Just Back From Atlantis

[Vero Beach Bum]

I just came back from a week at the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahammas and would be happy to answer any questions that anyone might have. I stayed in the Royal Towers. Here's a few unsolicited tidbits:
(1) I confirmed with one of the time share sales persons that DVC member stays would be at the Harborside Townhome Resort. For those not familiar with the resort, the Harborside Townhomes are not located within the resort, but are a short walk away behind the marina.
(2) Pool area and slides are awesome! I should caution you that if the weather does not cooperate, there is not much else to do for little ones.
(3) My wife and I did utilize the discovery kids club for babysitting purposes and had dinner at the Grey Cliff Restaurant in downtown Nassau. The price for 6-10 PM was $170.
(4) The food was very expensive and most of the restaurants, with the exception of the buffets at the Marketplace did not cater to kids. We ate room service twice and ordered four plates of spaghetti and meatballs with one Caesar salad at a cost of $110 for each meal.
(5) Be aware that a 15% gratuity is added to every bill.
(6) If you decide to sit by the ocean, be prepared to be assaulted by hair weavers, jewelry salesman, T-shirt vendors, pina colada peddlers, and hat weavers every ten minutes.
(7) If you go, don't miss "The Dig". This is the aquarium that is themed with the sunken ruins of Atlantis. They have one of the biggest sting rays that I have ever seen.
(8) Be prepared to walk! This resort is huge and I was told that there is a second phase planned that will dwarf the existing resort. My feet are still killing me!

Personally, I've seen it and won't be going back. If I had a choice, I would take WDW and Stormalong Bay any day of the week.

If you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask.

 

[Dean]

(1) I confirmed with one of the time share sales persons that DVC member stays would be at the Harborside Townhome Resort. For those not familiar with the resort, the Harborside Townhomes are not located within the resort, but are a short walk away behind the marina.

Atlantis is not on the II exchange list at present. I doubt the CC stays would be at harborside. Was that $110 per plate or for the entire meal?

 

[Rob&Jan]

Thanks for the report, I was curious about Atlantis.
So now its WDW here we come.

 

[AmyBeth68]

Was Atlantis added to the Concierge Collection? I thought I read this a few months back but I could be wrong.

Thanks for the detailed info....I have never been but know many friends who have. While they all enjoyed their visit, everyone said the food prices were outrageous!!!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

we stayed at the harborside in 2001, loved the place, would never stay at the Atlantis, but it was nice having it close by. We had a deluxe 1 bedroom, comparable to DVC, resort is probably the size of VWL. Large pool right on the marina, looking at Atlantis, if the points aren't crazy, we will definately be staying there again!!!

 

[kel3420]

We stayed at Atlantis several years back and it is true, the prices will absolutely shock you. The first afternoon there, dh ordered one hot dog, one french fry and a coke for $15 plus 15%, yep you pay 15% even on the fast food stands by the pool. The place, however is stunning, and we would love to go back. But next time, I think we will stay at the Comfort Suites across the street, which lets you have full usage of all Atlantis facilities.

We knew about the prices before hand, so we took alot of snacks and a collapsable cooler. We went shopping right across the street for pop, wine, beer, bread and lunchmeat. We ended bringing our own drinks poolside and eating lunch in the room, and it saved us a ton of money. We usually don't do that on vacations but with the prices at Atlantis that was a must. We also brought our own coffee pot, which saved us more that $20 every morning.

 

[dis-happy]

Wow, that is a lot of $$$ for food, even fast food. The one thing that doesn't shock me though is the 15% gratuitiy added in automatically, even on the fast food. It is the same way at other private clubs we have been to (Sea Pine Country Club in Hilton Head, and the Beach Club at Kiawah Island). In fact, I think it might even be 18% at one of those places...even for just a regular coke at the poolside fastfood window. I guess the upshot is that you don't have to worry about figuring a tip in. And since Atlantis caters to an international crowd, and automatic tips added in are SOP in Europe, that might have something to do with it as well.

 

[lenshanem]

So if it is Harborside do you still get the perks of being able to use the facilities of Atlantis, such as the pools, etc.?
I imagine these will have kitchens? Is there anywhere to buy groceries? I have also heard the food was very expensive there.

 

[Vero Beach Bum]

Here's my answers to the questions that were posed:
(1.) $110 was for the entire room service meal (no bevarages included).
(2.) In regards to concierge stays being at the Harborside resort or the Royal Towers, I can't say for sure. I can only repeat what the time share salesperson stated to me, which was that DVC stays would be in the Harborside resort.
(3) Yes, the Harborside resort has full access to all the amenities at the Atlantis resort.