Visiting Atlantis is on a ton of people’s Bucket List. And rightfully so, the place is absolutely stunning and there are a ton of things that you can do there- whether you’re traveling with friends, with a loved one, or with your family. Atlantis has something for everybody. But there are some things you should know before your trip to Atlantis.
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Where is Atlantis?
Atlantis is located on Paradise Island, a small island off of the island of Nassau. The island is easily accessed from Nassau via the Sidney Poitier Bridge or via the Nassau-Paradise Island Ferry.
Although Atlantis may be the highlight of Paradise island, there’s plenty of other things to do there. The island also has a golf course, a marina, and several beaches. Versailles Gardens and French Cloister is an absolute must-see!
There are other hotels on Paradise Island that are much more cost-efficient than Atlantis (see our last tip for why this could work in your favor!).
Paradise island is also home to Jimmy Buffet’s Margaritaville, The Point Restaurant & Bar, and the Green Parrot Restaurant.
5 Things to Know Before Your Trip to Atlantis
It’s expsensive.
The price tag on a stay at Atlantis might read like it’s an all-inclusive resort…but it’s not. Go ahead and accept the fact that this trip is going to cost you an arm and a leg. Sure, there are plenty of ways that you could save a little here and there, but if you’re looking for a budget vacation, this isn’t the place for you.
In addition to the cost of an item, a 15% gratuity and a 12% VAT (value-added tax) will be added to every purchase you make at the Atlantis. This starts to add up pretty quickly.
It’s massive.
Y’all, this place is HUGE! Even though I took the time to familiarize myself with the map of the Atlantis property, I still managed to get lost. Make sure you pack comfortable shoes and possibly a stroller if you’re bringing the youngin’s along. You’ll also want to factor in travel times if you have planned activities.
The place is so huge that I once accidentally wandered into the resort part of the property from the casino and it took me forever to figure out I was somewhere I wasn’t supposed to be. In fact, I even managed to go undetected by the personnel there. That’s how big it is!
There are several lodging options.
Believe it or not, the property is home to 5 different hotels. Coral, Beach, Royal, Cove, and The Reef. There are even villas at the Harborside Resort. Each option comes with a different price tag and has its own perks. Make sure you do your research to see what the pros and cons of each are and pick the one that best suits your budget and your needs.
You’ll probably never get bored.
There is so much to do here that it is INSANE! The key attraction for many families is Aquaventure waterpark. It has 11 pools, a lazy river, 8 waterslides, and a splash pad.
There are also marine habitats, aquariums, and a theatre.
Of course…there’s also 5 miles of beaches! While the beaches were great, we really loved the lagoon. I have heard some complaints that there isn’t much to do after dinner time if you’re not into the bar and club scene.
There is a daily sheet available at the front desk that lays out what’s going on each day.
You don’t have to stay at the resort to enjoy the ammentities.
Yeah…you read that right. You are able to purchase day passes to the water park. In fact, many cruisers do this when they are in port. That means that even if you’re staying on the property, you may have a hard time finding a chair at the pool.
If you’re truly on a budget, you could always stay elsewhere on the island and still enjoy many of the things that Atlantis has to offer. On Paradise Island, there is Comfort Suites and Warwick Paradise Island. There are also other lodging options across the harbor on the island of Nassau.
Conclusion
Although Atlantis can be rather costly, it is definitely worth the trip. Yes, there are ways where you can cut corners to make the trip more inexpensive but you should plan on the trip setting you back quite a bit. If you’re looking for the most cost-effective way to hit up Atlantis, you can stay off the property at another hotel and purchase a day-pass to still take advantage of all of the amazing things Atlantis has to offer.
Of course, if you’re staying on Paradise Island, you should definitely head across the harbor to Nassau to check out these can’t-miss sites.
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Updated: 5/10/21
11 replies on “5 Things to Know Before Your Trip to Atlantis”
Thanks for all the info on this resort! We looked into a Bahamas trip last year, but canceled due to flight issues. I’m glad to know we can get day passes here whenever we end up rescheduling.
The day passes are definitely the way to go!
I have looked at and researched the Atlantis. It definitely would be the perfect resort to visit with children. They would never be bored. It is personally too large for my liking, I really want to see it, so it is great to know that you can book day passess. This would be perfect for me.
I agree, it is definitely a bit massive! Each time that we’ve visited we’ve only bought the day passes. It’s definitely the way to go.
Cruising may be the best way to get there then. Get a day pass. But then you may not be able to cover the massiveness!
It’s amazing how much you can see and do in several hours. We’ve been able to cover a lot of ground using day passes. If you want the full experience then yes, you should definitely stay there.
As I saw your pictures, I remembered having heard of this place before. It certainly looks massive. I haven’t been to the Bahamas and will probably never make it there – it’s simply too far for a short stay 😀 Therefore, I enjoyed visiting there through your interesting post.
Such perfect tips for visiting Atlantis. It seems to be a great destination for holidays, even if it’s not cheap. Resorts look fabulous!.
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