Atlantis – Bahamas Birthday Getaway 🎉🌴

The Bahamas has been on Meghna’s list for a while now — especially swimming with the pigs, one of the most popular excursions here. When I spotted an American Airlines sale — round-trip flights from Houston to Nassau for just 36,000 miles for both of us — I jumped on it and booked us a birthday trip.

First Impressions

The Bahamas is made up of hundreds of islands, with Nassau being the most popular and populated. When it comes to resorts, the two big names are Baha Mar (Hyatt) and Atlantis (a Marriott partner). Atlantis Paradise Island is instantly recognizable — the pink Royal Towers are an icon of the Caribbean. Originally opened in 1968 as the Paradise Island Hotel & Casino, the property was completely transformed in 1998 into the Atlantis we know today. Beyond the pools and beaches, Atlantis is home to the world’s largest open-air marine habitat, with more than 50,000 marine animals across 250+ species. It’s part resort, part underwater wonderland — and totally unforgettable.

We chose Atlantis not only because it’s iconic, but also because it was much more budget-friendly. A five-day, four-night stay cost us $2,400 (plus a $250 resort credit since they were running a deal for Texas residents), while Baha Mar would’ve been about $1,300 more.

Unlike other resorts we've been to, neither Atlantis nor Baha Mar are all-inclusive. I hesitated at first, but all-inclusive options in the Bahamas are limited. Sandals was a contender, but it felt a bit dated and reviews didn’t quite live up to the hype.

The Towers of Atlantis

Atlantis is spread across multiple towers:

• The Cove – The most luxurious tower at Atlantis, perfect for couples or anyone wanting a high-end experience. Guests enjoy an exclusive adults-only pool, cabanas, and oceanfront views. Dining highlights include Fish by José Andrés (elevated seafood), Paranza by Michael White (Italian), and the SeaGlass Bar for cocktails with a view.
  

• The Reef – Condo-style and more residential, great for families or longer stays with kitchenettes and laundry. It has its own pool and a Starbucks in the lobby that’s a guest favorite. While the Reef doesn’t have its own major restaurants, it’s a short walk to The Cove’s dining options and close to Marina Village.

  
  

• The Coral – The most budget-friendly and colorful option, recently renovated and family-oriented. It’s near Marina Village for shopping and dining, plus has a pool with a swim-up bar. Dining options include Murray’s Deli for casual bites and Bimini Road for Caribbean flavors.

• The Royal Atlantis – The iconic pink towers and the heart of Atlantis. This is where you’ll find the casino, The Dig aquarium, and designer shops. Dining includes Nobu (world-famous Japanese fusion) and Plato’s for casual drinks and snacks. The Royal is also closest to the waterpark and many resort-wide dining spots.

  
  

• Harborside Resort – Colorful villa-style condos right on the marina, ideal for groups or families who want full kitchens and in-room laundry while still enjoying full resort access. Harborside doesn’t have its own restaurants, but it’s a quick shuttle or short walk to Marina Village and all the main Atlantis dining options.

  
  

  

  Harborside Resort

The Coral and Royal Towers are connected, so you can walk between them without needing the shuttle. For everything else, the shuttle system is excellent, running every 7–8 minutes between towers and Marina Village.

Atlantis Shuttle

Day 1 – Arriving in Paradise & Nobu

Immigration at Nassau was surprisingly quick and easy. Waiting for us just outside was Sandra’s Transportation and Tour Services, holding a sign with our names and ready to whisk us away to Atlantis. After a long morning of travel, it felt like the perfect start to paradise.

One great perk of using Sandra’s Transportation is the stop they allow at a local grocery and liquor store on the way to your hotel. If you’re heading to Atlantis, this is a smart move—because let me warn you, Atlantis is expensive. Expect to pay around $15–20 USD for drinks, $75 for a casual lunch, and easily $150 or more for dinner.

We stocked up on snacks, bottled water, and a couple of small bottles of vodka to help cut costs. Ironically, the vodka went untouched—we happily indulged in piña coladas and espresso martinis throughout the trip instead.

We hit the ground running with dinner at Nobu (closed on Sundays, so we went the night before Meghna’s birthday). The ambiance was great and we were seated quickly with reservations. Meghna had her go-to espresso martini with Baileys, while I tried the lychee martini.

I gave sushi a fair shot — California roll and shrimp tempura — while Meghna went for yellowtail maki and nigiri. Honestly, the presentation was underwhelming for a restaurant of Nobu’s reputation. Everything came on one plate without much flair.

We wrapped up the night at the casino, trying our luck at blackjack. Let’s just say… we donated to the Atlantis economy that night.

Day 2 – Pools, Rides & Marina Village Parade

We spent Day 2 exploring the property: starting at the Cove’s adults-only pool by the beach, then the mile-long Rapid River (a lazy river with exciting bursts of speed & rapids) and waterslides. Lunch poolside at The Cove included chicken quesadillas, grilled fish tacos, and piña coladas.

Dinner was at Claudio’s in the Coral Tower — we split the lemon herb chicken with onion rings and Cajun shrimp Alfredo, both with (more) piña coladas.

That night, we caught the Marina Village Parade, a fun local performance held Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Day 3 – Swimming with the Oinkers 🐷

This was Meghna’s dream excursion. Our original booking with DelFin Charters fell through, but they referred us to another operator, Oasis Ocean 7 Expeditions, who were fantastic.

We met at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Bahamas, about a 5-minute walk from Marina Village — an easy spot to reach since the Atlantis shuttle makes regular drop-offs there.

Once we boarded the boat, it was just a quick 15–20 minute ride out to the snorkeling spot. Since I still haven’t learned how to swim (don’t judge), I embraced my role as full-time Insta-husband — snapping pics and videos from the boat while Meghna did the real exploring. She came back raving about giant turtles, colorful schools of fish, and a coral reef. The reef wasn’t huge, but according to her, it was still a nice sight.

Next, we headed to Rose Island, a private beach club with stunning views, rum punch (strong and delicious), and plenty of photo ops. We got a chance to lounge around, enjoy the white sand beach with lots of punch.

Then came the main event: the pigs! They came running down the steps ready for snacks (hot dogs and apples). Before you ask — yes, the hot dogs were chicken franks, so no cannibalism here. The piglets stole the show, running person to person.

Lunch was included (cheese burgers, veggie burgers, and yes — more rum punch). After a full day in the sun, we returned to Atlantis exhausted but happy.

Dinner that night was at Bimini Road, a Bahamian restaurant where we had blackened mahi-mahi burgers, seafood tacos, and conch hush puppies. Dessert was bread pudding topped with ice cream — and a big birthday song for Meghna.

Day 4 – Birthday in Nassau 🎂

Unfortunately, Meghna woke up under the weather, so we started slow with Starbucks breakfast sandwiches. Later, we took a taxi ($20 each way) to downtown Nassau.

Our plan included the rum cake factory, straw market, chocolate factory, Queen’s Staircase, and John Watling’s Rum Distillery (known for pina coladas). But honestly — downtown Nassau felt sketchy. The streets were empty, alleys narrow, and with few tourists around, I felt uneasy carrying my camera. We stopped at the tiny rum cake factory, then cut the trip short and went back to Atlantis.

Back at the resort, I explored the Cove Beach and pools while Meghna napped. Later we regrouped with more piña coladas. Dinner was at Silá, a Mediterranean spot in the Royal Tower casino area. Unfortunately, it was our most expensive but least impressive meal — average shrimp linguine and half chicken (ironically similar to our Claudio’s order).

We ended the night walking through the aquarium and giving the casino another try. This time Meghna played — and unlike me, she actually clawed us back to even. A perfect way to end the trip.

Takeaways!

Meghna and I had a wonderful birthday getaway in the Bahamas, finally getting to explore Atlantis and checking off the bucket-list experience of swimming with the pigs. The Bahamas is full of kind, welcoming people with warm smiles, which made the trip even more memorable.

Atlantis itself is a destination that people return to again and again — and it’s easy to see why. The combination of incredible pools, marine life, vibrant dining, and stunning beaches makes it feel like a little world of its own. The beaches around Atlantis were especially beautiful — soft white sand, turquoise water, and surprisingly little seaweed (very different from what you sometimes find in Cancun).

This is a great spot for families with kids thanks to the waterpark, aquarium, and endless activities. At the same time, couples looking for a romantic getaway will find luxury at The Cove or privacy at The Reef. It’s not an all-inclusive resort, but with a little planning (like stocking up at a grocery stop on the way), you can balance out the pricey dining.

Overall, Atlantis is worth the hype: relaxing, fun, and unforgettable. Whether you’re there for the beaches, marine life, food, or just the chance to unwind, it’s a resort you’ll likely find yourself wanting to come back to.

Atlantis Map