Bahamas: Visiting the Atlantis Resort

Thinking of heading to the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas? Check out this insider information before you pack your bags.

Getting There

Flights into Nassau are available from several airlines. We found great deals with Jet Blue. Connecting out of Fort Lauderdale or Miami will mean a 35-45 minute easy hop onto the island. The airport is small and easy to navigate, with plenty of transportation available outside.

As with so many places, taxi rates from the Nassau airport are set by the government. Be sure you know them before you get into a taxi. When we went, it was $33 for the first four people, and $4 per person after four, and took about about 30 minutes, depending on traffic. If you are traveling somewhere on the island without a posted rate, speak with the driver to agree upon a price before getting in the cab.

It isn’t a great option when you arrive and have bags in tow, but to go into Nassau from the resort, you can take a land or water taxi for about $4 per person plus tip. We took the water taxi one day and wrote about it here.

Getting Around

This place is massive, there are no two ways about it. You're sure to blow up those pedometers! Bring your walking shoes and band-aids for blisters. There is a shuttle that takes you between towers every thirty minutes, but we never found it worth the wait, and ended up just hiking everywhere we went. Strollers are available to rent through a third party, ask about them at Guest Services. We got one for the day we went into Nassau for the food tour (amazing, by the way, we highly recommend it), and paid $16, which included having it dropped off and picked up in our room. Easy peasy.

Check In

Check in time for the rooms is 3 p.m., but if your flight gets in early, you can head to the resort early and do a partial check in, which allows you access to the facilities before your room is ready. We arrived in Nassau at 9 a.m., left our bags with the bellman, and set off exploring.

One things we really wished someone had told us at the time was that Atlantis offers complimentary use of their In-Transit Hospitality Lounges, located in each of the towers. The lounges offer lockers, showers, restrooms, changing facilities, and bathing suit dryers. Be sure to ask about this feature if you check in early or won't be leaving at the 11 a.m. check out time.

The Towers

I read a review of the Royal Towers that said, “If you heed the warnings about the impending chaos that awaits you, Atlantis will not disappoint you.” I couldn’t have said it better! This place is loud and bustling and high-energy. But it is also classy and opulent and a sight to behold. We’ve been twice (on business), and stayed in the Royal Tower both times.

Atlantis is a busy resort - especially the Royal Towers end. There is lots happening, including the aquarium, waterpark, and casino, and people congregate here in large numbers. If you are looking for quiet rest and relaxation, you may be disappointed. But if the hustle and bustle of lots to do and see is your thing, you’ll feel right at home.

With that said, here is the view from our room...

...not much to find fault with there!

We have never stayed at the Beach or Coral towers, but every time we have visited them, they seemed quieter and less chaotic, despite the fact that most of the children’s activities (aside from the waterpark) are located on that end. Most of the promotions offered on the Atlantis website are for the Beach tower, so you can get a good deal by going with a slightly smaller and less fancy room.

There is also an adults-only tower called the Cove, but I’m not really sure I would choose a waterpark for a romantic getaway! The Reef Tower is a timeshare option.

Eating

The food at Atlantis is expensive. And not in the “oh that’s kind of spendy” sense, but more in the “that was physically painful, can you check me for blood?” sense. Prepare yourself ahead of time and surrender to it, or you’re going to have a very depressing holiday.

We budgeted $120 per person, per day for food, and managed to stay under, but it wasn’t always easy. We did need to remind ourselves of the budget a few times, especially when we were signing $500 dinner bills!

The resort does offer a wide selection of restaurants, with everything from local fare to upscale sushi and Mediterranean. Bobby Flay even has a restaurant here, for the Food Network lovers.

The meal plans are an option, I suppose for those who like to have their pain upfront, but read the fine print. You will still pay a 15% gratuity on the menu price of anything you order, and lunch is not covered in the plan. A few more details - everyone on your reservation must eat together at every meal. They also aren’t available for a partial stay, so if you plan to eat off site at all (like we enjoy doing at least once), the plan may not make sense for you. Children 6 and under do eat free with an adult dining plan, so that’s a benefit.

There are three plans available (depending which tower you are staying in and which range of restaurants you prefer), and they must be purchased before arrival.

We have never used the dining plan, partly because the event we traveled with has some dinners included, because we like to venture off into town and eat with the locals, and because we enjoy the flexibility of doing our own thing. We have tossed it up, though, so I’m not discouraging travelers from it based on our situation.

Aquaventure

The big draw! Our crew loved the waterpark, Aquaventure. The attractions are included in your stay at the resort, and day passes can be purchased for those arriving by cruise ship or staying in other hotels.

Aquaventure offers a good selection of attractions for all ages, with everything from the splash pool for tiny littles to the Leap of Faith, which drops riders 60 feet from a Mayan temple into a shark tank. The flagship of the park, the Leap of Faith has been called the Scariest Water Slide in the World by Odd Stuff Magazine and one of the Top 10 Craziest Water Slides in the World by Travel + Leisure. It is definitely one for the thrill seekers to cross of their lists!

There are more than 18 slides in the 141 acre park. It isn’t all about bigger means better, though. One of our favorites is the Current, a one mile long river ride, complete with rolling rapids and surging waves. Our five-year-old had a great time riding along on this one, but for the less adventurous, there is also a lazy river ride near the Beach tower. There are 11 unique swimming pools, too!

One thing to note - most of the main slides require riders to be 48 inches tall. While there are many children's slides and pools, this did lead to some disappointment from one member of our group.

Beach

With all that water park, it is easy to forget that this is, of course, the Bahamas, and there are gorgeous beaches just steps away! The Atlantis property includes private and public beaches, with crystal clear water and absolutely amazing sand. Unless you are staying in the Beach tower, it may take a little effort to get to the beach (I have to admit, the first time we visited, we didn't make it to the on-property beaches at all), but it is well worth it!

Marine Habitat

Atlantis is home to more than 250 species of aquatic life, making it the largest such exhibit in the Caribbean and one of the largest in the world. Check out the Dig, the lost continent-themed aquarium beneath the Atlantis tower, and then venture out to the lagoons throughout the property to see the fish and animals up close and personal. It is a pretty amazing place for the budding marine biologist in the family.

Programs are available for all ages to interact with the sea life, as well. Bria participated in the Sea Squirts program and we definitely found it to be high value to her. Check at the Guest Services desk for information on programs available during your stay.

Night Life

Once the water slides are all closed for the evening, Atlantis really comes alive. We aren’t really casino people, but Atlantis does offer a large, popular one. It is flanked by two bars with very different atmospheres. The Moon Club offers designer cocktails in a relaxed, classy atmosphere, complete with a wall featuring a tank of live jellyfish. On the opposite side of the casino is Dragon’s Ultra Lounge, a nightclub with a dance floor and VIP seating for people watching. Weekend nights, those looking to dance the night away can head over to the Aura Nightclub, a 9,000-square-foot nightclub designed by Jeffrey Beers.

There is also live entertainment, including shows in the theater (check out the schedule before you come) and the Joker’s Wild Comedy Club, which we have enjoyed on both of our visits. For $25 (cash or credit card, no room charge), you’re sure to get a laugh and enjoy a few hours of adult time.

For the younger set, there are teen and pre-teen night clubs available, too. Crush is a parent-free space by night, with family tours available each afternoon for the curious. More than 14,000 square feet, the club includes an internet lounge, gaming room, and of course a dance floor with a live DJ. The concession stand and bar serve up non-alcoholic drinks and snacks.

Our teenagers had mixed reviews of the club, but that is largely because they are on the older end of the target market. I imagine younger teens would be more interested in what Crush has to offer.

Other Things to Do

There is definitely no shortage of things to do at the resort. There is rock climbing, tennis courts, a fitness center, the spa, shopping, pottery studio, and a Build-A-Bear workshop. Atlantis Theater, located in the convention center, offers complimentary movies several times a day. If you need some quiet time, the library offers books, computers, and a children’s corner.

Just outside the Dig, there is a Cartoon Network obstacle course set up in the water. The course is free of charge, but slots fill early, so check out our blog post about the fun, then head down to Guest Services to book your go.

Grab the daily newsletter, the Atlantean, near the elevators each day for a complete schedule of activities on the property.

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Florida: SeaWorld Orlando Trip

SeaWorld is always a hit with the five-year-old crowd, and today's adventure was no exception. This is the first time we have been to the Orlando park (check out our posts from the summer of 2013 on the San Diego SeaWorld), 

The Turtle Trek exhibit was a lot of fun. It included a 3D movie about turtles, helping kids to learn the journey turtles take from egg to ocean back to lay eggs of their own. Viewers were encouraged to "be an everyday hero," doing things that help turtles like picking up litter on the beach.

Bria loved it (even though it was a bit overwhelming at times), and kept reaching out to try to touch the 3D images. It did feel like they were right there next to you!

Of course it wasn't all on screen - there were also live turtles! And manatees, which are in the same exhibit.

SeaWorld is a great place to get up and close and personal to learn about sea life, with interactive exhibits, rides, and other fun ways to draw the kids in. Nothing helps you learn about animals quite like getting face-to-face with them and watching them interact with the environment.

Bria enjoyed the shark exhibit's lessons about the anatomy of sharks, followed by a fun trip through a tunnel with sharks swimming overhead.

Note that the shark exhibit may be a bit scary for younger viewers. There is a dark, shadowy feel about things, and they play ominous music as you move through to the tunnel.

After the shark tunnel, we got to feed some small sharks in an outdoor tank. Bria was telling people all day, "Did you know sharks eat shrimp?" (But she wasn't very excited to have to TOUCH it...)

Another place to be aware of younger viewers is the Antarctica: Empire of the Penguin ride. The signs for the ride say it is for all ages, but once inside the line splits. Children must be 42 inches tall to go on the "wild" side of the ride. Bria was the only person in our group of eight people who was singled out to be too small. After standing on line for 40 minutes, we were all glad she was able to roll with that easily!

The ride includes several stages, where the story of Puck, a young penguin, is told through video in several different styles - small screens and large.

There was not a lot of difference between the two sides - basically the "mild" side just moves around less in the car. Check out this promo video from SeaWorld to see the ride in action.

We spun (gently) around in cars, learned more of Puck's story, and then the real-live penguins were dramatically revealed. Everyone loved it!

The announcements that play while you are standing in line for this ride warn that you should be dry before going in, because the air will be cold. They are definitely not kidding. Going from the hot Florida sun to the icy penguin enclosure is pretty shocking, and bringing a sweatshirt along would not be a terrible idea.

If you don't love the Dolphin Nursery, you should probably check your pulse. Watching the sweet juvenile dolphins swim around, splash and play (often with the people around their tank) is enough to melt the grumpiest of visitors. We went back to the nursery three or four times during the day, settling in under one of the umbrellas to see what the babies were up to. It's a great place for a quiet time out from the chaos of the park.

If you love dolphins, be sure to catch the Blue Horizons show! We enjoyed it so much, it had to have its own post.

When you are ready to splash around a bit, head over to the manta ray tank. You can hand feed the rays, pet them, and will likely get more than a little wet!

For inexpensive souvenir ideas, look for the collectible pennies machines spread throughout the park. They come in a wide variety of designs, and kids get the opportunity to turn the crank and "make" their own souvenir. The gift shops sell a passport-style book with sleeves to keep the coins in, which we'll use to keep coins from other spots, too. 

To wrap up, here are a few overall tips for a trip to SeaWorld Orlando.

1. It's HOT. I can't believe how many people we saw in jeans and long-sleeve shirts. Dress in layers, bring cool things to wear, and remember hats and sunscreen.

2. We like to do the all-day dining plan, because it takes the pressure off. The kids can stop and eat whenever they need to, and we don't have to worry about budgeting or a thousand junk options. The locations that accept the meal plan offer fresh fruit and veggies options that make good snacks between meals, and everyone can eat as much as they care to by going back through the line multiple times. Plus cold drinks are included (see #1)!

3. If your children are not good at standing in lines or waiting, consider the Quick Queue Unlimited pass. For $19 (currently), you get to short cut the lines and save yourself from meltdowns. We've never tried it, but it could be a good option for those eager to do a lot of rides. (We skipped the Manta roller coaster due to a 40 minute wait today.)

4. Annual passes are cheaper than you might think! Even if you already have tickets, they will give you a credit toward an annual pass, and it is often cheaper than two visits. Stop by a ticket kiosk before you leave for details, or ask about it at entry.

5. Be patient! Wander over to our post on visiting the zoo - the same advice applies. Go at your child's pace, and be prepared to skip the things that aren't going over well today. Everyone will have far more fun that way.

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Florida: SeaWorld Orlando Blue Horizons Show

We went to the Blue Horizons show at SeaWorld Orlando today, and it was so amazing!

The show is an exciting mix of aquatic animal show (dolphins, short-finned pilot whales), part exotic bird show, and part theatrical and acrobatic performance. 

Bria wanted to sit in the "splash zone," which meant she got completely soaked. And she loved every minute of it!

The dolphins are the stars of the show, and they were spectacular! It was really fun to watch how much fun they were having as they swam and flipped and performed.

The pilot whales are a recent addition to the show, being young rescues that are still early in their training.

Then of course there were the acrobatics of the humans! Wow, it was exciting to watch them flip and glide through the air with the birds, and swim with their dolphin friends.

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Texas: Kemah Boardwalk – A Relaxing Getaway

We had an evening free during a quick business trip to Houston, and decided to check out the Kemah Boardwalk. Twenty miles from downtown Houston, the boardwalk is loaded with charm – a refreshing getaway from the city that somehow manages to be busy and activity-filled and simultaneously immensely relaxing.

If you love a good roller coaster like I do, check out the Boardwalk Bullet, a good old fashioned wooden coaster on the gulf. It may have only opened in 2007, but it is reminiscent of the seaside classics dating back 100 years. The slice of Americana boasts 3,300 feet of track, crossing over its own tracks a record-breaking 42 times, and travels at more than 50 mph. There are plenty of other thrills to be had on the boardwalk, as well. Tickets are available individually or as a package.

Thrills are not the only thing offered at this little escape on the Gulf Coast. The sea air blowing through our hair was just the thing after a long day of meetings and work. We enjoyed an open-air dinner on the patio at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., then took a relaxing stroll along the boardwalk, tossing a handful of food to the catfish and exploring the shops.

The boardwalk also features an aquarium and a beautiful little inn. Check out their website to learn more.

We found ourselves at the boardwalk on Tribute Band Tuesday, which was a fun surprise. The evening featured “Walk This Way” and “Guns4Roses.”

It was a treat to unwind with a drink (check out the little booths around the square for the alcoholic and non-alcoholic sort alike – we partook in a yard long frozen concoction) and people watch to the tunes of these great bands.
Children splashed and danced on the splash pad, couples moved to the music, the smell of funnel cakes hanging in the air. There’s something special about summer nights on the water, and Kemah Boardwalk was a great place to spend this one.

The drive back to Houston was painless, too, which was an important feature. (They sure do have a lot of toll booths here, though! Have small cash ready to go to save time.)

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California: Packing for a trip to Sea World with small children

Knowing what to bring on an outing is never an easy feat! Here are some packing tips for Sea World with littles:

• Plenty of spare clothes - there are opportunities to get wet and messy everywhere you turn, and that's half the fun!
• Towel - in case of an animal splash or if your children want to check out the splash pads in Sesame Street Bay of Play.
• Stroller - or rent one near the gate. Prices are reasonable and several options are available for singles and doubles.
• Sun screen/hat
• Sweatshirt/jacket
• Water bottle - you can't bring food into the park, but water bottles are allowed. And you're going to need it!
• Quarters - everyone is going to want to feed the flamingos

Don't worry if you forgot to pack something, shops are located through out the park and have a great selection at decent prices.

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California: Sea World San Diego All Day Dining Deal

Sea World San Diego offers a plan called the "All-Day Dining Deal." Basically it works like it sounds - you pay one price, receive a wrist band, and can eat in the park all day. We were headed to Sea World this weekend, and I am a researcher (in case you hadn't caught on to that yet), so I did some poking around first. Was the all-day dining deal worth it?

I read a few message boards with mixed reviews, and a blog post from a mama who felt the lines kept their family from taking advantage of the pass. A friend suggested there would be a lot of junk food involved, which made sense - it is a theme park, after all. But really, there was very little information readily available about how the deal would go. 

(As it turns out, much of the information I read ahead of time was incorrect - but these discrepancies could come from the fact that there is more than one Sea World location. Please note that we visited the San Diego location.)

We decided to try it out, and were VERY pleased we did.

Here's our experience...

Passes start at $32.99 for adults and $16.99 for kids 3-9. There appears to be a few dollars variation based on the particular day you go. We went on a Sunday in high season, and the online price was $35.99 per adult.

We purchased a one-year membership, which gave us 10% off the price, so our total for two adults came to $64.04. (More on that membership and why we chose it here.)

TIP: Children under 3 are free at Sea World, and they encourage sharing with little ones. Our preschooler, B, was a big reason we chose to try this plan out, as she prefers to eat at LEAST every two hours.

The pass is good for four restaurants in the park:

Shipwreck Reef Cafe (ribs, sandwiches, burgers, seafood, salads, kids meals)
Mama Stella's Pizza Kitchen (pizza, pasta, kids meals)
Seaport Market (hand crafted burgers, salads, breakfast bagels, kids meals)
Calypso Bay Smokehouse (smoked chicken, ribs, brisket, kids meals)

A glance at the map told us they were well spread throughout the park.

The deal is a wristband which allows its bearer one entree, one side or dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage each time through the line. Simple enough.

We started our day mid-morning with the kiddie rides in Sesame Street Bay of Play, so Mama Stella's was nearby when little B decided she needed to munch.

The line was short, and we were pleasantly surprised by the choices. Brightly colored foods lined the cafeteria-style counters. Side options included large, fresh salads, cups of strawberries and sliced watermelon. The entree plates were large and included options such as manicotti, eggplant parmesan, pizza, and pasta with sauce. There were plenty of healthy choices available, and our selections were plenty of food for the three of us.

The average adult meal was somewhere between $13 and $18. Some quick math told us that if we were eating more than twice in the park, the deal was worth our money. Add in snacks, and we were coming out on top financially.

We ate well, and headed on through the park. It was great to know that we didn't have to worry about making the little one sit because this was her chance to eat - we knew we could just take her to get another snack when she needed it.

For our next meal we tried out the Shipwreck Reef Cafe - mostly because the smell of barbecue as we walked by was too much to resist! Again we found a variety of healthful sides and salads. We got a teriyaki chicken plate and a delicious salad with fruits and cheeses on it, and everyone ate together. The plates are plenty large to enjoy family-style.

And don't worry, not ALL of the food is healthy. We had a lovely slab of decadent carrot cake and B got her nosh on with a chocolate-covered Shamu cookie that made her very happy.

We enjoyed the versatility of being able to stop in and get a drink, or a drink and some fruit, anytime we chose. While we were concerned lines would be cumbersome, we found them easy to navigate and only skipped a stop once because they were a little long.

At the end of our day we enjoyed delicious fresh burgers with lots of choices at the Seaport Market and went back through to grab a couple of bottles of water for the trek home. Overall, we were pleased with our purchase and would make the choice again.

To sum it up, we highly recommend considering this plan if...

...you are going for more than five hours (give or take - we arrived at 10:30 am and left at about 5)
...you are going early in the day (things get busier as the day wears on, so you may find yourself less inclined to stand in line)
...you (or smaller members of your party) eat relatively often.
...you enjoy not having to worry about prices and who is spending what while enjoying family time.
...you want to save money but don't want to trek back to your car every time the kids are hungry

San Diego Vacations

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California: Sunday at Sea World

It's Sea World day, and Bria couldn't be more excited!!! (OK, OK, I think Mom and Dad are pretty excited, too.)

She earned the trip with her star chart, and has spent the entire week telling us about the things she'll be showing us. After her July 28 trip she is an expert, you know.

The park was open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today (check out their website ahead of time for hours), so we decided we would aim for arriving about an hour after opening to beat some of the early rush. It worked like a charm, because we parked super close, stood in line for only a few minutes at the gate, then found no line at all at the customer service counter inside the park when we went to pick up our wristbands for the all-day dining deal. (Find out more about that choice and our review here.)

TIP: Purchase your tickets online ahead of time to save on standing in line!

There is a LOT to see, and we have the luxury of living close now, so we were careful not to stress and try to fit everything in. With that in mind, we decided to save the amazing Sea World shows for another day.

TIP: If you plan to go more than once or twice this year, we highly recommend getting the annual pass for one person in your family. Parking is included with the pass, and at $15 a pop, it becomes quickly worth the little extra. We also took advantage of the monthly payment plan, so it was nice to spread the cost out a little bit. In addition, there are other discounts which are great incentives.

We got things started in one of our favorite areas of the park - Sesame Street Bay of Play. Bria loves the big, bright characters, and all of the rides in this area are perfect for her age group. She wanted to bring Daddy on all of them! (Lots of rides are available for the bigger lot, too, not to worry.)

There is lots to do in this area for small children, including equipment to play on, climbing activities, rides, food, photos with Sesame Street characters, and lots more. It's a lot to take in!

TIP: Be sure to bring along a change of clothes and a towel in case kiddos want to enjoy the splash pad! It is especially wonderful for toddlers and offers multiple options for interactive play.

It just wouldn't be Sea World without the amazing water life, so our next stop was the otters and the dolphins. The bat rays are super fun to touch and feed, too! (While Bria and Dad went to the touch the rays, Mom checked out the Manta roller coaster. Woo-hoo!)

Bria's favorite part - everyone's favorite part - was a visit to the orcas. She could spend hours sitting next to their pool, just watching Shamu swim. The orcas are a memory both Mom and Dad have from their childhood, and we love sharing this experience with a new generation. We read that the first Shamu was born at Sea World in 1985, and 20 killer whales have been born there since. Wow! That's a lot of whales!

The Bayside Sky Ride was a great way to wind down for a bit and enjoy some quiet time as a family. This ride goes out over the bay and back, offering opportunities to check out the area from a great vantage point.

The best part of our visit was just sitting back and watching as Bria engaged with creature after creature, offering her observations everywhere we went. Aquarium fish, turtles, sharks, penguins - it was all equally fascinating and gave her an opportunity to learn and interact.

We ended our day with a visit to Wild Arctic, enjoying the non-motion version of the helicopter ride and then checking out the belugas and the polar bears. We appreciated the educational aspects of this exhibit, with buttons to push and informational signs spread throughout.

Our day was filled with so many great highlights, it's hard to pick just a few. We can't wait to get back and play at Sea World again.

San Diego Vacations

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