How I secured discounted access for my family to Atlantis Paradise Island

For over fifty years, I've explored the world, initially as a military child and later as a travel and aviation journalist. Growing up in Europe, my parents were enthusiastic about taking my sister and me on various trips across the continent for both enjoyment and education.

After welcoming my now-16-year-old child, I was determined to provide them with the same travel adventures my sister and I experienced, all while keeping to a reasonable budget. This led me to find ways to reduce travel costs without compromising our vacation enjoyment.

While I've been fortunate to save on various types of vacations, one trip stands out in particular: my family's visit to the Atlantis resort on Paradise Island in 2016.

How I arranged our visit to Atlantis

Back in 2016, Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas was heavily promoted on TV channels in Baltimore, our home base. My 11-year-old child was captivated by the pools and waterslides, particularly the Mayan Temple, and began urging me and their dad to plan a trip.

After a quick review of room rates in April 2016 (peak spring break season), it became clear that staying at Atlantis was beyond our means. Although the resort is part of Marriott's Autograph Collection, which would allow me to earn Marriott Bonvoy points, the cash price remained too high, and I lacked sufficient Bonvoy points for the trip.

If I were to book a four-night stay in a family-friendly Coral room for the same time next year, I'd be looking at $2,380 (or $595 per night, as shown in the screenshot) — an exorbitant cost for a budget-conscious family.

Realizing there had to be a more affordable way to experience Atlantis Paradise Island, I began exploring alternative options to find cost-effective solutions.

I conducted another Google search to find out if Atlantis Paradise Island offers day passes. Fortunately, they do, but the price was still a bit steep. For two adults and a child, we were facing a staggering $1,900 (or $475 per day) for our four-night stay — and that still didn't ensure us beach chairs.

I was confident I could find a better deal.

After booking our Southwest Airlines flights using points, I searched for "hotels with access to Atlantis" to explore the options. That’s when I discovered Comfort Suites Paradise Island.

With 223 junior suites, a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, and an outdoor pool featuring a swim-up bar, this Choice Hotels-affiliated property provided nearly the same level of convenience as staying at Atlantis Paradise Island, located just across the street, but at a fraction of the cost. A spacious double suite for our family was only $236 per night — totaling $944 for four nights.

The highlight was the off-site benefit included in the room rates. Each guest received a wristband granting access to various amenities at Atlantis Paradise Island, including features at the resort's sprawling 141-acre Aquaventure water park:

• Exciting waterslides like the Leap of Faith in the renowned Mayan Temple and The Abyss (a thrilling 200-foot-long body slide), along with three water coasters.
• A mile-long Rapids River, where waves carry riders on inner tubes through a vibrant landscape.
• Over 20 swimming areas, featuring two kids' pools, eight family-friendly pools, and an adults-only pool.
• Four beautiful white sand beaches, including the family-friendly Lagoon Beach, ideal for snorkeling and paddleboating, among other water sports.

Strategies I used to manage our expenses

Sticking exclusively to Atlantis Paradise Island's offerings can quickly become expensive, particularly if you dine at any of the resort's 29 restaurants or participate in additional activities like Dip 'N' Discover dolphin encounters and snorkeling in the Ruins Lagoon, which require advance booking and incur extra costs. Therefore, we opted for a combination of on-site and off-site activities to fully experience the resort without overspending.

On the first day of our visit, we arrived early to secure some lounge chairs, knowing they would fill up fast. However, the location we picked wasn't ideal, so we decided to invest in preferred seating at the Grotto Pool (an option that was unfortunately removed during the COVID-19 pandemic and is not expected to return, per a resort spokesperson) for the rest of our stay, costing us $125 per day — totaling $375 for three days.

Our new setup was just what we needed — a serene oasis near all the excitement — and we loved having a dedicated server for food and drink orders, along with a USB charging port for our devices and a storage locker. Plus, the child really enjoyed sitting under the pool's two cascading waterfalls when not spending quality time with dad on the water park slides and The Rapids River.

Despite the extra cost of reserving pool chairs and having a few meals poolside, we still saved significantly by staying at Comfort Suites and avoiding the pricier activities at Atlantis Paradise Island. This allowed us to use some of our savings to join Tru Bahamian Food Tours' Bites of Nassau Food Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour, which cost us $199 ($75 for two adults and $49 for one child aged 4 to 12). We thoroughly enjoyed the three-hour tour, which focused on locally owned spots with a local guide who shared fascinating insights about the area’s history.

Final thoughts

In summary, our spring break trip to Atlantis Paradise Island was a fantastic experience for our family. Our child got to enjoy a remarkable water park they had seen on TV, all while we managed to keep the expenses reasonable.

By being thoughtful about our plans — from using points for airfare to choosing a budget-friendly hotel that offered all the essential perks we desired — my family was able to enjoy several days in paradise for just $1,443. Considering how much fun we had without compromising on quality, it's clear that our trip to the Bahamas is a family favorite.

So, the next time you start looking for vacation ideas, remember to explore all your options to find ways to save. You might be surprised at the affordable alternatives available — even in popular spots like the Bahamas.