I I am just back from a site visit of Atlantis where I did site inspections of The Cove and The Reef inside Atlantis and of the glorious One and Only Ocean Club just up the road. If you are thinking of going to Atlantis and staying in one of the main towers, my advice is simple – absolutely you must splurge for one of the above products.

First of all, let me say I am loving the new International Terminal in Atlanta.  From my front door to the Delta Sky Club in the International terminal, 45 minutes (no exaggeration!)

Nassau is just over a 2 hour flight from many US cities and with gorgeous beaches and tons of “family fun”, it is an easy quick get-a-way.  Atlantis, while not everyone’s cup of tea, it is on the list of many families who want easy “good times” for the entire family, but it will come at a price!

THE REEF at Atlantis
A part of Atlantis but more exclusive is the Reef.  The highlight of the Reef is the access to the Cascades pool, a fully serviced very nice pool that is accessible only to Reef and Cove Guests.  This is a very important selling point because if guests are staying in any of the other towers, they only have access to the mass market pool and slides areas which attracts hordes of guests and cruise ship day passers and are run at a completely different level of comfort, cleanliness and quality.

Clients of Resort to Laura Madrid will receive the following special Virtuoso Amenities at The Reef:

Some families choose the Reef due to spacious studios and kitchenettes, but if you are like me and your idea of good times is not staying in your condo cooking when everyone else is at the beach, then splurge for the more upscale Cove instead.

Keep in mind that I have stayed in luxury properties literally all over the globe and normally do not let menu pricing bother me – a great meal is well worth a splurge.  However, menu pricing throughout Atlantis is well-above average resort pricing and you should be well-prepared to spend dearly for meals, though admittedly many of the restaurants are excellent with celebrity chefs from Nobu, to Bobby Flay, to Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

THE COVE at Atlantis –

At the Cove, the rooms and suites are very well appointed and the entire setting – facilities, restaurants, pools are much more upscale. Location is accessible to everything but guest enjoy much more exclusivity including access to the “semi-private” adults only Cain Pool and the family-friendly Cascade pool, plus a fully-serviced beach.  There is also a separate high-roller and VIP check in area and generally just a much more sophisticated feel.  The walk way leads you right over to the Royal Towers where the Casino and several entertainment areas are, making the shuttle unnecessary.

The room product is very nice, great views, colors and spacious closets and bathrooms.  The first level suites are great for families with kids on pull out double sofa and separate full bathroom. The larger, more expensive suites are more for couples, as will not do roll a ways and do not have full second bathroom but great entertaining areas and balconies.

The water slides, aquariums, and sea-turtle and dolphin encounters are indeed great fun, and if you can not get to a real environmental experience in Galapagos, the Maldives or Alaska for an expedition anytime soon, this may be the next best thing.

We did go into to town to the “Fish Fry” one night and this was not only great fun, we ate wonderful cracked lobster, conch fritters, conch salad and enjoyed the local scene.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday are great nights to soak up the local vibe and eat well at the myriad of small local restaurants at the Fish Fry.

ONE AND ONLY –

For those that want to have an absolutely fabulous resort with easy flight access from the US, I most definitely recommend the One and Only Resort  just up the beach from Atlantis.  This is an exceptionally beautiful resort with just 100 rooms (just 1/6 of the size of the Cove).  The peace and quiet found in this serene and beautiful setting is starling at first after arriving from Atlantis – one can actually hear the ocean breeze and feel that they have reached a remote island.  Guest arrive into a gracious lobby of a bygone era but decorated with some stunning modern paintings.  The bar is welcoming and fresh house lemonade awaits.

Clients of Resort to Laura Madrid will receive the following special Virtuoso Amenities at One and Only:

The setting is calm, private and chic yet guests have access and signing privileges to everything that is at Atlantis including suburban shuttle transfers (rather than the roving vans available to Atlantis guests)

The very best meal we had was at Jean-Georges Vongerichten beachfront Dune restaurant where I enjoyed the most spectacular spicy peekytoe crab atop a ride avocado, a lobster burger that was all juicy lobster, and a lobster taco with homemade tortillas, fresh cucumber and a spicy sauce that my waiter whipped up for me on request. (Take a look at the Food and Wine article about The Dune Restaurant)

The One and Only also has a dinner only restaurant at the terrace in the old building and a pool side restaurants in the adults only pool.  For recreation there is also a very lovely family pool, Kids Only club, and a number of grass tennis courts. The grounds are beautiful and with all the activity of Atlantis nearby, One and Only is a fantastic get a way for couples or families who still want to maintain a level of calm and decorum during their holiday.

In sum, One and Only is the way to go for those with a heftier budget and a desire for sophistication with or without a stop at Atlantis.  For those wanting to be in the thick of the action of Atlantis but still prefer service and some degree of exclusivity, the answer is definitely The Cove.  The Reef may be a good fit for some families as well.  Those on a strict budget might consider whether this destination is a good value is for their vacation dollar.  As at Disney world or other tourist attractions, guests should expect to pay a premium for just about everything they do in order to help subsidize all of the attractions on offer.

People were absolutely lovely on and off property. The Bahamians were generally friendly and wanted to take care of everything all the time!  A very nice island and interaction.

The airport is easy to navigate and one wonderful convenience is that Americans are able to clear US customs and immigration before boarding their flight home.

Most importantly contact Resort to Laura Madrid for expert tips on your holiday planning here and also to get recognition and some added extras that you just wont get by booking directly.