Paradise Island-Atlantis or Comfort Inn
 

Hi again all you helpful travellers! My 8 year old son is obsessed with wanting to go to Atlantis, which I admit looks perfect in terms of the water slides, etc. But the reviews are all over the place for both Atlantis and Comfort Inn--worst pit to greatest ever. What is the real scoop? It is a long trip for us from LA, and we don't usually pay $400/night plus expensive meals for anything let alone a pit! I read the pools close at 6--can you safely use the beach after 6? Is it true you have to be at the pool by 7AM to get seats? Are the rooms depressing? Can you bring your own alcohol? Are there grocery stores you can picnic from? Are the hotels so bad that we should choose the cheapest and be in the room as little as possible? How far is the Comfort Inn from Atlantis? Is there any other decent hotel with Atlantis access? Is there any way to beat the system? Thanks!

To: sicmama

Hi had to respond to your email. Just got back from Atlantis two weeks ago and had an excellent time as usual. This was our third visit. This time we also stayed at the Comfort Inn due to the fact we needed an extra room. Atlantis was all booked for the extra room so half our party stayed at the Comfort Suites. Comfort Suites is a decent hotel. Rooms were clean but kind of run down. In the mornings you received a continental breakfast. Very packed and very basic. We found the walk to Atlantis to be about 10 minutes. So was ok for a couple of days then became annoyng since Atlantis is so big that it just became a lot of walking. For e.g., it would take about 20 minutes to get to the Royal Tower Pool. The pools do close at six. We went during Easter break and it was tough to get a chair. The hotel was sold out. We found chairs on the beach and had no problem there. The pool opened up later. The first thing I recommend when you arrive is go to the liquor store which is right in town and not too far of a walk and get liquor. Much cheaper to do it that way. A glass of wine cost about $12. If you want to eat cheaper, go into town. Or you should do the meal plan with Atlantis. They have either American or Gourmet. Overall Atlantis is a great vacation and everyone should experience it once. The slides are great and aquariums are awesome. As for my family, we love it there and I know you will too. Sometimes the service isn't that great but you have to remember your not in the U.S. and that your in a foreign country. Your son will love it and he'll have the time of his life!

Ugh. For $400 a night, I'd go to a Four Seasons or Ritz Carlton, each is FAR superior to Atlantis, aplce where big and gaudy subsitutes for good. They nickle and dime you for every "extra" only it is more like $50 ro $100, than $0.05 or $0.10.

I went to the Atlantis in Oct for my 40th. My husband surprised me with my family and his showing up. It was a lot of fun and we all had a good time. Our ages ranged from 2 to 75 years old in our group. We had the gourmet meal plan and some others did and some had the moderate plan. We decided on staying at the Atlantis because we honeymooned there 16 years ago when it was Merv Griffins' place. It has definitely changed!!! You are coming a long way and I don't know if you would think it was worth it. I think it was a great getaway for a long weekend. The pools were fun and not too crowded. (we were there columbus day).The ocean water was very rough and not swimmable. The lagoon was calm. There is another area that has a barrier of rocks that made it swimmable.
I have never stayed or seen the comfort inn. I don't like staying in them in the US so I can't imagine what they would be like there. My brother took the cheap room at the Beach tower and said it was like being in a Motel 6. His view was a highway. There were two twin beds for five people. It was quite a hike to the pool/slides area. He is dramatic in his description, but he has three small children that probably need to be carried back. He moved on day 3 to our building. We stayed in the Royal towers. These are definitely the nicest rooms in the place. The basic room is fine(not worth the 400 a night-it is like a hilton or Marriott room)The suite we had was a nice upgrade. My husband said I was only 40 once and this upgrade was out of his normal character (cheap ha ha) so I enjoyed it. It is not a pit. The food is good. We went once, had fun, and probably would not go back. Nassau, the main city is dumpy. (That is just my opinion). So, would I travel from LA, No. There are far too many places that have slides and pools that are nicer. I am shocked that your son who is 8 has even heard of this place. It is like Vegas on the beach! The building is gaudy, but fun. It is very dramatic when you arrive at the Royal towers. If you choose to go, I am sure you will have fun. Like I said before, we had a good time.

My sons loved Atlantis, too. We stayed at the Comfort Inn and it was totally fine. My husband has stayed at the Atlantis on a business trip, and he felt it wasn't worth all the extra $$. The Comfort Inn is literally right across the street. We were not affected by the walk - you cross the street and you're there. And as a previous poster mentioned, the walk can be nearly as far staying in one section of the Atlantis.

Just so you know, the Atlantis is having a special right now - 3 nights 4 days for $399.00. I actually read it on Fodors homepage last week. I'm not sure if it's still there, but I would definitely call about it.

I just realized I replied to something from last year. Great!!

It seems like the Atlantis has a lot of "friends" willing to attempt to neutralize all the bad press it receives.