Anyone here been to the Bahamas?

[purbeast0]

My fiancee and I are looking to go to the bahamas for our honey moon in September and are considering the Atlantis as our place to stay. Looking online at travelocity, expedia, etc, it seems like a lot of people love it but say it's way too overpriced.

I'm just wondering if anyone on here has stayed there and if so what was it like? Also if you have been to the Bahamas and NOT stayed there, did you visit it and did you enjoy it, and were you allowed to use everything for free or did you have to pay?

 

[Jeeebus]

I've been there numerous times via cruise stopovers in Nassau (not like there's anything to see in Nassau other than Paradise Island). As far as I remember, the resort is largely open to the public with no charges for amenities (walking through the aquarium, casino, beach). Of course last time I visited was 8+ years ago, so take that with a grain of salt. Not sure I'd want to stay there though. Was a little too "busy" for me especially with all the walkthrough traffic.

 

[Jmman]

I have been there a bunch of times. It truly is a lovely hotel, and if you gamble quite a bit, they will really take care of you. In fact, I have never paid to stay there but I imagine it is fairly expensive. I also have stayed other places in the Bahamas, but the Atlantis really is the nicest hotel there. As far as staying somewhere else and then visiting the Atlantis, that is not a bad idea either. The first time I went there I stayed in the hotel next to the Atlantis and then just spent most of my time in the Atlantis casino. Iyt definitely is wide open, and a lot of people hang out there but actually are staying in other hotels.

 

[purbeast0]

Jmman we were contemplating possibly doing that because of the prices, however what I'm wondering is can you just go to the atlantis and do the stuff like the lazy river, the huge water slide, go into all of the pools, etc? they have some really neat things in that hotel but I just don't know if you can do them for free if you don't stay there, and of course on their website i couldn't find any details on it either.

 

[iamwiz82]

It's a cool hotel. You have to be a guest to go on the beach, IIRC. There was a very large security guard blocking unauthorized entry.

 

[purbeast0]

cool i also hear the food is really REALLY expensive there and it's more worth it to go elsewhere to eat meals.

 

[Codewiz]

I have been there while on a ashore trip while on a cruise.

I just returned from a week vacation in the Abacos. Specifically Elbow Cay, Abaco. That is really the only way to go. Less tourists, better islands, more freedom, more relaxing. It just can't be beat for a REAL Bahamas trip. Places like Atlantis are for tourists that just want to stay in a hotel while in the bahamas. You don't get to see what the real Bahamas look like.

You can't beat renting a boat and going to random uninhabited islands to snorkel.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

went to grand bahama last october, going back this november.

really enjoyed myself last time, thought the people were really friendly and it seemed to me they sincerely appreciated the tourist (unlike a lot of other carribbean destinations)

my boss spent some time at atlantis with his family and had nothing but great things to say about. im not much of a hotel traveler, i prefer the condo/house + rental car approach. but i have heard good things about that one in particular.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
went to grand bahama last october, going back this november.

really enjoyed myself last time, thought the people were really friendly and it seemed to me they sincerely appreciated the tourist (unlike a lot of other carribbean destinations)

my boss spent some time at atlantis with his family and had nothing but great things to say about. im not much of a hotel traveler, i prefer the condo/house + rental car approach. but i have heard good things about that one in particular.

where did you stay in the grand bahamas? we're not dead set on atlantis, partially due to the cost of the place.

 

[HardcoreRobot]

Originally posted by: purbeast0

Originally posted by: HardcoreRobot
went to grand bahama last october, going back this november.

really enjoyed myself last time, thought the people were really friendly and it seemed to me they sincerely appreciated the tourist (unlike a lot of other carribbean destinations)

my boss spent some time at atlantis with his family and had nothing but great things to say about. im not much of a hotel traveler, i prefer the condo/house + rental car approach. but i have heard good things about that one in particular.

where did you stay in the grand bahamas? we're not dead set on atlantis, partially due to the cost of the place.

we are fortunate enough to have generous friends with a timeshare
their place is at http://www.oryc.com/ i wont say its excellent, but it definitely was sufficient for our needs. not sure if they do rentals or only the timeshare thing. the biggest downside is that its NOT on the beach! on the other hand, its location at a marina worked out very well for me since the dive operation i want to use is located on site

there is a cluster of beachfront hotels a couple miles away. bunch of restaurants and a casino located here. bars on the beach, jetskis, those type of things.

airfare to bahamas is relatively cheap from DC so thats another reason we have gone

 

[Cellulose]

I have been to Atlantis about 10 times, since a relative is COO there (just retired a few weeks ago).

Its fantastic (even if it was free ) , and the recent additions have only made it better. Another option would be to get a package deal (with activities incl.) from one of the nearby 5 star hotels.

I have never actually slept in one of the rooms although I have visited them, incl. the bridge suite (I stayed on the golf course in her house heh).

What were you planning to do activity wise?

edit: Food wise it can be expensive, yes, but you can save quite a bit by going to the buffets - which still have excellent food.

 

[richardycc]

we were just there to walk around last month when my wife and I were on a cruise. It is basically a casino (foxwoods comes to mind) with a waterpark and beach front. We can't see or get into certain places since we weren't staying there. Let me see if I can find some pics.

 

[purbeast0]

HardcoreRobot what airport out of the DC area do you fly out of typically? I have been checking out from BWI but I live in Rockville, MD so I can go to either Dulles, Reagan, or BWI.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Cellulose
I have been to Atlantis about 10 times, since a relative is COO there (just retired a few weeks ago).

Its fantastic (even if it was free ) , and the recent additions have only made it better. Another option would be to get a package deal (with activities incl.) from one of the nearby 5 star hotels.

I have never actually slept in one of the rooms although I have visited them, incl. the bridge suite (I stayed on the golf course in her house heh).

What were you planning to do activity wise?

edit: Food wise it can be expensive, yes, but you can save quite a bit by going to the buffets - which still have excellent food.

we like to be busy when we go on vacation, we typically don't want to sit around for 7 days. we like to do day excursions and trips to various places, however there seems to be a lot of stuff to do in atlantis. we are not however big gamblers in general. i like poker but don't plan on gambling much (if at all) on our honeymoon.

what i'm confused about is what all is included if you book a room there. can you go on snorkel trips for free, go on that lazy river for free, go on the water slide as much as you want for free, go in that 1 mile river innertube thing (different than lazy river)?

you should ask your relative about some coupons for us to use :laugh:

 

[Cellulose]

All the waterslides are free (incl. the two rivers [one is a current with waves etc.], and that is largely what you will be paying a premium for. Snorkeling on other islands (trips etc.) arent included, but the hotel will arrange them for you (Scuba etc.) - of course you can just go to the nearby beaches. If excursions to nearby islands etc. (assuming the water slides arent a necessity) is your main priority, it will be quite a bit cheaper to go to inclusive hotels. Atlantis will be a lot more memorable though

You are about 3 weeks too late for coupons, you could have gone for free

edit: Atlantis obviously doesnt let non-guests use the waterslide facilities.

 

[purbeast0]

bump for any more info :thumbsup:

 

[ericb]

With the cost of staying at Atlantis and food/activities you would be a lot better off staying at Sandals and visiting Paradise Island/Atlantis when you feel like it. Nassau is a very expensive place to eat unless you are used to major city prices (Outback was one of the most reasonable places there). Look at Sandals (food and alcohol included, all activities included, no kids, no singles, etc), pay $1 to ride the bus to Atlantis for the day and come out ahead both ways.

Now I'm a little biased because I used to work for a travel agency but there is no way I would stay at Atlantis when I look at how much it costs vs how much you get.

 

[krunchykrome]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
My fiancee and I are looking to go to the bahamas for our honey moon in September and are considering the Atlantis as our place to stay. Looking online at travelocity, expedia, etc, it seems like a lot of people love it but say it's way too overpriced.

I'm just wondering if anyone on here has stayed there and if so what was it like? Also if you have been to the Bahamas and NOT stayed there, did you visit it and did you enjoy it, and were you allowed to use everything for free or did you have to pay?

You might want to reconsider going there for your honeymoon. Im getting married on October and we didnt consider the bahamas at. Apparently it is rainy season there that time of year.

 

[alkemyst]

Atlantis is the only decent spot in the cesspool called the bahamas. It's pricey but worth it.

Keeps the riff raff out.