We took took our 8 year old and 6 year old daughters to the Bahamas and stayed at the Atlantis for several nights. Our girls loved it. I was prepared well because I read through every single review on Trip Advisor so I wasn't shocked at what we got. The resort is huge. Pretty grounds, but rooms are very dated. The rooms are like an everyday roadside Holiday Inn. I found the service to be mediocre. We did do the meal plan and it was a disappointment. Typical buffet mentality and not enjoyable (restaurants have no views, are crowded, kind of dirty, and food is again, mediocre). I would recommend heading off property some of the time, across the bridge, for some good local dining. Getting off the resort was a treat for us. We stayed over at the Hilton (using some Hilton Points) for our last couple of nights and went over to the Fish Fry (Twin Brothers, etc.) and that was a more real experience than what you get on Paradise Island. We hit this local little outdoor patio where they chop up fresh conch salads and took our girls over to where they pull them out of the ocean. I was glad we had that local Bahamian experience. You will NOT get that at the Atlantis.
On the way to the resort, we had our taxi stop in town and we picked up some local Bahamian beer and iced it down every day and took it out to the beach (I brought a collapsable cooler). If you want a great beach, head over to the far left side of the resort where the island curves, that is where we finally ended up near the end of our stay and it was much better, away from all the chaos. Pool was calmer too. We spent more time on the lazy river then on some of the slides.
The Dolphin experience was neat for our girls. They do put on a good show, it is very touristy and you will spend a fortune. Also, it is very hard to get a reservation. You cannot make reservations before arriving, however, once you arrive, you find that they are all completely full. They kind of do a switch and bait on you. When you arrive at the resort and check in and think you are going to just easily get a reservation for this, it's not like that. We had to spend a good day or two moving through formal complaints in order for them to finally provide us with a reservation spot. Was such a headache and process.
The resort property outside is really pretty. The mermaid show is really neat. It sounded lame at first when I read about it, but we took our girls and it was mesmerizing. The mermaid (a staff member of the resort) was beautiful and swam in this big tank with real fish, coral, etc. Was one of the the highlights for me.
Also, beware, cruise ships galore. They port in Nassau and give their guests day passes to the Atlantis. They stream in and instantly the resort becomes very crowded.
I would recommend hitting the Straw Market at least once for some shopping. It's crowded with a ton of cruisers, but it was part of the experience and I got a Tori Burch knock off wallet and purse that I have received complements on back home (LOL).
I'm glad we went because it is one of those things you can mark off of your bucket list, but would I ever return? NO. Way too large, way too crowded, totally not my cup of tea. If I ever return to the Bahamas again, it will be on a far away remote beach without every tourist in the world there breathing down your neck.
- Atlantis Paradise Island
- Atlantis Resort
- Atlantis Resort Bahamas
- Beach Hotel At Atlantis
- Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas
- Beach Hotel Paradise Island
- Atlantis Hotel Paradise Island
- Atlantis Paradise Island Beach Tower
- Atlantis Paradise Island Hotel
- Atlantis Island Resort
