Atlantis

Canuck · Mar 5, 2007

Hello Tuggers!

Just curious if any of you have had luck trading into Harborside Resort at Atlantis? Would love to hear your thoughts on the resort (I have read resort reviews and Trip Advisor....it sounds like a water Disneyland), and how long you waited to get a trade etc etc.

We own at Fairmont in the Canadian Rocky Mountains and have had great luck with all our requests....so far! We have had the pleasure of trading into a Marriott, requested and actually got Maui, Royal in Cancun (next Spring Break...can't wait) and many other great places/resorts. HOWEVER, I think Atlantis may be a place I shouldn't get excited over........

Thanks a ton. You are all wonderful and full of great info and I do appreciate your honest thoughts, advice, opinions, experience and most of all your time to answer all the "rookie" questions you get :whoopie:

Thanh · Apr 5, 2007

Exchange into Harborside Resort at Atlantis

We just got our confirmation from II for our October 2007 week request. We were pleasantly surprised since we have heard that this is an almost impossible trade. From what I've read, it is going to be an expensive vacation but it will be well worth the money.

We have checked out a few rental sites and the price quotes for a 2BR are around 5K. As an exchange, it is very affordable to us. We feel very lucky and are looking forward to this wonder full experience.

arlene22 · Apr 6, 2007

I think your chances depend upon how flexible you are with dates. Harborside bulk banks, and they retain the high season weeks within their own trading network (SVN), so generally speaking, only lower season weeks make it in to II. IIRC, tuggers have reported getting II trades for Jan, May, Oct, Nov, early Dec. So you will have better prospects if your request includes those months. Also, watch the sightings board. The bulk banks will usually show up there, too.

brobinso · Apr 6, 2007

I was able to trade into Atlantis four years or so ago. Got a 2BR in June via II using my 2BR at Kona Coast. Started the search about 9 months out, and it was confirmed in about 2 weeks.

The resort is amazing. One restaurant is underwater and has glass walls so you can watch fish swim by while you eat. Great pools and water slides. Great beaches. Plenty of activities, especially if you have kids.

Good luck with your trade.

PeelBoy · Apr 6, 2007

I placed my ongoing search December last year and within 6 weeks or so, was offered a 2 bedroom for October 27, 2007. The trader is Sunterra club membership.

I turned it down though, cuz I have booked Royal Sands for the same week. Now, I have my ongoing search for any week in 2008.

Thanh · Apr 6, 2007

arlene22 said:
I think your chances depend upon how flexible you are with dates.

I aggree. I had tried to obtain this exchange many times in the past years (for a week in June, July, or August) without success. This time it worked out very well, because we didn't decide on the exact week we want to go there.

As Arlene said, you need to be very flexible with your travel dates.

I started my search last October, with a 4-week window request, for a week stay in the month of July 2007, and finally had decided to expand my request window to span over 4 months (07/01/07 - 10/31/07) to maximize my chance.

This strategy worked! We got our 2BR unit week for October 2007, and as luck would have it, the week we got is right on my birthday! What a great birthday present from II

Had I not done this, I'm sure my exchange effort would be another failed try.

Quimby4 · Apr 7, 2007

Thanh said:
We just got our confirmation from II for our October 2007 week request. We were pleasantly surprised since we have heard that this is an almost impossible trade. From what I've read, it is going to be an expensive vacation but it will be well worth the money.

We have checked out a few rental sites and the price quotes for a 2BR are around 5K. As an exchange, it is very affordable to us. We feel very lucky and are looking forward to this wonder full experience.

What is going to be expensive? The food? Isn't full use of the Atlantis facility included if you stay at Harborside?

I did a little reading and answered my own question..here are some prices I found
$9 for a large bottle of water at the beach
$33 for a large pizza at the Marina Pizzeria
$4 for a QUART of milk at the Sundries store
$10 for 1 day of internet access

Lots of people pack food & h20 with them. Hawaii supermarkets are also expensive for food like Atlantis but still much cheaper then eating at restaurants especially for breakfast and dinner.

We are thinking about it for 2009 and beyond.

Thanks!!

PeterCooper · Apr 17, 2007

Quimby4 said:
What is going to be expensive? The food? Isn't full use of the Atlantis facility included if you stay at Harborside?

I did a little reading and answered my own question..here are some prices I found
$9 for a large bottle of water at the beach
$33 for a large pizza at the Marina Pizzeria
$4 for a QUART of milk at the Sundries store
$10 for 1 day of internet access

Lots of people pack food & h20 with them. Hawaii supermarkets are also expensive for food like Atlantis but still much cheaper then eating at restaurants especially for breakfast and dinner.

We are thinking about it for 2009 and beyond.

My thoughts on the above:

I think you'd have to expect to pay dearly for water at the beach, ditto the sundries store. Take the shuttle to town. There's one that goes right to the supermarket. Nice place, good selection. The shuttle will bring you right back to Harborside. We also brought a big cooler, filled with frozen stuff (beef, chicken, smoked salmon, ham, all the necessities of life, right?) taped it closed, and had no problems at either end with customs. Kind of important, because last year there were eight of us, including 3 college boys who can really eat. Just don't try bringing in fresh produce. Prices, according to my better half, are reasonable. But then, we live in Manhattan, so who knows?

The shocker, for me, is the price of beer. Kalik, the local brew (I like the light, but there are three or four choices) goes for, I think, $32 a case. I can buy beer cheaper than that in my local deli. If you like rum, however, you're in like a bandit. Even the better brands are about $14-$16 for a liter, and the no-name jetfuel stuff can be had for $9/liter.

The cost of all this stuff has to be balanced against the cost of eating out. Lunch for five of us at the Point, the outdoor casual dining venue near the Harborside pool, ran us about $125, with no apps and only a couple of beers. Dinners are Manhattan prices or better.

Three last tips. One, if someone twists your arm and tells you to go to Murray's, the kosher-style deli at Atlantis, let him break the arm. It'll be less painful than eating the food there. Two, if you want to splurge, Cafe Martinique, a Jean-George operation, is wonderful. Beautiful room, best service on the island, typical world-class J-G food. Third: if that guy from Murray's tries to get you to Greycliffe? Let him break both your arms. A total tourist trap, living on faded glory. The worst quality/cost ratio of anyplace I've ever eaten. I've posted on this before, and will confine myself to this brief barb. I could go on for an hour.

Good luck.
Bill

Canuck · Apr 17, 2007

All great info! Thanks, we are very flexible with our dates.......so we will see what happens! :cheer:

mariawolf · Apr 21, 2007

Anyone trying to trade into Harborside is more likely to get Oct-early December or even late September--it is hurricane season so you take your chances--not that many have hit their lately--when I go w/my brother who owns second week in December there are always folks in the hot tub who traded in--not so much when I go in platinum season when I go--as Arlene says flexibility is the name of the game to get a trade there.
Yes food is expensive--but since you have a full kitchen you can have breakfast/coffee in the unit--I always bring my second bag filled w/snacks and breakfast foods for us and the grandkids.
It is well worth holding out for the trade!

bigfrank · Apr 21, 2007

I have had a few confirmations that I turned down, All were pretty much in a 30 day window. I did take 1 exchange for and was able to use 3 nights of it on a long weekend.
There has been more inventory posted that is coming available. It looks like the owners that bought to use every year are just realizing they can't make it there every year. So now they are either banking there weeks or renting them out.

roadsister · Apr 22, 2007

Bahamas

So when is hurricane season in the Bahamas? (sorry I'm so dumb on this - west coast people)

rusty · Apr 23, 2007

So when is hurricane season in the Bahamas? (sorry I'm so dumb on this - west coast people)

- officially hurricane season is; June-December
- height of season w/most hurricanes; September

:bawl:

mariawolf · Apr 23, 2007

I totally agree about Murrays and totally disagree about Graycliff--food and service is impeccable--I guess that is why everyone is different--and that is what makes the world go round!

arlene22 · Apr 23, 2007

Also, for lunch by the pool, look for the family combo at Shark Bites Express: 4 (big) burgers, four sodas, and two large fries for $22. Also, I recommend Bimini Road in the Marina Village for relatively reasonably priced, casual, sit-down caribbean food.

wdaveo · May 1, 2007

deleted...

chadsain · May 13, 2007

Atlantis- "The bomb"

We've been to Harborside-Atlantis 2 years now, with third next month. It is the best vacation we've had in our 22 years of timeshare trading. Caution is that the cost of food and such is very, very high, so just have to ration your days a bit before going broke. Essentially, you get full use of all Atlantis property ammenities while still staying away from the crowds. This year we're anxious to see what the "Cove" has to offer. Harborside is part of Starwood Network. We own at Starwood/vistana, which is how we can trade into. Given the tremendous demand just from Starwood owners, I'd find it likely impossible to get a unit without going direct to an owner and renting it. However, they did expand the property, and I'd say it is not 100% "bought", so there might be a block of developer-owned units that are placed on II. Good luck, and if you get into it, have the time of your life!!!

pcgirl54 · May 13, 2007

I expected a lot of Atlantis since I had read and visited the website for a couple of years. It measures up 100%. We used a Marriott off season HHI week and went in May 2005. Super place ,period. Took 2 days just to see all the underwater tanks. The Spa at Atlantis and the Casino are just as wonderful. What a place!!!

Sorry guys, I liked the NY deli at Murrays and the desserts were good.It was far more affordable then the other places to eat at Atlantis if one is watching the budget. Two of us could eat for under $50. rather than $100-$150.

There is a liquor store, mini mart with water less than $9 a short walk from Harborside at Hurricane Hole and Paradise Plaza. There is a Quiznos and News Cafe and Chosys breakfast,lunch places in the same area for a low cost meal.

City Market in Nassau is the better full service grocer. Harborside charges a fee to go there in a shuttle bus ,far cheaper than a taxi.

KITKAT1 · Jun 20, 2007

Just got back from harborside. Pack an extra suitcase with food, cereal, pancake mix, syrup, mayo, condiments, crystal light, canned meats, baby food, snacks , dish soap, & laundry detergent, ect. Then just pick up a few basics. I usually spent around $125.00 to $150.00 on groceries at the city market, this year only $43.00. A gallon of zepherhills water was $5.00, gallon of milk $6.00, quart of OJ was $7:00. Murrays, Bimini Road, and Johnny Rockets are all good.

gores95 · Jun 27, 2007

Hey guys am I being naive or could my lockoff master suite (studio) Aruba Surf Club Oceanside unit fetch me Harboride 1BR? I have July 4, 2008 reserved.

Thanks.

laxmom · Jun 27, 2007

Don't forget to eat offsite once or twice. We ate at Anthony's (a short walk at the base of the bridge) a couple of times the last time we were there. We actually like Murrays. Had to take some bacon off of the BLT just to get my mouth around it. Maybe it has changed since we were there. Just don't do the dinner buffet as Sea Grapes (?) I think that is it. The breakfast buffet was really good but when we went to the dinner buffet we finally told the kids to eat desert for dinner because all the main dishes and sides were less than mediocre. HUGE waste of money.

tomandrobin · Jun 28, 2007

You might want to try Carmines at the marina village. They serve the food portions "family style". We had a party of 13 for dinner and our bill came to around $350. We were all stuffed after dinner and the food was good!

Buffet for breakfast is good, bad and over priced for dinner.

holdem · Jun 30, 2007

Is there a shopping area within walking distance that would sell drinks and grocery items?

tomandrobin · Jun 30, 2007

Yes, there is Hurricane Hole wich is about a two block walk from Harborside/Atlantis. A case of water is about $30. Still cheaper then $5 a bottle inside the resorts.

Cindala · Jul 26, 2007

Since Harbourside at Atlantis is so new, do you think over time that the summer weeks will become easier to get, or is that just a pipe dream?:hysterical:

Or is this the type of location that you will always have to put in a request for the off season? :doh:

Atlantis

Canuck

TUG Review Crew

Thanh

arlene22

brobinso

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

PeelBoy

Thanh

Quimby4

PeterCooper

Canuck

TUG Review Crew

mariawolf

bigfrank

roadsister

Tug Review Crew: Rookie

rusty

mariawolf

arlene22

wdaveo

chadsain

pcgirl54

Tug Review Crew: Rookie

KITKAT1

gores95

laxmom

Tug Review Crew: Rookie

tomandrobin

holdem

tomandrobin

Cindala