Description: OK, here's the last submission about the Atlantis Paradise Island. I've talked about food and about the Junkanoo parade. Lastly I want to let you know about the amazing aquatic animal exhibits. Sting Rays of all shapes and sizes, Sharks of amazing variety, and tons and tons (literally) of smaller fish. Plus Piranhas, Morey Eels (yes, they exist outside Disney movies!), a huge family of sea horses, and many, many more. If you can, grab a guide to take you through "The Dig" the first time. It's a (sorta hokey) recreations of the Lost City of Atlantis. But the sea life on display is more than worth your time. We found ourselves going back every day for a short visit with our "buddies."
So when you add it all up, the place is expensive (in the Royal Towers). The older (and more mundane) Coral Towers and Beach Towers are part of the old Merv Griffen resort, and their age is evident. But the brand new Royal Towers is astonishing.
Is it worth the money? The way I figure it, I can pay $300-400 a night for a Hyatt in Mexico, of that same amount for a room at one of the Walt Disney World Resorts (Grand Floridian, Polynesian, etc). But none of those provide the environment and the ample visual stimulation of the Atlantis. So I figure about half of the room fee is for the actual room (which is, admittedly, somewhat plain) and half is for the location.
My only complaint is that the Atlantis is so removed from the Bahamian culture that it could literally be anywhere: Southern California, Florida, or any other tropical location. Of course, those locations would have different regulations that would impact the Casino side of the Atlantis. But not being gamblers, we only toyed with the slots one night (New Years Eve) when there was a lot of excitement throughout the resort. I wish the Atlantis would embrace more of the flavor, sound, and color of the Bahamas, but I suspect the management wants the Atlantis experience to be completely unique. That's also why the Atlantis doesn't encourage their guests to go across the bridge to Nassau. The Atlantis clearly can't control anything in Nassau, and a bad experience with a cab driver, with a restaurant, or with a shop would reflect badly on the Atlantis, if they were to arrange any kind of tours.
So go to the Atlantis, enjoy the place, and at least one time, venture off on your own to Nassau for food, shopping, and especially Junkanoo!!!!!
And please don't hesitate to drop me a line with your own observations about this journal/review. I like to see if my advice has value. email me at rickhowe@aol.com
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