Atlantis Resort - Lazo Family Trip!

Situated on a small island in the Bahamas, Paradise Island is home to the Atlantis Resort. This blog post will take you along with on our extended family trip to this fun-filled oasis in the Bahamas.

Who went, and how did we get there?

There were 11 guests in our group, five kids and 11 kids at heart with the kids’ ages ranging between 5 to 12. We departed DEN early in the morning and had a connection in FLL for a short hour or so. Southwest Airlines always makes family travel easy with friendly staff, free checked luggage, and comfortable planes. Other family members departed from SFO, SJC, and DEN on various flights. I arranged travel plans for my cousin who left on American Airlines from SFO with a connection in Dallas. We all arrived at Nassau INTL airport within 1.5 hours of each other, and all boarded our private mini-bus for the 45 minutes transfer to the resort.

The Atlantis Resort

The resort is made up of 7 towers ranging from the Beach tower, and it’s budget-friendly rooms all of the way up to The Cove, the ultimate in luxury and five-star service and amenities. We stayed in the newly renovated Coral Towers (moderate-priced), in a pool/ocean view room. The room was well-appointed, modern, and comfortable.

I will warn my guests that once you land in Nassau, it is essential to put on your island hand and adopt “island time” as quickly as possible. Hotel staff, though very friendly, tends to work at a “comfortable” pace. Check-in took a little longer than I would generally consider appropriate; however, with the right mindset, we were off to begin our tropical family vacation. The hotel lobby had a large seating area, a small cafe, and an active bar.

The Beach, Coral and Royal towers are connected via an indoor walkway. Along the way, there were many stores for browsing as well as the Atlantis Royal Casino.

The Harborside portion of the resort can be accessed either by foot or complimentary shuttle. These rooms are much larger, up to 3 bedrooms as well as a full kitchen. I would caution that it is quite a hike to the waterpark as well as the main dining options and the shuttle only runs on the 15 minutes. The Cove and Reef towers are short walks from the central Royal Tower.

Resort Amenities

Atlantis Resort is designed from the sand up to be a sun-filled playground for all ages. Though our trip started with a few rain and thunderstorms, that did not stop us from enjoying the beautiful beaches and after a few days the exciting water park. There are slides and water features for all ages, from a relaxing lazy river to vertical drop race slides. The kiddos splashed endlessly in the large play structure set in a large pool while the adult “kids” enjoyed a little peer pressure-driven water-slide fun. Of our five days at the resort, we visited the waterpark for four days! There are height restrictions on the larger, fast slides, but know that everyone will have a great time! A family favorite was the slide that drops you down into a tank of sharks, Ry says it is a can’t miss for those over 48 inches.

Dining

We purchased a the Casual Dining plan to save money (food is expensive at Atlantis!) as well as create a more all-inclusive feel to our trip. The meal plan includes a full sit-down breakfast as well as a multiple course dinner. Lunch is NOT included in the meal plan. The two meal plans include several dining venues and options; we all felt that the Casual plan fit perfectly for our tastes. For breakfast, most mornings, we would walk about 15 minutes to Poseidan’s table. This is the main buffet located in the Royal Tower. Food choices and quality were always excellent, and we never left hungry! For dinners, we tried a number of the included venues, including BBQ, Pizza, island cuisine and also the buffet. Serving sizes were very plentiful, and the food was delicious and on par with resort food that you would experience while in the Caribbean or Mexico or on a cruise. We did not try any of the specialty restaurants but remember, Atlantis is home to many celebrity chef restaurants that will surely excite the taste buds of even the most discerning foodie.

With the dining package, you are billed for the items that you order; then the bill is adjusted to reflect your dining plan. Each adult is alotted either an appetizer, soup, salad OR dessert, one side as well as one main course. Coffee/Tea (Iced or Hot), Milk, Fountain Soda/Juices, Lemonade, Fruit Punch, are included with the dining plan.

*It is essential to keep an eye on your bill. We had to visit the front a few times to make corrections for items that were not billed correctly; however, the staff was very prompt to make the proper adjustments.

Wrapping up

We had a wonderful trip as an extended family. With short flights from Denver, plentiful food options, jam-packed activities for all, Atlantis is an excellent destination for a family trip! Let’s chat about your next Atlantis adventure!

Tips for staying at Atlantis

Buy water shoes for the waterpark. The ground gets cooked by the Bahamian sun, so save your feet! Some of the slides require that you remove your shoes; however, you can wear them in line then hold them as you scream your way down.
Keep an eye on your resort bill. You can get a copy from the front desk at ANY of the towers or review your folio on your in-room television
If you are traveling with multiple families, make sure that the waitstaff at the restaurants keep your bills split to match your rooms. This will help when it comes to utilizing your dining package correctly.
Be ready to walk, especially if you stay in the Beach or Coral Towers. This property is large!
Walkthrough the “Dig,” this is a great way to experience the aquarium life ad Atlantis.
Ask for water tickets when you check-in to stay hydrated.
Get a rundown from me on the somewhat confusing meal plan/ordering.
Check out all of the aminals all over the resort includes sea turtles, rays, and sharks!
Study the Atlantis Resort Map before you arrive