How to visit Atlantis Bahamas on a Budget

Genni Franklin — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 09:10:04 +0000

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Are you looking to visit Atlantis Bahamas on a budget? The Bahamas are one of the most affordable places to travel in the Caribbean. With affordable accommodations, inexpensive food, and plenty of activities, a trip to the Bahamas is a fantastic value at any price. But visiting “The Lost City” of Atlantis Bahamas can be pretty expensive. But you’ve come to the right place!

I’ve outlined some great tips and tricks to help you plan a trip to Atlantis Bahamas on a budget. This post is guaranteed to help you have an unforgettable experience without breaking the bank.

If you want to learn what it means to be a budget traveler then check out my post on how to travel on a budget.

What is Atlantis Paradise Island

The Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas is one of the largest and most elaborate hotels in the world, with over 18 restaurants, 19 bars and lounges, 18 hole golf course, nightclub, casino, and many other amenities.

The Atlantis Bahamas also features the world’s largest open-air marine habitat. There are 14 unique pools at Atlantis and the 141-acre Aquaventure which is home to the famous water slides including the Mayan Temple’s Leap of Faith.

Cheapest rooms at Atlantis Bahamas

The Atlantis Bahamas has 5 amazing and distinct resorts, but you’ll find that the cheapest rooms will be located in The Coral Tower.

Atlantis Bahamas Towers:

The Cove has 600 luxury suites.
The Reef has suites with kitchenettes and full-sized kitchens.
The Harborside has private villas.
The Royal Tower is the tower in the iconic photos of Atlantis Paradise Island that represents the Bahamas. The Royal is centrally located within the resort and has the casino, spa, and many restaurants.
The Coral is a more family-friendly and budget-friendly resort.

Whichever tower you stay in, you’ll have full access to the resort amenities so you really can’t go wrong!

What is the best month to go to Atlantis Bahamas?

The best time to visit Atlantis Bahamas is when you find a great deal! The weather is great year-round, but you may want to be cautious about traveling during hurricane season which is June 1st through November 30th. We’ve traveled to Atlantis Bahamas in April and the weather was gorgeous. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky!

Flying to the Bahamas is easy. It’s about 40 min in the air from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. If you’re looking at booking flights, check out my post on mistakes to avoid when booking flights.

Is any part of Atlantis all-inclusive?

No, Atlantis Paradise Island is not an all-inclusive resort. However, if you are a guest of the resort you will have access to most of the amenities at no additional charge. You can read in more detail on the Atlantis Bahamas Resort FAQ page.

How many days do you need in Atlantis?

If you want to take advantage of what Atlantis Bahamas has to offer, you’ll need at least 4 days. We stayed for 3 nights and it was definitely not enough. We could have stayed an extra 2 nights easily.

Tips for Visiting Atlantis Bahamas on a Budget

Use Marriott Bonvoy Points.
Bring your own food and drinks.
Purchase a food and beverage credit.
Purchase through Shopping portals.
Subscribe to Atlantis emails and watch out for sales.
Stay off-site.

If you want to learn how to plan vacations while on a budget, you’ll want to check out my posts on how to plan a weekend trip on a budget and simple ways to save money for your next vacation.

Marriott Bonvoy

You may not have known that you can save money at Atlantis Bahamas by booking the trip with Marriott Bonvoy points. If you’re a Marriott Bonvoy member and are interested in using your points to book, check out this post from The Points Guy on how to book Atlantis Bahamas with points and miles.

Bring your own food and drinks

There’s no getting around it, the food at Atlantis Bahamas is expensive. Atlantis Bahamas does offer a dining plan, but it can still cost you a pretty penny. If you want to be able to eat at Atlantis on a budget, I would suggest bringing some of your own food and drinks.

There are nearby grocery stores where you can grab food for breakfast, lunch, and snacks. This way you can restrict your purchases to dinners or just get appetizers to save some money, but won’t leave you hungry. Atlantis Bahamas resort also provides complimentary refillable insulated water bottles. There are refill stations located throughout the resort.

Purchase a food and beverage credit in advance

For the meals that you do plan to purchase at Atlantis Bahamas, you should consider purchasing a food and beverage credit in advance. This is a good way to stay at Atlantis Paradise Island on a budget because it’s possible to save 15% on every $100 you spend on food and beverage.

Keep in mind that once you purchase the food and beverage credit it is nonrefundable. So it is better to buy less than too much, you’ll still save money. You’ll be able to purchase the credit on the resort website.

Purchase through Shopping portals

Cashback on Rakuten

Another easy way to get to Atlantis Bahamas on a budget is to book your room, activities, or credits through a shopping portal like Rakuten or BeFrugal. By booking through a shopping portal you can stack on more savings. I’ve seen offers of up to 10-12% back on bookings through shopping portals.

Booking through shopping portals is easy and will not require extra work on your part, all you need to do is click through the portal or use a chrome extension to activate the offer. Depending on the portal you use, you’ll get a cash payout for the savings or you can redeem for a gift card at an additional bonus. Also, make sure you use a travel credit card to save even more!

Subscribe to Atlantis Bahamas emails and watch out for sales like Black Friday

Visiting Atlantis on a budget may be easier if you subscribe to their emails. They have promotions and special offers all the time and if you’re on the email list you will get first dibs on those deals!

Atlantis Bahamas may even throw in complimentary breakfast, airport transfers, or daily cocktails if you book during certain dates. The deals that you see in the screenshots are from their Black Friday sale. Shopping during holidays like Black Friday is one of the best Atlantis Bahamas tricks.

Stay off-site

Visit the sharks and other wildlife at Atlantis Bahamas Paradise Island

You don’t actually have to stay at Atlantis Paradise Island to experience the resort. You can stay off-site or visit while you’re on a cruise. The Atlantis Bahamas offers a day pass that can be purchased. The Atlantis Day pass will give you an all-access pass to the resort including the waterpark and slides.

There are also resorts within close proximity to Atlantis Paradise Island resort that offer access as well. For example, I found a post from The Points Guy about how their stay at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island saved them a lot of money and they were able to enjoy many of the same amenities that guests staying on the property would.

Can you bring your own alcohol to Atlantis Bahamas?

Yes! You can absolutely bring your own alcohol to Atlantis Bahamas. If you’re a drinker this is definitely how to visit Atlantis Bahamas on a budget. When you’re on your way to exit the airport you will see a small liquor shop to the right. We purchased beer, wine, and liquor here. They provided us with a box and helped us with our luggage over to the transportation booth. They even opened a beer for us to enjoy, now that’s how you start a vacation!

What can you do for free at Atlantis?

Aquaventure – water slides and pools
The Dig Aquarium tour
Marine habitats and exhibits
Visit Marina Village
Stroll through the Atlantis Casino
The Crystal Court Shops
White sand beaches

If you’re a registered guest of the Atlantis Paradise Island resort, you can experience the above at no extra cost. When we stayed at the resort, we did not pay for the activities. If you’re just looking to relax by the pool, lay in the lazy river, experience thrilling water slides, or visit some wildlife it doesn’t cost anything extra.

So, Is it worth staying in Atlantis?

Yes! We enjoyed the beautiful scenery and seeing wildlife up close without having to pay more than the cost to stay at the resort. There were plenty of things to do and we felt no need to go off-site. It’s a perfect resort for couples or families. Plus if you catch one of their deals, it can be a really affordable option for a nice and luxurious getaway.

Ultimately, how to get to Atlantis Paradise Island on a budget depends on how much money you want to spend. It’s a personal choice, but whether you stay at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort or decide to visit for the day it’s definitely worth it. The most important thing is to have fun (without going into debt)!

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