Giant Fun at Atlantis, Bahamas - and we won too...
October 2006 my friend and I took a mini-holiday and
went to
Atlantis, The Bahamas
and we had a blast. We scored a great deal on a hotel
and airfare package which put us in the
Royal Towers
with a water view. We discovered that if you go after
the summer rush but before things pick up for the
holidays and the new year the
resort
isn't at all crowded so you get the benefit of a lot
less people and you save money. It’s called a
no-brainer. So, we’ve been planing on returning at
the same time this year. We were spoiled last year so
we knew it was possible if we were patient &
smart about it.
So, let me share our story, and some of my resources so you can have even more fun when you go to The Bahamas. Each day will be posted separately such as, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 & Day 4 and then I will summarize complete with resources. Its my feeling that you can have the kind of holiday you want, whatever that is, even if its a 3 night mini-holiday. With a little pre-planning you can maximize what you’re able to do while still having plenty of time to relax so you'll end your holiday feeling rejuvenated, rested and ready to plan your return to this beautiful, magical island paradise that is The Bahamas.
Day 1 --
We arrived at the Nassau International Airport in the afternoon between 3-4PM. Breezed through customs, we were directed right to our transportation effortlessly. It was your typical, large airport/hotel transfer bus. You know the routine a handful of stops at the various hotels and resorts. We were in luck as our driver gave an interesting and informative tour as he delivered everyone to their hotel. Atlantis is on Paradise Island so our hotel was the last stop.
We were delivered to the Atlantis, Royal Towers - the entrance reminded us of Las Vegas very over the top fountain in the circular driveway complete with a portico [remember tropical rain]. It doesn’t matter how much video you watch or how many photographs you look at until you see Atlantis with your own eyes you just don’t comprehend the detail, and scale of the architecture. Greeted by the friendly bell staff we turn over our luggage and wander into the most amazing lobby. We were checked in by a very professional and friendly woman who gave us a great room with a water view. We purchased the Gourmet Meal Plan when we booked our travel package so that covered our breakfasts and dinners for our entire trip. Atlantis offers restaurants from some of the best chefs in the world. For example, we HAD to dine at NOBU and Cafe Martinique both of which were available to us via the gourmet meal plan. FYI, you can dine in any of the restaurants without the meal plans we just found it be make everything a little bit easier for our mini-holiday. I cannot emphasize enough that making your dinner reservations early while you're still at home ensures that you'll probably get a table when you want in the restaurants of your choice. So, book those dinner reservations as soon as you can and if you have a meal plan be sure to let the person know when you make the reservation, this eliminates any snafus when you arrive for dinner.
Dinner the first night we ate at FATHOMS which is very unique as you’re looking into one of the huge aquariums that comprise the marine habitat at Atlantis. So, you’re dining while all different fish and Manta Ray all types of marine life are swimming by these floor to ceiling, wall-to-wall glass windows that look right into this massive aquarium. It was fun. The service was very attentive. We both enjoyed our food. We spoke to one of our wait staff and he gave us some recommendations as I told him where we were eating our lunches away from Atlantis. He told us to us to be sure and try the cracked Conch, which we did but more on that when I post about Day 2 later. We both crave cracked Conch to this day.
After dinner we wandered into the casino at Atlantis. It bills itself as the largest casino in the Caribbean, I don’t know about that but what I will say is this, it’s a beautiful, large casino and very popular and active at night. Plenty of slot machines, and table games. I’m also an art lover so the Dale Chihuly glass sculptures depicting the Fire and Moon theme of the casino are just spectacular. There’s another sculpture representing giant crystals at the casino entrance by the Crystal Court shops, Gucci anyone?
My friend and I we were having so much fun in the casino we stayed up all night without even realizing it. We discovered it when we returned to our room. We burst out laughing. We crashed for awhile since it was already Day 2 so we get sleep a bit and then dive into our day. Check out the next post to ready about Day 2.
I will give each day it's own post and then I'll summarize complete with some of my travel resources as well as some suggestions for planning your own Bahamian holiday. In the meantime, enjoy this video clip about the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the first land and sea park in the eastern hemisphere, and its in the magnificent archipelago known as The Bahamas.
So, let me share our story, and some of my resources so you can have even more fun when you go to The Bahamas. Each day will be posted separately such as, Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 & Day 4 and then I will summarize complete with resources. Its my feeling that you can have the kind of holiday you want, whatever that is, even if its a 3 night mini-holiday. With a little pre-planning you can maximize what you’re able to do while still having plenty of time to relax so you'll end your holiday feeling rejuvenated, rested and ready to plan your return to this beautiful, magical island paradise that is The Bahamas.
Day 1 --
We arrived at the Nassau International Airport in the afternoon between 3-4PM. Breezed through customs, we were directed right to our transportation effortlessly. It was your typical, large airport/hotel transfer bus. You know the routine a handful of stops at the various hotels and resorts. We were in luck as our driver gave an interesting and informative tour as he delivered everyone to their hotel. Atlantis is on Paradise Island so our hotel was the last stop.
We were delivered to the Atlantis, Royal Towers - the entrance reminded us of Las Vegas very over the top fountain in the circular driveway complete with a portico [remember tropical rain]. It doesn’t matter how much video you watch or how many photographs you look at until you see Atlantis with your own eyes you just don’t comprehend the detail, and scale of the architecture. Greeted by the friendly bell staff we turn over our luggage and wander into the most amazing lobby. We were checked in by a very professional and friendly woman who gave us a great room with a water view. We purchased the Gourmet Meal Plan when we booked our travel package so that covered our breakfasts and dinners for our entire trip. Atlantis offers restaurants from some of the best chefs in the world. For example, we HAD to dine at NOBU and Cafe Martinique both of which were available to us via the gourmet meal plan. FYI, you can dine in any of the restaurants without the meal plans we just found it be make everything a little bit easier for our mini-holiday. I cannot emphasize enough that making your dinner reservations early while you're still at home ensures that you'll probably get a table when you want in the restaurants of your choice. So, book those dinner reservations as soon as you can and if you have a meal plan be sure to let the person know when you make the reservation, this eliminates any snafus when you arrive for dinner.
Dinner the first night we ate at FATHOMS which is very unique as you’re looking into one of the huge aquariums that comprise the marine habitat at Atlantis. So, you’re dining while all different fish and Manta Ray all types of marine life are swimming by these floor to ceiling, wall-to-wall glass windows that look right into this massive aquarium. It was fun. The service was very attentive. We both enjoyed our food. We spoke to one of our wait staff and he gave us some recommendations as I told him where we were eating our lunches away from Atlantis. He told us to us to be sure and try the cracked Conch, which we did but more on that when I post about Day 2 later. We both crave cracked Conch to this day.
After dinner we wandered into the casino at Atlantis. It bills itself as the largest casino in the Caribbean, I don’t know about that but what I will say is this, it’s a beautiful, large casino and very popular and active at night. Plenty of slot machines, and table games. I’m also an art lover so the Dale Chihuly glass sculptures depicting the Fire and Moon theme of the casino are just spectacular. There’s another sculpture representing giant crystals at the casino entrance by the Crystal Court shops, Gucci anyone?
My friend and I we were having so much fun in the casino we stayed up all night without even realizing it. We discovered it when we returned to our room. We burst out laughing. We crashed for awhile since it was already Day 2 so we get sleep a bit and then dive into our day. Check out the next post to ready about Day 2.
I will give each day it's own post and then I'll summarize complete with some of my travel resources as well as some suggestions for planning your own Bahamian holiday. In the meantime, enjoy this video clip about the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, the first land and sea park in the eastern hemisphere, and its in the magnificent archipelago known as The Bahamas.
Fodor's
Bahamas - Your Only Guide to Paradise - Order It
Here
--------------------
Travel Resources:
AA.com
AA
Vacations
Cheap
Caribbean
Kayak
Priceline
Spirit
Air
Travelation
Travelocity
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