I’ve admitted that until I was invited on the Jet Adventure trip I never had considered taking a beach-resort vacation of this type. Which of course means now that I’ve had the chance to do it the $60 question is whether I would do so again at the Atlantis Resort and on my own dime.
My answer to that question is, well, possibly, yes.
That said I do have some definite ideas about what kind of vacation I would plan with my family, with the goal not only of having the most fun, but also of spending my money wisely. Were I to return to Atlantis I would:
- Stay at the Beach or Coral Towers, which have smaller rooms that cost less to book than the Royal Towers. There are several reasons I would do this. I liked that side of the resort, which is a little quieter since it is away from the water park. The public spaces in the Royal Towers are opulent and ornate and definitely worth a look. Happily, they are also accessible to anyone who is a guest of the resort. The rooms at the Royal Towers are more centrally located (they are right next to both The Dig and the AKA Club). But that can be a disadvantage too – on the Saturday night of our stay a reggae band played disco music (no I’m not confused – it was most certainly disco reggae – Y.M.C.A. and all) at the pool outside our room. They stopped at 10 p.m., but I have no need to be close to that center.
- Purchase the more expensive of the two meal plan options (called “Casual” and “Gourmet”) so that I could be sure to eat at some of the higher end restaurants – the buffets just wouldn’t do it for me. And I’d budget either for in-room babysitting or a few evening sessions in the AKA Club so that Matt and I could enjoy a few evenings out without the kids.
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Take as much advantage as possible of the considerable amenities that came with the price of our room and which are unique to the place such as the gorgeous grounds and pools, the beaches, all of the aquariums and lagoons, and the water park.
One tip about how best to do so: since the pools don’t open until 9 and close at 5, Teddy and I found that early in the morning and after dinner were wonderful times to explore. It often felt like we had our own private resort because there were so few people around. Seeing The Dig after dark, when it is illuminated, was especially spectacular.
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Avoid the temptation to spend money on extras like race cars, stuffed animals, spa treatments, shopping, and gambling (not that the last two hold much allure for me). Since I can hop in my car and do any of these things within ten minutes of my house, I don’t view them as critical components of a fun vacation.
- Get online and on Twitter and dig for information about the best local hangouts for Bahamian food – and make sure we visited a few of them. I’d also plan to spend some time exploring Nassau.
I would also consider budgeting for any package deals that had the children playing with LEGOs, swimming with dolphins, or getting a behind-the-scenes look at the aquariums and marine life. That includes the LEGO Fantasy Camps and some of the AKA Club programs.
This wouldn’t be a cheap trip by any stretch of the imagination, but we could save some money by traveling at off-peak times and taking advantage of companion airfare packages. By way of example, we could get to Atlantis for five days and four nights this summer and pay $1000 for a room in the Beach or Coral Towers. The Gourmet Dining Plan would be another $1650 for all four of us. We’d be eligible for free companion airfare, and assuming we could find a flight that worked we’d be looking at $530 per day – and that would be before we’d had lunch, swum with any marine life, hired a babysitter, or had one fruity alcoholic drink.
Teddy is certain that we will return to Atlantis and talks about it all the time. And Tommy, who is a candidate for sainthood for the grace and equanimity he has shown in the face of a brother who swam with dolphins, would like to go there too.
I’m not sure that a trip there fits with either our family’s budget or our typical vacation style. But I’m not categorically ruling it out either. Which is why I like to travel – one trip can change your mind and your perspective in ways you didn’t expect.
This post is part of a series I wrote about my tip to the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island Bahamas. If you enjoyed it, you might also be interested in:
Almost all of the expenses for my trip were paid for by LEGO, JetBlue, and the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas. But I was under no obligation to write about my experience, was not compensated for this post, and the opinions it contains are (you guessed it) my own.
ModernMom says
February 16, 2010 at 9:54 pmThe Atlanits has been on our list of places to stay for years. Every time we chicken out and end up going some where less expensive! Someday, before the kids decide they are too cool to travel with me…we will get there. Great post:)
.-= ModernMom´s last blog ..I Shush My Kids =-.
Meg says
February 16, 2010 at 9:56 pmIt sounds like it might be a good candidate for a multi-generational trip/big family get together. All of the amenities of a cruise ship (increasingly popular for this), especially the opportunity for everyone to find something that suits their style, without being captive on a boat, or the boat’s schedule.
.-= Meg´s last blog ..Hong Kong with Kids? Follow the Path of the Playgrounds. (Day One) =-.
Carolina says
February 16, 2010 at 11:58 pmGood breakdown and very realistic look at how most families who stay there would spend their time and money.
And wow, that Tommy is a “bigger man” than me that’s for sure.
.-= Carolina´s last blog ..Video Zen: View From the Top =-.
Mara says
February 17, 2010 at 11:35 pmModern Mom – I can’t say I blame you for your hesitation, but I also think that no matter what their age, your kids will think you are cool if you take them to Atlantis.
Meg – You are definitely right. I actually saw more than one family group while we were there. And this resort gives you room to spread out, which I think is probably a good thing when it comes to vacations with the extended family.
Carolina – Tommy is my hero. Although Matt did do a great job of finding lots of fun things to do while Teddy and I were gone.
Suzanne says
February 18, 2010 at 12:51 amgreat tips! thank you!
Amy @ The Q Family says
February 19, 2010 at 10:53 amThank you, Mara for a great series. I love how you wrote the realistic detail and put all the pro and con there without sugar coating the story.
I’m with Modern mom that I have been looking at Atlantis for years (since when we lived in FL where it was very easy to go there) but have never feel that I want to spend that much money in a resort.
Do they offer a day pass or something in that nature for you to enjoy resort amenity without staying at the resort?
.-= Amy @ The Q Family´s last blog ..Thailand with Kids – The Little Moments =-.
MG @ Practical Paradise Island says
February 22, 2010 at 10:51 amI’ve always found that the best way to save money is to stay in one of the apartments at Harborside or The Reef and prepare some meals in the well-equipped kitchen.
The other plus about this option is the units come equipped with a washer/dryer!
.-= MG @ Practical Paradise Island´s last blog ..March Specials at Sunrise Beach Villas =-.
Mara says
February 25, 2010 at 12:50 pmMG – thank you for that helpful tip – anyone who is interested in exploring what MG is talking about further, please see her helpful site – there’s a link at the end of her comment. She’s got tips on what to bring with you if you’re interested in self-catering.
Amy – Yes, you can buy a wristband that will let you look at the aquariums, swim in the pools, and use the waterpark. I haven’t been able to find out yet what it costs.
damla says
January 17, 2012 at 7:02 ami guess youre very rich to consider and go to a place like atlantic resort bahamas. well some people are lucky and some not.
Bri says
December 22, 2012 at 4:38 pmI love this part of the country-the water is clean and so warm and there is just so much to see. Your blog is awesome, I love how much traveling do but I am also so jealous! I was just in Florida and had the best time with my own kids. We were in Central FL though, near Orlando. Palm Bay was phenomenal and the beaches were prime. We stayed at this great place, the Palm Bay Hotel (www.palmbay-hotel.com). Affordable and well to do!
Yeah man says
January 19, 2013 at 4:00 pmThe Atlantis is great. You make some great points about the Coral and Beach tower. I would also recommend staying at the Harborside Resort at Atlantis if you are traveling with kids. It gives you more space and a dinning area. The rooms can get pricey, but you can also find unit owners that are willing to rent for the same or less than you would pay for the coral/beach towers. All and all you can’t go wrong with the Atlantis.
Harborside Resort says
August 31, 2013 at 3:42 pmGreat tips, I have some additional tips on my site as well that are primarily for staying at the Harborside Resort timeshares but some of them may help at the Atlantis as well. The Atlantis can be very expensive but it doesn’t have to be.
Lisa Fusaro says
April 8, 2015 at 2:59 pmAtlantis – 5th time 2015 – You do not need to buy the food package and it may not make sense to do it with little kids. We ate and the 5 star restaurants and loved it. Its not worth paying so much for a 9 year old child who eats very little or is very fussy. Need more night life there but other then that I love it there.
Teresa says
January 22, 2017 at 9:44 pmAre the pools really only open 9-5?