We just got back from a week away in The Bahamas and I am already missing the sunshine. This was my kids’ first time to the Caribbean, and they are definitely hooked on island life.

I probably definitely overthought what needed to be packed for this trip to the Bahamas with a toddler (2 years old) and preschooler (4 years old) in tow. Now that we’re back, I see what we ended up not needing and also what was worth their suitcase space.

While planning the trip, my priorities for selecting accommodations included having outdoor space for my kids to run around, on the beach so we could easy pop back to the room if needed while playing in the water, and of course within budget. The resort that best fit this criteria for us was Atlantis Bahamas Coral Tower in a Premium Double Queen Terrace View room.

The “premium” room was slightly larger than the standard room, and also put us in the tower directly above the lobby. It was about $10 more per night than the regular room. This put us a single elevator ride down to Marina Village, where we spent many evenings walking around, and also served as our walking path when we ventured outside the resort.

I’ve divided these Atlantis packing tips into three different categories: things already provided by Atlantis so you can leave at home, things I’m glad we brought (or wish we had brought) for our kids, and other things to consider for your individual situation.

Things Provided by Atlantis

• Water bottles – We received four water bottles at check-in that could be refilled throughout the resort. I was glad to have the kid water bottles for the plane, but didn’t need to pack extra ones for the trip.
• Pool/Beach Towels – Towels were easy to get, and we could grab more throughout the day while the pools were open.
• Life Jackets – There are life jackets available for kids over 30lbs at the pools and beaches. I saw plenty of other kids in their own life jackets, especially the younger ages. If we had visited a local public beach then we would have wanted our own for the day.
  

Must Have Items for Kids at Atlantis

• Extra Swimsuits – Our swimsuits did not dry overnight in the room so I was glad to have a few per person to cycle through. We could have set them outside on the balcony; however, it was pretty windy and saw other swimsuits that had fallen to the ground below.
• Rashguard Tops – On a whim I bought each kid a t-shirt rashguard. These were so nice to have for the pool since the sun was rather intense. I will be picking up another one for our next sunny vacation so they can rotate along with the swimsuits.
  
• Snacks – I had a bunch of my kids’ favorite snacks, this was especially helpful in the morning so they could have something to eat while we were packing up for the day (before breakfast), or if they needed a little something to eat after dinner. There is a market just outside the resort; however, the prices are pretty high so bringing items from home would be a significant savings.
• GoSili Silicone Cup Covers – We got these a few years ago and they are perfect for travel. The kids think it is so special to get apple juice on the flight; I put one of these covers on the cup to give them a nice straw for drinking and prevent spills. They aren’t spill-proof, but give one extra layer of protection from an open cup.
  
• Plastic Bags – The swimsuits were still wet as we were packing up to fly home so it was nice to have a couple plastic shopping bags for these items. While all the dirty clothes were piled into a single suitcase, I didn’t necessarily want everything getting wet from the swimsuits during the flight home.
• Toys for the Room – I had originally packed a bunch of small toys for the plane; however, a few of them ended up being used in the hotel room instead. These Mini Picasso Tiles were fun for small builds and some gel window clings provided entertainment in the mornings while we got ready for the day.
  
• Sunscreen – Pack what you think you need, and then add another bottle. While it was only in the 70s, the sun felt intense and we were reapplying multiple times throughout the day.
• Pool/Beach Toys – Our second day at Atlantis we went searching for a ball for Emmett to enjoy in the pool. We found a small foam football that we enjoyed the rest of the trip. Atlantis had balls, buckets, and other water toys available for purchase by the pool, but of course at resort prices.

Other things to Consider

• Stroller – The stroller paths are not always convenient. There are limited ramps around the property, rather they have elevators that require the operator to press and hold the button to move up or down. We had two Babyzen YoYo strollers with us, and I’m glad we did that rather than our double stroller. Having two small strollers gave us a lot more flexibility to only take one with us, and when we were walking around Nassau many of the sidewalks would not accommodate a double stroller.
  Don’t forget the cup holder! We brought along our stroller connectors so we could push the strollers together if desired, but never actually used them on this trip.
  
• Car Seats – We have the wayb Pico carseats for travel and they are so convenient since they are lightweight and compact. The Pico weighs only 8 pounds and it folds up to fit into a backpack. We generally add our sweatshirts and the kid’s loveys into the car seat backpack to save space in our other bags.
  
• Water Shoes – I packed water shoes for all four of us, and we never really wore them. Since we visited in the winter, the pavement didn’t get too hot and we were fine walking around barefoot to the different water slides. If we visited in the summer I think they would have been used more.

We had an absolute blast on our trip to Atlantis Bahamas. Our kids loved exploring the property, playing in the sand, and splashing in the pools. The majority of our time was at the Mayan Temple Pool as it offered zero-entry and had lots of poolside snack options. Emmett enjoyed the small waterslide (Anneliese did it a couple times but was not as into it).

Next time we visit Atlantis with our kids, I’ll be a lot more confident in my packing!