And Kerzner Created Paradise
              (Or Re-Discovering Paradise Island)
              BY Jerry & Nancy Preiser



Atlantis, the legendary continent that mysteriously vanished and that
has been linked to such diverse geographic locations as the
Mediterranean, near Greece, the  Atlantic, in the proximity of the
Azores and the numerus islands that constitute  the Bahamas has emerged
once more---this time as a 250 million dollar fantasy, under the
auspices of Sol Kerzner, Chairman of Sun International. Sun is
responsible for southern Africa's Sun City and The Lost City at Sun City
as well as other luxury resorts in Europe and the Indian Ocean islands
of Mauritius and Comores. Its holding co mpany, Kersaf, is one of the
hig hest rated shares on the Johannesburg stock exchange.

Massive but not intimidating, Sun International's Atlantis Resort
materialized in an amazingly short six months on Paradise Island, of
which Sun International owns about eighty percent and is comprised of
the Atlantis Resort, with its Coral Towers and Beach Towers units, the
restored  Ocean Club (originally built by Huntington Hartford and known
as Shangri La), which is destined to become a leader in the elite world
of Small Luxury Hotels, and the casual Paradise Paradise, with its
gentle prices, "out isl and" ambiance and white-sand horse shoe beach.

There is an undeniable sense of optimism in the attitude of the
employees at the resort. The project is ultimately expected to
contribute more than 200 million dollars locally through employment (it
is said that over 1 million dollars a day was spent on construction).
And the service staff caters to guests in a manner that is unique in the
laid-back Caribbean.

Atlantis is the focal point of this theme-trilogy. It comprises 1,150
 rooms, an 18 course championship golf course, nine Har-Tru day and
 night tennis courts, and a Watersports Center. There is a world class
 Casino with more than 800 slot machines, available for play 24 hours a
 day, baccarat, blackjack, Caribbean stud poker, roulette and craps and
 a Salon PrivŠ for high stakes-players, open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m.
 daily. There is more than 100,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor
 meeting, convention and banquet space, eighteen meeting rooms and the
 1,000 seat Le Cabaret Theatre, which features name acts from Sinatra to
 Minnelli. Atlantis also is home to the largest open-water aquarium in
 the world (a 3.2 million gallon saltwater environment), 40 waterfalls,
 underground grottos, a clear pedestrian tube for eye to eye contact
 with sharks and if you're into vegetation, there are more than 2,000
 trees of more varieties than space permits description.

A swinging suspended bridge offers spectacular views of the Predator
lagoon, one of six, with poetic names like Seagrapes, Ocean Tower and
Water's Edge.

Rooms in the tasteful Coral Towers feature coral stucco walls, soothing
sea colors, a colorful shell motif and of course every amenity from mini
bar to satellite color television and balconies with unmatched views.

There are twelve restaurants, of which four were operational on our
visit. Seagrapes Patio currently serves a bountiful buffet breakfast,
replete with cooked to order omelettes, house-smoked turkey, native
specialties, including boil fish and chicken souse and enough dishes to
keep you happy till dinner. It is bargain priced at $14.95 and is
included with dinner at any of the other restaurants for an unbelievable
$29.95 per day (for hotel guests only). 

Mama Loo's, a hybrid of Caribbean and Chinese was the most unusual and
despite seemingly disparate culinary bents, produced an altogether
satisfying amalgamation. Conch salad from the Caribbean side was fresh,
zesty and a tribute to this delicacy, of which once taste will either
make you a convert or a skeptic. We are of the crave-disposition and
dote on its delightful crunch and appealing chewy-texture, not unlike
octopus, and adore the seviche technique (known in these parts of the
woods as conch salad) o f marinating raw diced conch overnight in citrus
to "cook" the meat and then combining it with onions, chilies and fresh
herbs. Equally delicious were two creations from the Asian side of the
menu: Singapore-style noodles, with their spicy curried edge and a
singularly uncomplicated fried rice with shrimp, pork and vegetables.
Guava Duff, a native bread pudding-like dessert with a nouvelle touch
concluded an exotic repast that was far from the perfunctory hotel-food
one so often enco unters in luxury resorts .

Executive Chef, Michael Cloutier, has strong credentials (not to mention
a top notch staff, including 42 Sous-Chefs and a Chef de Cuisine for
each restaurant) and his hand is already evident in Cafe Martinique, an
elegant Continental restaurant with fine service and an extensive wine
list. One admires the classic chateaubriand with bearnaise and superb
soufflŠs, as much as the attentive service. The Boat House, a fun
restaurant where one's personal waiter (or guests themselves) prepare
first rate seafood and steak is not only fun, it's an inordinately good
deal with a prix-fixe dinner coming in under $40 that includes a funky
conch chowder, followed by a first rate Caesar salad and your choice of
beef or seafood. Desserts are also part of the deal and very good as
well.

The soon to open Water's Edge, featuring "exhibition" cooking, is the
chef's real challenge. Here, interactive multimedia becomes a culinary
term as guests chat with performing chefs and get personally involved in
the action.

Will Kerzner succeed where Hartford and Griffin failed? Looking at this
unassuming man, the son of Russian immigrants to South Africa, a
welterweight champion who has replaced his sixty cigarettes a day with
gold worry beads and seems to have a solution for every problem, from
the minute to the mega---we'll bet on the house that Sol built. 

(Reservations can be obtained by calling (800) 321-3000, (305) 891-3888
or Faxing (305) 893-2866).




             Color photographs or slides available.

             1.Atlantis Resort

             2. The Ocean Club or Paradise Paradise

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