Admission to Atlantis via Comfort Suite Room

[amberdc87]

We are docking in Nassau via on cruise in November. I read on TripAdvisor's website that you can book a room at the Comfort Suite and get access to Atlantis. Has anyone done this before? Were there any problems you encountered?

 

I would love to here the experiences that everyone had with this.:D

[Donny-Joe]

We have done it. There were no real problems other than it's still pretty expensive for what you get. Atlantis/Aquaventure is really amazing, but we ended up still paying about $110/person including the cab rides, and while it was neat to see I don't see us going back.

 

I'd still kind of recommend it as a unique place. It's rare to see that kind of story-oriented theming outside of a Disney park. They really followed through on the whole idea of it being the ruins of Atlantis that have been turned into a resort and water park. That said, they have Disney-grade theming (perhaps), but not anywhere close to Disney-grade crowd management and infrastructure. The layout is confusing, and we were kind of bewildered for the first hour or so, just trying to find the lockers, and figure out the system for things. Where do we get a tube? Which slides need tubes? Where are the entrances to each of the slides? Some slides can be accessed from the Current and some can't. Which ones? Where's the best place to enter the Current to get to those slides?

 

Anyway, the Comfort Suites was very straightforward. Book a room on the Comfort Suites website. When you get to Nassau, take a cab to the Comfort Suites; every driver knows where it is. Tell the desk folks you're going to Atlantis and you'd like to check in and out in one go. They'll tell you how to get there and give you the paperwork you need. Go to the Royal Towers lobby and to the Discover Atlantis desk where they'll take your Comfort Suites paperwork and issue you wristbands. Take the wristbands and hustle outside to the water park. Skip visiting the Dig in the morning, which they'll try to get you to go to first. You can visit it on the way out (and you should; it's amazing).

[mommytotwins]

We were planning to do this on our upcoming cruise in January 2016. I have read some back and forth here on cruise critic that says you can't check-in to get a wrist band until 3:30 and then one says you can. :confused: I priced our room on comfort suites and it was $300 with taxes a fees for 2 adults/2 children. But that is still cheaper than the $650 for the carnival excursion.

[Donny-Joe]

We were planning to do this on our upcoming cruise in January 2016. I have read some back and forth here on cruise critic that says you can't check-in to get a wrist band until 3:30 and then one says you can. :confused: I priced our room on comfort suites and it was $300 with taxes a fees for 2 adults/2 children. But that is still cheaper than the $650 for the carnival excursion.

 

Who has said that you can't get your wristbands before check-in time? Where? Can you point to it? I've seen one post saying so, a couple days ago, but I don't know where that info comes from.

 

In any case, when you need to know this kind of thing, email or call the resort directly. The Bahamas is an English-speaking country; you can just call. Don't rely on what people on one internet message board say, if there's any question. I can't tell you how often I see someone post, "I heard the policy is changing on X." And then a hundred people spend a ton of time speculating on why they would change it and what people will need to do to adapt, and then someone says, "I called them. The policy hasn't changed and there are no plans to change it." It's the internet - exciting speculation gets way more attention than boring facts. :)

 

I just called the Comfort Suites yesterday and they said you could get in early, but who knows what will be true by January 2016? You may want to check back closer to then. Maybe there will be an even better deal for Atlantis. Maybe there won't.

[amberdc87]

We have done it. There were no real problems other than it's still pretty expensive for what you get. Atlantis/Aquaventure is really amazing, but we ended up still paying about $110/person including the cab rides, and while it was neat to see I don't see us going back.

 

I'd still kind of recommend it as a unique place. It's rare to see that kind of story-oriented theming outside of a Disney park. They really followed through on the whole idea of it being the ruins of Atlantis that have been turned into a resort and water park. That said, they have Disney-grade theming (perhaps), but not anywhere close to Disney-grade crowd management and infrastructure. The layout is confusing, and we were kind of bewildered for the first hour or so, just trying to find the lockers, and figure out the system for things. Where do we get a tube? Which slides need tubes? Where are the entrances to each of the slides? Some slides can be accessed from the Current and some can't. Which ones? Where's the best place to enter the Current to get to those slides?

 

Anyway, the Comfort Suites was very straightforward. Book a room on the Comfort Suites website. When you get to Nassau, take a cab to the Comfort Suites; every driver knows where it is. Tell the desk folks you're going to Atlantis and you'd like to check in and out in one go. They'll tell you how to get there and give you the paperwork you need. Go to the Royal Towers lobby and to the Discover Atlantis desk where they'll take your Comfort Suites paperwork and issue you wristbands. Take the wristbands and hustle outside to the water park. Skip visiting the Dig in the morning, which they'll try to get you to go to first. You can visit it on the way out (and you should; it's amazing).

Awesome!!! Glad to know all of that. I had read also about going in earlier, but I didn't realize you could check in and out all in one go. That's nice to know. The whole process of checking in and everything, about how long did it take? I'm just wondering how long we would actually have in the park. We will be in Port that day from 7-5, which I'm grateful for. Praying that doesn't change.

 

The paperwork that Comfort Suites gives you.... What information does it have on it? We will be traveling in a party of 6, 4 adults and 2 children. I'm trying to figure how who to out on the reservation. I am thinking of putting the 4 adults and just buying a pass for my 6 yr old when we get there.

[Donny-Joe]

Awesome!!! Glad to know all of that. I had read also about going in earlier, but I didn't realize you could check in and out all in one go. That's nice to know. The whole process of checking in and everything, about how long did it take? I'm just wondering how long we would actually have in the park. We will be in Port that day from 7-5, which I'm grateful for. Praying that doesn't change.

 

Check in took maybe 5 minutes? 10? It wasn't much. We didn't have to wait for anyone, but maybe we were just lucky.

 

The paperwork that Comfort Suites gives you.... What information does it have on it? We will be traveling in a party of 6, 4 adults and 2 children. I'm trying to figure how who to out on the reservation. I am thinking of putting the 4 adults and just buying a pass for my 6 yr old when we get there.

 

I didn't look at it carefully, but I think it has the names and ages of all guests, or at least whether they're adults or children.

 

I wouldn't recommend waiting to get a pass; they might not be selling walk-up passes that day or might sell out before you get there and then where would you be? You could try getting one pass via BahamasDayPass.com, or you can price out two rooms. I think you'll still come out ahead with two rooms. It'll be more, but not as much as you'd think because with only two adults in each room you won't end up paying the extra adult fees. I assume one of the kids is young enough to not require a pass?

[mommytotwins]

Who has said that you can't get your wristbands before check-in time? Where? Can you point to it? I've seen one post saying so, a couple days ago, but I don't know where that info comes from.

 

I just called the Comfort Suites yesterday and they said you could get in early, but who knows what will be true by January 2016? You may want to check back closer to then. Maybe there will be an even better deal for Atlantis. Maybe there won't.

 

Actually I did call them after I posted this and I was told that you could pick up wrist bands at check-in at 3:30. When I asked about check-in/check-out just for the Atlantis Day passes, the young man told me that there was no such thing. I then told him that I know people have done this just to utilize Atlantis and his reply was "They didn't get me then". So that's where my information came from.

[Donny-Joe]

Actually I did call them after I posted this and I was told that you could pick up wrist bands at check-in at 3:30. When I asked about check-in/check-out just for the Atlantis Day passes, the young man told me that there was no such thing. I then told him that I know people have done this just to utilize Atlantis and his reply was "They didn't get me then". So that's where my information came from.

 

Interesting! Did you call Atlantis or Comfort Suites? I just called Comfort Suites again and I got a different woman who said you absolutely can go to Atlantis on the morning you check in as early as 9 AM, before your room is ready. She said that a stay at the Comfort Suites includes Atlantis access all day each day of your trip, inclusive of check-in and check-out day.

 

Hopefully someone will report back from a trip to Comfort Suites at some point.

[amberdc87]

Check in took maybe 5 minutes? 10? It wasn't much. We didn't have to wait for anyone, but maybe we were just lucky.

 

I didn't look at it carefully, but I think it has the names and ages of all guests, or at least whether they're adults or children.

 

I wouldn't recommend waiting to get a pass; they might not be selling walk-up passes that day or might sell out before you get there and then where would you be? You could try getting one pass via BahamasDayPass.com, or you can price out two rooms. I think you'll still come out ahead with two rooms. It'll be more, but not as much as you'd think because with only two adults in each room you won't end up paying the extra adult fees. I assume one of the kids is young enough to not require a pass?

 

I priced getting two rooms and you are right, definitely not worth it. We do have one child who will not need a ticket...she is only 3; and I think I read that they only charge for over 4, correct me if I'm wrong.

Thanks for the information about getting the ticket ahead of time. I didn't realize you could do that thru anyone other than the ship.

[BigB0882]

Actually I did call them after I posted this and I was told that you could pick up wrist bands at check-in at 3:30. When I asked about check-in/check-out just for the Atlantis Day passes, the young man told me that there was no such thing. I then told him that I know people have done this just to utilize Atlantis and his reply was "They didn't get me then". So that's where my information came from.

 

It actually makes a lot more sense for Comfort Suites to encourage this check-in/check-out strategy because the rooms are never used and can then be immediately resold. They could end up selling the same room 10 times in a day. That's a huge money making deal right there! Any manager worth their pay would realize this and ENCOURAGE their employees to sell these kinds of rooms.

 

Edit: I am assuming they can resell the room. Maybe there is a rule and they can't but even so, it still is a better deal for them because they don't have to clean the room and electricity is not being used.

Edited March 19, 2015 by BigB0882

[mommytotwins]

Did you call Atlantis or Comfort Suites?

 

I called Comfort Suites. I wish I had gotten the gentleman's name. Mainly because he wasn't very helpful and pretty rude actually.

 

It actually makes a lot more sense for Comfort Suites to encourage this check-in/check-out strategy because the rooms are never used and can then be immediately resold. They could end up selling the same room 10 times in a day. That's a huge money making deal right there! Any manager worth their pay would realize this and ENCOURAGE their employees to sell these kinds of rooms.

 

This is my thinking as well. It makes great Business sense to do sell these rooms.

[Donny-Joe]

I called Comfort Suites. I wish I had gotten the gentleman's name. Mainly because he wasn't very helpful and pretty rude actually.

 

Hmmm... maybe he misunderstood the question. And where does 3:30 come in? Their check in time is 3:00. Are you sure you were talking to someone on site and not in a call center?

 

Maybe they're getting flak from Atlantis about this whole "fake room" idea, so they can't say that you can just book the room as a way of getting Atlantis "day passes."

 

Each time I called I asked, "If I'm staying for one day, can I arrive early and head over to Atlantis before my room is ready?" The answer I got was unequivocally "yes." They went on to explain that your room won't be guaranteed until 3:00 PM, but might be ready sooner. In any case you can "pre-check-in" as early as 9:00 AM, get your paperwork, and take it over to Atlantis to get the wristbands that let you into the park. Which is exactly what we did in August; nothing appears to have changed.

 

As to the whole check-in and check-out at the same time, frankly I believe they have "express check out" so you really don't have to do anything, I don't think. I don't even remember if I asked them to check me out when I checked in.

[mommytotwins]

Are you sure you were talking to someone on site and not in a call center?

 

I'm not 100% sure about this so you may be correct. I called the 800 # listed on their website, but it very could have rolled me to a call center. I also did phrase my question as a check-in/check-out at the same time question.

[Donny-Joe]

I'm not 100% sure about this so you may be correct. I called the 800 # listed on their website, but it very could have rolled me to a call center. I also did phrase my question as a check-in/check-out at the same time question.

 

The 800 number probably goes to a stateside call center, probably the call center for Choice Hotels (the brand site). The brand call center people don't know anything about specific hotels; they just look up stuff on their internal web site. To reach a hotel directly, you typically have to call that specific hotel's non-800 number, which in the case of Comfort Suites Paradise Island is 242-363-3680. The downside is that's an international number. (They're on the US phone network, so you dial 1 first just like US long distance.) I checked my own phone company and my rate to the Bahamas is $0.93/min peak, so I figured I could probably get my answer for $2-3.

 

There's also an email address you could try on their hotel site: info@comfortsuitespi.com. One would assume that would go directly to the hotel.

[shoppingfever]

How far is the walk from Comfort Suites to Atlantis? Is it a difficult trek throughout Atlantis to get to everything?

[amberdc87]

How far is the walk from Comfort Suites to Atlantis? Is it a difficult trek throughout Atlantis to get to everything?

 

From what I've read they are just across the street from one another. Not far at all. And it's impossible to get thru everything in one day. It would take a couple. If you look at one of the posts at the beginning of this thread, it was said that everything is not layed out very well. So it would take a bit longer.

 

(I'm just going by what i've read, hopefully someone else can elaborate more)

[Donny-Joe]

How far is the walk from Comfort Suites to Atlantis? Is it a difficult trek throughout Atlantis to get to everything?

 

From the back door of Comfort Suites, it's 250 yards to the entrance to the Atlantis Coral Towers. You can see the Coral Towers from the back of Comfort Suites, so it's pretty impossible to get lost.

 

Once inside, the signage isn't perfect, but there aren't very many options as far as directions to go in and there are staff there to point you in the right direction; you bear left and head toward the Royal Towers through the casino. That's probably another 250 yards through the buildings to get to the Royal Towers lobby. On the lower level of the lobby is the Atlantis desk where you get wristbands.

 

Now, as for the layout of the grounds, it's confusing as all get out, and they don't have a very good map. The most interesting parts of Aquaventure are fairly compactly laid out, but if you want to explore out to the predator lagoons, or the lazy river by the Beach Tower, that's quite a fair distance to cover.

[Bellarose]

We have booked the comfort suites room three times so far and have had no problems checking in and out early morning and heading over to water park.

 

Have fun!