Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - Real scoop on Atlantis

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I tried to send you an e-mail. I sent one the other day to [email protected], but it came back. I sent one to [email protected] and that also came back. So I guess I'll just post it here. I'm not sure if you saw my earlier post, but I had said that I had a great time, but that I had one complaint. That is: I would love to hang out outside at one of the bars in the evening, but they close @ 6:00 so that everyone will move in to the Casinos. I don't gamble. They would make more money off of me if they kept the Beach Bar or one of the others open. We were not the only ones at the bar. There were quite a few people. I know they do this to get more people into the Casino, but it didn't get me into the Casino. So I wish they would have just one bar open outside for us people who love being outside, drinking Pina Coladas in the beautiful warm weather. The place is beautiful. The pools are really nice. You are never more than steps away from a snack bar by the pools. The water slides are great. The beach is beautiful. The rooms were pretty standard for the price. The restaurants are very expensive. The buffets and even a lot of money. It didn't bother me, but it might bother some people. Breatfast buffet is $20 and dinner buffet was $34-$40. If you are into gambling, this place is for you. Like I said, I don't really gamble, so I was upset that in the evening we could not hang outside. Ask me any other questions you can think of. In answer to your question - was it really crowded? It was crowded in the sense that we could not get a reservation for any of the restaurants that you needed a reservation in. We ended up going to the buffets (which were fine), and they were not crowded. There were plenty of tables. You had to get up pretty early too in order to get a "good" lounge chair at the pool. There were usually plenty of chairs, but maybe not at the best location. Molly

Trish - I tried to send you an e-mail. I sent one the other day to [email protected], but it came back. I sent one to [email protected] and that also came back. So I guess I'll just post it here. I'm not sure if you saw my earlier post, but I had said that I had a great time, but that I had one complaint. That is: I would love to hang out outside at one of the bars in the evening, but they close @ 6:00 so that everyone will move in to the Casinos. I don't gamble. They would make more money off of me if they kept the Beach Bar or one of the others open. We were not the only ones at the bar. There were quite a few people. I know they do this to get more people into the Casino, but it didn't get me into the Casino. So I wish they would have just one bar open outside for us people who love being outside, drinking Pina Coladas in the beautiful warm weather. The place is beautiful. The pools are really nice. You are never more than steps away from a snack bar by the pools. The water slides are great. The beach is beautiful. The rooms were pretty standard for the price. The restaurants are very expensive. The buffets and even a lot of money. It didn't bother me, but it might bother some people. Breatfast buffet is $20 and dinner buffet was $34-$40. If you are into gambling, this place is for you. Like I said, I don't really gamble, so I was upset that in the evening we could not hang outside. Ask me any other questions you can think of. In answer to your question - was it really crowded? It was crowded in the sense that we could not get a reservation for any of the restaurants that you needed a reservation in. We ended up going to the buffets (which were fine), and they were not crowded. There were plenty of tables. You had to get up pretty early too in order to get a "good" lounge chair at the pool. There were usually plenty of chairs, but maybe not at the best location. Molly

Thank you for your reply Molly. I'm not comfortable putting my real e-mail address out for all to see, so I very much appreciate you posting again here. I posted another couple of questions regarding the Atlantis on a new thread. 1) Can you snorkel right at the Atlantis? 2) Does the Atlantis have a lagoon w/sting rays where people actually enter the water with them? I was watching the travel channel last night and saw the Atlantis featured. There were people there swimming w/sting rays ~ just asking because my 13 year old son thought that would be "awesome". Thanks again for posting back! Tricia

Trisha - There were sting rays all over Atlantis. Everywhere you looked. I do not know if you can swim with them though. I don't know the answer to your snorkeling question either. Sorry. You could probably call their 800 # and ask them those questions.

Please don't swim with the stingrays. They are God's creatures and were meant to roam free.

Tricia, There is a lagoon at Atlantis where you can snorkel, but it's very shallow. Wherever you walk you pass over water ways filled with different types of sea life. There is no need to ever enter the water to see sting rays and sharks and many other sea creatures. As I said earlier, make dinner reservations early if you want a specific restaurant. I HIGHLY recommend Villa D'Este and the Bahamian Club. I called in advance of our visit and made dinner reservations. If you get to the beach by 10:00 you should have NO problem at all with getting chairs just where you want them. Your 13 year old son is going to think everything about Atlantis is awesome. Wait until he gets on those water slides!

Gail - Thanks for the info regarding Beach Tower location. I went ahead and booked the Coral Towers as they are more centrally located. I doubt my father would use a wheelchair but I will make sure that he gets some very comfortable walking shoes before we leave. I also think I will follow your suggestion about making reservations before we go since we decided to purchase the meal plan and don't want to end up only eating buffets! Any other restaurants you enjoyed or which have a great atmosphere (ie, good child entertainment factor) ?

Cindy, They don't really have any restaurants that cater to children. Children would probably enjoy the buffets. Children might also enjoy Murray's Deli. I don't know which restaurants are included in the meal plan you purchased. I don't know if they list the menus at the Atlantis website, but you might want to give it a try.

We were there in late February with my kids ages 9, 12 and 15. We had a great time. Some observations based upon the questions posed 1. Meal plan. The basic meal plan was primarily buffets, as one of the restaurant choices (Waters Edge) was closed while we were there. The buffets have a wide choice that can satify the picky eaters, yet provide some variety for the parents. You don't get the ambience of a sit-down dinner, but with kids who expects that? I'm still not convinced that financially the meal plan saves you much from buying it. Bkfst buffets were about $20 and Dinners $30 to $40. If you want the better restaurants you need to select the Gourmet Plan, not the basic plan 2. Tipping. 15% Tipping is automatically added in to all food & beverage orders, and there is a charge for the maids on your room bill. Other than standard tipping for bellmen, etc, I don't think there is reason to do more 3.Snorkeling. Not much to see in the lagoon and the ocean beaches were closed due to high winds so can't comment on snorkeling out there. Your kids may enjoy the scuba lessons they do in the morning - be certain to sign up the day before. There are off-site snorkeling tours advertised at the desks in the lobby 4. Sting ray petting - while they are in the lagoons, I don't believe there is any opportunity to pet - at least we didn't see one. The excursion desks have info about something called "Sting ray city" that might give you the opportunity you want. My kids did the Dolphin Encounter and they had a wonderful time. ( it is pricey - not just the encounter/swim but be prepared to buy the pictures/videos, etc.) 4. The slides and tubes are great - couldn't get the kids (and Dad) off them - lines did build up in the peak afternoon hours but 15 to 20 minutes was probably longest wait 5. Beach Tower is a five minute walk through the corrider to Coral Tower and then another 5-6 minutes through Casino to Royal Tower - no big deal for most, but an 82yr old might find it tiring. Beach Tower entrance was closed so we did get dropped off at Coral Tower. We did have a great view from our rooms in the Beach Tower looking out to the ocean and the Royal Tower 6. Staking out pool spots. Ideally it would be great if people used the seats staked out. By 11AM, most of the good places have towels on them - you may not see anybody on those chairs for hours. You can either be considerate of others, or do what they do - go down after breakfast and get your towels and stake your spot out for later in the day! But be sure to bring something unique as all those green towels look alike when you come back a few hours later! Net - my kids can't wait to go back. maybe if the stock market keeps climbing!

Mike, I agree with you on the meal plan. We have been there with the gourmet meal plan and without it. We found that we spent quite a bit LESS money WITHOUT the meal plan. We are not big breakfast eaters, so we brought some "breakfast bars" with us. Had a nice lunch at one of the outdoor restaurants, and then had a nice "sit down" dinner. Sometimes we went off the Atlantis properties for meals at Anthony's, and the restaurant at Club D'Or(something like that)and the restaurant at the Hurrican Hole Shopping Center.

Gail and others: By "good child entertainment factor" in my previous message I was referring to restaurants that had views of fish or other sealife swimming around. Which restaurant is the winner on that account? Almost all restaurants have kids menus so finding something for them to eat won't be a probem. We got the Gourmet Meal Plan because it offers more choices and we decided to just pay for it up front and not be so shocked when the bill comes! That way the picky 4-year-old will eat for free and we can indulge. We will be there for 5 nights, and I've decided on Villa D'Este, Bahamian Club, Fathoms and Cafe at Great Hall of Waters for 4 of the nights. Undecided for the 5th night. Suggestions? Thanks!