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Currently at Harborside.

Sea Six

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Thanks for the info on Harborside. It sounds like we can do everything at Atlantis in 5 days.

Since we are flying from California we would spend at least a week to 10 days in the Caribbean. What do you suggest as a good next stop for 3 - 5 days? e.g. Miami, St John, Barbados, Aruba, or other? I am asking in terms of ease transfer flight schedules and cost from Nassau.


If you want to spend time in the Caribbean, try the Westin Lagunamar in Cancun. Lagunamar might be easier to find vacancies than other places like St John. Plus, you will be on your way home to CA if you go west. Nassau is not in the Caribbean Sea.
 

DannyTS

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Yes, full access to Atlantis without additional cost. The one thing you won't get by renting through an owner is internet access. That's part of Atlantis' $50/day 'resort fee'. Harborside owners (or renters from owners) don't pay the resort fee but if they want wifi they have to pay for it, something like $25 a day. You can prepay for 7 days or buy day by day.
I think you can buy the meal plan, but it doesn't make financial sense. Its doesn't really offer any discount versus menu prices. And since you have a functional kitchenette at HRA, most people do breakfast in their
unit. The meal plan is priced as if you were going to eat a full breakfast buffet every single morning and a full three course meal every single night. If you take it easy just one meal of the week, you're usually better off paying ala carte.
if you book with Staroptions, do you have to pay the $50/ day resort fee?
 

buzglyd

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Gaslamp Plaza Suites
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Thanks for the info on Harborside. It sounds like we can do everything at Atlantis in 5 days.

Since we are flying from California we would spend at least a week to 10 days in the Caribbean. What do you suggest as a good next stop for 3 - 5 days? e.g. Miami, St John, Barbados, Aruba, or other? I am asking in terms of ease transfer flight schedules and cost from Nassau.

We are flying to Ft Lauderdale first and then taking Bahamas Air to Nassau two days later. We like it there and didn’t want to take a red eye to Nassau.
 

SandyPGravel

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Westin St. John Plat+
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Westin St. John Plat
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if you book with Staroptions, do you have to pay the $50/ day resort fee?

No resort fee, but be prepared that they will put a $100/day hold on your credit card when you check in.
 

CalGalTraveler

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No resort fee, but be prepared that they will put a $100/day hold on your credit card when you check in.

So if you rent from an owner, you would be considered an owner with a guest cert. and would not have the internet resort fee and the Atlantis bands are included, correct?
 

SandyPGravel

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So if you rent from an owner, you would be considered an owner with a guest cert. and would not have the internet resort fee and the Atlantis bands are included, correct?

Correct. (Although I have never done this.)
 

DannyTS

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No resort fee, but be prepared that they will put a $100/day hold on your credit card when you check in.
so no internet fee either for staroption bookings?
 

SandyPGravel

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so no internet fee either for staroption bookings?

:eek::confused:o_O:doh:Oh no, no internet. Last I checked it was $25/day. I didn't even bother checking this time. Lots of restaurants have free wi-fi if you just need to check your email or FB. Senor Frogs, Margaritaville, Dunkin Donuts. Guess I should have said no mandatory resort fee.
 

Sea Six

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Last time I was there the internet quality was terrible. I complained and got a refund. They said they would fix it, but nothing was ever done. My advice is don't sign up for a long term commitment - try it for a day or two and see if you really want to pay for it.
 

andysnovel

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May I suggest flying back to Ft Lauderdale or Miami and then renting a car and going down to the Keys??? Key West is a blast and there are timeshares there, depending on the season you are traveling..........
 

okwiater

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WSJ 3B Plat+ (VGV/BV)
WLR 2B Plat+ Oceanside
SMV 2B Plat+
Sheraton Flex (x2)
Last time I was there the internet quality was terrible. I complained and got a refund. They said they would fix it, but nothing was ever done. My advice is don't sign up for a long term commitment - try it for a day or two and see if you really want to pay for it.

Also, there is no discount for the longer term packages. As such, even if you know you want it for the full duration, it still makes sense to sign up daily since you may not be using it at the moment when each 24-hour period expires. This results in a short period each day when you aren’t signed up, and in my experience reduces the number of packages needed by 1 or 2 days.
 

Free2Roam

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We're at Harborside now. The cost of internet is ridiculous.

Our AT&T mobile plan has an International Day pass for $10/day per device... and it uses your regular data plan (ours is unlimited). So we're using my tablet as a Hotspot to get internet access for less than 1/2 of what's charged by the resort. My tablet Hotspot allows up to 10 devices to connect. There are 5 adults with us and everyone agreed to pitch in...so just $2/day per person. Much more reasonable!

Sent from my TB-X704A using Tapatalk
 

Sea Six

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We're at Harborside now. The cost of internet is ridiculous.

Our AT&T mobile plan has an International Day pass for $10/day per device... and it uses your regular data plan (ours is unlimited). So we're using my tablet as a Hotspot to get internet access for less than 1/2 of what's charged by the resort. My tablet Hotspot allows up to 10 devices to connect. There are 5 adults with us and everyone agreed to pitch in...so just $2/day per person. Much more reasonable!

Sent from my TB-X704A using Tapatalk
Plus you're probably getting faster speeds. When I was on the resort's internet, I could't even stream a video without constant buffering delays. It was only good for e-mail and social media.
 

PamMo

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For basic internet, we go over to Anthony's Grill in the Paradise Island Shopping Plaza (across the street from Marina Village) during Happy Hour from 4-6PM. We enjoy their $9 calamari, shrimp, and wings, 1/2 price beer and cocktails, and their free wifi to check up on all the news from home - and TUG!
 
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