St. Augustine's Monastery

Overall, we had a good experience. We were prepared to pay high prices so that helped with the sticker shock! We were shocked at the number of families with multiple kids! But to be fair, the cost of the water slides and other adventures was included (we also had the daily breakfast buffet which were the best meals of our trip). Food in the Village was disappointing—just so-so. We were a party of 7 with 3 kids so we didn’t try the more expensive restaurants. We had a king bed in The Royal and found it spacious and met our needs (though a microwave would’ve been appreciated). We had a harbor view that was beautiful but no balcony to sit out and enjoy it. If you have never been, Atlantis is HUGE! Signage is generally good but there were a few times in the beginning that we had to backtrack to find our way. We are walkers, but we did see shuttles. We used Bahamas Experience to transport to and from the airport (group shuttle for 2 round trip was $115). Trip from the airport was fine but on the return trip, the shuttle was 35 minutes late which really stressed my husband out! It all worked out but who needs the stress? We have no desire to return.

The hotel was beautiful, however there were a few details that were overlooked and some water issues. The whole week we were there we did not have hot water in the shower and were told it was because of the high occupancy. There were also some basics in the room that were missing such as wineglasses, corkscrew and when we asked we were told there would be a delivery charge to get them. The bathrooms at the beach/pool that are shared with the Reef were out of order because they had low water. Garnishes on drinks were missing some days because they “ran out” and it often felt overcrowded with cruise ship guests. The staff however were very friendly and helpful.

We recently stayed at The Reef at Atlantis while I was travelling for work, and it worked well for both business and family. From a family perspective, it was a great choice. The kids absolutely loved the water park, and the aquarium is genuinely spectacular — there was always something to explore. They also really enjoyed the kids’ club, which gave them some independence and variety during the stay. My husband made the most of the casino, so there was truly something for everyone. The room itself was a highlight. Having a full kitchen gave us much-needed flexibility, especially when travelling with children, and made the stay far more comfortable and convenient. From a work standpoint, the location was very practical. It was easy to get to and from meetings, which made balancing work and family time much smoother. The main area for improvement would be the food. The options felt somewhat limited, and the overall quality could be better given the standard of the resort. Overall, it’s a very good option if you’re looking to combine work and family travel, with plenty to keep everyone entertained, but with some room to improve on dining.