This was my second trip to Atlantis. The first time I went in 1999 we left feeling so guilty the kids didnt come we knew we would someday return.This just occured. Having stayed in the Royal towers last time we thought we could save some money staying at the Comfort Suites and we did. The $167.00 per night we got from the Comfort Suites web site held up well with two queens and a fairly nice pull out sofa. Try to get the new section it really is much nicer. The Comfort Suites are across the street from the Coral towers and are nicely located for any Atlantis destination. Atlantis gets really crowded near the Royal towers water slides and pools after 12 noon and on cruies ship days.We soon learned to vacate that area after lunch and head for the always pleasant beach area in the afternoon.The water slide lines do get long.One day while in the pool somebody took my beach chair. They folded my towel and placed my hat and sunglasses on the floor. Then placed their stuff on my chair. I could not beleive my eyes.I reversed the towels and then sat and waited for this idiot.A lady came a few minutes later and quietly picked her stuff frpm the floor and slithered away. Really ruined my day. The kids really had a blast and want to return again. I hear the Atlantis will soon expand I think we may wait a few years and see what it looks like then.Over all we got what we expected and had a good time. Really a dream come true for my children. The Atlantis is a site to behold which is why it is so crowded. Many people from the ships seemed to have been told they could use the water slides this was not true with a lot of disappointed little kids running around. One guy offered me $50.00 to get his kid on the slides. I declined saying that would be one more person my kid would have to stand behind in line.

How does that work? Are you saying that by staying at the Comfort Suites you can use the facilities of the Atlantis? Do you get a bracelet to use to take advantage of all the water slides, etc. or is it just beach access you get?<BR><BR>We honeymooned in 1996 at the Marriott and were able to get onsite but could only use their beach. On our second return we paid $40 each to use the pools, slides, etc. At that time they gave us a bracelet to wear which identified us as only a day user.

That is one of the reasons I really dislike Atlantis....Its a free for all. There is enough room for Atlantis guests at full capacity at all the facilities. When you add the people that stay at comfort suites for $167.00 per night and the cruise ship crowd also using the Atlantis facilities pool, pool chairs, slides,beach it equals HUGE disappointment for the Atlantis guests. Totally not fair and it is due to Sun International's greed. I've been to Atlantis, and paid almost $600.00 per night to stay there to not have a chair by the pool (at 10 am I might add) because they were taken up by guests at other motels. Its great to see packed lunches on a six chair spread that you cannot use because Comfort suite guests came in early and occupied them. Its funny because Atlantis poses themselves as a world class resort, its not Disney after all.(Actually the Grand Floridian is much, much better) When Atlantis keeps Atlantis for their guests only maybe I will return, and I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels, that way. Atlantis charges plenty in rooms, food, drinks and the casino to more than cover any all costs. Its just not fair to the Atlantis paying guests.

Just for the record I spent a small fortune on drinks and food and casino at the Atlantis. Having stayed in the Royal towers eairler I concluded the room at the Comfort Suites was nicer minus the view. Comfort Suites guests are given the same bracelet as Atlantis guests and have unlimited access.

Really....Jeez, for my husband and myself it cost us over $1000.00 per day including room - excluding casino to stay there. Sorry we got hooked by the hype definately not worth it. Like I said, Atlantis is too overcrowded with people from other motels and cruises. Its not fair to the Atlantis guests. I don't know of any other place that allows this for the prices they charge. Can you imaging being at Cap Juluca and after breakfast going to the beach only to find it noisy and overcrowded and no lounge chairs because guests from other hotels are in them. Its absurd! Like I said I'll return to Atlantis when pigs fly!

And it will only get worse. The next phase will include 1000 additional rooms as well as a grand casino. How Greedy can you get? Even a few extra pool won't lighten the load.

I did that $1000.00 per day thing and then got smart. We had a good time then and a better time cutting our room price by more than half.I admit that the Atlantis did get tired after our third day. Anyone going should save a day to visit the Adastra Zoo and Gardens. Really a pleasant experience.

Message to Eileen: Atlantis does not allow Comfort Suites guests access to the property "due to greed" In actuality they are obliged to.Before Sun came along, the then CEO of Merv Griffins resort decided to invest in the construction of Comfort Suites and allow it's guests signing priveledges and use of Merv's facilities. When Sun took over they tried to buy Comfort Suites as well as Club Land D'or timeshare but both refused to sell, so now they are stuck with "guests" they do not really want.Just a hint for getting a chair by the pool slip the pool guy a tip the day before and you will meet an empty spot at 10am next day.I guess that is why the pool attendants are rumored to make 60K a year.<BR>

I don't care about that...it's still a rip off for the Atlantis paying guests....so go ahead and have fun y'all they got enough money from us. Been there done that never to return off to much much better (for the same $1000.00 per day)Have fun fighting over pool the pool chairs and waiting on line for a silly 10 second water slide!! Next time I want constant input with upscale rooms I'll go to Disney and stay at the Grand Floridian, Atlantis is definately not relaxing or romantic. <BR>Actually I think everyone going to Nassau should stay at the Comfort Suites and use the Atlantis facilities, that should hurt them in their pocket!!

Anon, you've explained the deal with Comfort Suites, but that doesn't explain the deals with all the cruise lines, and $25 admission to the Digs.<BR>(The pools would be even without the outsiders) Comfort Suites is not the bulk of their daily overload.<BR>

The average type of people who go to Atlantis are the same type of people who pilfer beach chairs, wear shirts with beer belly hanging out the front and plumbers' crack in the rear, and shovel enough food at the buffet to choke a whale.

From what I have heard, cruise guests and people not staying at the Comfort Suites or Atlantis may NOT use the pools, water slides, etc. They may see The Dig and aquarium($25), walk around the grouds, go to the casino, shop in the arcade and eat in the restaurants. That is what a travel agent has stated. In the past they allowed people day passes, but it got too crowded.

Cathy,<BR> You are correct. People from cruise ships or hotel/motels other than the Comfort Suites are not permitted to use the pools and slides. They can pay $25 for a tour of the facilities. There were guards checking for "bracelets" or room keys all over the place when we were there.

I suppose it would just be easier to put a Hadrians wall round the places to stop the marauding hordes and free up the pool for Eileen and her family.The whole point is that it is a hotel with facilities open to the general population i.e the casino,stores and restaurants,the reason they have the tour is an attempt to stop non-guests wandering around outside unrestricted,I am sure if someone out there has a better idea then maybe they should let Atlantis management in on the secret.

Atlantis management has things set up exactly the way they want things, believe me. Maximum number of people possible yields more dollars. That's the literal and figurative bottom line.

From the responses I see on this forum, it sounds like Atlantis will eventually feel the pinch from the very people that can afford this resort. At $1000.00 a day, upscale travelers expect more than they are getting. Sharing of the facilities doesn,t have to mean all the facilities. Why not have Atlantis guest only areas? Maybe they will get smart with the expansion and make areas off limits to outside guests. Makes sense too me.