A Millennial’s Review of The Coral at Atlantis Resort: Girls Trip Approved

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Two young women post with drinks at The Coral at Atlantis Resort.
Planning a girls trip? Atlantis is filled with warm, sunny beaches and endless pina coladas! Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

The writer was hosted.

After staying at The Coral at Atlantis, Paradise Island for the first time, it’s safe to say that I’m already planning my next trip back. The Bahamas is filled with rich culture, miles of white sandy beaches, and the most inviting turquoise water I’ve ever seen. In just three short hours, my plane from New York City touched down in Nassau and the Caribbean trip of a lifetime began.

Atlantis Paradise Island is the ultimate destination for those who enjoy lounging poolside but also crave adventure. You can clock some serious tanning time at one of the 14 unique swimming pools.

For my beachgoers, you’ll unlock true island paradise when you sink your feet into the soft white sand. With 6 beaches spanning more than five miles, it’s the place to unwind with a book (and drink) in hand.

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Those who like water sports and activities, Aquaventure is sure to get your adrenaline pumping. The 141-acre waterpark is home to the iconic Mayan Temple where guests can ride the 60-foot-drop water slide, Leap of Faith.

It’s cliché, but there’s something for everyone at Atlantis Resort. With five unique properties, each tower has its own personality. Given the size of the resort, it felt like we discovered something new every day.

SheBuysTravel Tip: Atlantis is an expansive resort. Before you go, read our Atlantis Bahamas tips for visiting.

A Little Me Time

As a busy, working 30-year-old, it’s difficult to plan vacations that aren’t centered around a bachelorette party, wedding, or first birthday.

It’s also tricky to find international destinations that are safe for both solo and family travel. Without a doubt, Atlantis is somewhere I can confidently see myself traveling to as a single traveler or with friends.

If you’re a millennial in need of a self-care trip or parent who wants a safe, fun beach vacation, Atlantis is the place for you.

And if you’re curious why The Coral has the best pool in Atlantis, keep reading!

View from balcony of the beach at The Coral at Atlantis Resort
The Coral features more than 600 spacious rooms and each has a full balcony with either a terrace, beach or harbor view. Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

The Coral

For this trip, we stayed at The Coral, a family friendly property that offers spacious rooms and is conveniently located near the marina and activities.

My first impression of The Coral: its lobby had bright, lively energy and the design felt nostalgic yet retro.

We also learned that The Coral offers full balconies for most rooms that have either ocean or marina views. Our room faced the ocean and overlooked the pool at The Coral. (Spoiler alert: This was my favorite pool at Atlantis. Three words: Poolside pina coladas.)

The Coral Highlights

  • Family friendly, with spacious rooms & suite options
  • Centrally located, close to Marina village, Crystal Shops, and the world famous, Atlantis Casino
  • Near interactive lagoons like the stingray lagoon
  • A 5-10 min walk to Aquaventure and the lazy river
  • Near dining options like Nobu and Chopstix
  • 600+ rooms, each with a balcony overlooking the harbor or the ocean
  • Clean rooms with toiletries, flat screen TV, mini-fridge, iron, coffee maker, safe
  • Guestroom choice of 1 King bed or 2 Queen beds
  • Starbucks within The Coral as well as coffee shop called Sun & Ice
  • Free shuttles around the resort (run ~20 mins)
  • Room service, dry cleaning, laundry service
  • Air conditioning, wifi, telephone
  • Amazing water views
The grounds at Atlantis are gorgeous. Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

Impressions of The Coral

The lobby of The Coral has a retro charm that’s both inviting and energetic. My eyes were immediately drawn to the marbled mosaics with soft hues of pink and orange. The overall design felt traditional Caribbean and the ambiance was lively, yet relaxed.

With more than 600 rooms, The Coral has just 12 floors. Personally, I felt this created an ambiance that reminded me of boutique style hotels.

From a family travel perspective, I think The Coral is the best choice for those who like space and suite options. It’s still close enough to walk to Aquaventure and the free Atlantis shuttles are super for when your feet are tired.

At check-in you’re given a reusable metal water bottle that can be ‘topped off’ at any Atlantis water refill station. Buying bottled water quickly adds up, so take advantage of the reusable bottle. It’s cost effective and environmentally friendly!

The Coral Towers are close to the Marina Village and Predator Tunnel. We enjoyed the short walk to Aquaventure and Dolphin Cay.  

Personally, I like how Atlantis is spread out with multiple properties, pools, and dining options. As an active person, I loved taking morning walks and exploring different corners of the Atlantis resort.

Expect to be surrounded by stunning tropical plants and marine lagoons buzzing with aquatic life. One of my favorite discoveries was a lagoon that was home to the rare smalltooth sawfish.

The Coral overlooking Stingray Lagoon. Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

Guestrooms at The Coral

As an over-packer who likes to spread out and feel ‘at home’ when traveling, I appreciated how spacious the rooms are at The Coral. Standard room features include one king or two queen beds, flat screen TV, small dining table, mini-fridge, coffee maker, iron, and large closet.

My favorite feature was the balcony with outdoor seating and ocean views.

The bathroom was mid-size and worked for our needs. It was equipped with plenty of towels, toiletries, and a hair dryer. Also, our room was cleaned every day and replenished with fresh towels.

One thing that I wish we had taken advantage of was to stock the minifridge with water and snacks. Instead, we ordered room service and indulged in pre-dinner Prosecco while watching the sunset. Not a bad trade off!

The Coral was quiet at night, making it easy to fall asleep and get a good night’s rest. The beds were also very comfy!

View of queen bed in double queen room at The Coral at Atlantis Resort.
If you’re traveling with a partner, The Coral has options for one king bed. Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

Dining at Atlantis

As a self-proclaimed ‘foodie’ I’ll admit that I’m spoiled by access to some of the best restaurants in the world working in New York City. Naturally, preparing for this trip I did a decent amount of research on the dining options at Atlantis. Initially, I was skeptical of the adult friendly dining options since the resort is geared towards family travel.

To my surprise, Atlantis has 21 restaurants along with 19 bars and lounges. From a foodie girls trip perspective, this has my stamp of approval.

For parents, if you’re traveling with kids and want to escape for a date night, Atlantis has in-room babysitting services so you can have a romantic dinner out. From quick service meals to splurge-worthy dinners, there are plenty of on-site restaurants to choose from.

Dining at The Coral

The Coral has three dining options: Sun & Ice, Chopstix, and Starbucks. Situated in the lobby is Sun & Ice, a quick service breakfast and lunch spot. The lines can get long, so my recommendation is to get there early or do what we did and explore options by the outdoor pools.

Typically, when I’m traveling, I’ll skip breakfast, have a light lunch and go big at dinner. We followed this routine every day and it worked perfectly for us. The first day we ordered lunch at The Coral pool and shared a chicken sandwich with chips & guacamole. It was very good, and we also enjoyed a few poolside drinks, which were delicious!

Pool at The Coral

My favorite part of The Coral was the pool. Between the swim up bar and DJ, it was the perfect mixture of relaxation meets tropical pool party. As a 30-year-old with no kids, this was something that made it feel like a girl’s trip.

Another thing I liked about The Coral was the proximity to the Marina Village. Everyone needs to experience a cocktail from The Dilly Club.

One thing that I wish we did on the first day was walk to the beach. It was a little confusing to navigate the beach entrance from The Coral. However, the last day we accidentally stumbled upon a beach entrance from The Reef. We eventually figured out how to get to the beach from The Coral. Looking back, we should have asked the concierge.

Enjoying the beach. Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

Things to Do Near The Coral

If you plan on staying at The Coral, expect to have quick access to the pool, beach, and Marina Village. You can easily walk to the luxury Crystal Court Shops and Atlantis Casino from within The Coral Towers. Just outside The Coral, are the stingray and reef lagoons where you can interact with the wildlife on property.

My recommendation is to download the Atlantis App or play around with the interactive map beforehand on the website. At check-in they gave us a pamphlet with a detailed map of the resort that was a life saver. Make sure you save that!

For anyone who needs to work during their stay, Atlantis has a business center located next to The Coral. This is equipped with self-service computers, printers, and even graphic design services for any work needs.

  • The Coral Pool and Atlantis Beach
  • Food: Chopstix, Lagoon Bar & Grille (this had great frose!)
  • Activities: Reef Lagoon, Stingray Lagoon, Water’s Edge Lagoon, Rope Bridge, Crystal Court Shops, Marina Village
  • Water activities: Aquaventure
View of red purse on the bar counter with menu and drink at Seaglass bar located in The Cove, near The Coral at Atlantis Resort.
Seaglass is a bar located in The Cove, perfect for a pre-dinner drink. Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

Girls Trip Approved Dinners at Atlantis

During our stay, we dined at Nobu, Fish by Jose Andres, and the Seafire Steakhouse. Each was exceptional.

Nobu Miami is one of my favorite restaurants, so you can imagine how excited I was to experience Nobu Atlantis.

Nobu

The restaurant is in The Royal. It’s situated right off the casino floor, with a dimly lit archway and big glass doors that expose the intimate lighting and lounge vibe. The ambiance of Nobu is unmatched and if you can get a reservation, it’s a splurge-worthy dining experience.

Nobu’s renowned chef, Matsuhisa, prepares classic Japanese cuisine with a Bahamian twist. We ordered a mountain of food, and the unanimous favorites were the miso cod, wagyu dumplings, and mushroom salad with a lemon vinaigrette. The service was top notch and the staff made excellent recommendations based on our food interests.

Fish by Jose Andres

The second night we ate at Fish by Jose Andres, another incredible culinary experience. This restaurant is located at The Cove, which is a 10-15 minute walk from The Coral or a short ride on Atlantis’ complimentary shuttle service. Before dinner, we grabbed a drink at Seaglass, a fun cocktail bar that’s right around the corner from Fish.

For dinner, we indulged in local, fresh-caught fish and delicious sides like lobster mac and cheese. Fish was designed with an open kitchen concept; I love the high energy that radiates from open kitchens, it’s contagious!

Drinks at The Dilly Club. Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

Seafire Steakhouse and The Dilly Club

The last night we ate at Seafire Steakhouse which is in the Marina Village.

Before dinner, we went to The Dilly Club, which was highly recommended to us. If you need a caffeine kick during the day, The Dilly Club offers a variety of specialty coffee and espresso drinks. At night, it transforms into a craft cocktail lounge and offers an impressive array of cocktails made by expert mixologists. My only regret was not going here sooner! Note that the Dilly Club is cash or credit card only – you aren’t able to charge the bill back to your room.

The Seafire Steakhouse was exceptionally busy, and we were lucky to be seated outside in the heart of the village. The atmosphere was a pleasant mixture of chill island vibes with lively groups dining and walking through the village.

Towards the end of dinner, a Junkanoo Parade swept through the marina led by a group of energetic Bahamians dressed in traditional attire playing music and dancing. It was a fantastic way to end our trip.

Woman in sunhat holds open map of Atlantis while sitting on chaise on the pool deck, near The Coral at Atlantis Resort.
Atlantis is packed with amenities for everyone, make sure you grab a map when you arrive! Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

Atlantis Amenities

Whether you’re traveling with kids or going on a girl’s trip, Atlantis has a lot to offer its guests. Personally, I loved the pool options, shops, water park and spa. As both an active and lazy traveler, it was nice to have the option to break from tanning and cool off in the pools.

What I like about Atlantis is they do an exceptional job making sure there is something for everyone, no matter your age. My advice for first timers; do your research. The website is super informative and details how to access each amenity. Also, the concierge is super helpful at providing recommendations.

Mandara Spa

No girls trip is complete without a little time for self-care. For that, head to the Mandara Spa.

It’s a full-service spa equipped with saunas, steam rooms, hot/cold plunges, and aromatherapy. It offers a variety of treatments like facials and massages. Location wise, the spa is closer to The Cove, so expect an 8-10-minute walk from The Coral.

My experience at the spa was Five Stars. As soon as I entered the lobby, citrusy aromas and ambient water sounds captured my senses. Check-in was seamless and the front desk attendee offered me herbal water before I toured the women’s lounge.

Once acclimated, I slipped into my robe and met my massage therapist. As a massage snob, I can honestly say this was the best massage that I’ve ever had. Next time, I’m booking a facial too!

Fitness Center

Located close to the spa is the fitness center, which has everything you need to get a quick sweat sesh in. I’m an active person, but on vacation I prefer to be lazy.

Although I didn’t use the fitness center, I peeked inside to check out the equipment. Impressive! For sports enthusiasts, you can take advantage of the 18-hole, par 72 golf course, join a Pilates class at the Pilates studio or hit the tennis courts for some friendly competition.

Aquaventure

You can’t mention Atlantis without talking about the impressive 141-acre Aquaventure that’s home to the iconic water slides, Rapids River, and Dolphin Cay. As suspected, it was a hot spot for kids and for good reason, it’s a ton of fun.

I’ve experienced my fair share of water parks and Aquaventure quickly unleashed my inner child.

Atlantis Amenities:

  • 14 pools, with cabana rentals
  • Aquaventure , home to iconic waters slides
  • Dolphin Cay and marine adventures
  • Non-motorized water sports, snorkeling, paddling boarding, etc.
  • Beach access
  • Mandara Spa
  • Fitness Center
  • Golf Course, tennis courts
  • Excursions where you can do city tours and water sports (linked here)
  • Day pass opportunity for cruise ship guests
Woman poses near people playing casino games at the casino near The Coral at Atlantis Resort.
The casino is a short walk from The Coral and next to several buzzworthy restaurants. Photo credit: Kara Blakeslee

The Coral at Atlantis Review: Final Thoughts

Overall, I really enjoyed my experience and stay at The Coral and would 100% stay there again. Since this was my first trip to Atlantis, I wasn’t sure what to expect when we arrived at 1 Casino Drive.

For a girl’s trip, The Coral met our needs perfectly. It was clean, had a great pool, and is close to shops and restaurants. Overall, I found the staff both helpful and friendly and the service exceeded my expectations.

As a childfree traveler, I appreciated that The Coral is located away from the busier parts of the resort. In general, I prefer a more laid-back vibe when I travel. That said, it was nice to have the option to walk over to Aquaventure to change things up.

Visiting Atlantis with Kids

If you want to be in the heart of Atlantis or are traveling with active kids, my recommendation is to look at The Royal. It is closer to the water activities like Aquaventure and Dolphin Cay. Check out our full review of The Royal.

If you like super luxe rooms and the option for adults only pools, then The Coral might not be your best choice. However, Atlantis has two luxury properties, The Reef and The Cove that feature more premium rooms and suites. Plus, the 18+ pool at The Cove is great for couples and adults.

Atlantis is truly one of the best trips I’ve experienced. It’s the perfect mix of relaxation, leisure, and activities. No matter how old you are, kids or no kids, Atlantis offers something for everyone. How often can you say that about a resort? If you’ve been thinking about going to Atlantis, take this as your sign to start planning your next trip.


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