One of the most multifaceted resorts in the world, Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas, truly caters to everybody from wedding parties to solo travelers. But for the last four years, Good Housekeeping has sent families with kids and teens to experience the resort and give us their honest feedback.
EXPLORE ATLANTIS PARADISE ISLAND
We pulled their notes together to come up with 15 of the best tips to know before you go to this four-time Travel Awards-winning destination.
Dining
Atlantis boasts 21 restaurants, and our testers have collectively tried most of them.
- Fish by José Andrés is a favorite. Our testers unanimously loved the decor and food at this celebrity-chef restaurant. "We were completely wowed," said one family. "They have an extensive kids menu with lobster rolls, roasted chicken, fish sliders, and fish and chips, which our 6-year-old loved. We sampled crab cakes, ceviche, whole fried fish, and Black garlic shrimp. Everything was fantastic!"
For most restaurants, tipping is automatic. "A 15% gratuity and a 10% VAT tax is already added to the bill at most restaurants," our tester said. So keep this in mind when you're signing the bill.
Fish by José Andrés is one of the most popular restaurants at Atlantis.
- Poolside nuggets are everything. "The chicken fingers at Frezca are so tender and delicious that my husband and I ended up finishing our son's," one mom said.
- You can start the day with Starbucks. You don't have to leave behind your comfort from home. Atlantis boasts four Starbucks locations—two in the hotel towers, one at Marina Village, and a kiosk near the water park. "There were some mornings where the line was fairly long but it moved quickly," said our tester. "But the wait time would be something to consider when planning your days."
- The newest celebrity-chef restaurant is incredible. "Paranza by Chef Michael White bills itself as an ocean-inspired Italian restaurant. We had crudo, calamari, and lobster risotto, and the whole experience was lovely," our tester said.
Animal encounters
Atlantis boasts more than 250 species of marine animals.
- The animal experiences are worth it—especially Dolphin Cay. “During our playtime with the dolphins, our 6-year-old was especially enamored with our sweet dolphin Electra and kept saying how cool it was," one tester said. "We all got kisses and high fives and the feeling of my hand hitting the dolphin fin is something I won’t soon forget.”
Our testers especially enjoyed Atlantis’ Dolphin Cay experience. "Our dolphin, Electra, made sounds at us, waved, splashed, and was generally so playful," said one mom of a 6-year-old.
- The sea lions are great if you've already seen the dolphins. "Our family absolutely loved the playtime with the sea lions experience," said another tester. "It was interactive and [more] intimate than the dolphins, and [we] had a chance to go behind the scenes and meet other sea lions and see their care facility."
- Look up fish-feeding times. "Most mornings and afternoons, your family can watch fish being fed in one of the exhibits," said our tester. Look up the feeding schedule online before your trip so you can plan to be there. For instance, the Mayan Temple Sharks get fed every Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at noon.
- Plan to stop by the aquarium daily. "The Dig Aquarium is magnificent," said our tester. "We loved coming here daily to see the beautiful ocean animals."
The world’s largest recreation of the mythical Atlantis, The Dig has 15 chambers, many with fish exhibits.
Beaches and pools
Atlantis offers five miles of beach plus the largest water park in the Bahamas.
- Get the best spot on the beach. "There's [an] area between the beach and the property that offered the sand and beach without the fear of waves, uneven ground from the tide, and the vastness of the ocean," explained our tester. "My husband and daughter went snorkeling there."
- Note the pool hours. "The pools are open from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. when the lifeguards are on duty, so plan accordingly,” one tester said.
Atlantis’ "lazy river" is actually quite adventurous. The mile-long loop contains drops and wave surges.
- Don't leave your credit card in the room. "There are lockers available near the slides and Rapids River and you need a credit card to access them," our tester explained.
Hotel rooms
Atlantis has five distinct hotels scattered throughout the massive property.
- The Reef is great for kids. Of the hotels at Atlantis, The Reef turned out to be the best choice if you're traveling with children, according to our testers. "You can make some meals in your kitchenette and buy breakfast supplies from the on-site convenience store," said our tester. "It was also nice to have separation from the high-energy casino that's in The Royal."
- Bring laundry sheets. The Reef offers free use of its washers and dryers. "Having the ability to do laundry on site was a huge plus for us," said one family. "We ordered laundry sheets on Amazon rather than having to lug liquid."
- Housekeeping is fantastic. All our testers praised the housekeeping team. "Our housekeeper fixed the room beautifully each day," said our tester. "She would also come back later in the afternoon to drop off towels when she knew we went back to the pool.”
As you’re deciding on the location of your next vacation, be sure to keep Atlantis in mind.
