Paradise Island, Bahamas: Atlantis
I'm not sure how it's possible, but I have not traveled internationally since my last trip to Australia in February 2020. Yes the dreaded virus stopped Intl travel for a couple years, but it's beyond my comprehension that I haven't left the US in 4 years! All that changed, thank goodness, with a long weekend trip to the Bahamas. Thanks to a quick flight from NYC and Marriott points for the room, it was one of the easiest international trips we've ever taken!
The quick 2.5 hour flight from NYC and another 1/2 hour ride in a cab from the airport in Nassau to The Atlantis, had us at the majestic front doors of the hotel by mid-morning. Right away, the Atlantis was inspiring. The wow factor starts the second you pull up to the front gate and walk into the grand lobby.
We quickly dropped off our bags and changed into beach clothes. Hungry for lunch but equally excited to see the grounds, we wandered the entire property before settling down at one of the poolside cafes for cocktails and seafood. We stayed at the famous Royal hotel but other accommodations are part of the Atlantis, including The Coral, The Cove, The Reef and Harborside. I was blown away at how beautiful the entire complex was. Every detail was carefully crafted and no stone was placed unintentionally. Nature is showcased here in all its glory, from a giant shark to a teeny tiny piece of algae. It didn't hurt that the perfect 80 degrees with low humidity made wandering around all day very enjoyable.
There are 14 different pools on the premises and we happily hung out at a variety of them. My favorites to relax were 1) the small Grotto pool in the center of the complex, with it's slightly secluded location and two waterfalls that block out the noise of the rest of the property, 2) Baths Colonnade Pool because it is huge so you rarely feel crowded and because it's off to the back of the property where less people were camped out during our time at Atlantis. The Mayan Temple and Royal Baths pools were very cool, but definitely the most crowded, due to their prime location and access to the water slides. While we didn't spend any time at the Poseidon Play Zone, it was the coolest pool for kids with a jungle gym inside the pool and a giant bucket of water that fills over time and then dumps gallons of water over the entire structure. Brilliant! We took a few walks along the beach but did not camp out in the sand, thanks to all these beautiful pools to lounge instead.
One of the most fun things to do for lunch (or breakfast, or an afternoon treat) is to head to the Atlantis Shake Shack. Sure we can eat these iconic burgers in NYC, but this location was extra special, thanks to its glass walls and sealife views. It's like dinner and a show all in one place! We also loved that there was a Shake Shack bar, which was a perfect place to saddle up with wet bathing suits and coverups. The certainly weren't the best drinks on the island, but it was fun.
While walking the grounds is gorgeous any time of day or night, we really enjoyed the sights at the golden hour. The wildlife was active, the harsh sun was softened and everything had that golden glow that made us feel like we were walking around in a storybook.
For dinner on night one, we got dressed up (resort chic!) and headed to Fish, the stunning seafood restaurant by Jose Andres. It was so so beautiful and the food was amazing, of course. Ironically, the Food and Wine Festival was happening while we were at The Atlantis but we didn't see Andres this time (we did see Robert Irvine in our hotel though! Love a good celebrity sighting, especially when it's a chef!)
After dinner (we had a late reservation!) we headed back to our hotel, The Royal, and explored the lobby and the beginnings of The Dig (more on that later). Atlantis is a pretty magical place.
Stay tuned for part 2 of Atlantis.
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