Paradise Island Hotels from $156

The Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas is an excellent family vacation spot! Staff was extremely courteous (I'm looking at you Aaron and Wendell - two great Bell guys!), and the property is the perfect combo of Family Retreat and High-End hotel/resort experience. The rides and pools are quite clean, and we waited about 20 minutes for the longest water slide line over our whole week stay. The aquariums are brilliant, and unlike any hotel that we've ever seen. There is so much to do, and the property is so vast -- bring your comfortable shoes!!! If you look close, the Atlantis needs some 'minor' cosmetic work (tiles missing on their 'star' Leap of Faith slide, some chipping paint on the Royal Towers, our exit sign on our floor was damaged and dangling from the ceiling AND unfixed all week, etc..). Also, many of the food choices on property were delicious...but expensive/overpriced. Would definitely return!! Our main tip -- Stop at a local grocery store from the airport and grab a couple of cases of juice, Dasani water, and alcohol -- Cheryl's Cab will stop for a small extra fee (TOTALLY WORTH IT!!). We also brought drink mix-ins (Crystal Light, Propel, etc..), to mix with the waters, so you don't get tired of drinking just water. Oh, and shout out to Cheryl's Cab service - prepaid for a round trip ride to and from the airport, and both drivers were extremely courteous and timely, and they treated our cab ride like a historical tour of Nassau .. an added bonus!

The maid/cleaning service for which you pay for on a daily basis was sub-par, my mini-bar was broken, could not get it open, my security safe broke twice while I was there for 5 days and some of the furniture in the room was over due for replacement. Some staff were really nice while others were very rude with a sense of entitlement, so quite inconsistent. Most staff at the restaurants were nice, pleasant, but staff at Todd English restaurant OLIVES were horrible. Terrible service during breakfast that we cancelled our reservations for dinner: no napkins, missing utensils, then when the waitress was taking our orders, it seemed like a bother for her and she started walking away while we were still ordering; I wish I could remember her name. By far, this was the worst experience eating out at Atlantis.