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Planning a trip to Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas? Don’t leave home without the following items!
We have been fortunate enough to visit Atlantis, twice, and have learned so many different tips and trips, including what to pack, while planning and while on our amazing vacations to Atlantis.
The list below are the items that you should pack prior to your trip to help make it a fun, memory filled success!
Bring lots and lots (and did I say lots) of sunscreen
We went through 5 bottles of sunscreen and probably could have/would have used another if we had it.
Don’t risk sunburn by not putting on enough sunscreen and don’t break the bank by buying it onsite (the bottles were over $25 each).
Googles and snorkels
Googles and snorkels can cost a small fortune at the resort (available to purchase and/or rent) and we found that having our own was such a great investment and use of our precious suitcase space.
There are so many beautiful fish (we did see a lot of mini jellyfish, crabs, and stingrays as well), don’t miss out on seeing the amazing sea life.
As a side note, we did not feel there is a need for fins (we are all strong swimmers).
Water shoes and/or flip flops
My kids love the versatility of having water shoes as they can go from the hot sand, to the hot concrete, to the slippery stairs of the water slides, and then straight to the pools, all with one type of foot wear. To me, they are totally worth it!
Sun shirts
Getting too much sun is no fun at all!
Sun shirts are great to limit sun exposure (especially if you have a bit of a sunburn from the days prior….please don’t forget to wear sunscreen!).
These are also great for the waterslides as they can provide a layer between the slide and your back, and ensure no embarrassing bikini top exposures (yikes!).
I highly recommend bringing a sun shirt for all members of the family…..kids and adults alike.
Sand toys for the beach
These are a great option for keeping the kids busy on the beach.
They do take-up suitcase space, but you can always pack in and around them.
Hats
Good choices include sun hats, visors and baseball caps, this is all dependent on what your go-to hat is for the beach, and what your kids will realistically wear!
Sun glasses
To me, these are non-negotiable. I have worn my Ray Bans two years in a row and they are amazing! The kids are less consistent with wearing them, but they do wear their hats (can’t win them all).
Collapsible cooler
We used this collapsible cooler last time and it was great.
We filled it with ice from the hotel’s ice machine and then added waters and the other items that needed refrigeration. They stayed cold for over 24 hours at a time (a slight inconvenience to drain and fill daily, but I’ll do anything for some cream in my coffee).
If you are staying at The Reef, the rooms have refrigerators. I did find out that you can rent a refrigerator from the resort (The Royal) for a daily fee (I heard various reports on the price, but they were all $15-$20 a night).
The collapsible cooler that we brought was less than $30 and is portable, and is great for taking to the beach and pool…bonus!
Bring an insulated cup with a lid
This is a lifesaver!
Anyone say hot COFFEE in the morning, and then cold adult beverages in the afternoon (well, maybe not quite afternoon, but at least after coffee).
Insulated cups are a great way to keep water and other beverages cold for the whole family while at the beach and waterpark.
Bag for wet items
The air is humid in the hotel rooms and our bathing suits did not dry in time to pack them at the end of the trip. Fortunately, we had bags to place our still damp items in.
Stroller
This of course is based on the age of your kids.
My kids are too big (and old) for a stroller (however, I’m sure if I brought one, they would be happy to jump in)!
Keep in mind that there is a lot walking from the various amenities of the resort, and the different hotels where the amenities are located.
A stroller could definitely come in handy for tired feet, and your tired hands/back from carrying all of the beach/pool gear.
Hamper
I always bring at least one pop-up hamper when on vacation. These really help to keep the clothes off the floor of the hotel room, and if/when using two hampers, you can sort the clothes by color, person, etc.
Want More Information
Check out my other posts about Atlantis, Bahamas:
About Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Did I Miss Anything?
Do you have any items that are essential for a great trip to Atlantis? Please share them in the comments below.