Atlantis, Bahamas
ADULTS ONLY!
When planning trips at the beginning of every year, we always map the trips we know we want to take with the kids first, then pencil in the family reunions, weddings, pre-planned birthdays, etc, that require travel and then figure out how much time and vacation days are left in the year to squeeze a few extra trips in. As we have mentioned in prior blogs, it’s so important to find time to spend with each other without the kids to recharge, reconnect and finish a meal without interruptions.
This past year, while the time available for adult-only trips was limited, we choose to sneak away for a long weekend with ~20 of our closest friends to the Atlantis in the Bahamas. So, here’s the backstory, a few of our closest guy friends had free stays at the Atlantis so planned a trip down in October. Before you say it, yes, we knew in advance it was during Hurricane season, but while we didn’t have a free stay, we still choose to go forward with it given it’s not often you get to travel with ~20 of your closest friends, without the littles. So, we decided to book for friendship and forego a solo husband/wife trip during the year.
We went Thursday through Sunday, which for us, was the perfect amount of time. We typically do not like staying at properties that large and popular but had always heard great things and knew with the crew we were with we’d had fun in a cardboard box.
What they say is true, never travel with people you know a. don’t travel well, b. you wouldn’t want to hang out with 24/7 for double the time you are there, and c. don’t have the same goals of the trip that you do.
In a nutshell, here is what we learned: a. We would go back to the Altantis, but with the kids!, b. we probably wouldn’t want to stay much longer than we were there though, even with the kids, c. the lazy river, is not so lazy and we kind of loved it, d. the restaurants are worth it, e. we likely won’t be returning during Hurricane season, f. grandparents and FaceTime are a god send, g. definitely buy and bring your own booze and party cups
Restaurants we ate at:
- Fish – Jose Andres – 9/10
o Awesome ambiance, great service, food was good but there was too much of it – we got the pre-fixe menu and it was so good but the portions were huge
o If you go and are not hungry enough for 3-4 meals per person, scale back!
- Nobu – 10/10
o If you haven’t been to NOBU, it’s a MUST, and doesn’t disappoint at the Altantis
o We sat at the bar, watched the sushi chefs make our sushi and ordered a nice bottle of wine
- Sea Glass – 7/10
o Not a full dinner spot, but perfect for pre-dinner drinks and some good snacks
o Plenty of TVs to watch any games on and talk with the bartenders
Drink spots:
- The Dilly Club – 6/10
o Super cute décor, average drinks and they only have cocktails – worth the trip down to get off the resort
- Bar Sol (part of casino)
o Fun late night crowd with a band/music
- Sports Book
o Channeling Vegas but with the view of a the marina and sunset
Small morning bites:
- Starbucks
- Plato’s
Net, net - we’d be back! With kids next time as the entire time we kept saying, the kids would love it here, and they’d being doing this, there. While it’s so nice to have a quick break, being together is always the best, even through the harder moments with toddlers.
