rileypenny

We just returned from Atlantis (Royal Towers) with our 15 and 12 year old sons. We were there 7 years ago and experienced bad service, but owed our 12 year old the return trip just for the water park. Requested 1 king and 2 queens connecting, and got it. Check-in process was quick and professional. Pool area in good shape, line for slides manageable, good availability of lounge chairs. Mesa Grill was outstanding, Bimini Road, Murray's deli, and Marketplace breakfast buffet were all good. Yes, of course, dining was at beach resort prices. Room was appropriate for four star category. This is a great 3 or 4 day vacation with school aged kids - -your kids will never be at a better pool area. Downsides were Cafe at the Great Hall of Waters/Guest Services snafu, which reminded us of the Atlantis we remembered, surly service with early closing of breakfast at Plato's, and an off-property restaurant, the Poop Deck (great FRESH fish and horrible service, other food not so good- -others have recommended but our experience not good at all). Also disappointing service at Dune, but it was handled well by management.

scarboroughmom

We also enjoyed Atlantis. We were there before all of the new stuff was opened, and we would like to go back. Did you do any activites outside of the Atlantis resort?

rileypenny

We did not do anything outside of the resort on this trip, except dine at the Poop Deck. We were basically there for the pools for our kids and that's what they wanted to do. We considered the powerboat adventures, but no one wanted to do an all day trip, and we considered the Stuart Cove snorkel trip, both were recommended. By the way, after three days of pools, beach, renting jet skis, snorkelling in the Atlantis lagoon, our kids could check the box- -they had done the water features and needed no more of it. Last trip, we swam with the dolphins, but did not do it this time.

karens

riley - we were also at Atlantis several years ago with our kids and they LOVED it. Just got back from a business trip with my husband and the new water slide area is so much fun! This was the first business trip I really wished I could have brought my kids to.

We have to go back with my kids - maybe as a gradution present in a few years.

WannabeinaMontserrat

I have to ask this of people who enjoy Atlantis. I have never, personally met anyone who had a good thing to say about the place & I've probably had 20 friends give it a go. But, Is this where parents take their kids when they get too old/big for Disney ?

Scubagirl

Once they've outgrown disney, I'd hope the family would move on to something will a little more class.

There are some wonderful resorts out there that don't include whining kids and a theme park atmosphere. Get your kids involved in scubadiving or something new and exciting.

karens

Wannabe - if you "know" me from my posts, you know that I hate Vegas and I am no fan of Disney. I also don't like resorts or all-inclusives b/c I don't like staying in one place - I like to explore and actually see the town or country I'm in.

So I'm not the typical person who might really like Atlantis. But my kids LOVED it. They like going to water parks, and we've often added a day at a water park to our summer vacations (Raging Waters in CA, Water World in Colorado).

We were at the Atlantis about 6 years ago with them, and they still talk about it. I just accompanied my husband on a business trip there last weekend. It was a good setting for something like that - at least there was a lot for me to do b/c I like the water rides and the beach is nice.


If given the choice, I'd go to Europe or the American West, but I would like to take my kids back to Atlantis one more time b/c they would LOVE the new water park. I would be prepared - I wouldn't go for the whole week, and I know that the food is outrageously expensive and that downtown Nassau, for the most part, lacks charm. But the beach is nice and if we vacationed with my parents and sister, everyone who have something to enjoy at the Atlantis.

MomDDTravel

I was at "the Cove" last July and without my children and swore I would take them back there with me at sometime. I just see it as a place they would really love and like Karens I am more of someone who likes to explore, get out and does not like sitting by a pool with a bunch of people drinking etc. But it seemed like a place my children would have a blast. A very different vacation then our European one!

Tamsentm

My family visited Atlantis for 10 days 2 years ago . . . I hated it . . . the Kids LOVED it! My youngest was too short for most of the slides and the new section opened our last day so my kids have begged me to go back. Our compromise is that the next time we visit one of the idyllic out islands, we'll land in nassau, spend 2 nights at Atlantis (so they can get it OUT of their system!!) then on to what I consider paradise : Eleuthera, Cat island or such. I think I could tolerate the screaming kids, fake inlets and concrete beaches if I knew I had many more days to look forward to on a remote, quiet beach with two very happy kids (they also love snorkeling and shell collecting with no one in site)

MomDDTravel

Tamsentm - that sounds like a great idea actually.

karens

That sounds like a good idea to me, too.

We always do Disney in a similiar way. We spent 2-3 days in Orlando and then head over to visit my MIL in Sarasota and visit wonderful Siesta Key Beach.

girlonthego

We went three years ago for a 4 night vacation for my 40th birthday. My family and my DH's family met us there.
It is the perfect place for a group to go. There is something for everyone. I did not know they were all coming. They surprised me.
Anyway, we enjoyed our stay and the kids had lots of fun. The food was good for the most part. We also stayed in the Royal towers and were happy with our accomodations.
We have enjoyed our trips to Disney as well as Europe, and many trips around the US and Caribbean. I think people can have the experience they want. We wanted beach, relaxation for a few days with good food. The atmosphere was a little like a vegas (never been) on a beach, but it was fun.

MomDDTravel

girlonthego - YES, it is like Vegas on a beach!

Karens - that gives me an idea for a trip to Florida. The girls have been dying to go to Disneyworld and I actually like Disney but would hate to spend a week there... maybe change my timeshare for someplace else in Florida and pay for a few nights at Disney.

mistyvoyager

My husband and two sons have visited Atlantis twice and our sons still list Atlantis as a top pick to go to! (they are now 21 and 18!) Europe last year was great too but they still always have great memories of Atlantis! My husband and I enjoyed the casino (not as much as the casino enjoyed us!) and we did find a nice quiet area behind the slides in the pools for us. I made the colossal mistake of trying the slides and to my family's hysterics found myself lying down (advised by lifeguard) on the slide and major league hitting my head not once but twice on the way down! Of course I had bumps the size of golfballs but the family now has a good "mom" story to tell. Food is very high of course and we tried to avoid the buffets. Interesting to us...everytime we called from the room to book a reservation we were told the restaurant we wanted was booked and then we'd walk to the restaurant at the appointed nonavailable hour and find it was totally available! Became a funny joke to us too! We actually liked the Hall of the Waters for the aquarium....found service surly too though! We found our sons could hang together during the day (19 and 16 last trip) and 14 and 11 on earlier trip allowed them to use the clubs. Can be 18 for the casino I believe.

Lets face it...most young people love slides and action! Our sons also took a waverunner off the beach at Atlantis and loved it....I was nervous when they disappeared behind some rocks in the ocean but they reappeared quickly and all was well. We all went to Nassau and enjoyed some shopping. I wanted to eat at Greycliff in Nassau and we went for lunch. Very disappointed...the hotel was doing repairs and the drill continued throung lunch...not atmospheric...I imagine dinner is much better....quaint rooms. Go to Matisse instead....very excellent! Near Parliment.

My husband and I would prefer The Ocean Club just for the quiet, cloister and beach and we did enjoy the view from Dune restaurant. And of course one now can watch Casino Royale and dream!

Took a horsebackride with the hotel supplier while hubby played golf on first trip and it was not good. Could only walk the horses and guide was rude to us. (Horsebackriding on Puerto Rico however is a blast!)

My family loves Disney! We have been going for years. Relatives nearby so we visit Florida often. I worked there when I was in my twenties and still enjoy going back. But then I don't wait in lines...been there....done that...there are so many fun other things to do at Disney. The Grand Floidian, the Poly, riding the pirate boats, sitting on a swing at the Poly beach with a Mai Tai, and Chefs de France at Epcot.....The international food and wine festival at Epcot in the Fall....Captain Jacks....etc, yes so many people think Disney is fake....isn't everything that isn't pure nature fake? We loved Europe so much and will continue to go back....but I mean someone built most things you see...so Walt made some of us happy and our kids got some magic....think of the first time you saw Peter!!!! And also, the pools, the food, the sevice, the spas, etc, can rival most anywhere! For a pure relaxing trip, it can't be beat! Although I will say Disney needs to add some happinning clubs for us adults who still like to dance!

WannabeinaMontserrat

scubagirl - my comment was, while a legit question, very 'tongue in cheek'. I loathe all things Disney & based on my friends opinions, Atlantis seems to fall into a 'Disneyesque' type mold. My children (though only 3 & 6) are fairly well traveled. We don't 'do' resorts but are very independent type travelers. Let me rephrase, you'll not likely catch us dead, at any resort.

rileypenny

Atlantis was greatly improved over the visit 7 years ago. I hated it then. Service was consistently awful. And yes, the joke was that any time you got information over the phone or at one of the towers about what was open or where to go to meet an activity, that information would prove wrong (after you walked a mile to get there). We did have a little of that on this visit, with Great Hall of Waters and Plato's, but not nearly as much as last time. When I returned I received a long customer service survey, which I returned. So, anyway, I think they are making an effort.

Last year we took them to Europe and they loved it. This is just different, and it really was just for the kids. I wouldn't go to Atlantis unless we had the kids with us. I'm not sure my kids would really love to go to Disney now at their ages (15 and 12). They would probably enjoy a couple of days at Universal more. But these slides, jet skis, etc. do really entertain them still. For a 9 to 14 year old kid, I think this is a really really fun three day vacation. Older and younger kids, too, but 9 to 14 seems like the strike zone.