Traveling with kids involves some exorbitant costs, and that often goes well beyond purchasing airfare for three, four, five or more family members.
Even meals can put a strain on a family's travel budget (and increase parents' frustrations), especially when parents are shelling out $35 apiece for a resort breakfast only to have the kids eat half a waffle and barely a piece of fruit.
That's why, when my kids were younger, I usually tried to upgrade to a hotel's club level.
Marine life as seen from one of the windows in the Dig, an aquarium themed to an archaeological dig that uncovered the city of Atlantis. Photo Credit: Paul J. Heney
A recent trip to Atlantis Paradise Island in Nassau with my youngest son (now 19) reminded me of those days, as the iconic Bahamian resort recently debuted its Imperial Club lounge, located on the 19th floor of its Royal Towers. The Imperial Club is a cozy experience, with an elegant design that features a light-brown and off-white color scheme, which makes room for the gorgeous turquoise waters below to be the accent.
The refined space brings a new level of luxury to Atlantis, and we enjoyed every moment spent in the space, from the breakfast that is served daily from 7 to 11 o'clock to the daily afternoon snacks (everything from chips and chocolate chip cookies to other sweets) to complimentary evening cocktails from 5 to 7. The lounge remains open until 11 each night.
We were regulars at the lounge's breakfast service, which included a spread of scrambled eggs as well as assorted meats, pastries, cereal and yogurt with a variety of toppings. There was also fresh fruit, juices, canned beverages and a machine to make specialty coffees.
A Royal Towers double queen room. The rooms were updated in 2023 as part of the resort's 25th anniversary. Photo Credit: Paul J. Heney
The Imperial Club is reserved for guests of The Royal's suite-level accommodations as well as select premium guestrooms. As a bonus, there's a dedicated check-in for Club members at The Sun Lounge, a VIP space located right off the main lobby.
We had an elevated arrival experience, for sure. A personal concierge walked us to our room, along the way pointing out where various things were located. We dropped our bags at the room, and then he took us up to the lounge to get us acclimated (and, of course, for some Club snacks).
The Royal Towers rooms were updated in 2023 as part of Atlantis' 25th anniversary. Our room, on the 17th floor, had two queen-size beds and a small balcony. There was a fresh and airy feel, highlighted by a similar palette to the lounge: off-whites, a mix of light woods and some brass and nickel highlights on furnishings and light fixtures. Our impressive view was of the resort's waterpark, pools and the ocean.
The dining room at Fish by Jose Andres. Photo Credit: Paul J. Heney
Diving into Atlantis' amenities
We found our stay at Atlantis to be a fully immersive experience, with everything we could think of wanting located right on property. It has the bold luxury vibe of Las Vegas' newer resorts, along with the family-friendly feel of a Disney theme park.
There's plenty for the little ones with the kids' club, called Atlantis Kids Adventure, aimed at children ages 3 to 12. Teens (up to age 17) have activities at Crush Teen Club, which offers Xbox and PS5 gaming, Nintendo Switches, an arcade, air hockey, pool, dancing, karaoke and, occasionally, a live DJ.
For the adults, there's plenty of high-end shopping and some great bar and club options, mostly connected to the expansive casino.
Cuisine is on point here, with more than 40 restaurants available. Newest is Cocodrilo, a casual Mexican spot that replaced the Lagoon Bar & Grill in 2025. The open-air spot has a gorgeous view of the lagoon and Royal Towers and is open for lunch and dinner. Our favorite meals here were at Fish by Jose Andres and Nobu.
Fish is set in an impressive space, and the food by the two-time Michelin-starred chef shines. I loved the Salt Air Margaritas, which were light and addictive, and the cheddar biscuits had a great punch of honey sweetness. We also enjoyed the lobster rolls appetizer as a shared dish.
Nobu was excellent from start to finish, with standouts that included the lemony Caesar salad with chopped pecans, wagyu dumplings and vanilla cheesecake with passion fruit sorbet and caramelized pistachios.
Marine life as seen from one of the windows in the Dig, an aquarium themed to an archaeological dig that uncovered the city of Atlantis. Photo Credit: Paul J. Heney
Waterpark fun
The Aquaventure waterpark is 141 acres of fun, set amid the resort's towers. Slides emanate from Mayan temple-type structures, and some are not for the faint of heart. The Abyss is a 200-foot body slide, while Leap of Faith is an almost-vertical 60-foot drop that sends guests down a clear acrylic tunnel that passes through a portion of the shark habitat, making it feel like you're invading their territory. On both, I ended up closing my eyes much of the way -- maybe this old dad should have brought swim goggles.
The Challenger slide boasts twin slides, so friends or family can race each other to the bottom. Every ride I saw had a 48-inch height requirement, so for families with smaller kids, the pools may be the way to go.
We also really appreciated the Rapids River, which loops over a mile. But unlike the lazy rivers popular at other waterparks, this one has occasional wave surges, drops of up to seven feet and some sections with rapids, making it anything but lazy. It took about 25 minutes to traverse the entire length and was probably my favorite part of the park.
The waterpark is just one component of Atlantis' water theme, and families can also enjoy pools, a snorkeling lagoon, white-sand beaches, Dolphin Cay and the Dig, a massive, maze-like underground aquarium that is themed around an archaeological dig that uncovered the ancient city of Atlantis. More than 20,000 marine animals are housed here, from sharks and rays to lobsters and lionfish. The staging is spectacular, and the marine-life views are mesmerizing.