to the beach. Imagine everything you think a Bahamian beach should look like and you are there: crystal‑clear water, powder‑soft white sand and that irresistible pull to kick off your sandals and just walk. Once we had topped up our tans, it was time to hit the waterpark. The lazy river rapids turned out to be a surprise highlight: so much fun that we rode them twice. They snake all the way around Atlantis, which is actually a brilliant way to get your bearings while getting completely soaked and laughing like school kids. We mixed up the adrenaline with plenty of downtime: watching the dolphins from afar, lazing by one of the many pools, grabbing a casual bite to eat and even claiming a hammock for a mid‑afternoon snooze in the shade. The Serpent Slide and shark‑filled lagoon Then came the bucket list experience I did not know I needed. I am not a big water slide fan. In fact, I usually avoid them. But my travel buddy is very persuasive and I am not great at saying no to a new experience, so up the tower we went. The Serpent Slide at Atlantis is around five storeys high, twisting its way down into a clear tunnel that runs through a lagoon filled with sharks. You sit in a rubber ring, launch yourself into the darkness, scream or swear (purely optional), then suddenly you are gliding calmly through the water, eye‑to‑eye with these huge, majestic sharks on the other side of the glass. Every second of “what am I doing” at the top was worth it for that slow, surreal glide at the bottom. I will grudgingly admit that I loved it and would absolutely do it again. We rounded off the day with one last spin around the rapids, sun‑drenched and grinning from ear to ear, before heading back to our hotel. Day passes for Atlantis Aquaventure vary by season and ticket type, but as a guide they often start from around 170–200 US dollars per adult. It is not a cheap day out, but if you can stretch to it I would highly recommend building it into your Nassau stay. Little kids, big kids and reluctant water‑slide adults will all have the time of their lives.

Day 3: A lifelong dream with the pigs of Mansa Island Our final day was reserved for something I had dreamt of for decades. You know that list in the back of your mind, the things you would love to do one day but are not quite sure will ever happen? For me, “swimming with pigs in the Bahamas” had been sitting there for years. I had always ruled out the famous Exuma pig beach after hearing that it could feel overcrowded and a bit conveyor‑belt, which did not sit right with me as an animal lover. I am very conscious of animal welfare and will happily skip an experience if it does not feel right. Then we discovered Mansa Island. Mansa is a much smaller private island around 20 minutes by boat from Nassau, which immediately makes it more accessible if you are staying in the city or even visiting for the day on a cruise. We booked with Bahamas Jetboat, who looked after us brilliantly from start to finish. With rum punch in hand and lunch orders taken, we set off from Nassau port. Our guide shared stories about the islands as we skimmed across that impossibly blue water, and before long we were pulling up to our own private patch of paradise. As a group of around 15, we had the island to ourselves. We were greeted by music, more rum punch, paddle boards, kayaks, beach volleyball and of course, the stars of the show: the pigs. The pigs live on the island year‑round and are clearly well cared for. They have regular vet check‑ups, up‑to‑date vaccinations and plenty of space to roam and rootle around. Before we got in the water we were shown exactly how to feed them safely and respectfully, and encouraged to let them come to us rather than the other way around. Once in, it was pure joy. Their little snouts, their different personalities, the way they paddle determinedly towards you when they know you have food: it was everything I had hoped it would be and more. We had time to swim with them, take photos and just stand back and soak it all in. Lunch was freshly cooked on the island and absolutely hit the spot. The rest of the afternoon passed in a happy blur of stand‑up paddleboarding, a bit of hatchet throwing for those who fancied it and plenty more sunbathing. Later another small boat group joined for a final piggy swim, then we headed back towards Nassau with a snorkelling stop en route. Floating above shoals of tropical fish in that clear, warm water was the perfect full stop to a day that will stay with this animal lover forever. A sunset goodbye One of the benefits of our 22:10 return flight was that we did not have to waste our last day clock‑watching. We had time to enjoy Mansa Island, head back to the hotel for a proper freshen‑up, grab an early dinner and then make our way to the airport with a spectacular Bahamian sunset painting the sky behind us. Three days might not sound like long, but in Nassau it felt like three days of pure, distilled paradise: rum cocktails, rainbow streets, lagoon‑side water slides, sandy snouts and sunsets I will be replaying in my mind for a long time yet. Thank you, Nassau. You are firmly in the memory bank. If Nassau or the Bahamas is on your wish list and you would love a short escape like this, just get in touch and I will help you plan your own version of this sunshine‑filled long weekend.