Go inside Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas — without fighting the crowds

Surely you’ve heard of Atlantis, the over-the-top massive megaresort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The architecturally-stunning behemoth spans 171 acres and boasts (brace yourself) more than 4000 rooms, three beaches, 11 pools, a rock-climbing wall, a golf course overlooking the ocean, a tennis facility, a 3,800-square-foot gym, a pilates studio, a state-of-the-art spa, a massive water park featuring a slide with a 50-foot drop, the biggest casino in the Caribbean, a movie theater, a comedy club, three discos, a faux-archaeological dig, an aquarium, a model-car building studio, a dolphin habitat, luxury shopping boutiques, and a pottery studio… just to name a few of the highlights.

Sound exhausting? It is — especially since this is, at its core, a family resort, which means you can expect kids, crowds, seriously steep prices, and plenty of roaming nonguests on “Discover Atlantis” tours or using the pool facilities.

To put it bluntly, this is not a place to go for a relaxing vacation. If you’re looking for an upscale, quiet tropical escape, your best bet might be the nearby One-and-Only Ocean Club. But if an action-packed, Disneyland-esque family trip is in the cards (or you just want to see what all the fuss is about), check out our comprehensive coverage of Atlantis Paradise Island — complete with 300+ photos of the property.