The food was like eating at a strip mall. Where is the benefit? It only includes breakfast and dinner, not even lunch. We also enjoyed lunch on the patio at Olives overlooking the superyachts. We spent A LOT of money on food and drinks. Food is expensive at any island resort at least there are many options at this resort if you do not want fine dining. Snow in Hawaii? As for the service, you find lemons everywhere but whenever we shared a smile, we got one in return. Im not exactly sure why the nicest pool would be next to the cheapest parts of Atlantis but a lot of things about Atlantis didnt make sense! Can be used anywhere on resort other than a Starbucks in Marina Village. This is the one area of the resort that was disappointing. Their sushi was so decadent that we went back a second night. Not only are they more inexpensive than the Royal towers, but the coral pool was a hundred times better than any pool around Atlantis. Since our kids are young enough we were going to purchase a dining plan (they will be free with a purchase of an adult). We were actually really excited to go to The Bahamas and indulge in a lot of seafood or local authentic cuisine, but we did not find that at the Atlantis. Dining plans arent the same as being all-inclusive, but they certainly do help with food costs on a vacation. Was this Paradisd Island. Atlantis' Culinary Division offers our guests a number of dining options that cater to guests with special dietary needs, food allergies and dining restrictions. The $75 for two meals a day seems steep. Best hotel for kids, ages 7 and 11 in the Bahamas? We wound up on the public beach. Cruise ship passengers do this as well and thats why it can be overcrowded a lot. Atlantis Bahamas Review - Is it Really Worth It? There are lots of activities to experience at Aquaventure and guests staying at the resort have access to all of it. After we shoo her away along comes a lady wanting to give us massages. Do they look at how many people in each room to get a wristband? There was lots of dancing and singing and drums going on. We are at the Atlantis now, staying at The Cove, on Marriott points. 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. If I could redo the trip and still feel the need to stay at the Atlantis, I would have booked a room at the Coral Towers instead. Had we not, we would have surely missed out on some of their fine dining establishments. Not worth an entire stay at Atlantis. 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. 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. I have been trying to locate someone, so very important to me. They are: The Royal, The Coral Towers, The Cove, The Reef, and the Harborside Resort. Do Not Sell My Personal Information -, Fodor's may use your email address to send you relevant information on site updates, account changes, and offers. I legit dont think they have any salt or seasoning in the back. And we really enjoyed the not-so-lazy river. Review your folio on your television every night to make sure everything is correct. In order to go on any waterslide, you need to get a wristband from a certain hut. Until this last spring, when I decided if Im going to be in The Bahamas, I NEED to stay at the Atlantis. We also got the plastic cups and refilled them during our stay. Water crisis in West isn't over: Can't we just move water from the East? You are right, the staff all acted like they were miserable and avoided us at all cost. Its sad to see such a decline. Right?!?! Do you have any facts onParadise Island I would appreciate if you can assist me with the information. Dinner is almost the same food but twice the price. Privacy Statement - This site uses cookies. 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. Hoped to do a family reunion in the future. Mosaic is a buffet restaurant in The Cove at Atlantis . They consist of typical pub fare..hot dog/burger/chick sandwich and fries and refillable soft drink. You cant go wrong there. Have you considered renting a villa from an owner at Harborside Resort at Atlantis? In my review of Atlantis, I will tell you this. The locals we have met on the outside of the resort are much nicer. 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. Currently, we were looking at the Coral and the Royal. And now here are some images of the Coral pool such a difference! I hope you found this review of the Atlantis Bahamas Resort helpful. We found out the economy is based off of tourism and employees get around 2.00 dollars an hour. What is your advise for me. They do not make them easy to find. The kids actually preferred this beach over any pool at Atlantis. I was there in the 70s on the Sea Venture which docked by Paradise Hotel/Casino. Hi, If staying at Baha Mar can you use Atlantis waterpark or see their aquariums? Dining plans must be purchased no later than the end of the dinner period on the day of arrival, . If your worried about cost- don't go to Atlantis. We also bought the basic meal plan. Were planning a June trip and want to go to Florida, the Keys, or Caribbean somewhere. Can't we just pipe water to the West from areas of the country that have more water? Huge portions and plenty of leftovers. And you need your resort card to get those. Lets go! To me, it always seemed like something that was out of my financial reach. The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan is the least expensive dining plan option. $425,000 Last Sold Price. The tower itself was really nothing special. What is the best way to get to Paradise Island? There was even a small place where you could pet starfish and sea cucumbers. 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. Perhaps you should try some new places to stay when you travel and you will see how resorts are supposed to look. We got lost and turned around several times. You will find lots of shops (too expensive to buy anything from!) I am afraid the kids will just give one room number, etc. The Atlantis meal plan allows. Is the meal plan worth it at Atlantis? We also took a great ferry to another island to see the dolphins. Atlantis has many value meals that are around $10 (burger, fries, soda), but if you vary from those meals, you can hit $20 quickly. The dolphins were rescued from Hurricane Katrina. I have way too many items on my bucket list to stay at the same place over and over again. Save your money and stay someplace else. Ridiculously expensive. Check Your Cellular Carrier for Bahamas Coverage, 14. There used to be a lazy river where the pool is now and it was replaced by the much cooler Canyon Ride. 2020 Cost Per Person, Per Package Night: Adult: $55 Child: $26 The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan includes: I will give it that. Totally not worth it unless you are HUGE eaters--plus I don't believe it includes the gratuity which is based on what your food ordered came to in price. We just got back from a week at Atlantis. Atlantis Dining Plan Deciding on Dining Options at the Atlantis Resort & Casino We do not believe the Aqua Dining Plan represents a good value. Would have easily exceeded $4000 with alcohol and gratuity. What we actually spent: $2000 including alcohol and gratuity. They accidentally gave me the wrong invoice at check out and one families bill was $5990. But again, you can go to Marina Village without being a guest at Atlantis. I cant imagine going anywhere over and over again when there is so much in our world to explore! The Atlantis dining package is not worth getting - it ties you in and doesn't even provide any discounts. I hate food waste, but with no fridge or microwave in our room, we couldnt take it with us. We have eaten at Margaritaville and thought it was very reasonable for the Bahamas anyway and the food was pretty good. The Trident Dining plan costs $135 per day for adults and $57 per day for children ages 7-11. One really cool thing about Atlantis is that the bridge that connects the two main towers is actually a giant suite that rents for $25,000 per night. It was a great deal to be able to see Atlantis, but also be outside and see other parts of Nassau. For accounting purposes, guests are required to sign checks for each meal; the cost of plan inclusions will not appear on the guest room folio. I have a question about the wristband. Lol, you took the words right out of my mouth! We are in our 60s, have no children or grandchildren with us. Is the food plan ever offered as an incentive (like it is at Disneyworld)? Answer 1 of 8: 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. Its fast and efficient and syncs with your phones calendar. 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. 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. Do you and your family spend countless hours staring at the aquariums? You have to buy it for all of the days of your stay. Sandra Ferguson Taxi Service-Highly Recommend! 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. Also- no one explained the difference between public and private beaches. Also, advice on best ways to book? And while lots of people say Well all of the Bahamas are expensive, thats just not true. The lost city of Atlantis, King Arthur, and Robin Hood are prominent examples of legends. Just click on the link to read that post too! The lazy rivers look a little too green for my liking! We sprnt MUCH LESS money WITHOUT the meal plan. I have been to Atlantis 4 times now and dining is very expensive, however I would not want to be limited by the choices given under the plans. I could not agree more! your better off taking a taxi to the town, prices at restaurants are a third of what it costs on island. Its been on my list for a while but my heart sank when I read the review! We declined. Your email address will not be published. Its a thing and it was a really fun day! 3 Beds. Pools and space are WAYYYY too crowded and soooooo many kids crying everywhere. You can charge everything to the room, but there will be a bill at check-out. I am here at the Atlantis on what was to be a 5 night trip but just changed my flight to go home 2 days early.., I agree with all of the earlier comments concerning the price and quality of food .. and lack of entertainment options for adults. And lesson learned read the reviews online and always trust them. Dinner is where you can get in trouble and there just aren't many fast- food /cheap otions. Regardless of which hotel you decide to stay in, you have access to the entire resort. And again, the staff wasnt much help. At the end of the day, Im glad we had a chance to check it out. We have been to Nassau years ago but stayed south. Wow this was really helpful ! 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. I created a Bahamas highlight for all of my Instagram stories during my stay at Atlantis. The burger shack and pizza place are places that should not be on a meal plan, you can go there on your own. Their printed maps dont make any sense. There is a lot to see and do inside The Royal hotel. The website claims that all rooms are newly renovated. My grandchildren are very young and are having a great time thank goodness but they would have anywhere! document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Hello! , Staying at The Cove at Atlantis was spectacular. more. The resort's address is One Casino Drive, Paradise Island, Bahamas, and it can easily. (and some even sooner than you). If you can help with any tips on planning or good locations for a great experience Im so open to it ! The bone-in ribeye I had was spectacular. The Atlantis is an amazing place to stay and enjoy with your family especially for the kids. 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 ? My family and I had a wonderful vacation at The Reef in Atlantis Bahamas. I actually offer that tip and lots more on How to Save Money At the 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. Ive been to The Bahamas 5 times already. They call themselves a full-service resort. We stayed at Baha Mar and it was amazingI highly recommend it as an alternative to Atlantis. Ft. 1116 Easywater Ct, Fuquay Varina, NC 27526. I will post a trip and dining report later this week as soon as I get caught up here at the office. One last extremely calm rant as you can see they charge $165 for a PCR test for you to leave the country.. FOR THE PCRT TEST. Have any errors fixed immediately, don't wait until check out. Too bad it was empty its usually rented by celebrities! I noticed that they offer two dining plans, casual ($85/pp/pd) and fining dining ($135/pp/pd) - - yes, both are expensive. Brought cheese and meats and crackers to snack on. They may even offer delivery at this point. From the dining staff to employees in the pool area. You will not be bored here with all of the activities they offer. I would hate spending $30-$40 a meal for them as well and then not eat anything and go to waste. The credits system is good though and it is very flexible. Been there 14 times- meal plan not worth it unless you eat 3 meals per day.advise you to go to grocery store upon arrival b/c the food. Day passes to Aquaventure can be purchased for those who are not staying at the resort. When we got home, I compared the cost of what we would have spent (I saved the receipts) to the cost of the food plan. Like, horribly confusing. I would put Atlantis in the cruise ship category. My goal is to always give honest reviews. Very outdated rooms. You must have this completed and available to show at customs upon arrival. It didnt have a lobby like most hotels do. We again, stayed at the Cove, but spent a lot of time in other parts of the resort more appropriate for his age. Do you know how disappointing it is to travel to the Caribbean in hopes of some good seafood and end up paying $100 for a pizza and some drinks? or each day at the park. Our room was on the same level and we got a great view of this. Having said this, we were not on a tight budget and we did splurge on what we wanted to eat. Keep in mind, some of the restaurants listed are not open every day. I appreciate your comments! Actually everything in your review hits the nail on the head. Contact Us - Check the current pricing for Atlantis Bahamas! And yes, I did it. Other activities are available at additional costs, including swimming with the dolphins or sea lions, paddleboarding, snorkelling and much more. Do not do the meal plan. Not only does the meal plan restrict you to eating on property, it limits you to certain restaurants. That's where we come in! I just remember the staff was not very pleasant and the place looked run down at every turn. I want emails from Fodor's Travel with travel information and promotions. ta.queueForLoad : function(f, g){document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', f);})(function(){ta.trackEventOnPage('postLinkInline', 'impression', 'postLinks-60595459', '');}, 'log_autolink_impression');Nassau. But I could eat that in the States so, again disappointing. You can charge everything to the room, but there will be a bill at check-out. PS You can book your tour with the Swimming Pigs HERE! We stayed in a suite at The Cove and had the same horrible services, food and experience in spite of what should have been the more upscale section of the resort. You just have to "creative.". I actually find that people who enjoy places like Atlantis dont often travel elsewhere and know what other resorts have to offer. It includes numerous water slides, tube slides, river raft rides, lagoons and more. What we actually spent: $2000 including alcohol and gratuity. Im not one to give negative reviews unless they are fully justified, but dinner at Carmines was awful. We do want to eat at one of their fine dining restaurants such as Casa di Angelo or The Seafire Steakhouse at least 2 of our 4 nights. I am planning a HOTEL (not timeshare) stay at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas in December. I made a reel that you can check out here to see our view. These are my experiences with my family. The wide, open decor made us feel like we were in another world. Thank you so much for this review! It is centrally located as it is the epicentre of the resort. And when I write reviews, I always give honest ones and this review of Atlantis is no different. Depending on the restaurant you choose, it may very well be cheaper to purchase meals without the plan. We are reserving several rooms. Get answers to your questions about Paradise Island. Its stunning! Thats been my goal from day one and I wont ever change that. Once to explore the town of Nassau, and the second time for a Swimming with the pigs excursion. This does not include alcohol and gratuity. Daily access to the Fitness Center for 2 people; cardio studio, universal and free weights are included; tennis, fitness classes and personal training sessions are not. (Realize, your first day thereyou probably missed it). When we arrived, we found a beach bag, water bottles and flip-flops waiting for us in our room. We stay at Harborside and have a full kitchenso we buy groceries. We are avid travelers who love discovering new areas and traveling in our Camper Van. (2022). Nassau is NOT as nice as paradise Island. You have to get the plan for every nite, and everyone in. They call themselves a full-service resort. Just stay there for lunch. I would hate to be on a budget, and I would hate to have kids here and not have brought a ton of snacks from home. Do not do the meal plan. During our excursion, we were out on the water all day long and we visited 5 different islands, including Pig Island. Because we're all only a paycheck or three away from needing to ask for help. 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. The staff clearly hates their job and customers visiting them. It only includes breakfast and dinner, not even lunch. So we felt your pain, there. This outdated hotel is not worth the money. You walk through once and youre done 20 minutes later. It was by far the best thing we did in the Bahamas! And sadly, the best way to book si directly through the website. For the most part, I agree with your review, but with a caveat. Not only are you required to make reservations ahead of time for many of your meals, but it's very expensive and IMO defeats the purpose of staying in a timeshare with a kitchen. We visited on a cruise with kids a few years ago but did the blue lagoon excursion so never visited Atlantis. The basic day pass starts at $95 for kids and $190 for adults and provides access to the Aquaventure park, water slides, beach etc. To use our mobile site, please enable JavaScript. 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. Bempedoic acid just passed a key test, Tanker explosion kills driver, damages homes near Frederick, Maryland, Rachael Ray to end daytime talk show after 17 years on the air, Woman in Washington state claims $754.6 million Powerball jackpot, Grizzles star Ja Morant suspended after flashing gun on Instagram. I think this was an unfair characterization of the the staff to say you didnt find a friendly face to anywhere. We opted for the middle of the pack, the Royal Towers. It is very hard to fairly evaluate the meal plan since Atlantis doesn't publish any of their menu prices online. All meals will cost you extra. Advertising - You should check out Baha Mar THATS what a pricey resort should look like! Took the shuttle to town and bought cheap awesome rum, to mix with coke ,in refillable cups that lasted days. This was the most thorough review and you have saved me and my Family over $7,000 from staying at Atlantis. There are beautiful beaches, 11 pools, a lazy river, lots of waterslides, lagoons filled with stingrays and sharks, golf, tennis, a fitness center, a spa, and so on. If you staying in the hotel, there is no place to cook or store cold items. $75 each? I hunted long and hard for some and never found any. Ugh- definitely stay in one of the two smaller boutique hotels which will set you back $1000/night. The Cove Atlantis is an exclusive, adults-only section of the resort featuring an ultra-pool. I had been looking at other resorts that you mentioned and think we will choose elsewhere and just visit Atlantis! So I wanted to give an honest review of Atlantis so you can decide if its worth it for your family. Expect at least a 10-minute walk for even the most basic necessity. Furthermore it looks as if you enjoyed yourself in those photos. The marine adventures they offer include swimming with the dolphins, scuba diving, snuba, snorkelling and more. Thank you for your post and all advice afterward. It will really give you a feel for the entire resort. The furniture is way to big for the space and two of us were literally squeezing to pass each other by.. Bottom line is that you can eat better for less money than the meal plan, even though it will still be expensive vs. eating here in the US. They lack care and the details. Original review: Jan. 26, 2023. Archive - Save. Just be sure not to order too much. The Atlantis Kids Adventures (AKA) is a supervised children's program for ages 3 to 12, but it will cost you for a half- or full-day, as well as the addition of lunch. Thankfully, we saw dinner being served at a table next to us so we decided to share a pasta dish. No, Atlantis is not an all-inclusive resort. You can check it out here. And Im like you, I only go to a place once. The beach is awesome when the stupid cruise ship people make the lines too long. The ridiculous amount of walking for our elderly dad and lack of dining options for small kids were huge negative. We ended up booking an excursion to Blue Lagoon Island on our third day, just to have something else to do. https://coffeeandmascara.org/ Copyright 2023. Im sorry if you think I have a lack of research or as you say Caribbean experience but I can assure you thats not the case. The budget plan is mostly buffets and deli's. The gourmet makes you big out every morning AND every nite in order for it to make sense. What You Need To Know Before Flying With Kids, Baha Mar on what a resort pool should look like, Everything You Need To Know About Visiting Junkanoo Beach, Full Review of the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar Bahamas, How to Visit the Famous Swimming Pigs of Exuma, 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. You have to buy it for all of the days of your stay. An evening program is also available so parents can have date nights while the kids play, also at an additional fee. If we walked out of the restaurant in under 3 hours on any given night, it was considered a miracle. We have stayed at all the towers over the years and The Reef is our favorite. See Related: What You Need To Know Before Flying With Kids. Reservations must be made in order to dine at the restaurants so be sure to book well in advance of your arrival. The entrance, hallways, service, and our room were all excellent. Two completely different experiences. Thank you SO much for this review! There are no free shuttles but you can take the jitney (their local bus system) very easily and very inexpensively! I stayed at the Comfort Suites across the street and had FULL access to Atlantis. The (very small) lobby doesnt even have an employee there. Not only does the meal plan restrict you to eating on property, it limits you to certain restaurants. My Atlantis Bahamas Resort review is overall very positive and I would recommend visiting Atlantis. We love Atlantis, and not because we havent tried anywhere else in the Caribbean (weve stayed at least a week in Jamaica, Cayman, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Aruba, along with multiple resorts in Florida and Mexico). Atlantis is not all-inclusive, but they used to offer dining plans, however, they currently do not. : r/bahamas. We are looking at Atlantis and this was exactly my worry. I also got sick from the food one night. If you are arriving on a boat for your family vacation, you can drop anchor at the Atlantis Marina. Enjoy! I would recommend anyone who might read this, who can afford to stay at the Cove to do so! Yes, to each their own, but you seem to have the same thoughts as I would about several things! This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. I just left Atlantis for a week long trio and I wasnt sure if i was being negative or ungrateful. NONE I REPEAT NONE of the food is even remotely tasteful. Absolutely zero authenticity in these foods. Now take that added expense and put it on some of the blandest food youve ever eaten. Kids could easily be entertained for hours inside this hotel. We love it. Currently, all visitors to the Bahamas are required to have a health declaration. I don't get it? It sometimes makes sense if you have an older child who will get the plan included for free, but that's one of the few times. No, Atlantis is not an all-inclusive resort. My wife and I have been there twice in the past 6 years. In fact, many of their restaurants were closed when we visited. , Im sure the kids will be less bored at a resort with zero water slides, zero river rides, and zero aquariums , People pay attention to what she is writing, its all true so travelers beware. This was once a great property, but the new ownership has turned it into a terrible waste of money. Any info on prices or your opinion on the meal plan are greatly appreciated!
is atlantis food plan worth it