Unless you live under a rock, you’ve heard how fabulous and fun Atlantis Paradise Island Resort is for family vacations. All that fun comes with hefty price tag but today I’m going to tell you how to save money at Atlantis.

Read on to find out some of my favorite money saving tips for visiting this kid-friendly Caribbean hot spot.

• The best way to experience Atlantis Paradise Island Resort without breaking the bank is to stay at the nearby Comfort Suites Paradise Island hotel. Most travelers don’t know this but Comfort Suites Paradise Island hotel guests receive free access to Atlantis’ exclusive features (think water parks, pools and beach) and charging privileges in all restaurants and bars. The newly renovated property is within walking distance and rates include daily breakfast and free Wi-Fi. You’re welcome!

• I always bring emergency food and snacks with me but you’ll save a ton of money if you stock an extra suitcase with snacks and breakfast/lunch friendly food like peanut butter and jelly. When we stayed at The Reef, our only breakfast option was a super busy (and painfully slow) Starbucks and it was either wait for a $5 muffin or take a shuttle over to another area for breakfast each morning. If you don’t want to travel around the large property with hungry kids, bring food from home or stock up at the supermarket on your way to the resort. PS – Many guest rooms have family-friendly kitchenettes.

• Atlantis is the opposite of all-inclusive and this means you will find yourself shelling out big bucks for extras or saying no to your kids all day. To avoid this, get some activities offered on property (like glitter tattoos) in advance and surprise your kids with them during the trip. When we visited over the summer, there was a decorate-your-own-cupcake activity that cost around $10 per cupcake so be sure to manage your kids’ expectations for extras and souvenirs before you go.

• There is no shortage of great restaurants at Atlantis and many of the worlds best chefs have outposts here. One of the best budget friendly options is dining family style at Carmine’s where kids and adults can share Italian favorites and desserts without breaking the bank. If you’re traveling with young children, most restaurants offer affordable kid meals that can often be shared as well.

• Bring your own snorkels, water toys and other beach essentials. I know these can be bulky to travel with but you will save a lot of money not having to rent or buy them on property. The resort charges $12 an hour to rent a snorkel and fins so if you plan to snorkel, it pays to bring your own. If you travel a lot, stock up on beach toys at the end of summer when a big bag of sand toys is just $3 and you can leave them behind without feeling guilty.

• Take advantage of complimentary activities at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort.  There are plenty of free activities for guests staying at Atlantis including movies, The Dig, character parades, casino lessons, gym access and more so be sure to work these into your schedules.

If you’re planning a trip to Atlantis, be sure to check out my latest TravelMamas.com posts:

Top 20 Things To Do at Atlantis Paradise Island Resort

5 Things to Do on Paradise Island with Kids in the Bahamas

What are your favorite money saving vacation tips?

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