One of my best friends decided she wanted to celebrate her milestone birthday with a girls trip to Atlantis Bahamas.  She has been such a good friend to me, I would have gone just about anywhere to help her celebrate. The trip far exceeded my expectations and we all had so much fun! I didn’t want to leave the Atlantis Resort and I can’t wait to go back.  Whether you are planning a girls trip to Atlantis, going as a couple, or taking the whole family, I know you will enjoy it too.

I wanted to share my personal experience and honest Atlantis Bahamas review.  If you are still trying to decide if an Atlantis vacation is right for you, or wondering which hotel tower you should book, or planning out what to do during your Atlantis trip, my Atlantis Bahamas guide has the information you will need, plus some tips to help save money.

Note: This post includes affiliate links.  See disclosure for more information.

 

The Best Things to do at Atlantis

You will never be bored at Atlantis, there is so much to do! The Atlantis Bahamas water park area, called Aquaventure, has something for everyone.  We had no idea there were two areas that have water slides – Mayan Temple and Power Tower – until our last day.  There were a few really scary slides that none of us were brave enough to go on like the “Leap of Faith.”  The “Leap of Faith” slide goes pretty much straight down into the shark tank, so it is not for the faint of heart.  You can check out the video I found on Youtube and see what you think of the Atlantis slide!

Right next to the “Leap of Faith” Slide, they have a little tamer (although still fast) slide called the “Serpent Slide” that you ride down on in a tube.  I went on a two person tube with my friend.  The slide also goes through the shark tank.  Another friend followed us on the ride, but when we got to the end of the ride, an empty tube came out after us.  At first, I really worried that she had fallen out of her tube.  Actually, the lady helping everyone at the start of the slide let go of her tube before she could get in.  So she had to go back down and get a new tube before she could go on the ride.  Luckily the line was not too long.

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They also have a very tame lazy river (closed for renovation during our stay) and a more exciting one with rapids called – “The Current”.  This was definitely my favorite part of the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.  It is a mile-long river where you go through river rapids, big waves, and even a water escalator (which was a little odd).  I could have stayed on it the whole day.  There are two person tubes that you can take on this ride too.  It is not as intense as some of the warning signs may make it out to be, but I would still not recommend trying to carry a cocktail.

Additionally, there are 11 pools at Atlantis, so we didn’t get to try them all.  It was nice that there always were plenty of lounge chairs.  Our favorite was the Baths pool which is located close to the Cove.  It has a beach entry, waterfalls, and caves.  Plus in the afternoon there was a great DJ and dance area.  Also for those that like to swim for exercise, there is also a lap pool by the fitness center.  If you stay at the Cove or the Reef, you have access to the Atlantis adult-only pools.

There are two main ocean beaches by Atlantis.  We went to the one closer to the Cove as the water seemed calmer, although it did close at 3 pm for a private event the day we were there.  There is another beach on the lagoon with some water sports (snorkeling, paddle boats, and bikes) that I wanted to go to, but just did not have time.

Atlantis is also almost like an animal sanctuary.  They have sharks and stingrays and turtles in the various lagoons on the property.  They also have a great aquarium called the Dig.  Visually the Dig is stunning and if you like you can even snorkel inside the Atlantis aquarium.  They also have a dolphin encounter, where you can swim with dolphins.  My friends did that before I arrived and really enjoyed it.

Atlantis Dining & Drinks

Many people mistakenly think that Atlantis is an all-inclusive resort.  There are no all-inclusive packages but you can purchase an Atlantis dining plan.  While the options are not cheap, children 11 years and under do get to eat for free with the purchase of an adult Atlantis meal plan. You will have plenty of food options to choose from at Atlantis but most are overpriced as you might expect. 

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I would definitely recommend trying to bring something for breakfast (like protein bars) that you can eat in your room to save money.  Some of the Atlantis Resort Hotels (Harborside Resort and the Reef Atlantis) do include kitchens or kitchenettes.  I think that would really be nice especially if you plan on staying for a week. Lunches were reasonable, we usually grabbed something from one of the shacks by the pool.  I really enjoyed the roti wrap that I had.  Dinners are also pretty expensive.  Many of the restaurants had portions that were large enough to split.  Bimini Road was excellent and the best value.  The food portions were huge – especially the cracked conch, which was delicious.   They even had a live band the night we dined there.  It has since been replaced by Frankie Gone Bananas at Bimini Road.

There are also lots of options for cocktails.  In addition to the bars inside the resort, there are also plenty of bars throughout the pool area.  They all had cocktail menus and you could also customize your own frozen drink by choosing the fruits (strawberry, banana, and mango) and the alcohol.   Of course, you can also have the frozen drinks without the alcohol.

Atlantis Nightlife

In the evenings, you can find plenty of different things to do.  One night we went to the comedy club (there was a $25 cover, which cannot be charged to the room).  We weren’t too impressed with the first comic we saw, but we really enjoyed the headliner, Andy Woodhull.  We decided to be brave and sit in the front row, so we got lots of attention.  Another night we went to the nightclub, Aura, which wasn’t too crowded.  We spent most of our time there on the dance floor since the DJ was playing a good mix of music.  If you get there early (before 11 pm) there is no cover charge.  In addition, there are several other bars, some that even have live music, a movie theater (no extra charge), and a casino with a sportsbook.

Atlantis Accommodations Options

Atlantis Bahamas is a huge resort with several different towers (Royal Towers, Beach Tower, Coral Towers, The Reef, The Cove).  The Reef and the Cove have adult only areas and significantly more expensive than the other towers.  The Coral and Beach Towers have more affordable rates but a little farther from the waterpark area.  There is also the Harborside Resort at Atlantis which is located not too far away in the Marina.

I think next time I go, I might stay in one of the cheaper towers at the Atlantis resort since I barely spent any time in the room anyway. Here is a brief rundown of the different properties with access to Atlantis.  I listed them in order from most affordable to most expensive to help you decide where to stay in Atlantis Bahamas. Also, if you act quickly and book through hotels.com you can save up to 40% + an extra 10% off with code TAKE10FEB18. Book by 2/4, Travel by 3/11.

Hotel Tower

 

Hotel Information

 

Comfort Suites Paradise Island

While this hotel is not located on the Atlantis property, guests do get complimentary Atlantis day passes (as of 1/30/2018). You also get free wifi and complimentary hot American-style buffet breakfast. If you don’t mind staying off the resort, you can really save a lot of money. This hotel will definitely be your best budget option.

Check price & availability

The Beach at Atlantis

Standard hotel rooms currently undergoing renovations (as of Oct 2017). Located on Atlantis Beach, but it is the furthest away from Aquaventure Waterpark. Formerly known as the Beach Towers.

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The Coral at Atlantis

Standard hotel featuring newly renovated rooms.  Conveniently located close to the Marina Village with lots of dining options.  Formerly known as the Coral Towers.

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The Royal at Atlantis

The “Heartbeat” of Atlantis and where I stayed. It is the iconic building that you picture when you think of Atlantis. If it’s your first time at Atlantis it is nice to stay in the middle of everything! Formerly known as the Royal Towers.

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Harborside Resort

Located at the Atlantis Resort marina, These colorful private villas are located in the Atlantis Marina and come with a fully equipped kitchen or kitchenette. I think it is the best place to stay at Atlantis with kids because you will have more space and it’s a quieter area.

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The Reef at Atlantis

Each spacious accommodation at the Reef includes kitchen facilities and private furnished balcony. Guests have access to the adults only pool at the Cove.

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The Cove at Atlantis

The Cove has been the most fashionable place to stay at Atlantis since it opened in 2007.   It has its own large outdoor pool area just for adults and a private beach.

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When planning your budget you will need to consider the Atlantis resort fee in addition to the room charge.  The resort fee includes 2 bottles of water, access to the gym, and wifi (note: Atlantis Bahamas wifi was not very reliable). During our Atlantis trip, we stayed in the Royal Towers, the “heartbeat of Atlantis.”  The room was nice, but I was disappointed when I realized that our balcony was barely wide enough to stand on.  Only a few rooms in the Atlantis Royal Towers actually have real balconies.

The Atlantis hotel grounds are absolutely gorgeous and well maintained.  I really enjoyed exploring especially early in the morning when it was quiet and the rest of the guests were still sleeping.  There is a lot to see and plenty of good Instagram-able spots.  I took lots of pictures of Atlantis.

Getting Around at Atlantis Bahamas

It is a bit of a walk from any of the rooms to the pools and waterparks.  Carry what you need with you for the day, don’t expect to be able to go quickly back to your room to grab something.  We used the lockers by the waterpark to store our phone and other items while we were in the water.  It’s $10 well-spent.  The only problem is the lockers close early (around 5 pm most days we were there). If you prefer not to walk, there is a free shuttle that runs around the resort (every 30 minutes) but we never used it.  You can also take the shuttle to the Ocean Club resort (formerly known as the One&Only Resort).  next door where they filmed scenes from the James Bond movie “Casino Royale“.

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Booking Your Atlantis Vacation

While Atlantis can be expensive, you can find promotions periodically and sometimes there will be special deals on Atlantis vacation packages.  If your plans are flexible, you will probably be able to get a better rate on Atlantis packages.  I have seen Atlantis discounts on Groupon too (click here to see if there are any groupons now).  You can also use Marriott points here, although you still will have to pay the resort fee for each person (check the fine print to find out the current fee).

Next time I go back, I will probably try a less expensive option like the Coral Towers or Beach Tower.  If there aren’t any promotions or groupons, you can click here to check the prices and availability on hotels.com.  Hotels.com has a price guarantee so if you find a lower rate after you have booked, they will refund you the difference.  

Atlantis Bahamas Day Pass

Visiting Atlantis is definitely one of the best things to do on Paradise Island!  If you are visiting Nassau on a cruise or don’t have time to spend the night at Atlantis, you can also purchase an Atlantis Bahamas day pass although these are now extremely limited!  An Aquaventure Water Park Day Pass which includes unlimited access to the 141-acre Aquaventure Water Park plus all the pools and beaches.   You can also purchase experiences at Dolphin Cay or other water adventures.

Atlantis Bahamas now only allows these day passes to be purchased by the resort’s established partners and Bahamian residents/citizens.  Cruise lines and some local hotels are considered established partners.  These day passes are complimentary for guests of Comfort Suites Paradise Island.  Don’t try to say you are on a cruise or you are a resident if you are not, as they will ask you to provide proof (i.e. residence card or cruise line key).

Just a warning though – the Atlantis day pass needs to be booked in advance as they do sell out.  Click here to get details, current prices, and availability.

Getting to Atlantis on Paradise Island

In the Bahamas, Atlantis is located on Paradise Island.  You will want to book your flight to Nassau (NAS) and then you can take a taxi from the airport to the resort.  The taxi prices are regulated and will cost around $35 depending on the number of passengers and luggage.  The ride takes about 30 minutes.  This is probably the most cost-effective and efficient way of getting from the Nassau airport to Atlantis on Paradise Island.

I found the taxi drivers in the Bahamas very friendly and professional, but if you prefer you can also book the airport transfers through Atlantis.   Atlantis bus transfers are $33 roundtrip per person.  The bus may make stops on its way to Atlantis.  They also offer more expensive options like limos or SUVs, which might make sense if you have a large party.  Airport transfers organized by Atlantis can be booked at the time you make your reservation.

Note: I would not recommend renting a car for your Atlantis vacation.  If you would like to explore Paradise Island or Nassau, you can hire a taxi.

To wrap up, if you haven’t already been to Atlantis, you really should plan a trip.  We had such a great time and left fantastic Atlantis Bahamas reviews.  It really is the best place to stay in the Bahamas. Personally, I can’t wait to go back.  If you have been to Atlantis, I would love to hear about your trip.  Do you have any additional Atlantis resort tips? If you haven’t made it to Atlantis yet, what is stopping you?!

–Anisa

Expert Tips for a trip to Atlantis Bahamas

  • Be flexible with your travel dates so that you can take advantage of the deals for Atlantis vacations.
  • There is something for everyone at Atlantis – waterpark, pools, beach, casino, aquarium, nightlife, and a comedy club just to name a few.
  • Bring breakfast and try to share plates if you want to save money on food costs.
  • Bring what you need with you for the day and use lockers.  It will save you the long walk back to your room at Atlantis.
  • Make sure you go on “The Current,” you will thank me later!  It was my favorite ride in the waterpark.
  • If you just have a day, purchase an Atlantis day pass in advance.  You can enjoy all the amenities!

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Get an overview of the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas including what to do & tips to make the most of your stay. #caribbean #atlantisbahamas #paradiseisland #whattodoinatlantis
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