My favorite experiences from my first time at Atlantis Bahamas

As a millennial who grew up obsessed with Mary-Kate and Ashley movies, the opportunity to stay at the iconic resort backdrop for ‘Holiday in the Sun’ was a bit of a full-circle moment.

Atlantis Bahamas had long been a place I wanted to visit, but before actually going, my only real knowledge of the place came from my childhood memories of the fictional Madison and Alex Stewart’s hijinks. Thankfully, there was no high-stakes mystery to solve during my visit, like in the movie. There were, however, plenty of surprising moments and standout experiences that made my trip memorable.

Atlantis Bahamas is a massive resort, and there’s truly something for everyone at the property. Here are my personal favorite experiences from my first time at the resort as someone who didn’t know much about the property before going — plus some tips to help you plan the best trip to Atlantis Bahamas for yourself.

The Cove’s dining options

The most surprising thing about my stay was the quality and quantity of the dining throughout the property. There’s truly something for everyone — from U.S.-based chains like Shake Shack and Starbucks to beach- and poolside lunch spots to upscale fine dining. Personally, I loved the two dinners I had at The Cove’s restaurants: Fish by José Andrés and Paranza by Michael White.

I’m a sucker for any restaurant from José Andrés, and Fish was no exception. This upscale dining spot is perfect for seafood lovers. Don’t skip the King Salmon Tiradito, which may have been my favorite dish of the entire trip.

Paranza is equally upscale, but with a focus on Italian cuisine. I loved my lobster spaghetti (which featured locally caught Caribbean spiny lobster), the sorbet trio for dessert and the cocktail options. I also really enjoyed the restaurant’s outdoor seating.

The Rapids River at Aquaventure

Aquaventure Water Park features a number of exciting waterslides and pools, but my favorite was the Rapids River.

This is not a lazy river, though it may appear to be one at first glance. You weave through the resort on either a single or double tube, encountering several rapids along the way. The rapids were thrilling in my solo tube, and I liked that the river was longer than a typical slide, with no wait to enter.

The Edge Beach Reserve

I was at Atlantis Bahamas during late July, which is a peak travel period for the resort. Needless to say, the pools and beach areas got very crowded during the day. I unfortunately didn’t have access to some of the more exclusive, adults-only areas of the resort that are reserved for guests of The Cove and The Reef (the two luxury hotels within the broader Atlantis Bahamas resort), but I was still able to escape the crowds one afternoon by reserving a beach chair at The Edge Beach Reserve.

It sits on a stretch of beach near the edge of the resort that is far less crowded. Reserving a beach chair for the day also gives you access to fresh towels and an attendant who can get you drinks from the beach bar. I spent an entire afternoon floating in the crystal-clear waters and enjoying the uncrowded beach — the perfect way to end my final day at the resort.

Dolphin Cay

Last — but certainly not least — is Dolphin Cay, where you can book experiences with the resort’s rescue bottlenose dolphins and sea lions. Experiences ranged from joining the veterinary team for the afternoon as they help care for the animals to dolphin swimming interactions, such as snorkeling or paddleboarding. Most of the experiences are also tailored to specific swimming levels.

As someone who went through a childhood phase of wanting to be a dolphin trainer and marine biologist, this was a dream-come-true experience. I participated in the Swim in Wonder experience, where I snorkeled with the dolphins and was carried by them under instruction from the training staff.

Tips for making the best of your own trip

Atlantis Bahamas has something for everyone, and planning your trip around your preferences is the key to having a great time. Here are a few tips and tricks from my own first-time experience to help.

Booking the right property for your trip

The Atlantis Bahamas resort is actually made up of five distinct hotels, each in a different area of the property with its own amenities and dining options. You’ll want to book a room at the hotel that best fits what you hope to get out of your stay. For the most part, staying in one hotel won’t preclude you from being able to access the other areas — but there are some exceptions.

I stayed at The Royal, which is the iconic two-tower hotel at the heart of the resort. It offers the widest range of accommodation options and sits closest to much of the action, including the Aquaventure pools, slides and beach areas. It’s perfect for families who want to be in the middle of it all.

However, it may not be the right fit for everyone.

For example, The Cove and The Reef are the resort’s most luxurious properties, with exclusive amenities, upscale dining options and access to adults-only pool areas and a private beach. If you’re coming to the resort without kids, I would highly recommend staying in these two hotels.

Meanwhile, those who are more interested in splurging on dining, shopping and other experiences while saving money on their room may prefer The Coral, which offers the most budget-friendly accommodations. And larger groups looking for a more vacation rental vibe may want to check out Harborside Resort’s villa-style accommodations.

Budget for dining, shopping and experiences

Atlantis Bahamas isn’t an all-inclusive resort, so all dining and experiences incur an additional charge. While you don’t necessarily have to book any add-on experiences for a memorable trip, some of my favorite experiences were what I would consider splurges (like my Dolphin Cay experience). I’d recommend identifying a few of those “splurge” activities — whether that’s swimming with dolphins, a trip to the casino, a reservation at an upscale restaurant, or a shopping spree — and making sure you include room in the budget for them.

The resort makes it easy to charge dining and experiences to your room so you don’t have to carry a wallet, and base gratuities are usually included in the bill. Those add-ons can definitely add up over a trip if you aren’t budgeting for them in advance, though.

Beat the crowds in the morning at Aquaventure

The waterslide lines and pools can get really crowded mid-day. I’d recommend arriving at the park when it opens to beat the lines, then spending the rest of the morning at the pool. Then you can grab lunch and head inside for an afternoon nap before any evening activities you have planned.

The Dig is a great mid-day escape from the heat

The Dig is Atlantis Bahamas’s underground window into its marine habitat. The main entrance is connected to The Royal’s lobby and exits near Shake Shack by The Royal pool. I was mesmerized by the manta ray, stingrays, variety of fish and other wildlife, and the maze of exhibits was a perfect escape from the July heat during the day.

As an added bonus, when I went one mid-afternoon (when the pools, beach and waterslide lines were all crowded and the sun was at its hottest), I had most of the exhibits nearly to myself.

Explore the other resort areas (and pack comfortable shoes)

Most hotel pools and resort areas are accessible regardless of where you’re staying, with some exceptions for The Cove and The Reef. Definitely take advantage of this and explore the other resort areas. I spent an entire morning just wandering around the resort and discovering different marine habitats, swimming holes and beautiful photo backdrops.

The resort offers a free shuttle that runs between properties (located outside each hotel’s lobby), but most areas are also walkable. The resort is definitely sprawling, with lots of different walking paths, so comfortable shoes are a must. I opted to pack my Chacos instead of flip flops — I’ve even hiked waterfalls in Croatia in them — in lieu of flimsy flip flops, and my feet absolutely thanked me by the end of the trip.

Bottom line

I’d mistakenly assumed, before my trip, that Atlantis Bahamas was a place just for families with kids (or crime-solving teens), but there truly is something for everyone at Atlantis Bahamas. Over dinner at the Marina Village one night, I even met a lovely couple from Toronto who had come to the resort a year ago and stayed at The Royal with their kids, but who were now at The Cove for an anniversary getaway. Same resort, two unique experiences.

These were my own favorite activities, but there is truly so much to explore and experience at the resort that your highlights could look entirely different depending on your preferences and itinerary. Ultimately, that level of customization is what makes the resort unique.

Note that certain areas of Atlantis Bahamas are undergoing renovations, including The Cove’s exclusive pool and the Mandara Spa, which was temporarily housed in a wing of The Royal during my visit. Completed renovations should add new experiences for guests in the coming months.