Poolside to Paradise: Atlantis in 3 Days with Your BFFs

Jill Robbins Avatar
View of Atlantis Paradise Island at night, with an empty beach with 3 blue chairs in the foreground and the lit-up resort in the background under a dark sky.
Atlantis at night. Photo credit: Breeze Leonard

If you’re planning a girls’ trip and want something that will please everybody, look toward the Caribbean: Atlantis Paradise Island Bahamas checks all the boxes for a vacation so memorable you’ll be talking about it for years to come.

Want to release your inner adrenaline junkie and ride on a high-speed slide that shoots you through a shark-filled lagoon?

Perhaps something milder like a spa day and an afternoon lazing by the pool?

Eat your fill of celebrity chef-driven cuisine?

Check, check, and check.

Meet Atlantis, a place where you can truly choose your own adventure.

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Using this itinerary

If you want all the fun of a vacation in a tropical paradise without the hassle of planning, we’ve made it super easy and laid out a sample three-day itinerary for you. This is easy to adjust for longer stays or if you prefer a more chill pace. Whether you’ve got a group of 20 who want to split up and do different activities and regroup for cocktails or a cozy group seeking all-day connection, tailoring these activities to suit your besties will be a cinch.

Breaking into Multiple Groups

We’ve curated day one as the day to settle in and get reacquainted with friends. The second and third day have activity options based on interests and preferred activity level. If you have a larger group where people want to enjoy different pastimes or explore options for spending the day all together, we’ve laid it all out to help you make those decisions.

SheBuysTravel Tip: The Atlantean weekly resort guide gives you a sense of what’s scheduled during your stay.

Day 1 – Catch Up and Get to Know the Resort

View of an empty beach at Atlantis with the resort in the background on the left and a line of empty blue beach chairs along the beach in front.
Ready for a day at the beach. Photo credit: Breeze Leonard

Keep things relaxed and take advantage of the amenities while you settle in, get a feel for the place and catch up on everyone’s latest news.

  • Have the ultimate pool day – Atlantis has  20 spots to swim, including 14 unique pools. Level up with a private cabana at The Cove, Atlantis’ adults-only pool.
  • Play a round of mini golf followed by drinks and lunch at Good Lies Mini Golf and Sports Bar.
  • Visit the Lost City Escape Room for a fun bonding activity. It offers two different games to challenge your group.

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Dinner and After Hours

  • Celebrate friendship with dinner at one of Atlantis’ celebrity chef restaurants, Fish by José Andrés, Nobu by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa, Paranza by Chef Michael White, or Silan by Chef Alon Shaya.
  • See what’s on at the Atlantis Theater. From movies that tug at your sense of nostalgia to concerts to themed stage shows, there’s always something fun to do if you’re not quite ready for bed.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Foodies, scope out options for culinary events ahead of your stay. You’ll find tantalizing options, including themed meals like Cuban and Mexican, wine dinners, and happy hours featuring delicious bites. And make reservations! These places book up quickly.

Day 2 – Adventure, Pampering and Nightlife

Wayfinding sign along a pathway at Atlantis.
It’s easy to find your way around the resort. Photo credit: Breeze Leonard

Today is the best-ever blend of high energy, indulgence and resting up for the next adventure.

Start with breakfast together. Options include the sumptuous buffet at Poseidon’s Table or unique fare with tropical garden views at Perch. Plato’s or Murray’s Deli offers grab-and-go options if you’d rather snooze a bit longer.

Next, choose your adventure du jour:

Option A – Waterpark Fun

  • Tackle Aquaventure, Atlantis’ 14-acre waterpark. Thrillseekers will be all about the Power Tower and Leap of Faith (discover eight total water slides plus a Rapids River) while those with more sedate tastes can hang poolside.  
  • Grab lunch at Triton Snack Bar, Shark Bites, or Shake Shack . 
  • Rest up! Naps or downtime.

Option B – Classic Wellness Day

  • Shop duty-free at Atlantis’ upscale boutiques, offering luxury brands like Christian Louboutin, Gucci and Cartier as well as mid-priced brands and sundries.
  • Work up a sweat with a trainer, a fitness class, or a rousing game of pickleball before heading to the spa to pamper those muscles, followed by lunch at nearby Frezca .
  • Massages, facials, body treatments, oh my! Mandara Spa has all that plus a full-service salon. Book a package bundling multiple services or choose à la carte. (Note that the main Mandara Spa at Atlantis Paradise Island is currently closed for renovations and is expected to reopen in March 2026. However, uoi can still get your spa on at the Mandara Boutique Spa in the Royal Tower West.)
  • Take a nap before evening shenanigans.

Dinner and After Hours

  • For dinner, choose Sunset Point, with contemporary coastal cuisine and harbor views or Seafire Steakhouse, with heartier options and a collection of fine wines.
  • Show off your grooviest dance moves at Aura Nightclub, open from 10 p.m. – 4 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. If you’re not visiting over a weekend or prefer an earlier night, snag post-dinner cocktails at one of Atlantis’ bars, such as the Moon Bar or Dilly Club.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Atlantis has 20+ restaurants, from casual bites to fine dining. If you’re not feeling our suggestions, no worries, you’ve got options!

Day 3 – Explore the Bahamas and Marine Life

Lagoon at Atlantis with a sign in front reading 'Treating Turtles'.
Marine life is abundant at Atlantis. Photo credit: Breeze Leonard

Sad trombone – it’s your last full day in paradise. So you won’t want to waste a second.

Option A – Deep dive into the onsite Marine life

  • Your choice breakfast: revisit a familiar favorite or try a new spot.
  • Get up close and personal with marine life at Dolphin Cay, the world’s largest open-air marine habitat. A variety of encounters are available, from snorkeling, paddling and swimming with dolphins to educational talks given by trainers and veterinarians.
  • Explore Atlantis’ Marine Habitat. Walk through a transparent tunnel submerged in the lagoon for a unique look at sharks, barracudas, turtles and more.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Plan your visit to the Marine Habitat around the posted feeding schedules.

Option B – Expand your horizons

  • Explore the Bahamas outside the resort with Pieces of 8, Atlantis’ preferred tour provider.
  • Frolic with the Bahamas’ legendary swimming pigs.
  • Make it a combo and escape to a pink-sand beach and a harbor tour and swimming pig combo that will give a sense of Nassau’s history.

Dinner and After Hours

  • Here’s your opportunity to check out a second celebrity chef restaurant or try something different. KO SÀ WĂN, Atlantis’ new Thai dining experience or traditional Bahamian cuisine at Bimini Road are both great choices, but you really can’t go wrong.
  • It’s your last night! Find the live music or commandeer a corner of one of the quieter bars, pop the champagne, and vow to repeat your girls trip, which was probably overdue in the first place. If you’re lamenting over the things you didn’t do or the restaurants you didn’t have the chance to try, then you have your answer: “Return trip to Atlantis.”

But This Wasn’t Enough Time!

View of a pool filled with people at Atlantis, with palm trees and the resort towers in the background.
The pools are popular and refreshing. Photo credit: Breeze Leonard

While a good vacation always feels too short, the story doesn’t have to end at three nights because Atlantis offers a free fourth night + $150 in resort credit. What to do with that extra night?

  • Try a new restaurant. Here’s your opportunity to squeeze one more delicious meal in.
  • If it was a tough choice between swimming pigs and pink sand, now you can have both!
  • Swap the pool for surf and sand and have a chill beach day.
  • If you skipped the waterpark in favor of the spa and shopping, now you can flip the script.

Where to Stay

  • For a girl’s trip to Atlantis, look at The Cove, with The Reef being a solid second choice.
  • If you book at The Coral or The Royal, you’ll run into families with kids, which may or may not put a damper on your girls trip vibes.
  • No matter where you choose to stay, you’ll have access to all the adult-only spaces like the spa, casino, and nightclubs.

Budgeting for Atlantis

View of the iconic towers at Atlantis Paradise Island.
There’s no wrong time to visit Atlantis. Photo credit: Breeze Leonard

You may wonder how much it costs for a group of women to enjoy a vacation at Atlantis. The real answer: it varies.

  • In general, you can find rooms ranging from $200 to $1000+ per night, depending on the season and room type.
  • You’ll find the most budget-friendly rooms at The Coral and The Reef, which are the most popular with families.
  • Atlantis is a full-service resort, not an all-inclusive resort. Not included: meals, alcohol, and certain extras, like spa treatments, dolphin encounters, water sports equipment rental.
  • The resort fee covers the water park, marine habitat, and most entertainment.

Dress code/specialty items to pack

  • Resort casual and athleisure styles work well for daytime wear. You must wear a bathing suit cover-up and shoes in the lobbies and indoor restaurants.
  • You’ll need at least smart casual for dinner at most restaurants, although more formal attire wouldn’t be out of place – after all, you want those pictures! Think colorful sundresses, maxi dresses, linen pants, chic halter tops, etc.
  • Pack all of your standard beach gear: flip flops or water shoes, beach bag, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen and lip balm with SPF and after-sun toiletries.

More packing tips

  • Your own snorkel gear, if you have it;
  • Comfy walking shoes;
  • Waterproof phone protector;
  • Robe or cute pajamas for those late-night chats with your girlfriends;
  • All necessary medications + over-the-counter meds for common ailments;
  • Reusable water bottle;
  • Workout clothes;
  • Waterproof bag for wet clothing;
  • Extra bathing suit – at least one;
  • Phone charger/cables for electronics.
  • Cash for tips.

Getting there

View from an airplane with a portion of the wing visible. Below is blue water with an island in the distance.
Atlantis from the air. Photo credit: Breeze Leonard
  • Fly into Lynden Pindling International Airport in Nassau (NAS).
  • Direct flights to NAS are available from select cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, New York City, and Orlando.
  • Atlantis Paradise Island is approximately 30 minutes from NAS. The resort doesn’t provide transfers, but its website offers information on private transfer companies to book with.

SheBuysTravelTip: Did you know Atlantis Paradise Island has partnered with Marriott Bonvoy? If you’ve got those Bonvoy points saved up or a co-branded credit card, you can use that toward your stay.

Jill Robbins is a freelance writer covering lifestyle, travel, health, and commerce. Her writing has appeared in SheKnows, HuffPost, Tripsavvy, Insider, AARP, and other publications. Jill lives in San Antonio with her husband and two youngest kids, although she’s usually somewhere else. You can find out what Jill is up to by reading her blog, Jill Goes.
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