SPENDING in a tunnel that plunges you into a pool of sinister-looking sharks is not my normal idea of fun.
However, at Atlantis Bahamas, tourists line up to descend a winding staircase every day for this experience.
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This is the Leap of Faith, a free-fall canal and one of the most famous attractions at this fun-filled family resort in Nassau.
Sure, you’re protected by a clear plastic tube as you run at high speeds through the shark tank – but that doesn’t make the situation any less scary when you catch a blurry glimpse of Jaws-shaped fins.
This is exactly why families visit.
After all, where else can you swim with sharks, gamble in a Las Vegas-style casino and pet dolphins, all while sunbathing on a balmy island in the Caribbean?
The vacation spot is so luxurious that celebrities like Beyoncé Jay-Z and Oprah Winfrey stayed here.
And to top it off, last year, The Royal, one of five hotels in the 400-acre Atlantis resort, celebrated its 25th anniversary with festivities and a party featuring performances by CeeLo Green.
My friend Floss and I were staying in a double room at The Royal hotel, a few floors below the famous $25,000-a-night Michael Jackson Suite, named after the singer who opened the resort 26 years ago.
Our spacious room had a Juliette balcony overlooking Nassau Harbor, which welcomed a new mega cruise ship every morning for us to admire.
The balcony also gave us a great vantage point from which to survey the site, or at least part of it – the scale of this place has to be seen to be believed.
With just 4,000 rooms, it occupies a large portion of Paradise Island near Nassau and completely dwarfs other resorts on the island.
Each area is themed and some locations are limited to certain guests, such as The Cove with its beachfront cabanas – a celebrity hangout – and The Reef, yet another residential area with one- and two-bedroom suites.
Both are priced higher than the other Atlantis hotels, but I would save your money and opt for The Royal – which is in the main, central hub of the resort – or The Coral, the most affordable of the lot and more suitable. the families.
One visit to The Coral swim-up pool bar, which serves frozen cocktails topped with glazed cherries any time of day, and we’re immediately in vacation mode.
For a taste of something local, try a Bahama Mama, made with two types of rum, pineapple juice and orange juice.
When our waiter saw our exhausted faces the next day, he simply laughed and advised, with a sly smile, “Be careful! The cachaça here is strong.”
Barely a day passed before we decided that touring the resort on foot was a waste of energy in 30ºC heat.
There are many options for those who want to immerse themselves in Bahamian culture.
Instead, we opted to use the River Rapids as a means of transportation around the vast site.
The floating water ride starts at one end and loops around to the other with multiple entry and exit points so you can grab a rubber ring, hop on and swing to your desired destination.
It’s safe to say that life is incredibly laid-back at Atlantis Bahamas, which is just one of the reasons why so many American tourists visit year after year – that and its proximity to the United States.
You won’t be surprised, therefore, to learn that there are several Starbucks eateries scattered throughout the resort, as well as a Shake Shack and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream shop.
And, of course, there are many options for those who want to immerse themselves in Bahamian culture.
Underground aquarium
Feeling fancy? Order a tasting menu at Fish by Jose Andres, which serves local delicacies like conch, a tropical sea snail that you can try cold in a salad or warm in a sticky dumpling.
If you’re missing homemade, European food, then head to the marina region.
The area, which could easily be mistaken for a pretty port town on the Spanish coast, acts as a border between the public section and the multimillion-dollar yachts moored in the port.
The boats were not assembled just for aesthetic reasons.
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We were told that many wealthy travelers, including pop star Nick Jonas, dock here when sailing the West Atlantic.
Grab a seat at one of the restaurants’ many outdoor tables and spend the evening gazing at the ships’ glistening decks and twinkling lights.
Just when we thought we had discovered everything the resort had to offer, we came across a new route back to our room through a huge underground aquarium.
The Dig is home to 20,000 deep reef fish and you can watch feeding sessions for free.
If you want to get up close to some of the finned creatures, little ones aged three to six can head to the free Sea Squirts School.
There they can learn about marine life and feed baby stingrays, while brave adults can suit up in a wetsuit and bubble helmet to stroll around the floor of the shark tank while the sharp-toothed fish circle above you.
We barely scratched the surface of the vast and strange array of activities on offer here on our six-day visit.
How can I best describe Atlantis Bahamas?
I suppose if Disneyland and Sea Life had a child, this would be it.
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GO: Atlantis Bahamas
GETTING THERE: British Airways flies direct from Heathrow to Nassau, Bahamas from £588 return.
The airline is running a promotion until May 14, offering discounts on flights in 2024 and 2025.
To see ba.com.
STAY THERE: Rooms at The Royal Atlantis average £282 per night, based on a four-night stay in August, including up to $300 resort credit.
A family room at The Coral Atlantis costs around £187 per night, based on four sharing.
To see atlantisbahamas.com.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
