Only a 2 ½ hour flight from New York, The Bahamas is extremely simple to get to…and if booking during low season, can be inexpensive. JetBlue is easiest and non-stop. Just make sure it isn't Spring Break...that's if you are 30 and over (if you are 20 or party like one- or don't mind a million families and kids around, than its perfect)
The most famous hotel there is the Atlantis Resort and Casino where I just recently spent the weekend. Opened in 1998, the resort was created by South African hotel magnate Sol Kerzner. Located on Paradise Island -a 20 minute drive from the airport (which has recently gone under renovations)-Atlantis first opened it Coral and Beach Towers under Trump Plaza and later changed it to Atlantis.It is a massive resort. It has 3,614 guestrooms and you have so much do and see at your fingertips that you’d need at least a week to do it all (if you wanted to of course as you could also do absolutely nothing).
Atlantis is actually perfect for families as it caters to both kids and adults. If you go with children, you don't have to worry about them because all the kid’s activities are supervised by trained professionals. There are an abundance of different water activities. The 141-acre (0.57 km2), 200 million gallon Aquaventure combines slides, lazy rivers, and rapids into one large waterscape. If you want to get up close and personal with marine wildlife, there are many instructional interactive activities. You can play with dolphins in shallow natural pools and learn about their habitats. They can also play with real tame California Sea Lions, touching, hugging them, and even kissing them on the nose. There are supervised underwater dives, educational experiences with marine life researchers.
For adults, there are also many different things to keep them entertained. There is a golf course, a spa and more than 40 different lounges, bars and restaurants to choose from. In addition to this, there are loads of entertainment venues, including concerts, theater, a full service casino and a 9,000 square foot Aura Night Club. There are often live concerts & events (such as Taylor Swift or Jerry Seinfeld) so check before going.
If you are going as a break and have no kids, the place to stay is the Cove. The rooms are nicer and you get access to all of the resort. There is also an adults only pool area, where no one under 18 is allowed. Here you can rent your own private cabana, or sit by the pool on a bed and listen to the DJ whilst sipping your Bahamian Rum Punch.
Check out time is 11am but they have transit lounges. The Cove’s is particularly nice. Just make sure that you leave at least 2 hours early before your flight as you pass through immigration on the way out.
