10 Hacks to make this luxury resort more affordable for your family
In search of the ultimate family vacation, our family of four decided to book at trip to Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas. While it was a once-in-a-lifetime trip that included wild waterslides, beautiful beaches, and swimming with dolphins, it was far more expensive than it needed to be.
Learn from my mistakes.
Here are 10 ways to make your Atlantis vacation more enjoyable and more affordable, even if you’re traveling there on a cruise:
1. Be flexible with your dates
Like most resorts, high season for Atlantis is any time kids are out of school. You’ll always save money by booking in the shoulder seasons of late spring and early fall. However, even moving your vacation by a few weeks during the summer can make a big difference. We traveled to the Bahamas in early August. Had we just delayed our trip until the end of August, we would have saved hundreds of dollars.
If you’re able to get here over a long weekend, the cheapest month to book a flight to the Bahamas is in January. The weather is great this time of year, too. Temperatures range between 70 and 80 degrees.
KidTripster Tip: Keep an eye on the resort’s website for sales, especially last-minute specials that offer steep discounts.
2. Be sneaky
If you’re traveling to the Bahamas on a cruise, don’t buy your Atlantis tickets through the cruise line. You’ll pay a significant upcharge. You can arrange the excursion yourself by purchasing the tickets online. You can purchase day passes directly from the resort. A variety of day passes are available on the Atlantis website. It’s worth your time to do a price comparison to determine your most affordable option if you plan to visit the resort during a cruise.
There’s any even sneakier way to save. Book a room at Comfort Suites Paradise Island; the hotel has full access to Atlantis. You can save money, if you have a family of four (or five, if the fifth child is under the age of 4). While you may not have access to the room (you really won’t need it), you’ll be able to check in and get your Atlantis bracelets.
Even when adding in the cost of a quick taxi ride from the pier, it’s still cheaper than using the cruise line services. It also allows you travel on your own timeframe rather than being at the mercy of the bus that’s taking you to and from the pier. Sometimes the buses get crowded and you may have to wait awhile to catch the bus back to the ship.
3. Plan activities strategically, take advantage of free offerings
In order to get the most out of your Atlantis vacation, try to maximize all the free activities that the resort offers. On the day you arrive, head to the kids’ club to look at the schedule for the week. Or check it out online or on your in-room TV. There’s plenty of offerings for your teenagers, as well.
Free activities at the resort include access to the Atlantis Movie Theater which shows current movies. Admission is free, however concessions cost extra.
Be sure to take time to explore the largest open-air marine habitat in the world. It encompasses 14 lagoons, eight million gallons of ocean water and it’s home to more than 50,000 animals from over 250 marine species. The marine habitats and marine exhibits include lagoons, caves, coral formations and underwater ruins.
KidTripster Tip: One activity that you won’t see on the schedule is beachcombing for sea glass. It’s free, and the shiny treasures make for great souvenirs.
4. Book extra-fee experiences online
While some activities are included in your stay, others are not. For example, swimming with the dolphins in Dolphin Cay will set you back $119/person (kids 3 and under are free with paying adult). These types of experiences tend to book quickly, so once you make your resort reservation, make reservations for the extras online, too. Booking online may also save you some money.
Try to get those prime times early in the morning, so you don’t have to cut short other activities during the day.
KidTripster Tip: I’d recommend the dolphin experience. The kids really loved it! Because we were in a small group of eight, we got lots of hands-on time with the dolphin. It’s an hour long experience. It’s recommended for swimmers ages 6 and up. Wearing a snorkel and mask, you swim alongside the rescued bottlenose dolphins.
Other dolphin experiences include opportunities to paddleboard and kayak among the animals.
5. Ask for the royal treatment
If you miss an animal feeding (which occur daily at various times) at the shark tank or stingray pool, ask a trainer if you can go behind the scenes to the animal hospital. My kids were able to experience the touch tank and witness some remarkable animal survivors, like baby sea turtles who are a protected species in the Bahamas.
6. Bring your own snorkel
With so much water everywhere, you can bet there’s snorkeling. One way to do it is by jumping into the Ruins Lagoon, which is centrally located near those iconic pink Royal Towers. Guests can swim among thousands of exotic fish and through ruins inspired by the lost city of Atlantis. The 60-minute experience is for those 8 and up, and comes at a cost of approximately $127.
But there’s another way to explore underwater and it doesn’t cost nearly as much. Atlantis’ Paradise Lagoon Beach is 7-acre man-made watering hole. It’s a protected beach where you’ll likely encounter schools of fish and other small ocean creatures. Access to the beach is free to hotel guests. Snorkeling gear is available for rent here.
However we suggest that you bring your own mask and snorkel from home. Or you can buy one from the gift shop across the street from the property. It’s cheaper than renting one at the park, and you get to keep it.
7. Buy food & drink off the island
Food and drinks are insanely expensive at the resort. For example, a chicken sandwich, fries, and bottled water will set you back $25! The resort charges $7 alone for a 12-ounce bottle of water! Instead walk to the grocery store just off the resort to purchase drinks, snacks, and ingredients for in-room breakfasts and poolside packed lunches. There are also lots of restaurants within walking distance at the Marina Village that are more affordable than those on-property. Talking a short walk for your meals and groceries can literally save hundreds of dollars.
8. Ask for a kids’ menu
Make sure to always make dinner reservations in advance, so that you’re not having to deal with kids who are “starving.” And ask for the kids’ menu upfront, but know that not all the restaurants have kid-sized plates, so you may want to share.
Visit The Kids Concierge in the lobby of The Coral and you can check out children’s menus from each restaurant in advance.
If you purchase a dining plan, kids under the age of six dine for free.
9. Don’t waste time in lines
Atlantis is a busy resort, especially during high season, so try to minimize your wait times at the Adventure Water Park. Get your water slide wristbands early in the morning. And grab inner tubes and rafts for the mile-long river ride at the nearest cabana. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck in line waiting for the next available float.
If you haven’t been, here’s what you can expect at the water park, there are 20 swimming areas and 11 pools. There are several high-speed water slides, 18 in all. There’s the Leap of Faith that drops you 60 feet from the top of the iconic Mayan Temple and the thrilling 121-foot long Power Tower.
Yes, there’s a bunch of water activities here and it can get busy so follow our advice and get started early to beat the crowds.
The park is so large that it can be a bit hectic to keep track of kids here. Some of the slides may be too adventurous for younger kids. If traveling with another adult, you may want to split up, as in one parent per kid. Pick a time and place to meet later.
10. Purchase souvenirs off the island
If you want to purchase souvenirs like t-shirts, postcards, keychains, and little tchotchkes, buy them off the resort. There’s a shop literally across from the Atlantis’ main entrance which sells the exact same merchandise for far less. Better yet, just collect that free sea glass!
Jodi Latina is a former television journalist who lives in Connecticut with her two children, ages 11 and 13.
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