The Atlantis Resort in Bahamas

[OptionWarrior]

Anyone ever go on a trip here? What were your impressions of it? The place obviously comes with a lot of hype so curious if it lived up to it.

 

[Nik's Mom]

We visitied the resort for the day while on the Disney Cruise. The aquarium was great. That resort is pretty big. I can see being able to stay for a week and be pretty happy just staying at the resort. The swimming pools are supposed to be great. And there is a dolphin swim there. I wouldn't mind going back to stay for at least a few days.

 

[Darcy03231]

We have a good friend who took his children there for a week and they had a great time! He did say that at times the pools did get really crowded (they went during our school's spring break). It was also really expensive. He spent about $10k for the week.

 

[SueInBoston]

We did a one week summer vacation at Atlantis. We rented a condo at Harborside and had the use of amenities at Atlantis. We had a great time and the kids loved it. We had a kitchen in the condo so we eat breakfast and a couple simple meals at the condo. With planning, that vacation was very reasonable.

 

[Nik's Mom]

We did a one week summer vacation at Atlantis. We rented a condo at Harborside and had the use of amenities at Atlantis. We had a great time and the kids loved it. We had a kitchen in the condo so we eat breakfast and a couple simple meals at the condo. With planning, that vacation was very reasonable.

The food at the resort is very expensive. A condo with a kitchen sounds like a good idea. It would cut out some of the restaurant expenses. Was it very expensive to rent a condo?

 

[cktrotter]

We honeymooned at Atlantis 11 years ago when it was being built. The resort is amazing & the food was fabulous! It was expensive, but so worth it. We're taking our kids for our 15th!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Two of my neighbors were there last year. They loved it.

I looked into going this year but those darn kids want to go back to Disney. We were going to stay at the Comfort Suites , where both my neighbors stayed and it was way more reasonable. Full exchange privlages and a free breakfast buffet.

 

[Buckeye Princess]

We just got back this past weekend from a week long stay. We stayed at the Reef and really enjoyed ourselves.

Pros
-nice beaches
-was not at all crowded during the time of our trip. They said june-late sept is not crowded
-loved that we could easily hop between pools, slides, beach, aquariums
-wonderful selection of jewelry in the resort shops and in downtown. All of us ladies came home with lots of baubles.
-we loved the reef. It was still close to everything but we felt like we got away from the crowds when we went back to our side of the island.

Cons
-food was just average and was way overpriced. I do not mind paying a premium for good food but it was nothing special. Mesa and Nobu were the only two that I'd want to go to again from those we tried
-straw market downtown was just the same cheap stuff at every stand
-The shallow water dolphin encounter was "eh". I'd skip it and do the deep water unless if you have a little one like we did. DD 16 months loved it, but us adults mostly just enjoyed watching her reaction.
-the maps they provide stink. They show you the general location of things but not where in buildings restaurants are located. The waterpark area does not show all the specific paths and walkways.
-We did a snorkel excursion. We are used to snorkeling in places like Belize that are not as touristy. The reef was not very healthy and there were too many people on the boat.
-The resort is terrible for strollers/handicapped accessibility. It is hard to find ramps and elevators and often you have to go very much out of your way.

Tips
-days that there are no or few ships in port are significantly less crowded
-visit slides as soon as they open for no lines
-visit the aquariums early in the am or late in the evening (no cruisers, less lines)
-don't bother with the shuttles. If you are a fit person walking is easier and the paths are all beautiful
-If you have little ones, take a stroller. We found ours to be very helpful in spite of the accessibility issues.

 

[SueInBoston]

The food at the resort is very expensive. A condo with a kitchen sounds like a good idea. It would cut out some of the restaurant expenses. Was it very expensive to rent a condo?

We went 3 years ago and paid $1500 last week of August for a 1 bedroom with king bed and a queen sleep sofa in the living room. I have a DS and DD so we brought along an aero bed so they didn't have to share the sofa bed. I just checked on Redweek and a 1 bedroom is going for about 1800 to $2000 in August.

 

[officer tigger]

We are thinking of making a trip to Atlantis. Is it worth to do the meal plan? It looks like it almost doubles the price to stay there.

 

[Nik's Mom]

We went 3 years ago and paid $1500 last week of August for a 1 bedroom with king bed and a queen sleep sofa in the living room. I have a DS and DD so we brought along an aero bed so they didn't have to share the sofa bed. I just checked on Redweek and a 1 bedroom is going for about 1800 to $2000 in August.

Thanks.

 

[marcij]

We just got back this past weekend from a week long stay. We stayed at the Reef and really enjoyed ourselves.

Pros
-nice beaches
-was not at all crowded during the time of our trip. They said june-late sept is not crowded
-loved that we could easily hop between pools, slides, beach, aquariums
-wonderful selection of jewelry in the resort shops and in downtown. All of us ladies came home with lots of baubles.
-we loved the reef. It was still close to everything but we felt like we got away from the crowds when we went back to our side of the island.

Cons
-food was just average and was way overpriced. I do not mind paying a premium for good food but it was nothing special. Mesa and Nobu were the only two that I'd want to go to again from those we tried
-straw market downtown was just the same cheap stuff at every stand
-The shallow water dolphin encounter was "eh". I'd skip it and do the deep water unless if you have a little one like we did. DD 16 months loved it, but us adults mostly just enjoyed watching her reaction.
-the maps they provide stink. They show you the general location of things but not where in buildings restaurants are located. The waterpark area does not show all the specific paths and walkways.
-We did a snorkel excursion. We are used to snorkeling in places like Belize that are not as touristy. The reef was not very healthy and there were too many people on the boat.
-The resort is terrible for strollers/handicapped accessibility. It is hard to find ramps and elevators and often you have to go very much out of your way.

Tips
-days that there are no or few ships in port are significantly less crowded
-visit slides as soon as they open for no lines
-visit the aquariums early in the am or late in the evening (no cruisers, less lines)
-don't bother with the shuttles. If you are a fit person walking is easier and the paths are all beautiful
-If you have little ones, take a stroller. We found ours to be very helpful in spite of the accessibility issues.

We've done Atlantis as excursions from cruise ships several times and stayed in the Imperial Club of the Royal Tower for 4 nights a couple of years ago. I currently have that same type of room booked for the second week of August, but keep looking longingly at the one bedroom deluxe suite at the Reef. It would be much more room and looks more comfortable (I have 14 and 11-year old boys.) The only thing holding me back is that my younger son loved being able to look down (ocean view) to see the manta ray and other fish in the lagoons in the front. What did you think of the beach/pool at the Reef and how long a walk was it to the Royal Towers, central part of the hotel?

Thanks for any help!!!!!