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Atlantis Hotel in Bahamas is no Paradise Island (Reply to this comment)
by pickymofo
My, experience was 180 degrees opposite. Once the premier resort in the Caribbean, the Atlantis experience has deteriorated into poor Jamaican-style service delivered with a rather contemptuous and unfriendly attitude not consistent with traditional Bahamian culture and more reminiscent of the surly Jamaican experience that caused that nation's tourism industry to crumble. There is a complete absence of management and a much younger staff, which tends its duties in a haphazard and somewhat profane fashion.
ARRIVAL- The hotel Complex is an hour from the airport. Do not take a shuttle. A Lincoln town car is sixty dollars, a taxi is $30.00 but the driver will cram as many other passengers as possible in with you and you will have to make the rounds to their hotels before you get dropped off last, as Atlantis is last on the route. Once you get to the hotel, expect a 2 to 6 hour wait beyond check in before your room is ready. My party complained after two hours and the young man, Da'amal, who was helping us said he was on the phone with room service at the moment and expected the room in seconds. He did the same theatrics with about ten other couples arriving concurrently and none of us believe he was even connected to another phone. He kept pushing buttons. but never spoke to anyone. When I demanded a manager, I was finally given a filthy room with a view of parking lot, not the ocean view I booked. We were moved the next day after complaining several more times and requesting to speak to several managers. No manager ever contacted us in return. Another couple with two young children waited 7 hours before they got into their room with not so much as an apology.
We saw Da'amal the next day, poolside, working as a Cabana boy at the towel umbrella. He had no pool towels even though it was only 10 am and Da'amal had no answers as to when towels would arrive. Da’amal reluctantly promised to bring towels to us when they arrived, but never did. We had to use room towels.
ACCOMODATIONS- The rooms were nice. We stayed at The Reef, $625 per night plus numerous add-ons and fees. The Reef is brand new but the carpet is already rather dirty and long fibers are stringing away from where it meets a marble tile/task area in front of the kitchenette. The kitchenette was small but efficient. The appliances were all underneath the counter, which required a lot of bending over. The major problem here is that there is abysmal housekeeping. No vacuuming was performed, we rarely received towels and had to call several times down to the front desk. Linens were never changed even though specifically requested. The mirrors were not wiped. The bathroom surfaces were not wiped. The toilet was not cleaned. Toiletries were not replaced. no drinking glasses were replaced in the bathroom as is customary at all good hotels. In The Kitchenette, the coffee/tea service was not replenished with coffee or tea from the prior days use. The dishwasher detergent was not replaced, and needless to say, no dishes were put in the dishwasher. There is a $33.00 per day maid gratuity automatically added to your bill, of which we were unaware until checkout, so we had been cash tipping $10.00 per day and still received unbelievably bad service. The fees are located in an e-mail link, not in any document you will actually receive and include energy surcharges, $75/day taxes for tourism, a fee that is untitled for $50.00 and they double charge you and the prior guest for the day of their departure and your arrival.
POOL-the pool itself was nice. The water was very warm, which was nice on cool days when the winds blow. This was the best part about the Reef. Unfortunately, there are never towels available poolside. You stay at a $700.00 per night hotel and you somehow expect to be able to get a towel. Also, guests have a nasty practice of placing personal items or towels on the best chairs at 6 am or even the night before to "claim" the best seats to the detriment of other guests. They do this at several sites, the reef pool, the beach and the slides. This no doubt contributes to the towel shortage. When many guests "claim" seats at three different locations, there is a drastic reduction in available seating for other guests. This practice should not be allowed. It is the hotel's fault for allowing some guests to abuse others.
I favor a policy of you can do anything you want as long as your activity doesn't prevent me from my activity. As a host, it the hotel's responsibility to assure the comfort and convenience of all its guests. Furthermore, the hotel rents passes to cruise ship passengers for $15.00 per day. These very loud and mostly drunk patrons really hog the slides and lazy river, cut lines and generally make a nuisance of themselves. Think six flags over America, too much beer, sun and tattoos. They drink all day in the pool but the only facility they don't seem to use is the restrooms. My daughter caught an eye infection in the pool and we had a nice tour of a third world hospital.
DINING- This is as bad as housekeeping. Reservations at the few decent restaurants go to guests on a "meal plan" purchased in advance for $125.00 per person, per day. It includes breakfast and lunch only. Breakfast is at a (shudder) buffet. Quantity but not quality. If you like eating as if you are on a cheap cruise ship, you will like the breakfast buffet and all the cruise-ship like intestinal viruses and diarrhea that goes with such dining. If you eat dinner at one of the restaurants, expect to wait several hours in line with angry, hungry people and lots of whining kids. Most people are not aware of the meal plan restrictions and assume there will be adequate dining facilities and food will be available. There is not, except for the buffets, at $37.00 per person and higher for "dinner". The decent restaurants are routinely booked at least one month in advance so completely forget them. If you were lured into staying at the reef with the promise of a kitchenette and a grocery store in the lobby, boy will you be surprised. The Kitchenette exists, however the grocery store does not. Hot dogs, lactose free milk, buns and lean cuisine are the only groceries. They have some frozen microwaveable breakfast sausage, but unfortunately the shop does not have a freezer so the lean cuisine and sausage is rancid and will do to you the same as it did to me. Remember those cruise ship viruses? Enough said.
We were lucky enough to get a cancellation at “Fathoms” restaurant at 9:15 due to a cancellation. It was like eating in a concrete warehouse. The restaurant features a huge aquarium wall on one side, concrete walls, floors and support columns. I am 47 years old with excellent hearing and could not understand a word spoken. Then the staff has a habit of breaking into happy birthday (5 times during our dinner) to mostly drunken patrons. One waiter loudly laughed and joked at a table for 35 minutes after which he should have been asked to join the party. One gentleman was drunkenly escorted to the bathroom and I witnessed a cash transaction between another male in the party and the same waiter in the bathroom involving a small quantity of some substance. Your guess is as good as mine. I ordered Lobster and tenderloin. The lobster was extremely overcooked and cold as ice. The steak was cooked perfectly but seemed to have come right from the refrigerator and was actually firmly chilled all the way through. I complained to the waitress and she responded “excellent, sir”. I am sure she couldn’t hear a word I spoke due to the noise. The others in my party had nice snapper and mahi-mahi. The wine was turned, which is rare for a sauvignon blanc 2004. It must have sat in the heat on a dock. It was unpalatable. Makes you wonder what else sat on the docks.
CHECK-OUT- I requested my account the night before check out so I could review it. It never arrived. I called again the next morning, Saturday at 8 am. They couldn’t send it up because no one was there except the girl on the phone. As is suspected, a long line awaited me in the lobby because of a lack of staffing and management. Saturday is the biggest travels day, and yet one inexperienced girl was on duty. They should have brought Da’amal back from the pool to punch nonexistent phone numbers.
SUMMARY- If you gave me a free all expense paid trip to Atlantis, I would give it to someone else with a copy of this review. If it were non-transferable, I would stay at home. It is not worth going even were it free. BEWARE, STAY AWAY.
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Apr 17 '08
7:55 am PDT
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Re: Thank you (Reply to this comment)
by sblaydes
Ah... Thank you! :) I'm really glad that you found this review to be helpful.
Enjoy your trip! You should have a great time!!!
Suzanne
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Jan 02 '06
8:08 am PST
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Thank you (Reply to this comment)
by ellisjj
Your review is one of the best I've read and I've been on several different travel websites. I have reservations for June and your had some great info that I can use
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Jan 01 '06
6:02 pm PST
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Thank you (Reply to this comment)
by ellisjj
Your review is one of the best I've read and I've been on several different travel websites. I have reservations for June and your had some great info that I can use
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Jan 01 '06
6:00 pm PST
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We were on a cruise (Reply to this comment)
by KMINER
and walked "through" Atlantis while in port - and went to the free fish part :O) It was , by far, the most lavish place I have seen in the world. Thanks for this super complete review! Kimm
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Apr 30 '04
2:57 pm PDT
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AWFUL TRIP (Reply to this comment)
by gibbyjolene
We just returned from a "vacation" at Atlantis, Paradise Island. Let me cut to the chase...
The beds were made in our room once a day (reasonable)....NOTHING else was cleaned...EVER...One day my double bed was made with a twin sheet and no mattress pad...What did they say about that? "Our apologies"....
The bathroom was NEVER cleaned the entire 7 days nor was the carpet vaccuumed. Housekeeping will not so much as pick a piece of useless paper off of the floor. Empty soda cans are not touched. Our nightstand was never wiped down or the chairs replaced to their original positions. Again, $450.00 a day....i can get these basic services at Motel 6.
Staff doesn't know where anything is. There are conflicting reports about times, locations, and amenities to the point where you feel as though this has to be on purpose. There is a sense the staff resents your very presence and then takes the mandatory 15% gratuity and continue not to work (without a smile, by the way)...
The staff, in general, is rude with the exception of the Casino...which, by the way, costs a minimum of $10 per hand by day and $15 per hand by night.
A family of four can eat for no less than $200.00 per day. On TOP Of the $450 per night for the room (that is dirty). And for this, the food isn't that great.
The exercise facility is NOT complimentay...You must spend no less then $100.00 at the Spa in order to use this for ONE day. (spa was okay...)
If there is bad weather, there is nothing to do for children. No arcade...no indoor pool...there are a few board games in the lobby/lounge if you wish to sit on dirty furniture (but make sure to plan on getting your own drink from the bar before you die of thirst because the waitresses really don't care that much...they exist in theory).
This is also a spring break type place in March...so, if traveling then, plan on teenagers ruling the place with inexperienced and discourteous drinking at all hours.
I am incredibly disappointed in this 7 day vacation that cost $7,000.00...not including food, drinks, boat trips, taxi cabs...
What do they have to say about all of this?
"We apologize."
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Apr 01 '03
11:31 pm PST
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:) (Reply to this comment)
by annecal
I'm beginning to scope out honeymoon possibilities, and this is one I've been thinking of! Your review is so very helpful! Thanks!
Annie
(Third time I've read this!)
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Jan 08 '03
5:59 am PST
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Paradise is right! (Reply to this comment)
by groverchick
Suzanne,
*poppin' up*
Ok, so I was right...you put my review to shame with this one! I prepared myself though and went to go get some munchies.
Your review was wonderful and has me itching to go visit this place. The water slides sound sooo fun. The whole place sounds like heaven~! Ohhh, I could really use a vacation...*sigh* I need a better paying job! For now I'll just use my imagination and keep on dreamin' for dreams can come true!
See ya around!
Cheryl
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Jun 28 '02
2:45 pm PDT
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very helpful (Reply to this comment)
by ellisjj
thanks, you answered a lot of my questions!! very, very helpful
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Apr 10 '02
7:05 am PDT
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Beautiful Atlantis (Reply to this comment)
by cathyjones
My husband and I went on a Disney Cruise for our honeymoon. One of the day trips was to Atlantis. We had it included in our honeymoon package, but the cruise director said that Atlantis charges $25 a day per person to get on the grounds. You can tour the grounds, eat, spend money, and gamble. You cannot use the water attractions. The Disney Cruise people could use the beach though if they paid extra. I totally agree, the marine life was unbelievable, truly breathtaking. My husband and I always think of going back when we see pictures of it on commercials, etc. But, as you said, it costs a lot of money. Thanks for bringing me back to my honeymoon, and giving some insight on what we weren't able to see! Fantastic review!
Cathy
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Feb 25 '02
8:04 pm PST
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Amazing..... (Reply to this comment)
by Lark729_89
Your well-written and descriptive review hit the jackpot out of all the reviews written on this subject. I'm so gald you had a great time.
Crol
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Feb 16 '02
11:09 pm PST
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Wow! This was a great review... (Reply to this comment)
by diverpam
I knew the Atlantis was supposed to be really great, but I had no idea!
It's really a shame the water was so cold... I wouldn't have liked that at all.
I won't have to worry, though. My husband would never pay $495 a night for a room, even if it had it's own private water park inside the room!
Thanks for such a thorough review.
Pam
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Feb 16 '02
4:58 am PST
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Suzanne, another fine . . . (Reply to this comment)
by gungian
. . . example of the Epinionater's craft.
So very nicely done.
Write On!
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Feb 15 '02
8:17 am PST
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Re: It was a little tough to choose... (Reply to this comment)
by sblaydes
Thanks for your comments ... and for reading! :)
Suzanne
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Feb 14 '02
6:10 am PST
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It was a little tough to choose... (Reply to this comment)
by LordBalfor
... between yours and the review by bmolotsk, but at the end of the day the prise was yours.
Ken
Truly outstanding!
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Feb 13 '02
7:34 pm PST
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sounds like a perfect (Reply to this comment)
by ifif1938
place for you and your whole swim team!!
I gambled there once for a few hours when we were on a cruise..The whole place really is incredible.
Enjoyed your review as usual even if it was long..I find it so hard not to write long travel reviews...
Barbara
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Feb 13 '02
7:16 pm PST
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Re: Sheesh! (Reply to this comment)
by sblaydes
NO ... I am not a participant ... just trying to give the details. :)
Yes, the $$ per night for this hotel is very (very) pricey, but ... when you see all the marine habitats and the water attractions, we found ourselves rationalizing that if we were at Sea World, we would have spent nearly $100 in park fees. (I know, I'm trying to justify!) All I can say, it was a fun way to spend New Years. (And, I won't be doing it next year!)
Thanks for reading ...
Suzanne
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Feb 13 '02
6:34 pm PST
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I'm one who thinks (Reply to this comment)
by jo.com
quality detail and length is essential and your review shows it. I know not everyone agrees and can get away with short reviews...I don't even know how to write a short one. This is terrific. If my computer wasn't so slow (or the site) when I hit MH, I would have given you a MH - not that it means anything really except in our minds. jo
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Feb 13 '02
1:07 pm PST
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Very Thorough!!! (Reply to this comment)
by tombarnes
It took me a while to read this, but it was well worth the effort!! A very thorough review! Tom Barnes
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Feb 13 '02
9:30 am PST
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$495 per night? (Reply to this comment)
by 4-1-1
Who's going to have any money left for gambling after paying for the bed?
Sounds like a great place. Very nice review.
Tom / 4-1-1
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Feb 13 '02
9:25 am PST
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Re: yup (Reply to this comment)
by sblaydes
Believe it or not, there is still more that I have not written about!
Thanks for reading ...
Suzanne
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Feb 13 '02
9:21 am PST
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yup (Reply to this comment)
by garym
Too complete! Itīs like Iīve already been there.
Gary
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Feb 13 '02
9:19 am PST
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