Weve experienced the same thing each of the previous 3 trips to Atlantis. 2 to 3 meals each day. Once to explore the town of Nassau, and the second time for a Swimming with the pigs excursion. The rooms were no different than a Motel 6. The sand was soft and white and really clean. The pizza place, deli, Frankie Gone Bananas, and some smaller places to eat are over here. Unfortunately there is not a Wal-Mart located on the island, but there is a convenience store in the area. Take our news quiz. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. The Bahamas entry requirements vary. Lunch by the pools, lots of meal deals with refillable sodas. Unsure of where to go on such short notice, we selected the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas and this is my honest Atlantis Bahamas review. We have been all over. TUG saves owners more than $20 Million dollars, https://www.atlantisbahamas.com/dining/diningplans/casualdiningplan. Until this last spring, when I decided if Im going to be in The Bahamas, I NEED to stay at the Atlantis. Just be sure not to order too much. Their sushi was so decadent that we went back a second night. Why people go here is beyond me. Did not do the meal plan and here is why: We ate at nice restaurants all week both in Atlantis and in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? I know I'd feel like I was throwing away money anytime I ate something/somewhere that wasn't on the plan. I agree! No, Atlantis Resort Bahamas is NOT all-inclusive. Maybe the cloudy weather effected your trip since your photos all looked a little dreary. Been there 14 times- meal plan not worth it unless you eat 3 meals per dayadvise you to go to grocery store upon arrival b/c the food at Atlantis is over the top expensive---ex. I just don't know how much the prices are in these restaurants, or the buffets because there are no prices listed. Bye-Bye Beach Tower - Hello 'Somewhere Else'? I cannot tell you how spot-on you were about EVERYTHING!! I tried harder and harder to smile and be nicer but it seemed like they just did not care at all. So we ended up going there every night anyway. They accidentally gave me the wrong invoice at check out and one families bill was $5990. We are 2 adults and 2 kids (12 and 10) although on the meal plan our 12 yo is considered an adult. Furthermore it looks as if you enjoyed yourself in those photos. I was at the Atlantis years ago and find Jennys review spot on. We were in Portugal for 3 weeks in May, and didnt spend this much. I feel bad for anyone duped by their marketing. To have it make economic sense, you have to eat at the breakfast buffet *every* day and eat in a fine dining venue *every* night. You will find lots of shops (too expensive to buy anything from!) The water slide and lazy river were the most entertaining. We took a few minutes to walk around the casino, but if you are traveling with kids, there really isnt anything to do here. Its been on my list for a while but my heart sank when I read the review! We opted for the middle of the pack, the Royal Towers. Thankfully, we saw dinner being served at a table next to us so we decided to share a pasta dish. Junkanoo Beach, Nassau Everything You Need to Know! So theyre looking for tips every two seconds. Sandra Ferguson Taxi Service-Highly Recommend! Thank you so much for this review! Spoiler alert, in case you just want me to cut to the chase, yes, Atlantis Bahamas is worth it! The food plan covered breakfast and dinner. And when I write reviews, I always give honest ones and this review of Atlantis is no different. Snow in Hawaii? The reason the best pool was at the cheapest tower is because that is where the renovations have started. Do you eat breakfast every morning? My girlfriend and I were thinking we could save money by Eating Cereal. Children 6 and under eat breakfast & dinner free if parents buy a dining plan per person for a sad SAD excuse for basic motel-5 continental regurgitated-back-alley-leftover-dumpster food. Atlantis does not like giving away discounts. Seriously? Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas resort has five hotels and one resort where you can stay on Paradise Island. We went to several beaches, both public and resort, while in the Bahamas and the Cove beach was particularly the best. Original review: Jan. 26, 2023. The experience was absolutely worth it. I travel a lot and dont mind paying for things I enjoy , but this isnt it! I would recommend anyone who might read this, who can afford to stay at the Cove to do so! And yes, the beaches are nice. Details PLATO'S Catch sports events on one of four large flat screen TVs or unwind with live nightly entertainment in the raised lounge area. Know How to Dress for High-Speed Water Slides, Up to 25% OFF an Atlantis Bahamas Vacation, Best Things to Do in South Padre Island Texas, 15 Dont-Miss South Padre Island Restaurants and What to Order. It's one of several nice ideas riddled with problems. You are right, the staff all acted like they were miserable and avoided us at all cost. It includes numerous water slides, tube slides, river raft rides, lagoons and more. Multiple times you ask for anything they leave and never come back and just forget about you in anything around the resort. The Atlantis meal plan allows diners to eat at a number of restaurants and cafes on the property. You should check out Baha Mar THATS what a pricey resort should look like! And the aquarium tanks were all really cloudy. There is so much to see and do without leaving the Atlantis resort. My HR Pros has all of the services and software that you need to build your business. I cant imagine going anywhere over and over again when there is so much in our world to explore! Check out these menus: If you have a fridge and a microwave, Carmines would be a good choice, family style portions, you could get another meal out of it lol. Do not do the meal plan. And each night they have a really cool parade. Yes, it is expensive everywhere in Nassau, I spoke of this in my review of Baha Mar as well. Stopped at a grocery store for a few things like milk and bread and jar spaghetti before checking in. Aruba and Antigua are two that get the best reviews but I havent tested those out yet. The laws for working in The Bahamas are very strict and you cannot get a visa if you are a foreigner. Our most recent trip was with our 4 year old. Our trip was last-minute but we booked many of our dinners online before we arrived. Do not do the meal plan. The food is.. exorbitantly expensive even to the point where Im honestly wondering if theres diamond hidden inside every dish. Its not perfect, no place is and it may be a little pricey but going on a vacation to a gem like the Bahamas usually is. Two completely different experiences. You can go to any restaurant right outside of the Atlantis for half the price. The kids actually preferred this beach over any pool at Atlantis. We had a blast and recall this trip as one of the most fun weve taken together. Too bad it was empty its usually rented by celebrities! Follow me on PINTEREST for more travel tips! It seemed as though the nicer we tried to be, the more dismissive they were to us. , Staying at The Cove at Atlantis was spectacular. But its the Bahamas the beaches are nice at every resort! My Atlantis Bahamas Resort review is overall very positive and I would recommend visiting Atlantis. Our main reason for visiting the Atlantis is my daughters love of sharks and the sea. It costs $32.00 per person for an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet . And we really enjoyed the not-so-lazy river. Statin alternative? You have to get the plan for every nite, and everyone in. And we understand a lot of things need to be imported into Bahamas so they have the high tax and pricing but that does not explain what I can say is some of the worst and bland tasting foods I have ever had. The lazy rivers look a little too green for my liking! I will give it that. It didnt have a lobby like most hotels do. Here is an honest review of Atlantis, Bahamas. You save a lot of money compared to booking on Atlantis website, and get a lot of space, with full kitchen so you dont have to pay for expensive restaurant meals all the time, and full access to Atlantis. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. https myhr openings net. And we are from New York City we are surrounded by expensive dining all the time and yet Atlantis somehow found a way to actually exceed the pricing than nyc with a presumptuous gratuity embedded in every single receipt youll receive on the island regardless of whether there was service or not. Atlantis had been on my travel bucket list for years so I was ecstatic to finally have the opportunity to go. Since our kids are young enough we were going to purchase a dining plan (they will be free with a purchase of an adult). Can't we just pipe water to the West from areas of the country that have more water? But, it's possible to cut down your expenses and book a trip to Atlantis at a fraction of the cost you thought possible. May 5, 2022, 2:14 PM Save Atlantis announced their new Dining Plan - which went into effect this month - I'm trying to figure it out - it costs $175 per day for adults, and it includes "up-to" $140 in value and a specific set of restaurants. Atlantis Paradise Island, Atlantis Meal Plan Worth It? Save your money and stay someplace else. To give you an idea, we could have stayed at a Sandals 5-star luxury all-inclusive resort for a week for less than what we ended up spending on food and drinks at Atlantis in a week. This does not include alcohol and gratuity. And to each their own I guess. Join the conversation onFacebook,Instagram, orTwitterand share your thoughts! I've. If you staying in the hotel, there is no place to cook or store cold items. Go elsewhere or just save your money Atlantis is not worth it. Atlantis is not all-inclusive, but they used to offer dining plans, however, they currently do not. Like OP was saying here, you gotta go outside and downtown Nassau to really get anything tasty and priced correctly. The staff at Atlantis werent friendly. Two reusable souvenir water bottles per room and access to filtered water stations throughout the resort, Weekly schedule of complimentary activities, Daily slot tournament in the Atlantis Casino, Daily access to The Dig and Marine Life Exhibits. You only break even with the meal plan if you habitually eat three course meals at every sitting. Do you eat breakfast every morning? Our wristbands were a different colour, signifying that we were guests of The Cove and could use the adult pool. The service for Cove guests is phenomenal. No need to keep eyes on prices, they are included. However, even if you decide to stay at a different hotel in the Bahamas, you can visit Aquaventure for the day. Being able to lounge at The Coves exclusive pool and listen to the DJ spin without hearing children screaming was worth every penny. Nassau is NOT as nice as paradise Island. Without the meal plan, you have the option of grabbing sandwiches at Quiznos or coffee/doughnuts from Dunkin and saving money with a few quick meals. Urban Ministries of Durham serves over 6000 people every year who struggle with poverty and homelessness. Cookie Policy - In fact, many of their restaurants were closed when we visited. https://coffeeandmascara.org/ Copyright 2023. We also enjoyed lunch on the patio at Olives overlooking the superyachts. This is an elaborate hotel at almost every turn. Members who are extremely knowledgeable about this destination and answer travellers questions frequently. I actually found it very disturbing that so many sharks were in such a small space with nothing but glass around them. We spend all of our time on the beach. This was the most thorough review and you have saved me and my Family over $7,000 from staying at Atlantis. I guess even if Id read it before now I would have come just to check it off my list. Do you have any facts onParadise Island I would appreciate if you can assist me with the information. Currently, we were looking at the Coral and the Royal. Even as adults, it is highly entertaining and a ton of fun! or each day at the park. Netflix adaptation. What is the best way to get to Paradise Island? Do you and your family spend countless hours staring at the aquariums? I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. Also a meal plan restricts you to eating on property, you may want to venture out at least once :). We also had no one at check-in tell us this and were in line for a waterslide and turned away on our first day. We went in March of 2020 so maybe they made some updates since then. I know we really wanted to stay at the Atlantis because it had a lot of hype to it. I would put Atlantis in the cruise ship category. 8 years ago Save Anyone that has purchased the meal plan please let me know if you really think it is worth it at 140 per person a night. We will be looking at other Carribbean islands like Bermuda and The Cayman Islands.. Cayman Islands are AMAZING! Atlantis is my favorite place on earth to vacation. 1,805 Sq. We have two children 3&6. There are lots of activities to experience at Aquaventure and guests staying at the resort have access to all of it. Water crisis in West isn't over: Can't we just move water from the East? And the hotels pay locals a really low rate to work and have a huge turnover. The entrance, hallways, service, and our room were all excellent. Dining plans must be purchased no later than the end of the dinner period on the day of arrival, . Yes! My girlfriend and I were thinking we could save money by Eating Cereal in the morning. The beach doesnt compare to Paradise Island at all!! The service is more accurately described as apathy for me. The Atlantis is an iconic resort and had always been on my bucket list. Anyone that has purchased the meal plan please let me know if you really think it is worth it at 140 per person a night. I can not understand how anyone would ever get bored. Is the Atlantis Day Pass Worth It? However, if I hadnt already swam with dolphins in Mexico, I likely would have paid for that one. You just have to "creative.". My wife and I have been there twice in the past 6 years. I legit dont think they have any salt or seasoning in the back. But even the Dig only took us about 20 minutes to walk through. The Atlantis needs to take a lesson from Baha Mar on what a resort pool should look like. 3 Baths. Thank you so much for this. And dont forget the dumb wristbands. The burger shack and pizza place are places that should not be on a meal plan, you can go there on your own. These are my experiences with my family. Because we're all only a paycheck or three away from needing to ask for help. We declined. I just can not believe when you see the commercials it is NOTHING compared to your actual experience. Vacationers can enjoy smoked fish, matzo ball soup, towering deli sandwiches, brisket and more. In fact, we only left the resort twice. During our excursion, we were out on the water all day long and we visited 5 different islands, including Pig Island. Oh, and the layout of the waterpark is really confusing. If you are travelling with kids, I would suggest staying at The Royal. Alternatively, you may use, Paradise Island Hotels and Places to Stay, The Ocean Club, A Four Seasons Resort, Bahamas. Ordered a fruity alcoholic beverage and enjoyed it. Atlantis has been a bucket list item for me and I brought my kids and grandkids here for a 5 night stay. Atlantis also has a private area you can pay a little extra for that comes with things like a storage locker and reserved chairs. We stayed in an area where we had baby sharks in the pond outside our room. We have been there with and without the meal plan. The Atlantis meal plan allows. Wow this was really helpful ! Shark Bites is good for lunch and if you keep your drink cup, you can refill it for free. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. 1. The first was as a childless unmarried couple. Right?!?! You only live once, right? Try expanding your travels and you wont regret it! 3 Beds. Atlantis on Paradise Island, some recommendations please. Everything You Need to Know, Atlantis Bahamas Review Is it Really Worth It? The vibe . We also really enjoyed Marina Village. Oh ya the most expensive thing there is sunscreen, we joked that if you sold sunscreen that you brought with you, on the beach for half of what they charge you could pay for your trip. Something that people NEED to get out of the country. In this buffet , you'll find the usual variety of eggs, bacon, fruit, omelets, waffles, etc plus a few nice surprises. But if you want to be able to afford another vacation in your lifetime, youll probably be stuck eating at some of the smaller restaurants. And happy to show other single moms how traveling with their kids is always possible! Its fast and efficient and syncs with your phones calendar. We also got the plastic cups and refilled them during our stay. I assume their is a cost? The locals we have met on the outside of the resort are much nicer. There used to be a lazy river where the pool is now and it was replaced by the much cooler Canyon Ride. There was no one sliding down the slide, the food was horrible!!!!! Their website does not state whether or not they plan on offering dining plans again in the future. Bahamian food is absolutely delicious but yet they include one or two dishes here and there in starters and they cant even get those right. Is the food plan ever offered as an incentive (like it is at Disneyworld)? However, the rooms are VERY basic. The food was outrageous so we ended up snacking on French fries. In addition to being cost prohibitive, there were a few things that I didn't like about the meal plan: Be sure to read the fine print and understand the rules. However, we also ordered more food than we probably would have without the plan. We spent A LOT of money on food and drinks. I hate food waste, but with no fridge or microwave in our room, we couldnt take it with us. Staying at the Atlantis Bahamas was a huge disappointment for our family. It only includes breakfast and dinner, not even lunch. The grounds/sealife are beyond amazing not to mention the Waterpark. (The price does not incllude the 12% VAT tax and mandatory 15% gratuity that is added to any restaurant charge on property.) We ventured into The Royal every day to explore its attractions, check out the casino and dine in several of the restaurants. There was even a small place where you could pet starfish and sea cucumbers. Be sure to read the fine print and understand the rules. If you do want to check it out, go for brunch. And aquariums? I mean horrible. Corporate responsibility reports. What is the best time to go to Atlantis Bahamas? And thats what you get at the Atlantis. Dining plans arent the same as being all-inclusive, but they certainly do help with food costs on a vacation. So each day, you have to find the hut to get a wristband before you can go on any rides (and of course, the wristband huts are not near the waterslides). How To Book Two Cruise Cabins For the Price of One, What To Expect on a Caribbean Cruise: Ultimate Cruising Tips. It actually looks like they havent done much upkeep at all, to be honest. At the end of the day, Im glad we had a chance to check it out. Very non responsive. They all look amazing so Im sure no matter which one you pick, youll be happy. My goal is to always give honest reviews. or do you need to stay in specific tower. Thinking about saying at the coral. The Royal towers only really have a casino, and we dont gamble so we had a pretty long walk just to get to the Coral towers every night. It was an exhilarating ride! Maybe you could have stayed in the Royal Tower located closer to their Main Lobby, nothing of which is basic at this property. Would have easily exceeded $4000 with alcohol and gratuity. The waterslides were a lot of fun even though there were not too many of them. You could easily spend a week at Atlantis and never have to leave. We spent A LOT of money on food and drinks. We are at the Atlantis now, staying at The Cove, on Marriott points. The food was like eating at a strip mall. Did not do the meal plan and here is why: We ate at nice restaurants all week both in Atlantis and in (ta && ta.queueForLoad ? You can easily spend a day exploring the grounds and checking out all of the Instagram-worthy spots, such as the heart swing and rope bridge. Hello! I have been trying to locate someone, so very important to me. Now take that added expense and put it on some of the blandest food youve ever eaten. It will really give you a feel for the entire resort. If you are staying at the resort, access to the Aquaventure waterpark is included so you do not need to purchase a day pass. So it might be that they just really don enjoy their jobs, and its pretty obvious. I just don't know how much the prices are in these restaurants, or the buffets because there are no prices listed. Many water activities are included, but they also offer a wide variety of marine activities at additional costs. ). Even though you are staying in the hotel portion, you could still being some goodies in your luggage from home for breakfast or light lunches that don't require refrigeration, or just buy them at the small market across the street. Explore our special air & hotel package and book your getaway! but also a lot of food places. Save yourself the hundred dollars this cost and just get yourself a beach chair lockbox. Currently, all visitors to the Bahamas are required to have a health declaration. We were expecting to spending a heavy chunk of money on this trip but now I am second guessing it all. Keep in mind, some of the restaurants listed are not open every day. Read on for my full review of the Atlantis Bahamas resort and why I recommend it. The buffet was decent. Best beaches around. Walk across the bridge and get street food. If you enjoyed this review of Atlantis, then dont forget to check out the following, Read More How To Eat Like a Local in Nassau, BahamasContinue, Read More Junkanoo Beach, Nassau Everything You Need to Know!Continue, Read More How To Book Two Cruise Cabins For the Price of OneContinue, Read More What To Expect on a Caribbean Cruise: Ultimate Cruising TipsContinue, Read More What To Do In Nassau With KidsContinue, Read More Visiting The Blue Lagoon Island, BahamasContinue. Is the food plan ever offered as an incentive (like it is at Disneyworld)? The Royal, Harborside Resort at Atlantis, The Reef Atlantis and The Cove Atlantis. Its hard to have a bad day when you wake up to these views. Right by the Coral pool was also a great area to walk around. Yes, you can buy a day pass to visit Atlantis waterpark but beware! All in our carrying on luggage and frozen cheezeslices and meat. Place is pretty and newer- Beware its SUPER Crowded. Yeah it sucks. We stayed at Baha Mar for under $400 a night and the pool are had tons of open seating (and we visited during Spring break!). You could easily spend several days enjoying the Aquaventure waterpark and all of its activities. Lunch by the pools, lots of meal deals with refillable sodas. Hi, If staying at Baha Mar can you use Atlantis waterpark or see their aquariums? You can charge everything to the room, but there will be a bill at check-out. Took the shuttle to town and bought cheap awesome rum, to mix with coke ,in refillable cups that lasted days. One day week took the ferry over to Nassau and ate at the Fish Shack and there is actually a Burger King in Nassau near the Straw Market. We didnt venture into any of the other hotels, but you can compare them here. After that a lady came by selling dollar tree tshirts and begging that we help her family. This was once a great property, but the new ownership has turned it into a terrible waste of money. Im sorry, but they just werent. The pain in the butt part is, you have to go find the special wristband stand in the waterpark to get one each morning. Thanks for your personal experiences. These cookies are used to provide you with useful information based on recent browser data. Archive - Nope. If we walked out of the restaurant in under 3 hours on any given night, it was considered a miracle. We are planning a trip this coming summer with our 6 year old daughter and 3 year old son. To find out if purchasing a day pass to Atlantis is worth it, check out this detailed post. everything is VERY expensive there as they import EVERYTHING>. Ive been to The Bahamas 5 times already. We are going to the Cove this time around. Please Note: The dining plans at Atlantis Bahamas include a variety of complimentary beverages, such as coffee, tea, milk, fountain soda, and juice. For the most part, I agree with your review, but with a caveat. They call themselves a full-service resort. The food was very expensive, yet not very good. Agreed they have great beaches! I go through every review I can, and I read Pinterest, and YouTube all to make sure I am spending my money wisely and making every vacation the best I can. If youve been thinking about a trip to Atlantis, you wont regret it! It started to become a game where when we actually found the correct waterslide we were looking for, we would jump up and down and high-five each other. If not, go to Virgil's for lunch before the prices double and eat as much as possible. Ive honestly seen MUCH better pools and decor at local resorts in my area. Each person has their own wristband and you need a new one each day. We visited on a cruise with kids a few years ago but did the blue lagoon excursion so never visited Atlantis. Got a comment on this article? $452,990 Last Sold Price. Everything in the Bahamas is expensive but the Atlantis takes it to a whole new level. Spent is an interactive game created by McKinney that challenges you to manage your money, raise a child and make it through the month getting paid minimum wage after a stretch of unemployment. I just left Atlantis for a week long trio and I wasnt sure if i was being negative or ungrateful. Does anyone have any sugestions as if it is worth the difference? Like literally no coral, no plants, no rocks nothing! We kept ours for 3 dayslol. Is there a free shuttle into Nassau town? I'm Kat, the face behind this Coffee & Mascara Travel Blog. SOLD FEB 13, 2023. From the dining staff to employees in the pool area. Murrays is very reasonably priced, you dont need a plan to get value there. Everything is so reasonable, and the people are unbelievably nice and helpfulpossibly the best place Ive been in Europe. We would wake up sweating, wave our hands in the air so it would come on and repeat for four nights. I justed returned from staying at the Royal in Atlantis and its not worth staying. The Leap of Faith waterslide is pictured below where you zoom through a shark tank. Lounge chairs were basic plastic. Atlantis Paradise Island, Atlantis Meal Plan Worth It? Its also the most iconic tower and so we decided to upgrade our room and pay extra to not only stay in the Royal Towers but to have an ocean view as well. Aquaventure is the 141-acre water park that encompasses the Atlantis Bahamas resort. Gathering with the dream team at Atlantis The Royal to savor good food, plan ahead, and toast to our accomplishments!Contact us today!: +971 4 375 1832: . First walking in, really took our breath away. Margaritaville is also reasonably priced and not on any plan. Regardless of which hotel you decide to stay in, you have access to the entire resort. Because thats exactly what I would want to read! +The Atlantis, Bahamas Review The Good and the VERY Bad+What Its Really Like on an Alaskan Cruise+Review of Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Resort in Nassau, 2023 See Mama Travel - WordPress Theme by Kadence WP, How To Eat Like a Local in Nassau, Bahamas. As for the service, you find lemons everywhere but whenever we shared a smile, we got one in return. Here is an honest review of Atlantis, Bahamas. Because to be honest, I can only take (or afford) so many vacations a year. Atlantis Paradise Island, Atlantis Meal Plan Worth It? Nearby homes similar to 8825 W Agora Ln have recently sold between $410K to $453K at an average of $160 per square foot. In this buffet , you'll find the usual variety of eggs, bacon, fruit, omelets, waffles, etc plus a few nice surprises. Wrong! One positive thing I will say about my review of Atlantis is that the beaches are amazing. We have yet to decide on a meal plan. We are looking at Atlantis and this was exactly my worry. I fully realize everyone has different experiences, but this review was based on my experience and I am always 100% honest with my readers! I have way too many items on my bucket list to stay at the same place over and over again. The rock formations are all chipping and have paint missing. To me, it always seemed like something that was out of my financial reach. So hopefully you dont have any questions or need any assistance. I am a Travel and Wellness Expert who resides in beautiful Vancouver, BC, Canada when I'm not travelling this wonderful world. We also bought the basic meal plan.