Have you been to the Atlantis?

[MaryKLady]

Yes, DH and I went for 5 nights like 10 years ago. The food prices were INSANE. We have a cheapo timeshare trader that we're going to use to swap into Harborside Atlantis in the next couple of years. I fully intend to check a styrofoam cooler full of food (in dry ice or with ice packs...whatever is allowed). I swear, we'll be bringing like 2 bathing suits, one outfit and a pair of pjs each so I can put food in our suitcases. I'm pretty sure that I remember reading that there is a forum dedicated to Atlantis where people post about how they bring food down there like this...it's THAT expensive that it's common to do this.

My SIL did that a couple of years ago. She used a hard sided rolling cooler and said it saved them a fortune. She packed a bunch of nonperishables in a suitcase also. Check with your airline to see what the restrictions are.

 

[dyslexicpirate]

We went to the Atlantis(well we stayed at Comfort Suites) last summer with our two kids(7 and 10) and my parents. We LOVED it...almost as much as WDW!

Food can be very expensive, but if you are budget-minded it's not that bad. I took a carry-on full of snacks. We also took a soft-sided rolling cooler as carry-on. There was a liquor store and small grocery store across the street. Here we stocked up on canned drinks and water(and adult beverages)...very reasonably priced. Comfort Suites provides free breakfast, so after eating, we would head out for the day to the Atlantis(we would shuttle over to the Cove area...upscale area and great location!)

For lunch, we would normally eat at one of the poolside grills($8 combo meals) and snack on our stuff from home. Most of the time for dinner, we were too dang tired after playing all day to get cleaned up to go anywhere to eat. We ordered Dominos twice(cheap) and Chinese once. We also went across the street and ate at Quiznos one evening, as well as Anthony's and Johnny Rockets. Comfort Suites also had happy hour everyday at 5:00 out at the pool bar with $4.00 drinks.

Again, we had a great time and will definetly go back! The Atlantis is absolutely beautiful!

 

[gstolzenthaler]

We went a couple of years ago and had a blast. If you plan there is a way to deal with or minimize the food cost. I brought a box of those drink bags in my checked luggage and we used those for the kids. We also brought those 100 calorie snack bags to use as snacks for the kids as well as yogurt sticks (packed them frozen in the packed bag) and cheese sticks. We had the taxi stop at a liquor store on the way to the Atlantis and picked up wine and water for use at the hotel. We ate lunch everyday at one of the pools (about $8) per person so not bad. We had 5 young kids between the 2 families traveling so not interested in fancy dinners. We did pizza, Carmines, Murrary's deli and the Atalis Bar and Grill. Not cheap, but doable and very relaxed for the kids. We ate breakfast everyday at Starbucks.

Have a wondeful time. I am anxious to go back.

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Regarding the $9 bottle of water. Yes, it is true. It's a big 1.5 liter bottle.

But you are buying it icy-cold (no matter how hot out it is) from a food stand no more than 500 feet from beautiful beaches and the most amazing water-park thingy anywhere in the world.

Not that I'm defending it, but I've paid similar prices for smaller items at sporting events.

And rather than taking a cab on a separate trip, we usually have the cab stop on the way to the resort to stock up on groceries....including bottles of water, which we refill and reuse during the week.

As you can see from my signature, I know Atlantis pretty well. I'm happy to answer other questions.

 

[jmpellet]

For the person who said they traded using their timeshare -- which company (RCI or II) and does it trade right into Atlantis??

 

[scootch]

If you have any kids traveling with you, get the kids meals. My dd's was HUGE and we also got some huge nachos's... one kid meal and the nachos fed two of us for lunch. Great place, you will love it.

 

[deezeealum]

this is why I LOVE these boards!! you have all given great ideas on how to make it more budget friendly. We are having the Atlantis take care of our transfers so we won't be able to have the cab stop on our way to the hotel. Does anyone know exactly where the convienence/liquor store is? SOmeone mentioned across the street; is this walkable? The snacks are the easy part and I figured I would pack some crystal light to go to change up the water situation. Thanks to all those who mentioned the lunch specials by the pool. Funny how on the Atlantis website these aren't mentioned : COunting the days before we leqave and say good riddance to all this Jersey snow. What kind of weather can we expect the last week of February?

 

[Helene]

How did you like comfort inn ive heard mixed reviews about it .There would be 5 of us are rooms big enough or would we need 2 rooms.We did the Dolphin Shallow swim at Atlantis when on a cruise last year Atlantis is beautiful but to expensive for room for 5.

It was "average"...Not fancy but certainly adequate. The pool had a swim up bar and their drink prices were reasonable compared to Atlantis. The kids had fun and just like Disney, we spent such little time in our rooms that they more than served their purpose.

Having laundry facilities on-site also helped with being able to pack lighter. I do think they have rooms that could accomodate 5....we traveled with 4 other families and although we had a standard room, I do remember some of the rooms being a bit larger than ours.

If we go back, I will likely stay at the Comfort Inn again.

 

[GJM]

DH & I went a couple of years ago and stayed at Comfort Suites, the room was fine we really weren't in it. We got up had breakfast there, it was free and then stayed all day on the beach or Atlantis, went back showered, relaxed - then back to Atlantis.

I loved it there and would love to go back.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

For the person who said they traded using their timeshare -- which company (RCI or II) and does it trade right into Atlantis??

II trades into Atlantis. There was just a big bulk deposit last week for next fall. It went extremely quickly. You can make an ongoing request, but honestly it only really seems to come up in the fall. I think that the II code is HRA .

I'm not sure exactly what you are asking about the second part of your question. The trader that I have trades directly for Harborside Atlantis which is the timeshare portion of Atlantis resort.

 

[Tanzanite]

Hi i looked at hotel we will book 2 rooms not to bad for 5 nights hope to go in July.

 

[Anne34]

It was "average"...Not fancy but certainly adequate. The pool had a swim up bar and their drink prices were reasonable compared to Atlantis. The kids had fun and just like Disney, we spent such little time in our rooms that they more than served their purpose.

Having laundry facilities on-site also helped with being able to pack lighter. I do think they have rooms that could accomodate 5....we traveled with 4 other families and although we had a standard room, I do remember some of the rooms being a bit larger than ours.

If we go back, I will likely stay at the Comfort Inn again.

Comfort Suites only allows 4 per room (even though some have 2 queens & a pull out sofa) We are a family of 5 and looked into it, but it is really expensive with 2 rooms. We are staying at an all-inclusive for the week for less than 2 rooms & air (no food) at Atlantis. We have looked multiple times & their prices are crazy! We can only travel school breaks with middle & high schoolers. They really have the market cornered. Maybe someday, but right now we'll stick with all-inclusives somewhere else.

 

[TLH1977]

yes it is true food is expensive down there but not crazy. We have been there several times and always walk over to the shopping center directly behind the maketplace (where all the resturantees/shops are). Anthonys and Quisnos are there and most of the gift stores sell water and sode for like 1.00 a can 2.oo for water. They also sell chips and stuff. Ice machines are cups are available in the hotel so just stock up and you should be fine..enjoy!! Its my favorite place ever!!

 

[Tanzanite]

Comfort Suites only allows 4 per room (even though some have 2 queens & a pull out sofa) We are a family of 5 and looked into it, but it is really expensive with 2 rooms. We are staying at an all-inclusive for the week for less than 2 rooms & air (no food) at Atlantis. We have looked multiple times & their prices are crazy! We can only travel school breaks with middle & high schoolers. They really have the market cornered. Maybe someday, but right now we'll stick with all-inclusives somewhere else.

May i ask where you are going i want to take kids somewhere open to other places if lots to do we just love the Atlantis slides.

 

[amshowers]

We love Atlantis,but food is very expensive. There are some fabulous restaurant choices Mesa Grill, Nubo, Dune. The buffets are very expensive and not worth the cost, the above mentioned were excellent and not really that much more. Probably the best budget is at Carmines, the spagettii is delicious. U can order a salad for about 25.00 and spagettii for 45.00 but it is served family style and will easily feed a family of 4.

 

[lukenick1]

Before I went in July of 2007 I did most of my investigating here.http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g147417-i131-Paradise_Island_New_Providence_Island_Bahamas.html


We drank the tap water and were fine. Let me caution you about the seagulls there. Take very good care of your plate when you are eating outdoors there. The seagulls are very brave and will come right down and steal your food right off your plate. They can be vicious. My BFF's dd had her $9 hot dog swiped right from her plate when she was walking to her seat with her tray. Also, one night eating pizza they came right down and attempted to steal the pizza from our plate until my husband beat it with his flip flop . DO NOT STEAL FROM A HUNGRY MAN!!!!!