Part 1 -

Just returned from 4 nights on Paradise Island. Since I got so much help from this board I figured I post a report.

Airport - we flew in on a Tuesday and out on a Saturday. We really had no problems either day. Checking process through Customs on Saturday was no problem at all. I had read so many horror stories that we got there 3 hours before our flight took off. Only took us about an hour and 10 minutes from ticketing to gate. Probably because its low season and we didn’t leave on a Sunday. Took a cab from the airport to the hotel for $30 total. The cabbie was great and told us lots stuff about the island and pointed out points of interest all the way to the hotel.

Hotel – to save some $$ we stayed at the Comfort Suites, since it still gave you full access to all the Atlantis amenities. The hotel was fine. The room clean, the service good. No view too speak of, but that didn’t bother us because we spent so little time in the room anyway. The pool and pool bar was very relaxing to escape to when you wanted to get away from the masses at Atlantis. The continental breakfast (cereal, juice, coffee, English muffins, toast, bagels, donuts etc) was a good value and if you ate at Caruso’s you could add 2 eggs any style with bacon, ham or sausage for just $6.25 extra.

Food – we only ate 1 meal at Atlantis. This was in Murray’s deli on the first night we got there. What an ordeal. It took us about 2 ½ hours to get seated, to order, to be served and get out and we only ordered Rubens w/cole slaw sides. The kitchen there was really messed up. The wait staff was nice but operating at a large handicap because the kitchen was so slow and kept screwing up orders all around us .

The rest of our meals were taken outside of Atlantis. We ate burgers and conch fritters at the Green Parrot in the hurricane hole marina. Excellent low key food and you could watch the huge yachts going in and out of the harbor. We ate twice at Zio Gigis in hurricane hole marina also. One night it was thin crust pizza (great sausage & pepperoni)! Another night is was Lasagna for DH and Rigatoni and Sausage for me, also very good. We took a cab to Nassau and also ate at the Poop Deck (very good) and at the Fish Fry (arawalk cay) at Twin Brothers (best meal we had). All food and drink was expensive, but what do you expect, your in the islands. But overall, we found the food to be good and less expensive than the various venues at Atlantis.

Continued -

Part 2

Atlantis - Glad we went, probably won’t go back anytime soon. The property was impressive. The Dig, the Aquariums , the landscaping, the hotel lobbies were all wonderful. The crowds especially at the pools were the pits. We spent most of our time at the beach (one day in the general “coral towers area” and one day in the “beach towers area”. It was nice laying on the beach and listening to the bands. The beach and the water was beautiful. We had no problem getting chairs on either day. And we were never harassed by the locals hawking their wares, a simple no thank you worked just fine. Chairs at the pools were another issue, hard to come by, lucky for us we wanted beach time, not pool time. My DH did the slides and loved them. We both did the lazy river and enjoyed it too. Most of the staff we encountered was friendly, nice and helpful. All it took was a friendly – how are you today? Before you jumped in with questions etc. Lots of construction going on by the harbor area and behind the Royal towers, could be an issue if you’re staying in those areas.

We heard plans that Kerzner plans to build a theme park on the old Club Med property as the next phase of development 2006/2007. They say it will be something to rival “sea world”.

Paradise Island - this island is soooo crowded with traffic, tourists, cars and hotel/condo development built right on top of each other, sometimes it was hard to remember that you were in “Paradise” except when you were at the beach.

Nassau - we took the ferry over from PI and liked the ride and scenery. Went to the Straw Market but found it too hot and stuffy inside the tent to enjoy it for long. We didn’t find the merchants too aggressive. Again they asked and with a simple no thank you, left us alone. We enjoyed our walk around the “town” portion of Nassau looking in all the shops and stopping in various bars to “refresh”. We also took a No 10 jitney around Nassau and passed the Cable Beach area which gave us a nice perspective of the island. If we go back, we will probably stay in the Cable Beach area next time.

Sorry this is so long but wanted to “share” with all the people that helped us plan the trip and anyone planning a future trip. Hope it helps.

Great Trip Report! Robert

Great report and I am so glad you had a good time. The crowds at ATlantis are quite amazing sometimes, but the resort is large enough so when we have been there, never felt too crowded.

Next time down to the Bahams, you might want to try one of the outislands, much more laid back with beautiful beaches and warm and friendly locals.

Did you get to see a Junkanoo while you were there?

Thanks for all your planning help Robert.

Wantsomesun. I agree, we might try Freeport or Harbor Island next time down. Or stay at CAble Beach. Missed Junkanoo because it was on a Saturday, they day we flew home at the Fish Fry. Thats one of the thing we would have loved to see.