Baha Mar vs. Atlantis: Which Bahamian Resort is Right for You?

paigelandrum
Nov 18
5 min read

Contributed by:

Lindsey Donovan

While traveling, we’ve learned an important lesson: don’t be surprised when a destination earns a special piece of your heart and holds on to it until you return. What surprises others the most is when we answer our favorite place to visit: Nassau, Bahamas.

Locals tell us that since we’ve been more than 3 times, we, too, are now considered locals. In fact, we see our conversation shift when we say we were just here two months ago or we’ve visited more than a dozen times. We just stopped counting after awhile!

We do tend to stay at what’s most familiar to us, Atlantis or Baha Mar. This familiarity allows a vacation to truly be easy because we know our way around, restaurants to visit, and can call our favorite cab drivers on WhatsApp when we want to venture away from the resorts. Staying on property provides luxury, safety, and an endless variety of places to eat and things to do. Both of these resorts are well known and each come with perks for family-friendly or adults only trips. But which would we choose? Read on as I break down pros and cons of each and you can decide what you might pick first!

Baha Mar vs. Atlantis:

Which Bahamian Resort is Right for You?

Resort Overviews

Baha Mar

Location: Cable Beach, Nassau

Opened: 2017

Concept: Collection of three distinct hotels (Grand Hyatt, SLS, Rosewood) offering varying levels of luxury and ambiance.

Key Features:

Extensive pool landscapes
ESPA spa
Jack Nicklaus golf course
Baha Mar Casino
Diverse dining options
Flamingo Encounters
The Sanctuary Eco-Center with animal habitats and encounters
Time from Lynden Pindling Airport: 13 Minutes

Atlantis Paradise Island

Location: Paradise Island, Nassau

Opened: 1998 (original), expanded over the years, including recent renovations in the Royal Tower (most iconic tower of the resort)

Concept: Iconic, mythical-themed resort with multiple towers (The Royal, The Cove, The Reef, Harborside Resort, The Coral).

Key Features:

Aquaventure Water Park
The Dig aquarium with add on options of snorkeling, scuba diving, and kid friendly animal camps
Dolphin Cay with nearby Sea Lion encounters
Atlantis Casino
Numerous dining options,
Marina adjacent including 5 additional full service restaurants
Shopping and specialty shops (Make it a point to visit the Dilly Bar for a morning latte and an evening espresso martini!)
Time from Lynden Pindling Airport: 27 Minutes (but can vary depending on time of day and number of cruise ships in port)

Head-to-Head Comparison

Accommodations

Baha Mar: Offers a Variety of styles across three hotels. These rooms are generally newer with a contemporary design. Suites and club level options are available here.

Families can enjoy the 1-bedroom at Baha Mar, which includes a washer and dryer and kitchen, where the 1 bedroom in the royal tower includes a mini fridge (options for more spacious rooms.

Atlantis: Offers a diverse range of towers with different price points and vibes, appealing to a variety of budgets and rooms that can accommodate multi-generational family trips. Rooms can vary in age and renovation status, but generally speaking, the Cove and The Reef offer more modern/upscale options.

Pools & Water Activities

Baha Mar: Multiple pools, often with swim-up bars and cabanas. There is beach access (Cable Beach) available.

There are fewer slides/rides compared to Atlantis, but attractions are new and show less wear and tear.

Atlantis: Guests can enjoy numerous pools throughout the property, as well as Aquaventure Water Park (slides, rapids river, kids' areas). There is extensive beach access (Paradise Beach, Cove Beach) along with Marine habitats and animal encounters (Dolphin Cay, The Dig).

Our family’s choice:

Based on the beach, the Sanctuary Beach at Atlantis has been a favorite of our family even since our toddler could enjoy the water and fish on a clear water day in shallow calm water. Since it’s private, no outside vendors will approach you to purchase souvenirs.

When you add in the Water Park, Atlantis wins out again. The Rapids River alone can take 20+ minutes and is a favorite with family and adults who want to have a little fun as well. Double tubes add to the experience as well!

Honorable mention: Baha Mar has the unique group raft slide and wave pool.

Dining

Baha Mar:

Wide array of upscale and casual dining with diverse international options
Celebrity chef restaurants (e.g., Marcus Samuelsson)
Chains including Sugar Factory
Pool side/outdoor daytime dining include wide variety of food genres, ranging from small stands and food trucks, to more casual sit down

Atlantis:

Extensive number of restaurants, from fine dining to quick bites
Variety of cuisines, often themed to resort sections
Some celebrity chef affiliations, and chains include Nobu and Capitol Grill, and Margaritaville is a less than 5 minute walk from the marina

Casinos & Nightlife

Baha Mar: Baha Mar Casino is the largest in the Caribbean, directly next to lobby/check in. There are numerous bars and lounges across the resorts, with a variety of theming. There are also Nightclubs (e.g., BOND, Skybar).

Atlantis: Atlantis Casino, which is a sizeable, diverse gaming option, but also away from common areas making it easy to avoid if you’re there with family. There are bars and lounges with variety of “vibes” from dark and moody to open air, with Caribbean flair live music and Aura Nightclub.

Activities & Entertainment

Baha Mar:

Golf (Royal Blue Golf Course)
ESPA Spa
Flamingo Encounters, The Sanctuary
Shopping

Atlantis:

Dolphin Cay (swim with dolphins, sea lions)
The Dig (aquarium)
Mandara Spa
Shopping village
Atlantis is also walkable to nearby ports with nearly limitless excursions from Paradise Island (such as Blue Lagoon and Rose Island transportation, and even full day jetboat tours to Exumas).

Family Friendliness

Baha Mar:

Kids' clubs (Explorers Club)
Family-friendly pools
Generally a more relaxed, but still engaging, atmosphere for families
Chair/seating areas can feel more cramped and limited during peak times of day

Atlantis:

Renowned for Aquaventure, very strong appeal for kids and teens
Kids' Adventures (various age-specific clubs and activities)
Definitely caters heavily to families looking for high-energy fun
Areas near toddler areas tend to fill quickly, but chairs typically can be found walking towards adjacent towers (the Beach, Reef/Coral)

Price Point

Baha Mar: Generally positioned as a luxury resort, can be slightly higher end depending on the hotel within the complex. There are not as many budget friendly options here.

Atlantis: There are a wide range of price points depending on the tower and season; can be very expensive, especially for higher-end towers like The Cove.

Pros and Cons Summary

Baha Mar

Pros: Newer, modern aesthetic, diverse hotel options, excellent dining, large casino, more upscale/relaxed vibe, closer to the airport.

Cons: Less extensive water park features compared to Atlantis, potentially less "themed/Caribbean immersion” appeal for some.

Atlantis

Pros: Iconic, world-class water park, extensive marine habitats, very family-friendly, wide range of dining/activities.

Cons: Can feel very crowded, older rooms in some towers, potentially overwhelming for those seeking a quiet retreat unless they know some of the hidden gem spots.

Conclusion

Choose Baha Mar if: You prefer modern luxury, diverse dining, a sophisticated atmosphere, and are looking for a balance of relaxation and entertainment. Our vibe is we recommend this more for adults only vs families.

Choose Atlantis if: You're traveling with kids/teens who love water parks, want a high-energy resort with a vast array of activities, and enjoy a themed environment. Longer planned stays would have more diversity of things to do without leaving the resort or make it easy to get to/from excursion options.

Definitely reach out to get started planning your next Bahamas vacation, or contact your preferred AMAAB Travel Advisor. We love bringing the Caribbean to life for our clients!