Welcome to Dream Vacation, a lifestyle column on travelling to amazing destinations with practical advice and my revelations about locales from years of personal experience. Are you looking for a great itinerary for a week in Paradise (Island, Bahamas)? Not a beach vacationer and wondering if there is enough to do for the week? This itinerary helps families maximize their time in Paradise.
Day 1 – Arrival
The best option is to stay at the Harborside Resort at Atlantis. It offers one- and two- and three-bedroom suites with full kitchen, in-room laundry options and living areas to truly enjoy a relaxing vacation. It also won’t empty your wallet on abnormally expensive meals while on Paradise Island.
Plan to arrive at Nassau International Airport (NAS) between noon to 1 pm. Get your baggage, meet your driver, do some local grocery shopping on your way to Harborside. Pools close by 5 pm, so you can take the evening to get acquainted with the resort and enjoy a sunset over the ocean.
Day 2 – Resort Exploration and Water Park
The amazing Aquaventure water park is open 9 am to 5 pm daily, and it is easy for a family with children of any age to spend a full day at the park. During the summer, your best bet would be to rent a Cabana. They come with towels, a designated food and beverage concierge and much-needed seating out of the sun. They include storage and mini-fridges as well.
On your way into and out of the water park, take time to walk through some of the other water-themed areas. Your children will marvel at the sharks, sea turtles and large fish just swimming out in the open lagoons. Taking the shuttle from Harborside to Royal Towers is the quickest and easiest way to Aquaventure, and on your way, the Ruins Lagoon is hard to miss in the Royal Towers.
Day 3 – Nassau Day
After a full day in the sun, it’s time to get over to the mainland and do some shopping, grazing and maybe even some sight-seeing. The water taxi’s offer a relaxing ride with some sight-seeing, just across the main street from Harborside.
Shop the Straw Market, and other downtown outlets to get a taste of local goods. One of the best options for seafood in the area for both quality, the volume of food and price is considered by most locals to be the ‘Fish Fry’, Arawak Cay. However, do not be confused, as it refers to a style of seafood not specifically a seafood restaurant. With children, it’d be best to be back to the resort before dark.
Day 4 – Beach Day
Spend a full day enjoying Atlantis’ four different beaches (5 miles-worth) and their amenities. Remember to bring drinks and towels. You can easily pay for any food or beverage with your resort key card. The protected Lagoon Beach offers protected snorkelling, paddle boats and other water sports as well. It’s time for soaking up the sun.
Day 5 – Dolphins, Sea Lions and Manta Rays
Being at Atlantis makes it very easy to spend a full-day enjoying the sea life in the area. An educational dolphin center provides swimming with the dolphin’s adventures, but you can spend time with sea lions, feeding manta rays and sea turtles and visiting The Dig an underground aquarium walk.
Day 6 – Activity Day
By day six, you may need a day just to relax and enjoy some time out of the sun. Try the many activities around the resort including, tennis, shopping, pottery classes, a library, or the Atlantis Theatre featuring recent complimentary Hollywood movies. If you need to get some water time, you could always tour the resort’s 11 pools.
Day 7 – Water Park!
Before you say goodbye to the Bahamas, another day at Aquaventure will be welcomed by your children.
Day 8 – Time to Say Goodbye
Checkout is 10 am so be sure you schedule flights to coincide with this. You can always store your luggage, walk the Atlantis marina and enjoy the restaurants, moored yachts and world-famous conch salad for lunch.
Harborside Resort, Atlantis on Paradise Island, Bahamas is one of the world’s best water-themed family vacation spots! We have availability, so call us today.
Tags: Atlantis Resort, Harborside resort, Nassau, Bahamas, beach vacation, family vacation, water sports
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