Paradise Atlantis???

[mickeyluv]

My DH wants to skin Disney this year and vacation somewhere different. Has anyone ever been to Paradise Atlantis in the Bahamas? If so, I would like some information on booking options, experiences, tips, etc. I have been to the actual website and I've googled and looked under Expedia, Orbitz. I'm wondering if it would be in our best interest to let a TA handle this for us. Any advice would be greatly appreciated and any websites that anyone knows of that I could do some research on would be great also!! Thanks!!

 

[AKL_Megs]

DF and I are thinking of this place for our honeymoon, but I've heard it's REALLY expensive. I'm curious what others have to say!

 

[mickeyluv]

anyone else?

 

[Narnian_Princess]

I've never stayed there, but I did sort of tour the grounds a bit... does that count?

While on the tour I heard that the "cheap" rates for a room are $200 a night...

 

[Amlee]

I haven't really checked in to that resort or done any research. I did ask around at prices when I did a lobby tour there. It was high for the cheap prices. You might want to check with nearby hotels and see about getting day passes to the Atlantis.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

I've not looked into it much, but my family really wants to go. A friend told me to stay next door, and spend the $25/day, for access to Atlantis. Much cheaper.

 

[fan_of_small_world]

There is a hotel right next to Atlantis...Comfort Suites, maybe? Anyway, it's much less expensive and the guests there have full access to everything at Atlantis.

As for Atlantis, we went a few years ago and loved it!

Recently someone else asked about going to Atlantis with kids. Here is my response to her questions...

“My DH and I took our children there 3 years ago when they were 5 and almost 2. First, let me say that we had an AMAZING time, and my DS (who was the 5-year-old) is still asking to go back!

I imagine I'll be taking the stroller everywhere since the property is so large and I am hoping he'll just nap in it too. Will I find shaded areas for him to sleep? or a grassy spot near the pool to lay him on a towel in the shade?

We took our stroller for our DD. You won't have a problem finding shaded places at all. You will, at first, find it difficult to get around with the stroller, as there are many paths that end in steps. Just keep a resort map in the stroller with you at all times, so you can backtrack and find a new path when needed.

I plan to bring along diapers, swim dipes and lots of baby food, but is there a nearby store that I can get baby food or dipes if I would run out?

Plan to bring everything you will need. The stuff in the shops on property is outrageously expensive. My DH did find a small grocery-type store within walking distance, and we bought milk there to have in the room. The price was over $4 for half a gallon, and that was a few years ago.

Should I bring my own snacks?

I actually packed not only snacks but breakfast as well! Our kids were (and still are) very early risers, and I knew I wouldn't want to go to breakfast in the hotel that early. So, I bought a very small Rubbermaid bucket, about 12" by 18", and it fit inside one of the suitcases. I loaded it with mini cereal boxes, breakfast bars, applesauce and friut cups, as well as snack packs of Teddy Grahams, Goldfish, etc. I was sooooooo glad I did that! Like I said above, DH got milk for the room, so we'd have cereal and fruit for most breakfasts. And, I had snacks for during the day. When we went home, it made a great place to pack breakables!

I hear it is very expensive to eat - have you done the meal plan? Our 1 year old isn't too good at sitting still (in a highchair) so we are thinking burgers by the pool or pizza is going to be most of our meals. Is it really going to cost us near $100 for 3 of us to get sandwiches and sodas? (as I have read other places)

We didn't do a meal plan, since we didn't think it would be worth it for us. We did find that, although the meals were pricy, they were very generous, and the kids usually shared an entree. Two fun places were Johnny Rockets and The Point.

Can the kids take their toys and inner tubes in the pools?

I think so.

Do they give you towels for the pools and beach?

Yes - I remember going to a little "towel hut" where we got beach towels from. I think we just had to show our room key. I think that's also where you get your wristband so you can go to the beaches and pools.

Do they rent umbrella's for the beach?

Not sure, but probably.

Do the standard rooms have a fridge? Do you know if there is a common place that I can use a microwave?

We had a small fridge in our room. I can't remember if it was standard or if we requested it. I can't think of any common areas with microwaves.

Do you recall if the beds can be moved? So I could push one up against the wall and just put the 1 year old in it with me?

I'm not sure about moving the beds, but we asked for a crib for DD and it was fine (I brought my own bedding with me for it). I'd be nervous about just putting the bed next to the wall, since it might still be possible for the baby to slip into the space between the two (especially if the bed is on a kind of platform, you know?). I think there are bed rails that you can buy that can collapse - check around for one of those to put on the baby's side if you don't want to get a crib.

Any other tips???

Things may have changed since I was there, but I remember that when we arrived at the airport, we got off the plane and had to climb a long flight of stairs with our carry-ons and stroller. Not fun. Just be ready for it and have a plan in place (my plan was, I took the kids and DH got the fun of handling all the stuff, LOL!).

The concept of "customer service" is VERY different down there! With the desk, it's more like, "I'll help you when and if I feel like it," lol. (I do have to say that the maids who cleaned the room did a very good job; it was very clean.) It's not so awful that you'll have a bad time. But, it isn't Disney, either. Just go there knowing that, and you'll be fine. Be persistant when you need to, and don't assume that the staff will take care of things on their own. You may need to call more than once for towels, and you may not get lots of friendly attention at the front desk, etc. Like I said, it won't ruin your trip at all, and I'm proof. I'm a real stickler for customer service, and I'd still love to go back again.

I will say that the staff who cares for the marine exhibits, though, was WONDERFUL!!! They really took the time to answer DS's questions (and he loves science and animals, so he asked lots of them). Also, when we went they had a children's craft each day (free for guests) somewhere near one of the pools, I think. I didn't know about it at first, so we only went one time. But they made a little foam fish Tic-Tac-Toe game. It was really cute, and again the staff there was very friendly.

People did seem to dress up a bit more a night (not formal wear or anything, but changing from shorts into nice capris or a summery skirt). I was glad that I had brought some dressier clothes with us for evening.

The only restaurant I hated was Seagrapes (it was the only buffet we tried). I took the kids there for the "Circus" themed buffet, and the service was horrible and the food was lukewarm, at best. I later heard from others that they didn't care for the buffets, either.

I don't think there are any laundry facilities (other than having your laundry sent out), so make sure you bring plenty of clothes.

We did a Dolphin Excursion and it was wonderful. It did cost extra, but I don't remember how much. We had to walk a little ways to a dock where we boarded a large boat and went to the dolphin place. There is a short info session, and then we got into wetsuits (it was January, so a bit cooler for them). Then we stood on a platform (DH held DD in his arms) in the water where the trainers had the dolphin come up to us so we could pet him, etc. We didn't swim, we stayed on the platform. Both of the kids loved it, and when we go to the Keys next year we'll be signing up for another dolphin experience.


HTH! Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions!

 

[GJM]

We stayed at Comfort Suites - it was very nice and you have full access to Atlantis. I don't think you can get day passes.

 

[lfeikert]

We stayed next door at a Radisson on our honeymoon 11 years ago. We spent alot of time on the grounds of the Atlantis and didn't have to pay anything. We didn't try to use the pools though or anything so maybe that's when you have to pay. The Radisson was really nice and had several very good restaurants right inside. The beach was beautiful, too. We could walk to the Atlantis in less than 5 minutes.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

We have stayed there and can't wait to go back! It is amazing! I would not stay next door. The experience of Atlantis is worth the few extra dollars. We had a nice room with a balcony that overlooked the baby nurseshark pools. It was so cool to sit in the morning with our coffee and wtch the sharks. The resort is gorgeous!!! The water slides that go through the aquarium itself are so fun and absolutely amazing! The beach is beautiful, the shops etc. Yes food is expensive, but if you go to Disney and pay $2.00 for a bottle of water it is not much different. I would not get a dining plan. There a so many places to eat and many aren't that expensive. I would not waste money eating in the restaurant where you are surrounded by walls of the aquarium. The food is terrible and very expensive. We did do a buffet that was great though. You can also go down to the lobby in the mornings and buy a muffin or breakfast pastry and coffee. I believe they open at 6am. I remember because I was up at 5 waiting for them to open. There are many deals for this resort. We looked in the paper and actually found some travel company in florida that had a great deal. I was nervous because we are in NY but it worked out fine. I think in 2009 I may schedule a trip for us there. I have stayed at the Raddison on Cable Beach in the Bahamas as well and that was really nice as well, but there is no comparison to Atlantis. You and the kids will have so much fun. It is also not a rowdy drinking resort. It is very romantic and also very family orientated as well. We went before we had kids and we had so much fun. There are so many pools there that nothing is really crowded. I could stay there for a month and still have fun. There is also nice site seeing in the Bahamas. I can't say anything bad about it.

 

[Dory's Twin]

Love it, my kids can't wait to go back! We stayed at the Sheraton Harborside (timeshare) that's a part of Atlantis, 2 bedroom condo with full kitchen etc! We didn't do the meal plan, but did eat out and that was expensive..Johnny Rockets was at least $4 more per person! A good friend of mine went last November...2 adults, 2 Kids stayed at the Coral Towers and said it cost her $8000. for the week....

The jet ski's are fun (Bargain with them! The later in the day the better the price) Take the excursion to Rose Island, a full day snorkel trip and visit Nassau, we loved sightseeing! There is a lot of history to Nassau, pirates etc!


If you have the money, a very fun trip!