Review of Nassau/Discover Atlantis excursion

This past weekend was my first time out of the country, let alone the Bahamas. I found Nassau to not be my cup of tea. Let me preface this by saying I live about 2 hours away from Panama City Beach and Destin, Florida. So we are used to vacationing there. I thought it might be something similar to this. I didn't realize how poor Nassau was. I thought tourist dollars went a long way to at least paint some of the building and maintain them. I can't say I would ever just fly to Nassau to vacation there, even at one of the luxury hotels. The locals start out nice and tend to turn mean. They harass you right off the boat to take a taxi or horse and buggy ride. Don't go to the straw market. Everything was overpriced and the vendors are pushy.

All of that being said...I absolutely adored Atlantis. We got the $65 pp excursion where you just tour the aquarium, hotel and casino. Our guide was very nice and helpful. You come out through near the Sun and Ice ice cream shop. That was literally the best ice cream I have ever eaten. My son was pleased to find out you only had to be 18 to drink so he ordered his first adult beverage. The staff was very pleasant at Sun and Ice, I would highly recommend you stop by there if you don't do anything else in Atlantis.

All in all I am glad I went. I wouldn't ever go back but it was a nice experience. I felt the Discover Atlantis excursion was worth the price. They don't tell you on the website, but you do have access to the private beach if you take the tour. There's another DA/private beach package that's more expensive and it may include lunch but i'm not sure.

So Atlantis was awesome, but you wouldn't go back because the port was "poor"? That's kind of a shame. I fly in to Nassau and vacation there a couple times a year and it's amazing. Nobody vacations at the cruise port.... You go to the nice properties and enjoy it. There is also plenty of decent areas in Nassau with very expensive houses, nice stores, etc. Every metro area has poor areas and nice areas, Nassau is no different.

Why would you judge the entire island based on the poor area around the cruise port? You realize the island is actually pretty big, right? Head over to W Bay Street, Cable Beach areas. Totally different than the cruise port.

Please re read my post. I didn't say anything about the port itself at all. My comments were about the city in general, as observed in the bus to Atlantis.

Different strokes for different folks! I'm glad you enjoy Nassau so much. Myself, I didn't get around Freeport that much but would love to visit it again. Nice, friendly locals and calming atmosphere. Maybe i'm just a smaller island kinda gal ;)

Please re read my post. I didn't say anything about the port being poor. My comments were about the city in general, as observed in the bus to Atlantis.

 

Different strokes for different folks! I loved Freeport and would love to visit it again.

Atlantis is practically across the street from the port. You didn't actually drive around Nassau. That was my point. So you how can you form an opinion about the "city in general" when you haven't seen but a tiny half mile stretch in front of the port? You went around the port, to the straw market at the port, and a 1/2 mile stretch down a fairly poor couple blocks near the port... But I guess, have at it.... It would be like driving through 2 blocks of Liberty City then declaring Miami "in general" is poor and terrible..

This past weekend was my first time out of the country, let alone the Bahamas. I found Nassau to not be my cup of tea. Let me preface this by saying I live about 2 hours away from Panama City Beach and Destin, Florida. So we are used to vacationing there. I thought it might be something similar to this. I didn't realize how poor Nassau was. I thought tourist dollars went a long way to at least paint some of the building and maintain them. I can't say I would ever just fly to Nassau to vacation there, even at one of the luxury hotels. The locals start out nice and tend to turn mean. They harass you right off the boat to take a taxi or horse and buggy ride. Don't go to the straw market. Everything was overpriced and the vendors are pushy."

 

 

Traveling out of the US for the first time is a shock to many people. What you experienced is very typical of many Caribbean islands. The resorts are luxurious while the average citizen is very poor and lives in conditions many Americans can't imagine. The vendors are aggressive because they are fighting for a limited number of tourist dollars to support their family.

 

Nassau and most of the Bahamas is actually nicer than many islands and ports. Jamaica and the Dominican Republic make the Bahamas look rich in comparison. I love traveling and visiting other places. The average citizen is usually very friendly and just trying to survive. Returning home always gives me even more reason to be grateful for what we have in this country and to understand why many are willing to die trying to get here.

 

 

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