Atlantis Paradise?
 

My son and I take a "mother-son" holiday every spring break (usually WDW), but this coming spring we had the idea to go snorkeling in the Bahamas, instead.

I'd love recommendations for suitable hotels. The Atlantis looks amazing - is it worth $445 a night for a water view in the "Tower" building?

Will a 12 year old boy and his 40-something mom have a great time there?

Thanks in advance.

Depends on whether or not you like large hotels - the Atlantis is gargantuan. We stayed at a private guesthouse on Paradise island last March, for a fraction of the price and had full access to the beautiful Club Med beach & other facilities, as well as the personal touch of the very sweet B&B owner. Staying at a smaller place allows you to experience the real local culture (as opposed to being surrounded by beaten-track tourists) Atlantis is a five minute walk from this guest house, so if you want to play the slots or use Atlantis' facilities you could do so. No tv though, so if your 12 year old doesn't like reading Atlantis may be a better bet.

Let me know if you'd like details.

baobab

Well, I don't know if I'd pay $445 a night. But Atlantis is truly amazing. See my trip report http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum81/HTML/000407.html

My son can live without the TV for a while (we just came back from the Carnival Paradise cruise to the Western Caribbean and there's no television to speak of), but I need CNN and CNBC! <g>

Seriously, though, I think the B&B is too small, but I'm worried the Atlantis is too big.

I found a post on the Net about this hotel and the poster said that she waited for hours to check in, that it was too crowded, and that guest services never answered the phone.

It's probably safe to say we're a high maintenance travel family, so I like it when the concierge answers the telephone!

In any event, thanks for the replies (and the pointer to that great trip report).

How about recommendations for other luxury hotels in the area with nice beaches, good service, dazzling ocean views, and easy snorkeling opportunities?

I'd stay at the Sheraton right next door to the Atlantis. They were close by the hurricaine but should reopen in Feb.

If not, the Radisson or Marriott Cable Beach are OK.

Thanks, QuietLion! I have enough points for three free nights at the Sheraton, so maybe they'll let me use them during that time. That would be perfect.

The Atlantis looks great, but seems overpriced.

Cool! I've booked 5 free nights at the Sheraton Grand Paradise Island and if the Friday is still there by the time I earn my free Fridays (mid-Jan), I'll have six free nights.

The Starwood Preferred program is great - no blackouts and if you book early enough, they always seem to have room.

Have a wonderful time. Hunnybear and I have a special fondness for that hotel (it used to be a Radisson). We had our first date there! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Atlantis: You can stay in the older Coral and other tower for less $$$. A room is a room.

One downside of Atlantis is that you often have to go through the casino to get from place A to place B. With a 12-year old, that can be tricky.

If you stay elsewhere near the Altantis, I highly recommend that you purchase a day-pass (used to be $20 each) for you and son. This place is a dream! Plenty of acquariums. If you son likes fish at all, he will love this place. More acquarium tanks than in Baltimore.

Also amazing water slides for kids & adults including one that goes *through* a shark tank, lazy river inner tube ride, beach, many pools, lagoon, paddle boats.

On the TRAVEL channel last night was an awful show featuring the Atlantis Paradise Island. It was supposed to be about the Bahamas and the hotel, but it was really about some swimsuit models. (And as my husband pointed out, they weren't even wearing decent bathing suites!)

Anyway, I taped it for my son to watch and we fast forwarded through the piece to see the slide and the aquariums. It looks cool!

But I'm glad we're staying next door (for points - can't beat that) and happy to learn we can get a day pass.

My husband is now upset he can't go (has to teach) and none too pleased to learn that if I get my free Friday, we'll be gone six nights!

Meanwhile, I have a question - I'm going to buy FC tickets on Delta. I looked up the seating plan on ITN and saw that I can choose 757s the whole way. But I noticed that the FC cabin has no first row on one side.

So far, it's wide open - I don't think I've ever been in the FC cabin of a 757 - what seats are best?

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"Living well is the best revenge"

Hi.. don't want to ruin your plans, but I just spent a weekend in Nassau, and the day pass to Atlantis is $25, and does not include use of pools/slides/beach. They have doormen on watch to stop you entering the restricted areas and there is little chance of getting past with towel and swim costume tucked under your arm.

The aquarium was good, but the hotel was huge and seemed to be full of drunk middle aged couples.

Sorry, but avoid that place for your sanity. For an excellent day out, consider the Powerboat Adventure day trip.. a 50mph ride across to a remote cay for bbq, snorkelling (not the best view) and shark/ray feeding.

GK - thanks for the info. I've been lurking on the caribbean boards and they confirm what your experience shows. Thanks for the tip about the Powerboat Adventure Day trip - that's just the sort of thing we're looking for.

profhoff, I fly DL mostly, and more 757's than anything. I've never seen any of their planes that weren't 6 rows x4 seats.

Personally, I avoid Row 6 because of the coach lavatory behind the curtain. If you don't mind the bulkhead wall in Row 1, you'll have just a tad more legroom and no one reclining their seatback into you. But you won't have any underseat storage. Everything will need to go in the overhead bin.

I always request C seats (RH aisle) & lately have been in 3C which is fine. I'll take bulkhead if it's available.

[This message has been edited by shadow (edited 12-18-1999).]

Some DL 757's now have only 22 seats in FC, so all 757's show up as only 22 in booking engines since they now don't know until the day of the flight whether the plane will have 22 or 24 FC seats. Of course there is still a first row, it just doesn't show up ...

Beckles, thanks, I knew I wasn't crazy.

GK - is this the day trip you were talking about? It looks amazing. It's suitable for kids, right?
http://www.powerboatadventures.com/

Do folks have any other suggestions?