Not only does the meal plan restrict you to eating on property, it limits you to certain restaurants. This outdated hotel is not worth the money. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Even as adults, it is highly entertaining and a ton of fun! I did learn that the comfort in which is way cheaper also includes daily armbands with the stay if you dont like the timeshare thing. 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. Do not do the meal plan. You can charge everything to the room, but there will be a bill at check-out. If you are travelling on a budget or with a family and would prefer an all-inclusive resort where your meals are included, use these tips to help you pick the best all-inclusive resort for your needs. This does not include alcohol and gratuity. Re: Atlantis Paradise Island, Atlantis Meal Plan Worth It? The Atlantis dining package is not worth getting - it ties you in and doesn't even provide any discounts. Something that people NEED to get out of the country. We will be looking at other Carribbean islands like Bermuda and The Cayman Islands.. Cayman Islands are AMAZING! We have been there with and without the meal plan. No, Atlantis is not an all-inclusive resort. Its like home. But I could eat that in the States so, again disappointing. NONE I REPEAT NONE of the food is even remotely tasteful. I fully realize everyone has different experiences, but this review was based on my experience and I am always 100% honest with my readers! 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. There are no free shuttles but you can take the jitney (their local bus system) very easily and very inexpensively! There are a couple off-site restaurants that do list prices and perhaps it would help you decide if you knew what you could purchase at sites not directly on the resort. We have been to Nassau years ago but stayed south. Going with 2 small kids. 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. Not only are they more inexpensive than the Royal towers, but the coral pool was a hundred times better than any pool around Atlantis. For the most part, I agree with your review, but with a caveat. You will not be bored here with all of the activities they offer. And we really enjoyed the not-so-lazy river. Shark Bites is good for lunch and if you keep your drink cup, you can refill it for free. Thats my opinion. 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. Enjoy majestic views of Atlantis Marina and 1950's dcor at this New York-style restaurant. Sandra Ferguson Taxi Service-Highly Recommend! The meal plan is not worth it. If you are travelling with kids, I would suggest staying at The Royal. We found these activities to be extremely expensive so we did not do any of them. Ive stayed there with kids and was fabulous. Its not very tough to convince me to go on a trip, lol! The Atlantis is an amazing place to stay and enjoy with your family especially for the kids. Otherwise, you have to go across the bridge into Nassau. Many of the restaurants, bars and casinos are located inside the Royal Towers building. 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. 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. In fact, many of their restaurants were closed when we visited. 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. If Atlantis does offer its dining plans again, it would certainly make a difference in the amount of money spent on food. Its called the Michael Jackson suite due to him visiting there often. I would put Atlantis in the cruise ship category. PS You can book your tour with the Swimming Pigs HERE! or each day at the park. The sand was soft and white and really clean. How much does it cost to eat at Atlantis? And Im like you, I only go to a place once. It actually looks like they havent done much upkeep at all, to be honest. I don't mind to walk to nearby places to save a dollar or two. August 2021 Tried to get assistance from staff. Junkanoo Beach, Nassau Everything You Need to Know! I have a question about the wristband. but also a lot of food places. Oh, and the layout of the waterpark is really confusing. I agree! Dinner is where you can get in trouble and there just aren't many fast- food /cheap otions. Is meal plan worth it at Atlantis Bahamas? The Atlantis Bahamas is not an all-inclusive resort, however, you can purchase a dining meal plan in advance or when you arrive (before your first meal.) 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!). $75 each? And each day is a new wristband. Would have easily exceeded $4000 with alcohol and gratuity. So I wanted to give an honest review of Atlantis so you can decide if it's worth it for your family. And again, the staff wasnt much help. This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. All I could do while reading your through review was OMG, she thinks like me. As Im reading her review, Im nodding and saying, yes!yes!yes! until the very end because it was 100% inline with our experience. You are right, the staff all acted like they were miserable and avoided us at all cost. 2 to 3 meals each day. After registering, I can manage my newsletter subscriptions by visiting my Profile Settings page. So thats the main reason I wrote this review of Atlantis, so you can decide if its worth your time and money. There used to be a lazy river where the pool is now and it was replaced by the much cooler Canyon Ride. So we felt your pain, there. 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. Atlantis does not like giving away discounts. It was actually only cloudy one day and the rest was sunny but Im glad you enjoyed it so much! What is the best time to go to Atlantis Bahamas? The basic day pass starts at $95 for kids and $190 for adults and provides access to the Aquaventure park, water slides, beach etc. Atlantis on Paradise Island, some recommendations please. While expensive, I highly recommend staying at The Cove. 2 Baths. And the pools were very basic. Do they look at how many people in each room to get a wristband? We are planning a trip to Atlantis this summer. Beware if you are traveling with young kids. So hopefully you dont have any questions or need any assistance. You only break even with the meal plan if you habitually eat three course meals at every sitting. I also got sick from the food one night. 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. Atlantis is not all-inclusive, but they used to offer dining plans, however, they currently do not. Can't we just pipe water to the West from areas of the country that have more water? I had been looking at other resorts that you mentioned and think we will choose elsewhere and just visit Atlantis! 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. 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. (and some even sooner than you). Referral services for child, elder and pet care, home and auto repair, event planning and more One positive thing I will say about my review of Atlantis is that the beaches are amazing. Once to explore the town of Nassau, and the second time for a Swimming with the pigs excursion. The (very small) lobby doesnt even have an employee there. Ive been to The Bahamas 5 times already. We are avid travelers who love discovering new areas and traveling in our Camper Van. Can be used anywhere on resort other than a Starbucks in Marina Village. The Leap of Faith waterslide is pictured below where you zoom through a shark tank. 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. Some folks like cruise ships and others private yachts. I would not pay $75 a day per person. I can assure you my reviews are 100% accurate in my descriptions. They could easily fill the tank with tons of coral and colorful fish and the ride would be just as fun and exciting. The experience was absolutely worth it. Expect at least a 10-minute walk for even the most basic necessity. I am ver go with the flow type person, I dont care about a little paint missing here and there, but amount of repairs needed is unbelievable.. I stayed at Baha Mar last year. We stay at Harborside and have a full kitchenso we buy groceries. With hungry, tired kids, I dont want to walk long distances and wait hours! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Walk across the bridge and get street food. The bone-in ribeye I had was spectacular. 'Long time' since this much snow seen on volcano, Political trailblazers: She was in Congress before women had the right to vote, How Disney World, Disneyland made 'it's a small world' more inclusive, Tom Sizemore, 'Saving Private Ryan' star, dead at 61 after brain aneurysm, True-crime book. If youre planning a trip soon, be sure to check out this list of essential items you need for travelling during the pandemic. This place is horrible. But the higher-end, nicer restaurants like Nobu are quite expensive. , 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. Yes, it is expensive everywhere in Nassau, I spoke of this in my review of Baha Mar as well. Theres no service through out the hotel. Its hard to have a bad day when you wake up to these views. Other resorts on the beach usually only have one pool and could never compare to the large property at the Atlantis. Hello! To find out if purchasing a day pass to Atlantis is worth it, check out this detailed post. Margaritaville is also reasonably priced and not on any plan. What we all DID love was the Baha Mar but more about that later. 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. I am planning a HOTEL (not timeshare) stay at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas in December. Then each morning we had a protien rich breakfast getting arm bands. We went in March of 2020 so maybe they made some updates since then. We ask guests who require special dietary accommodations to contact the Chef's Office at least two weeks prior to arrival with the full details of their needs. Being able to lounge at The Coves exclusive pool and listen to the DJ spin without hearing children screaming was worth every penny. And yes, the beaches are nice. Murrays is very reasonably priced, you dont need a plan to get value there. I have been trying to locate someone, so very important to me. We had a fabulous time at Atlantis, so fyi to you and yous, we stayed in the timeshare so I did my research and we bought with us frozen cheese and meats like bacon and of course coffee because that is most expensive to buy there. I know we really wanted to stay at the Atlantis because it had a lot of hype to it. The laws for working in The Bahamas are very strict and you cannot get a visa if you are a foreigner. What is the best way to get to Paradise Island? 13 Travel Raincoats for Women to Keep You Comfy and Dry, Atlantis Bahamas Resort Food & Beverage Fest 2023, What to Wear in New Orleans to be Cool, Cute & Comfy, Atlantis Bahamas January Sale: Celebrate Like a Royal, Best Camping Gear Essentials for the Great Outdoors, Wifi in guest rooms and lobby areas for up 4 devices; 6 devices at The Reef and The Cove. I created a Bahamas highlight for all of my Instagram stories during my stay at Atlantis. They call themselves a full-service resort. Yes, you can buy a day pass to visit Atlantis waterpark but beware! Our rooms were run down and the AC was motion sensitive- meaning when we fell asleep and werent moving it went off. This was rather disappointing. And now here are some images of the Coral pool such a difference! more, You seem to have JavaScript disabled. Free and fun! My girlfriend and I were thinking we could save money by Eating Cereal in the morning. Depending on the restaurant you choose, it may very well be cheaper to purchase meals without the plan. So I wanted to give an honest review of Atlantis so you can decide if its worth it for your family. The lazy rivers look a little too green for my liking! You are spot on with this review! Contact Us - Where is the benefit? This decision regarding where to stay will largely be based on whether or not you are travelling with young kids and how much money you wish to spend. My girlfriend and I were thinking we could save money by Eating Cereal in the morning. (Realize, your first day thereyou probably missed it). I am afraid the kids will just give one room number, etc. The staff at Atlantis werent friendly. Spoiler alert it wasnt for me. The Trident Dining plan costs $135 per day for adults and $57 per day for children ages 7-11. And the aquarium tanks were all really cloudy. Cruise ship passengers do this as well and thats why it can be overcrowded a lot. But the Leap of Faith was really thrilling. Much cheaper and more fresh. And sadly, the best way to book si directly through the website. My husband had a conference there so we took our whole family. I hope so! You'll have lunch for tomorrow, no problem! All Rights Reserved. If you have like a gazillion dollars to spend at the Atlantis, then go to a nice restaurant. The food plan covered breakfast and dinner. We are at the Atlantis now, staying at The Cove, on Marriott points. I could not agree more! Would I regret not paying for the meal plan ? If you've been there, your thoughts are appreciated! I just don't know how much the prices are in these restaurants, or the buffets because there are no prices listed. Like literally no coral, no plants, no rocks nothing! Their sushi was so decadent that we went back a second night. Urban Ministries of Durham serves over 6000 people every year who struggle with poverty and homelessness. This was once a great property, but the new ownership has turned it into a terrible waste of money. 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? My least favorite thing about the Bahamas, and Atlantis, is the service charge, and VAT tax, on top of the ridiculous prices.then they want an extra tip!?! I have way too many items on my bucket list to stay at the same place over and over again. Each person has their own wristband and you need a new one each day. In my review of Atlantis, I will tell you this. We are planning a trip this coming summer with our 6 year old daughter and 3 year old son. What we actually spent: $2000 including alcohol and gratuity. The meal plan is not worth it. The service is more accurately described as apathy for me. For me, it was a bucket list trip and it lived up to the hype. I will post a trip and dining report later this week as soon as I get caught up here at the office. Thank you SO much for this review! The staff clearly hates their job and customers visiting them. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in Canada. I was there in the 70s on the Sea Venture which docked by Paradise Hotel/Casino. If you can help with any tips on planning or good locations for a great experience Im so open to it ! Even the kids didnt like it. Atlantis Paradise Island, Atlantis Meal Plan Worth It? I dont know about you, but cloud-like pillows make all the difference for me! 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. However, if I hadnt already swam with dolphins in Mexico, I likely would have paid for that one. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The first was as a childless unmarried couple. And to each their own I guess. Our room was on the same level and we got a great view of this. 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. 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. When talking to a local taxi driver, he pretty much confirmed this for us. Explore our special air & hotel package and book your getaway! 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. My wife and I have been there twice in the past 6 years. 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. Im currently staying at the Cove right now (as Im typing this) and she pretty much nailed the experience for me. https myhr openings net. It only includes breakfast and dinner, not even lunch. Check Out: How To Eat Like a Local In Nassau. The meal is far from 'paid for' with the plan. We really considered this for a minute, but then I saw the private area and it was basically the same as every other area and just had small storage boxes in between each chair. We didnt venture into any of the other hotels, but you can compare them here. Haha, the sunscreen IS really expensive! But its very clear it hasnt been kept up very well. Is the meal plan worth it at Atlantis? 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). Yeah, just talked to some recent guests. everything is VERY expensive there as they import EVERYTHING>. The waterslides were a lot of fun even though there were not too many of them. Browse all 12,199 Paradise Island topics , Marriott Member - Cove vs The Royal vs The Reef. I normally wouldn't go for a meal plan. Keep in mind, some of the restaurants listed are not open every day. If you are staying at the resort, access to the Aquaventure waterpark is included so you do not need to purchase a day pass. We spent A LOT of money on food and drinks. Just got back from our second trip here and you have summed it up perfectly. The pain in the butt part is, you have to go find the special wristband stand in the waterpark to get one each morning. The food was outrageous so we ended up snacking on French fries. So we ended up going there every night anyway. I have been reading about imperial service . A close second was our dinner at Seafire Steakhouse. We plan on signing her up for the Sea Squirt program. It takes that long to get your food. We love it. Not only does the meal plan restrict you to eating on property, it limits you to certain restaurants. We also enjoyed lunch on the patio at Olives overlooking the superyachts. The locals are not allowed to do this on the private beach. ). There are lots of activities to experience at Aquaventure and guests staying at the resort have access to all of it. We are Jen and Abby, a single mom and daughter traveling the world on a budget. The vibe . What is your advise for me. But the fact the kids eat free almost sounds like a no brainer. We decided to stay at The Cove because it was just the two of us and we wanted a luxury vacation. We went to several beaches, both public and resort, while in the Bahamas and the Cove beach was particularly the best. 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. We were thrilled with our decision to spoil ourselves. The slides were so awesome I want to go back before I am too old. Nassau is NOT as nice as paradise Island. Cookie Policy - 6 May 2022, 6:14 am 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. Is meal plan worth it at Atlantis Bahamas? Look out for our newsletters with travel tips and special offers. Nope. At the end of the day, Im glad we had a chance to check it out. 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. You can go to any restaurant right outside of the Atlantis for half the price. Like yourself, it was a bucket list thing for us but I wouldnt recommend it to people. 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. Agreed they have great beaches! But, as is true with many popular resort areas, Nassau and Atlantis aren't especially budget-friendly. Atlantis is located on Paradise Island in The Bahamas, which is just across the bridge from downtown Nassau. per person for a sad SAD excuse for basic motel-5 continental regurgitated-back-alley-leftover-dumpster food. Prices are normally $80 (lol what?) I have to join the dissent. The locals we have met on the outside of the resort are much nicer. This is the one area of the resort that was disappointing. It costs $32.00 per person for an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet . 2020 Cost Per Person, Per Package Night: Adult: $55 Child: $26 The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan includes: Just stay there for lunch. Royal Caribbeans Wonder of the Seas: Who Should Sail on This Megaship? Thank you for all this info!!!! I have also stayed at enough resorts to want nice, friendly staff and nice rooms, pools. Its fast and efficient and syncs with your phones calendar. Atlantis has been a bucket list item for me and I brought my kids and grandkids here for a 5 night stay. Because to be honest, I can only take (or afford) so many vacations a year. Im trying to plan a resort trip with my BF and it has been such a feat. Its not often that I have to write about a hotel that I DIDNT like. I was thinking that by staying at the Royal that I would be closer to everything, especially food, etc. Because thats exactly what I would want to read! It is centrally located as it is the epicentre of the resort. I guess even if Id read it before now I would have come just to check it off my list. Hoped to do a family reunion in the future. These are my experiences with my family. Right now we are planning a return trip with an upgrade to the Reef. I will post a trip and dining report later this week as soon as I get caught up here at the office. We have gone to this resort every other year for 10 years. This was the worst trip for me and my family and the experience was even worse in person. That's where we come in! Now take that added expense and put it on some of the blandest food youve ever eaten. And yes, some people love Atlantis, I didnt. Also, advice on best ways to book? Would have easily exceeded $4000 with alcohol and gratuity. Everything You Need to Know, Atlantis Bahamas Review Is it Really Worth It? We stayed at Baha Mar and it was amazingI highly recommend it as an alternative to Atlantis. One positive for Atlantis we had lunch at an outdoor spot at the center of the water park and the lady who waited on us was wonderful. The Royal was not worth the extra money. But even the Dig only took us about 20 minutes to walk through. 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. PLUS, downtown Nassau has amazing authentic cuisine that is super cheap (and supports the locals). It only includes breakfast and dinner, not even lunch. Weve experienced the same thing each of the previous 3 trips to Atlantis. We bring small breakfast stuff from home (breakfast bars, mini muffins, etc. And why the no authentic Bahamian cuisine inside the resort? We were expecting to spending a heavy chunk of money on this trip but now I am second guessing it all. Ugh- definitely stay in one of the two smaller boutique hotels which will set you back $1000/night. Im not one to give negative reviews unless they are fully justified, but dinner at Carmines was awful. Yes! Dining plans must be purchased no later than the end of the dinner period on the day of arrival, . 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. My partner and I were expecting to pay up decent amount of money for GOOD quality food and experiences but yet none were to be found. Until this last spring, when I decided if Im going to be in The Bahamas, I NEED to stay at the Atlantis. We also bought the basic meal plan. It entitles you to counter service meals and snacks at most Quick Service dining locations and food carts around Walt Disney World Resort. If your worried about cost- don't go to Atlantis. 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. There is no doubt that Atlantis Bahamas is worth it for adults. Even the service at restaurants is horrible. Why people go here is beyond me. Its a shame you didnt love the Atlantis! Save yourself the hundred dollars this cost and just get yourself a beach chair lockbox. same meal in parks at Disney is usually in the $10 range. The wide, open decor made us feel like we were in another world. I have heard that food is very expensive, but would like to know how much to budget for 2. The food was like eating at a strip mall. I am planning a HOTEL (not timeshare) stay at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas in December. We ventured into The Royal every day to explore its attractions, check out the casino and dine in several of the restaurants. Each time I asked how to get somewhere, they would just point and walk away, or not respond at all. Took the shuttle to town and bought cheap awesome rum, to mix with coke ,in refillable cups that lasted days. The water was clear and not too deep. Get FREE email communications from Fodor's Travel, covering must-see travel destinations, expert trip planning advice, and travel inspiration to fuel your passion. Meal Plan: Would have been around $3200 for all 4 of us. Then the vendor walks up and asks if we want another. However, we also ordered more food than we probably would have without the plan. As of June 2013, the meal plans run between $80 and $130 per day, per person, but these plans continually fluctuate with resort seasons and specials. Read on for my full review of the Atlantis Bahamas resort and why I recommend it. Got a comment on this article? If you time it right, you can go mid-morning, fill up and then just have a light dinner. You must log in or register to reply here. The only nice thing about our room was the view. If you are arriving on a boat for your family vacation, you can drop anchor at the Atlantis Marina.