Travel Guides And Tips: Atlantis Resort Paradise Island

Atlantis is an incredibly popular beachfront mega-resort and casino. With the addition of the spacious Harborside Resort villas, the Atlantis resort now offers 2300 rooms, suites, and family villas. Eleven million gallons of water activites and attractions include water slides and rides, swimming pools, waterfalls, fountains, snorkeling and swimming lagoons, not to mention the beautiful beaches of Paradise Island. The 50,000 sq. ft. casino is one of the largest in the Caribbean and the most "Vegas-like" we've encountered. An 18-hole, par 72, oceanfront golf course and nine tennis courts are accessible to resort guests. If you're looking for peace and quiet, Atlantis may not be the right choice. However, travelers looking for a variety of activities and excitement will find it at Atlantis. Be prepared to book well in advance to ensure the best selection of room categories.

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A D D I T I O N A L I N F O:
If you like big and bigger, you'll love the Atlantis, created by hotel superstar Sol Kerzner at a cost of over $250 million. You'll stay in one of three areas (Coral Towers, Beach Tower, and Villas), in pink buildings rising up to a maximum of 12 floors. All units have either two double beds or one king-size bed, plus a bar and a balcony, plus the usual amenities of first-class hotels. Rooms are available for non-smokers and those who are disabled. The central attraction of the resort (and quite a phenomenon indeed; it should be visited even if you're not staying at Atlantis) is a 14-acre Waterscape containing a living saltwater habitat (the world's largest outdoor aquarium) hosting more than 100 species of marine life in six lagoons. One section is the Predator Lagoon, stocked with several kinds of sharks and featuring its own underwater pedestrian walkway, through an immense glass tunnel. There are also waterfalls, five swimming pools, a quarter-mile river ride, and a 100-foot suspension bridge over it all. The hotel has 1,147 rooms in all, 12 restaurants (including French and Bahamian), and a huge casino with 800 slot machines. Of course, there's entertainment with an aquatically themed revue, comedy club, and sports bar. Sports include golf on an 18-hole course, tennis, and all watersports.The Waterscape at the new Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island is now the number one tourist target in the area. Next in popularity is the Coral Island Underwater Observatory; and after that, visitors go to Rawson Square and its outdoor market, the Parliament Building, library, and museum. Paradise Island, located on the northern edge of Nassau (New Providence) the capital of the Bahamas, is 826 acres, 4 -1/2 miles long and � of a mile wide. Formerly known as Hog Island, Paradise Island first became a tourist destination in 1921. In 1962, the Bahamian Parliament and commercial developers were in agreement that the name Hog Island did not reflect the natural beauty and tourist appeal of the island, and therefore deemed �Paradise� a more appropriate name for this oasis.The Myth of Atlantis:As recounted by Plato, Atlantis was an island, a fortress where Poseidon�s five sets of twins ruled. There, within concentric rings of water and land, Atlanteans, lived a life of harmony and abundance. This evolved civilization flourished for years, until it was suddenly lost to the sea, submerged by an unforeseen volcanic eruption. Thought to be gone forever, Atlantis became an unattainable truth, as well as an inaccessible Eden. Until now....

A C T V I T I E S:
Atlantis recreational facilities feature: * Eleven freshwater swimming areas, including family pools, children's pools, Goombay Water Slide & Baths, and lazy river for tube rides. * Paradise Lagoon, a seven-acre saltwater swimming and water-sports area with snorkeling gear, kayaks, and pedal boats available for rent. * Three miles of Atlantic Ocean beaches flanking Paradise Lagoon. * Five waterslides built into a six-story Mayan Temple include The Leap of Faith, a 60-foot, nearly vertical plunge through a clear acrylic tunnel submerged in a shark-filled lagoon; a 48-foot corkscrew slide transporting tube riders through the Temple's dark core; and shorter, gentler children's slides connecting cascading pools. * Sports center with six lighted clay and hard-surface tennis courts (surcharges); 27-yard, four-lane lap pool; 9,000-square-foot fitness facility (surcharges) with free weights, cardio and weight machines, steam rooms, and workout studio for aerobics, spinning, kickboxing, yoga, and Pilates (surcharges). * Guests may use the private Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole championship Ocean Club Golf Course 1.5 miles from the resort at the east end of Paradise Island. (Complimentary shuttle service to course.) Independent operators offer parasailing and personal watercraft rentals on the beach.

A M E N I T I E S:
Designed like a grand palace on the mythical lost continent of Atlantis, Royal Towers offers 1,201 guestrooms in two salmon-colored wings topped by weathered-bronze spires and connected at the ground-floor level. The East Wing rises in three levels of 12, 16, and 24 stories. The West Wing rises in levels of 16 and 20 stories. Called Great Hall of Waters, the large and fanciful lobby features a three-story dome ceiling, intricately carved columns, and vividly colored frescos of Atlanteans' imagined life. Royal Towers rooms are larger than those in the Coral Towers and the Beach Tower. Royal Towers' rooms have step-out, rather than full balconies. Tropical decor includes sand-colored walls, crown molding, light-colored furniture, and coral-motif fabrics. Imperial Club rooms are located on floors 17-24, and guests have access to a private 19th-floor lounge staffed by a concierge from early morning to late night. Furnished with a television and dining tables, the lounge provides panoramic ocean views. Guests are served complimentary Continental breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails/appetizers, and after-dark sweets. (Note: Upon arrival, Imperial Club guests should identify themselves to the doorstaff, to be escorted to the Sun Lounge for registration.What to expect: Designed after the mythical Lost Continent of Atlantis, this resort expanded from a casino destination into a family destination by including vast water-park and marine-life attractions. Royal Towers embodies a full-blown expression of the Atlantis motif, a colossus formed of stone and held together by gigantic, weathered-bronze joints.Amenity highlights: All Atlantis facilities are accessible from all three towers (the others are Beach Tower and Coral Tower). Royal Towers contains the Mandara Spa and Casino. Adjacent are the Royal Baths Pool, the Mayan Temple Water Slides and Pool, and Ripples Kid's Pool and Slides. Also adjacent are the marine-life exhibits, Mayan Temple Predator Lagoon, Ruins Lagoon, and The Dig, an underground web of mythological Atlantis "ruins" that contains huge windows offering underwater views of over 70,000 marine animals representing 250 species.Insider tip: Opened in 2005 and located 300 yards from the resort, Marina Village includes international brand-name shops, Bahamian arts/crafts vendors, five restaurants (including Carmines of New York and Johnny Rockets), Jamba Juice, and the Caribbean�s first Starbucks.

D I N I N G & R E S T A U R A N T S:
Atlantis includes over 35 restaurants, bars, and lounges as well as poolside snack/beverage carts. The following restaurants are located in Royal Towers: Caf� at the Great Hall of Waters - Fine dining. Glass-wall backdrop displaying marine life in Ruins Lagoon. Three-story vaulted ceiling. American breakfasts. Lunch choices such as ahi burgers; Atlantic swordfish club sandwich. Dinner choices such as Caribbean quesadillas, veal chop with spinach. English afternoon tea, including Caribbean iced teas. Pianist featured at night. Fathoms - Seafood dinner restaurant with glass-wall backdrop displaying marine life in Ruins Lagoon. Choices such as grilled grouper, seafood pepperpot. Also, lounge and raw bar. The Marketplace - International theme. Features theme-dining alcoves decorated with wines, spices, and flowers from around the world. Global buffet includes seafood, pasta, and sushi from made-to-order food stations. Open for lunch, dinner. Plato's - Indoor/outdoor lounge serving Continental breakfast, coffee drinks, power drinks, snacks, desserts, cocktails. Spanish guitarist. Notable restaurants elsewhere in the resort: Carmines - Located in Marina Village. Offers dining experience of famous New York landmark restaurant. Family-style dining. Classic Italian recipes include Chicken Scarpariello, Shrimp Scampi, Fried Calimari, and Veal Saltimbocca. Seafire Steakhouse - Located in Marina Village. Modern steakhouse atmosphere. Menu includes classic shrimp cocktails; Pressed Coriander Crusted Beef Carpaccio; Lemon-pepper Tuna, Sweet Bahamian Lobster Tail, and fine cuts of prime beef. Signature martinis; fine wines. Water's Edge - In Coral Tower. Overlooking Water's Edge Lagoon. Buffet breakfast and dinner offered; antipasto bar, family-style Italian dishes. Villa D'Este - In Coral Tower. Fine-dining dinner restaurant. Northern Italian cuisine. Frescoed ceiling. Etched glass. Marble bar. Mama Loo's - Intimate fine-dining dinner restaurant with dark-wood ceiling, banquettes. Chinese cuisine such as five-spice duck, lobster tail, Singapore noodles. Bahamian Club - In Coral Tower. Steakhouse. Green walls, green ceilings, dark-wood trim. Sepia Bahamian family photos on walls. Steaks, prime rib, lamb, salmon. Dinner only. Seagrapes - In Beach Tower. Casual, colorful spot displaying masks from The Bahamas' annual Mardi-Gras-like Junkanoo parade. Seagrapes Circus (jugglers, clowns, stilt walkers, face painters, balloon artists) featured Thursday�Saturday. Breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets. �Kids Korner� dining section/menu. The Cave Bar and Grill - In Beach Tower. Open-air lunch spot featuring underwater views of marine life. Burgers, hot dogs, salads, ice cream.