Fully and Completely Updated July 2024
IMPORTANT NOTE: As of 2024 they are enforcing the rule that you must gamble for four hours during your trip. Length of stay doesn’t matter. If you don’t play four hours, you will be charged at checkout. They won’t warn you. You’ll checkout and they’ll give you the bill. So, check during your stay and the night before checkout, before dinner as the rewards desk isn’t open late, check you’ve played four hours. They will have no mercy. Bet size doesn’t matter. Tables or slots. And yes, the terms are in your confirmation email.
In this article
What is the Free Stay At Atlantis in the Bahamas with Caesars Diamond Status?
(This is my article intro from 2018 … it may seem funny now but I left it for posterity in my 2024 update).
I’ve seen many bloggers write about how you can get a free stay at Atlantis in the Bahamas if you are Caesars Rewards Diamond or above. And while I’ve seen bits and pieces of what to expect on various message boards and blog comments, I’ve yet to see a comprehensive review of the Atlantis experience when using this “comp.” So I flew down for 4 nights to find out…. (actually, I’ve now gone three times and this post is focused on my 2024 stay but leaves some bits from 2021 that haven’t changed much).
For the uninitiated, Caesars Rewards is a casino chain loyalty program and Diamond is a high tier status within the program, which has Gold, Platinum, Diamond, Diamond Plus, Diamond Elite, and 7 Stars as its program levels.
The reason why many MilesTalk readers care about this and have access to this free stay is because of the various status matches that have been able to confer Diamond status – the genesis of the Status Match Merry-Go-Round™.
Wyndham Rewards has reciprocal status matching with Caesars meaning that Diamond status with Wyndham gets you Diamond status with Caesars. Currently the primary way to get that is the Wyndham Earner Business Credit Card from Barclays which gives you Wyndham Diamond to match to Caesars Diamond (online).
But many people ask questions like “How much are the fees on top of the free nights?” and “How much will I spend on meals?” as well as “What are the rooms like?” And, of course, “Will my Marriott Bonvoy Elite benefits apply?”
What Can You Expect with this “Free” Atlantis Bahamas Stay?
The first thing to know is that if you have Diamond via status match, you will have access to only the lowest level of redemption for Diamonds (marked as 15,000 Tier Credits on the Caesars Atlantis page). In fact, even if you are only Caesars Platinum, you have access to this offer, however it’s more limited and not completely free.
For Diamond, in 2024, there is a new set of offers and you’ll want to avoid March, April, and July.
Here are the complete details from the Caesars website:
I’m going to focus on this tier because it’s what people that matched to Diamond are eligible for.
Booking the Stay
To book, you’ll call 1-888-877-7592. Note that not all days will be available. Be prepared to be flexible. State clearly that you are calling to book a Caesars Diamond (or your level) complimentary package.
Peak vs Off Peak Dates at Atlantis
There used to be specific peak and off peak month. Now it’s just March, April, and July that need to be avoided.
The Beach Tower – Now Closed
Back in 2018, we stayed at the Beach Tower which was beaten up beyond belief. It’s been closed since COVID and won’t be reopening as part of Atlantis however it is rumored that Pharrell bought it and will do “something” with it – perhaps partnering to provide Atlantis waterpark access like the Comfort Suites next door to Atlantis does.
2024 Atlantis Stay: The Coral
The prior version of this post was our 2021 stay – colored by some mishaps that led to a giant suite upgrade. We were in a normal room this time and to stay concise, I’ve removed that 2021 content and the below is from 2024.
The Coral Tower, which is what all Caesars Diamond members currently book into) has finally been completely renovated. Not in a fancy way, but it’s new-ish looking inside the rooms, if not in the halls.
A room at the Coral:
That view!
Now you need to know a few things about your stay upfront.
The casino guests via Caesars are given the worst pick of rooms. They’ve been upfront about that since 2018 though what that means has changed over time.
You cannot pay to upgrade your room. Because of the casino rate being basically the casino paying for the stay, the front desk cannot modify the reservation. I was told that to upgrade to a suite I would need to cancel the reservation entirely and book a suite at full price. OK….
He was kind enough to find us a room with a nicer view than what we were technically entitled to, however, I made a rookie mistake this time.
I forgot that the Coral has two buildings. The tower and then a smaller “wing” with only a handful of floors.
While I believe the room interiors are the same, there are major differences. The Tower has multiple elevators that take you directly where you want to go – like right to the front door.
The Wing (I don’t know the real term they use for it) requires that you walk all the way down a hallway that has no air conditioning and appears to previously have been guest rooms but are all sealed up, giving you a nice creepy feeling especially late at night.
There are two elevators in this wing, both of which creaked and had flickering lights. One of which broke down continuously over the 3 days we were there (almost with me inside it once, but I was able to reopen the doors and make haste).
Moreover, if you have a stroller or a wheelchair, this is a significantly worse location than the tower because even though there is a path down from the “Wing” directly to the Coral pool, the elevator doesn’t go down to that level. You need to take 20 steps down. The alternatives are the hike all the way to the front desk, down an elevator (that was broken our whole stay requiring us to constantly get assistance carrying the stroller up and down the stairs) or an elevator at the WAY end of the wing that goes to the far end of the beach.
Long story short, ask for a Tower room.
As an aside, elevators being out were a *constant* problem the weekend we were there. I’m hoping it was an anomaly but we had tremendous difficulties getting around with our son in his stroller. For those without kids, when you have stuff packed in every nook and cranny of the stroller for the day and your kid won’t get back in a stroller once removed, you don’t have an easy option in this scenario.
I will say that the manager did offer us a nice goodwill gesture understanding how much of a hassle this was and I do hope they have been able to get them all repaired by now. The biggest problem not easily fixed is that several key locations have just one elevator. So if that is broken, there’s no backup.
The Coral Pool and View of the Smaller Coral Building
A quick look at the closest pool to the Coral. I also grabbed a view of the wing I keep calling “the wing” – as in not the Tower.
The picture of the pool shows a shallow area for kids – it’s not a jacuzzi.
The bottom picture looks up at the Coral’s smaller building. that I’m advising to try and avoid in favor of the tower if you can pull it off.
If you are on the Caesars Diamond Casino rate, what is the “real” cost of the room?
The total cost per night for two people is now $78.90 (it was $66 in 2021). That is the resort fee of 64.90 + a $14 gratuity nightly gratuity per adult 12 and up. If you have 3 or 4 in the room, adjust the gratuity up by $7 pp. The resort fee includes wifi for four computers, 2 waters per day, towels, local phone calls, etc. Is it egregious at $78.90 per day? Yes. So just think of it like a $78.90 per day room.
I’m Marriott Bonvoy Platinum / Titanium / Ambassador: Will I get upgraded? Will I get points? Will I get on-property benefits?
Great question and, no, not really. It can help with a possible day of departure late checkout (which can only be requested at the time of departure and is therefore only useful if taking a taxi to the airport and don’t need to know your departure time in advance, but you won’t earn elite nights, points for incidentals, or get any status benefits. This is because a casino booking is separate from their limited Bonvoy partnership.
Even if you can get them to add your Bonvoy number to the reservation (which isn’t easy), it won’t be printed on your folio and odds are extremely low that submitting to Marriott will result in any nights/points being credited (as they should not be since you didn’t book a Marriott Bonvoy rate). When the program was newer (many years ago) this was doable.
They also no longer offer the Welcome Amenity of a beverage (wine split, etc) or snack like we got in 2018.
Free breakfast is not an included benefit. Marriott grants the Atlantis an exemption from the on-property breakfast benefit even if you booked via Marriott directly – so you doubly don’t get it ;-). Suffice it to say, there is no executive lounge.
Note: Only the Coral, Royal, and Cove Towers are Bonvoy-participating parts of Atlantis.
How much will food cost me at Atlantis Bahamas?
The answer is ALL OF YOUR MONEY.
Seriously, it’s really expensive. A breakfast sandwich at Starbucks was about $9. A slice of pizza at the slice joint at the Marina was $7 (even a cheese slice). The buffet in the Royal Tower was around $45 at lunch and $70 at dinner.
Then there are name brand restaurants you’ll recognize from the States. Carmines, Virgils BBQ (closed since COVID but reopening at some point, I am told), Fish by José Andrés, Silan (where the old Todd English restaurant was on the casino floor), and Nobu – to name a few.
But let me still say upfront that if you want to eat at any of these mid-scale and up restaurants, they require reservations and at peak times (which is much of the year) you truly need to book in advance. If you are fussy about times, book weeks in advance.
Thank me later.
There is also a more “local feel” bar/restaurant called Bimini Road in the Marina area that we really like.
Here’s the burger and a slab of Mac and cheese from Bimini Road
At lunch, I think most grab food around the pools, water park etc. or grab a slice of pizza.
However if you have allergies, you should know that none of the concession stands by the pools or water park are allowed to serve you. You’ll be shuffled off to the outdoor restaurant under a big shell that is the only place out there setup to cater to food allergies.
Shake Shack (in the Royal Tower area) is another solid lunch option.
All food is base cost + 12% VAT + 15% auto gratuity. For example, the $7 pizza slice is $8.89 all-in. (Note, these prices are from 2021 and have increased! My 2024 update is not revising all of the menu prices)
When thinking about full sit down meal prices, think about what you’d be paying in a high end NYC restaurant (but for average food) or, perhaps more appropriately, what you’d pay at an island at an exclusive resort in the Maldives. Beers around $10 and drinks around $12-$20. Entrees were all over the map. You could manage a burger or a flatbread for a hair under $20. From there it was + + +.
We were going to have dinner at Virgil’s but switched to lunch after I got a gander at the dinner menu prices (not shown online). You’ll see below why lunch is the move there…
(Again, note that Virgil’s is currently closed but expected to eventually reopen which is why I’ve left this menu here.)
You can see all dining options here.
Breakfast
I recommend Murray’s just downstairs from the Coral entrance next to the pizza place for breakfast. Not amazing, not super cheap, but reliable enough (and you could make a meal of a $3 donut if you really wanted). There’s a buffet in Royal but that is a hike and SO overpriced for mediocre food I’d need it to be free to eat there.
The other option is Starbucks located on the lower level which does have breakfast sandwiches for around $10. Just go early as the line gets quite long.
Pro Tip About Food Just Outside the Atlantis Resort
Just outside the resort, off the Marina, is a Dunkin’ Donuts (with normal prices) and a restaurant called Anthony’s with normal prices – standard fare like chicken and ribs and burgers. We have never eaten at Anthony’s but I hear reasonably good things so it’s probably worth a try.
And while I mention the Dunkin’ offsite, I don’t personally think it’s worth the time involved. And it’s always 1,000 degrees inside that place. But you might want to go anyway, so there you go 🙂
You can also take a ferry for $16 round trip to “town” though I’ve been there before and it’s basically “any cruise port tourist area.” If you really want to be adventurous, you could use TripAdvisor to find a truly local restaurant in Nassau where prices will be cheap, but the cab fare will make up for much of that.
Also, I haven’t done that myself in many years and will add that with the recent gang violence in the “locals” areas of the island, I don’t know that I would now. I did chat with someone that lived there about how I remembered taking cabs all over the island for hole in the wall dining and even she didn’t recommend that for tourists these days, recognizing the shift in safety.
You could head to the Fish Fry for some local food, but even there, when we went in 2021, it certainly didn’t feel overly safe (though we had no actual issues).
Service at the Atlantis Resort
You might be a bit shocked at how bad the service is at the restaurants…. The tip of 15% is automatically added to all bills (including that $7 pizza slice) and across the board, we generally felt the servers were interested in anything but our meals.
In general, expect “standard island” service. This is not the Four Seasons…
However, in 2024 I really want to acknowledge the hotel staff. Whereas in the past they didn’t seem to care much, I definitely felt the majority of employees in the hotel itself (so, not counting concession stands here – just the hotel itself) were invested in a positive guest experience. With so many visits now over almost two decades, I definitely noticed that this time around, even if the Coral is still a decidedly downmarket facility.
The Casino Experience Pass
[NOTE: As of January 2019, the Casino Experience Pass is no longer offered.]
Things evolve. When I started the Merry Go Round, this stay included free slot play and even a free dolphin experience. Now it’s just the room. It’s a shame as the Dolphin Experience is now $225 per person and the free slot play at least got you to the Casino Rewards desk where you could be properly warned / reminded about your 4 hour play commitment.
Electricity in the Bahamas
The outlets in Atlantis are US 110 Volt ones, so no adapters are needed.
Currency in the Bahamas
There is a Bahamian Dollar that is pegged 1 to 1 to the US dollar. Everyone and everywhere at Atlantic accepts and gives change in US dollars. I did note on checkout though that the bill is charged in Bahamian Dollars, so be sure to use a card with no foreign transaction fees like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Chase Sapphire Preferred.
The only time you ever *might* get back a Bahamian dollar as change is if you went somewhere really local off the beaten path, like the Fish Fry.
Weather in the Bahamas
Generally around 70-90 degrees F year round, but in mid-winter it can occasionally be upper 60s, low 70s. I find that the shoulder seasons are generally be fine, but early February, for example, may not be as warm as expected. Summer is HOT.
Taxis to and from Atlantis
From the airport in Nassau (NAS), it’s about a 30-40 minute ride.
The taxi charge is complex and most drivers seem to try to rip you off. The fee should be $40 from NAS to Atlantis for two passengers with one normal bag and one personal item sized bag each. That is $38 for the base fare + $2 for the toll on the bridge to Atlantis. Before entering a taxi, get the info sheet from the attendant that goes over this so you have it for reference. Additional people or bags will add to the fare, as will a large suitcase (add $2). Importantly, reconfirm the price with the taxi driver before getting in and confirm also that their car or van has Taxi license plates. I say to reconfirm so there is no dispute at the end. Basically everyone I talked to acknowledged that taxi drivers love to pad the fares and rip off unsuspecting tourists. A 15% tip is customary.
On the trip back, it should be just $38 as there is no bridge toll on the way back. Additional bags or passengers over 2 will still be extra.
(Again, prices may have increased slightly as these are 2021 prices. This year, with a 2 year old, we opted to pre-book an SUV through Omar at Airport Transfer Bahamas. At $100 plus tip, it wasn’t cheap, but he was reliable. I tried a number of other services that never answered the phone or called me / emailed me back. And while Atlantis does have their own arrangement with a company, you can only use it to book round trip (were heading to Baha Mar after) and it wasn’t any cheaper anyway.
Tipping at Atlantis
When you drink or dine on property, 15% is included on all bills. This is the expected amount. Yes, there is a line for additional tips, however nobody seemed to expect it and given the level of service, I doubt you’ll feel inclined to add more, but of course that is at your discretion. Island-wide, 15% tips are the expectation. Of course, if someone helps with your bag or with beach chairs, etc, a few bucks is always welcome.
You’d tip in US dollars. No need whatsoever to ever get any Bahamian dollars.
Customs in the Bahamas
Bear in mind the Bahamas is not part of the US! It’s an independent country and you will pass through customs on entry. On the way back to the US, you will pre-clear customs in Nassau.
Priority Pass Lounge at Nassau Airport on Departure
There was one. Now, they’ve redone the US-bound terminal quite a bit with PreCheck and pre-arrivals customs clearance which is great – but the lounge is gone. The only lounge is in the other terminal area which you cannot access. So, there’s no lounge whatsoever.
There’s a food court where you should expect to wait 30-45 mins in line for anything (Wendy’s, Quiznos, or Starbucks). Pizza and sushi were a bit shorter lines.
Cell Service and Wi-Fi at Atlantis
If you have T-Mobile like me with their unlimited international roaming, you’ll get signal on their BTC network.
The wifi at Atlantis is much improved from my previous trips. You are allowed 4 devices per room.
Aquaventure
I didn’t forget about Aquaventure – the main waterpark attraction at Atlantis. It’s tons of fun for teenagers and adults alike with various water slides, etc. It’s simply not the focus of this review which is specially related to what you get with the Caesars Diamond complimentary stay. But here’s a fun picture of one of the rides!
Atlantis for Toddlers – Is There a Splash Zone?
Glad you asked! I never would have thought to mention this until I brought my two year old.
There is s splash zone and a pretty good one at that. Now it’s smaller than the kids area of the water park over at Baha Mar, but that’s not the point. It’s still quite good!
Don’t forget to explore Atlantis!
Additional Note:
As of January 2024, those booking this offer are being told:
“If you redeem this complimentary offer you are expected to play to the same level of casino play or greater. If you do not play or show reduced casino play you may be charged for some or all of your upfront complimentaries including rooms, food & beverage, limos, etc. If you need additional clarification, please contact Casino VIP Services or your Player Development Executive.
Customers receiving room reservations at a special casino rate must record 4 hours of rated play over the duration of their stay. If 4 hours of play is not generated, the special casino rate will be changed to the Casino promotional rate. The nightly promotional rates are: The Beach/The Coral $200, The Royal $300 and The Cove/The Reef $450. Additional room taxes and fees apply.”
My understanding is that this is because they have received an unintended number of people from Caesars who aren’t gambling and that isn’t their intent of the offer. I would expect the above to be truly stated and you should be prepared to put in 4 hours at the casino.
I made sure to log 4 hours of play.
Atlantis Casino vs. Baha Mar Casino
Atlantis completely renovated their casino. While not technically larger than before, there are far more tables and slots now. I believe it’s now bigger than Baha Mar.
Previously Atlantis had lower table minimums than Baha Mar, but during our 2024 trip, Atlantis didn’t have a single blackjack table under $25 any night of the trip. Baha Mar did have $15 tables. Previously Baha Mar had the higher minimums. Net net I would say they vary to roughly even on table minimums now.
Note that both casinos say that they “want to see 4-6 hours of play a night at $50 = $100 average bet” to send you their own comps. Crazy in my book but clearly not in the books of other players!
Here are some casino pictures:
Summary
Despite what seems like a lot of dissatisfaction in my post, we had a great time.
We didn’t go out of our way to save every dollar, but we did try to keep costs reasonable.
All in all, though, Atlantis really is a great place to get away from winter weather and this deal did save us considerably. The listed rates during this trip were over $750 a night after tax and before the resort fee. Our 3 day trip realized a savings of over $2,250 via the Caesars offer.
You have the beach, lots of pools, the waterpark, the casino, and the relaxation of an island. Atlantis is beautiful.
And at $79 a night, with the right expectations going in, you’ll have a fantastic time.
Questions?
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Great information! This pretty much matched my experience pretty well. Food is expensive – so pack snacks if you can to supplement. For free play, I believe you have to “cycle” through the entire $100 free play to make it “real play”. and then you can cash out. Jacks or Better has some of the best Video Poker odds for that. Also, they have little competitions throughout the day that are pretty easy to win! You can play it once per week (I think their week resets Sunday or Monday), so I was able to play twice and win an additional $150. Not bad. Also Marriot Status is hit or miss depending on who you get. I’m not sure the official policy, since you’re marked as a “casino” stay, one front desk agent said I wasn’t eligible for benefits – I went down the next day and asked again and they said they’d send up a cheese plate. Couple things to note here, Dave: You wrote that it’s four nights in the Coral (off-peak), it’s actually The Royal. Also, there is a minor catch to the round of golf: No clubs included, and I believe they are $70 to rent. So it makes it a $70 round of golf unless you bring your own.
Thanks Ryan – Updated the golf info with a HT to you. And thanks – I’d mistyped Coral vs/ Royal in a few places and thought I caught them all…. I found the one you spotted and corrected. We kept talking about the Coral when were there since they are connected and it got stuck in my head 🙂
One more thing to note: The Bahamas are completely sovereign from the United Kingdom. They have been independent since 1973.
I’ve been there 3 times in 2 years. Me and my wife are both Diamond so we did 4 and 4 nights back to back. We’ve stayed in the Beach, Garden, and renovated Coral Tower. The Beach Tower is very much run down. It has musty smell and the rooms are whatever. We DID enjoy our balcony though and had that exact same view.
The new Coral Tower rooms are faaaaantastic and they have a large balcony. They were still renovating the 2nd building (the one with the library) when we were there.
The shuttle to the Beach Tower was still operational when we stayed. I’m curious as to why they closed it off. The walk from Beach to Coral really sucks.
For food, we stuck with the burger spot (I heard it used to be Johnny Rockets), Dunkin Donuts, and poolside eateries.
When we brought our kids for the shallow water dolphin experience, they had no problem allowing us to be on the “beach”. I filmed with my Yi Action cam on a stick. Note: they don’t allow filming IN the water by participants.
We went to the comedy club once and it was….ok. The host was better than the other comedians.
Coral Tower has a new pool and although they shut down the pools pretty early, they had kids movies on an outdoor screen at night there. Note: they shut down the pools but you can go back in but you are on your own.
Foods deals can be had at the poolside eateries. Closer to the Cove there are better choices. Also, the delicatessen has some good deals but you have to pay attention to what you’re ordering. The pizza spot next door is ridiculously high. I want to say they have 21″ pizza (huge) but they run about $35.
We ordered delivery from Dominoes and it was actually normal prices.
The food overall is way too high. The Dunkin Donuts just off the reservation is even higher than “normal” and the restaurant next door to it was high enough that we didn’t eat there. We did eat at Fish Fry (Arawack Cay) and they were decent and high depending on the place. Twin Brothers is good but expensive. We did the daring thing and walked back from there.
Transportation should be arranged ahead of time through Atlantis and they bus you in. We forgot to this in time our first time there and ended up paying $60 one way in a Lincoln Town Car. Otherwise, I think it was $30 rt. Big difference.
I think Baha Mar may steal Atlantis thunder soon. It’s muuuuuch closer.
I believe resort fee is waived for diamond members
I was there in May and did the three nights in the beach tower and agree with your assessment of the condition of the building. One food tip I would add is the Double Dragon Chinese restaurant. They deliver and their portions are huge. If your are staying the beach tower they will drive up to the closed road. Drivers only take cash.
NFD: Unfortunately, it definitely is not 🙁 You are thinking about at Caesars Entertainment properties (where it is waived). But at Atlantis, which is not owned by CET, resort fees are not waived.
Kazu: Great tip, thanks for sharing.
Atlantis offers two meal plans for Breakfast and Dinner the nicer more gourmet one runs about $130 per day plus VAT and gratuity
I think it is well worth it if you like to eat at the nicer restaurants (Nobu was not included) but many including Virgils were.
THey have a lesser meal plan for the Pizza and burger places as well I think it ran something like $85 a day plus VAT & Gratuity
They may offer a childs rate for the meal plans we do not have anyone in our family under 25 so it may be good to ask if traveling with younger children.
Thanks for this information! Any thoughts on whether a vegetarian or vegan could survive there? I have to look out for the gf.
A vegetarian, yes. A vegan…. I don’t think I’d advise that.
I wrote a post about my experience too, nice to compare/contrast 🙂 http://www.demflyers.com/2017/01/26/trip-report-total-rewards-atlantis-bahamas-trip/
My biggest tip would be to go to Viola’s for food. Only a block away from the Beach Towers and the food is reasonably priced with large portions. Menu is posted on my blog post.
I called today to make a booking inquiry. I just got status matched to Wyndham Diamond but when does it make most sense to status match to Total Rewards?
THE AGENT ON THE PHONE TOLD ME THAT JANUARY IS NO LONGER CONSIDERED OFF PEAK – IS THIS CORRECT?
Hmm. The website still says January is off peak. You never know but I would try another agent.
It makes the most sense to match Feb 1 as that is the start of the TR program year.
beach tower sucks. Run down and too far from the action. We tried to get room service and were told “no room service in the beach tower.” Atlantis frequently has promotions (for example $300 resort credit with 3 night stay) which you can’t combine with the caesars benefit.
Both this article and the comments are very useful; thank you everyone! Now, I can’t wait to read trip reviews about the Dubai stay. https://www.google.com/search?q=total+rewards+dubai&oq=total+rewards+dubai&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i64.3448j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
What are the room occupancies like? Would a family of 5 (2 adults and kids ages, 4,3,1) be able to fit/be allowed in the base room?
Note the Dubai stay is only for EARNED Diamond status. Matched or gifted status doesn’t count for that.
Just booked my trip for the end of May so I appreciate the info Unfortunately it looks like they did away with the casino experience pass this year, only get the $100 free slot play
Can anyone else confirm this? Was going to Founders Card route and these perks we’re part of my cost offset calculations.
What do you need confirmed? Feel free to join/post on the MilesTalk Facebook group for lots of quick feedback to whatever questions you have.
Sorry…the comment Steve made that the casino experience extras were no longer being included…Dolphin Experience, Golf, Sushi Sampler, couple of free drinks
I have heard that from others as well. Seems to be true.
Daryl, there is now no mention of the casino experience pass here:
https://www.caesars.com/total-rewards/tr-partners/atlantis-paradise-island
Does anyone know if they charge extra for kids? Particularly for the waterpark.
I just booked a Total Rewards Diamond status Atlantis trip. I got my TR Diamond status through a match with Wyndham. When I made my reservation, the terms and conditions state this:
“If you redeem this complimentary offer you are expected to play to the same level of casino play or greater. If you do not play or show reduced casino play you may be charged for some or all of your upfront complimentaries including rooms, food & beverage, limos, etc. If you need additional clarification, please contact Casino VIP Services or your Player Development Executive.
Customers receiving room reservations at a special casino rate must record 4 hours of rated play over the duration of their stay. If 4 hours of play is not generated, the special casino rate will be changed to the Casino promotional rate. The nightly promotional rates are: The Beach/The Coral $200, The Royal $300 and The Cove/The Reef $450. Additional room taxes and fees apply.”
I don’t have much gambling experience at Caesars, so not sure how they will measure this. Any ideas?
Daniel: This does seem to be a new term in 2019. They have indicated that it was always intended to be for actual gamblers. So I would plan to play slots or tables for a combined 4 hours over the course of your stay.
If anyone else has REAL experience from 2019 onwards, please share.
Anyone know if we’re allowed to book this for someone else? I have the package but can’t use it? Can I book it for my parents for example?
No, it has to be in your name.
When do these free nights expire?
[…] – A free four night stay at Atlantis (Also see:Free Atlantis Stay via Caesars Total Rewards Diamond: What To Expect with Room Fees, Food Costs, and…) […]
My Ceasers diamond status expires in Jan 2020, can I make a booking for Feb/March 2020 or should I make bookings prior to my status expriation?
You cannot. You will need to rematch next year to book that. Each year, you can only book until Jan 31 of the following year.
[…] News and notes from around the interweb: Free Atlantis Stay via Caesars Total Rewards Diamond: What To Expect with Room Fees, Food Costs, and… […]
Hi! This is GREAT info! Does anyone know how long the Caesars match (from Wyndham) will last? Is it also the same three months?
Hi Susan – It will last until Jan 1 – the end of the Caesars program year.
Anyone have experience with going with a group of 4 people but only put 2 on the reservation? I’m assuming the “free” room is only for 2 people and they probably charge an astronomical fee for added people. Any wristbands? Are they strict when enforcing this?
I am booked at the baha mar from using Hyatt points but wanted to spend a day at the water park at Atlantis. A day pass is outrageous and would gladly pay $60 something for one night. Can you book just one night on the diamond offer? Even 2 nights would be cheaper than the cost of one pass.
You can book 1 night no problem, but keep in mind the resort fee is $66 per night. Subject to availability. You’ll have to call to see.
Did you ever inquire about paying to upgrade to a different building when you arrived?
@nfd Only for a certain level of Diamond – not the matched based tier.
@J: We did and the answer was no.
[…] Keep in mind that Caesars Rewards, formerly Total Rewards, has a status match going on where you can bring over an Mlife Gold or higher card to get their Diamond status – which waives resorts fees, gives you a $100 Celebration dinner, and access to the 4 free nights at Atlantis in the Bahamas. […]
I am wondering about the $100 Celebration dinner. Is that something that could be used at one of the Atlantis restaurants?
Hi, @Iris, Unfortunately not. Atlantis is not a Caesar’s property and has no affiliation other than a marketing agreement between Caesar’s Rewards and the Atlantis casino. That’s also why you have to pay resort fees here.
Thank you, Dave.
My wife and I were there a couple of weeks ago on my complimentary trip. We are returning in January with the kids to use hers, and this first trip was extremely helpful as we plan our next trip.
Prior to this trip I hadn’t spent a dime in a casino, so this was a big concern for us as well. We asked at Casino Services when we arrived and were given a players card that had our $100 in complimentary slot play. We made sure to ask what was required and were told that we just needed to play for four hours. They track this by your players card. The lady at the desk said that as long as your card is in the machine and you are actively playing, your time is being counted. If you decide to play table games, just hand your card to the dealer. However, the $100 is for free slot play, not table games, so if you decide to play those, you’ll need to put up your own money.
We were given two players cards, one for me and one for my wife. We asked if we played simultaneously, would that eliminate the required playing time quicker? The answer was that we could play at the same time, but her playing would not count towards the four hours.
Like I said before, we are not gamblers, so we slow-played the free $100 and were able to make that last. We found the penny slots with a 25-cent minimum bet to be the lowest amount you could possibly bet. We would wager $2 at a time and spin every 45-60 seconds or so. We had about $20 remaining after about 5 hours of play, so we decided to play the 50-cent minimum bets until our comped money ran out.
I checked today and it’s been 1 1/2 weeks since the trip and I haven’t seen any extra charges on my credit card. I will be sure to update this if that changes.
A couple of tips: Always cash out after winning, even if it’s only something small like 2 cents. Otherwise your winnings get credited towards your bets and you end up playing them. We ended up coming away with a little more than $90.
Also, Take advantage of the free drinks while playing. They are smaller, but it’s definitely better than overpaying for drinks from any of the bars.
Thanks so much for the great info. I just became Diamond today & had been wondering about the Atlantis deal.
I never cared much for the Bahamas to begin with. I was there many ago & found it to be seedy. Growing up in New York, Nassau-Paradise island had a cheap low budget reputation among the islands.
However there are trade offs in life therefore ‘IF’ there were no resort fees, the food quality & price was better, the island was safer to venture away & additional Total reward perks were thrown in..well then it possibly would be worth the time effort and airfare. Sounds like a bad deal. I’d prefer the Dubai deal if the airfare wasn’t $1800+. ea way from San Diego. Thanks again for such a clear detailed article.
@Jerry: Thanks for the comment. It is definitely either a great deal or not such a great deal depending on your viewpoint (and I’d add if you go during their off peak time when you get a room in a much better tower), but I think it’s important to consider that paying under $70 a night for these rooms is a steal when you consider that any other customer there is paying full price PLUS still getting gouged on everything. For us (also in NY) it’s a deal worth doing each year just to get a nice beach vacation for not much more than the flights. It’s hard not to get ripped off for food every day of the week in NYC anyway 😉
Dave, you make complete sense. For me I’m thinking the flight time, changing planes etc. From NY or east coast I can see how it may be worth it 🙂
I asked about using my Marriott status when booking and was told they don’t apply Marriott status to comp offers 🙁
Hi @croc. Thanks for stopping by! You won’t be able to add when booking. You can add at checkin but only in an eligible tower. The beach tower USED TO be included but no more. From the latest Marriott Bonvoy T&Cs: Points or Miles may be earned and Points may be redeemed for stays at The Coral at Atlantis; The Royal at Atlantis; and The Cove at Atlantis. PS: You’ll probably still need to submit the folio later for credit but it will be eligible if in one of these towers.
Awesome! Thanks for the quick response. We’ll be at the Royal, so here’s hoping! I’ll make sure to keep a physical copy of our folio! Those elite nights will be much appreciated.
Update on this: was able to add my number on check in, and got upgraded! (she said “out of the kindness of her heart” but it was also right after she pulled up my Marriott account).
One thing I haven’t been able to find around the internet…do you know how this codes on a credit card? I’m trying to decide if I should use my Marriott card (if it codes as Marriott), or my Citi Prestige (if it codes as a generic hotel). I’m also debating doing food and beverages as room charges or credit card charges (if they ring up as food, that could be 5x on Prestige)
I tried looking back to what I did last December but my Amex statements don’t go back that far. My hunch is that you could put it on the Bonvoy card and have Amex manually credit the difference if it didn’t work automatically. They are able to look it up and see it’s Bonvoy. PS: Yes, that is exactly how my experience went. They gave us a little welcome amenity and a nice view as well as a late checkout. That was the extent of the benefits but better than nothing!
I was there in late Dec 2019 with my wife and one year old. We did the status matches and wound up staying at the Beach tower for 4 nights. We just wanted a quiet family stay in the sun, so we did not mind if the Beach tower was a ten minute walk away from the action. We loved the ocean view, and loved being close to the beach. I did the required 4 hours at the slot machines, got lucky and wound up taking home over $100 from that. I had no problem at check out. We found the resort fee and supplement for automatic tips to be well worth it. It was tremendous value for money. The Atlantis is quite something to see – the grounds are spectacular. Our child enjoyed seeing different fish / sharks / turtles / you name it, and we enjoyed seeing them even more. Walking the grounds was very pleasant, and the staff were extremely friendly and hospitable. We took the ferry into town – a fun ride with a local story teller sharing fun stories on the way – and we thoroughly enjoyed Nassau. We ate at some restos and and a fish fry in town, other times we ate at the resto near Dunkin Donuts. There was a snack bar near the beach pool that had a pretty good deal on a wrap with rice and chicken – not too expensive. The free waterpark access was a great bonus and very fun. All in all, the Atlantic via status match was incredible value for the small amount we payed, and I would go back in a heartbeat. If you are from a northern clime like we are, I highly recommend it.
Very useful info…..my husband and are are thinking of taking advantage of his Caesar Rewards Diamond Status off peak in October for 4 nights comp. We were thinking of taking our 2 boys who would love the water park. I know the resort fees are about $66 a day, but I am wondering if they charge for extra people in the comped room. It is my husband that has the comp and the 3 of us would be staying in the room with him. Do they charge extra if he gets a room with 2 double beds? Thank you for your help!
Hi Veronica, Yes, there would be a charge if they are over 12. The webpage states:
Room is based on double occupancy and is non-transferable. Additional guests over the age of 12 will result in a $50 charge per person per night in The Beach, The Coral, The Royal and The Reef with a maximum room capacity of 4 adults and 1 child under the age of 4.
I would call them to confirm exact costs for your situation. Hope that helps!
Hi Dave, does Atlantis enforce the over 12 rule? We are 2 adults, 2 kids over 12 and 1 kid under 4. If I just go check in and get the 5 wristbands, would they ask for passport or details of everyone staying in the room? Or are the wrist bands different for over 12 and under 12? We have two kids over 12, and so just trying to see if there’s a way to avoid this charge $50×2 per night charge, which will be $400 for 4 nights! If not, then we will plan something else may be in Florida.
I wish I could help you with this but as I haven’t been with kids. I sense they are likely pretty strict. Perhaps someone in our Facebook group knows for certain.
Hi Dave,
Amazing info!
Question: I thought it was a lifetime max of 1 diamond status match and redemption per person. We used my status match and redemption in Jan 2020. Next, we plan to do the same under my wife’s name. If I understood correctly, you seem to be able to get this deal annually? How?
Hey Ran. The key is to make sure you matched your Caesars to Wyndham Diamond! That’s the whole premise of why it’s called a Merry Go Round, so I recommend you read that post again :). Once you are Wyndham Diamond, you can then match that back and forth to Caesars as the program years are off by a month. Just don’t miss a match back!
Each year you rematch you get another Atlantis stay (until, I predict, one day they remove the benefit.)
And yes, if you get your wife in on the action, you each get four nights a year. Take two trips or book 8 nights (4 each back to back).
Dave, thanks for clarifying.
I read through the Merry Go Round post and when I was ready to start, realized I hit a road block given that Wyndham is currently not processing any status matches. How else can we get on the Merry Go Round? Grateful for any insights.
I have Marriot Bonvoy Gold Elite still but don’t see how that can help given the Wyndham “bridge” is broken.
Dave, did you get my other comment a moment ago? Since the Wyndham “bridge” is broken, how do we get on this Merry Go Round? 🙁
Got both comments 🙂
Only onramps now are:
1) Wyndham Business Credit Card (gives Wyndham Diamond status)
2) Founders Card (non-trial) – don’t recommend the company but it’s a valid way in.
3) If you have Milfe Gold or Hyatt Explorist or Globalist to match to Mlife Gold, you can match that in person at Caesars to get on the Merry Go Round.
Hope that helps!
Can anyone give a report on current mask requirements? Actual on the ground reality vs. what the phone reps tell you and what is on the Atlantis website. I know there is a health visa required to travel to the Bahamas even with proof of vaccination. Also, when you play the $100 slot credit, does that time count towards the 4 hour gambling requirement? Thanks!
“Also, when you play the $100 slot credit, does that time count towards the 4 hour gambling requirement?”
Yes it does, as per another report above. Playing 4 hours is playing 4 hours whether or not they give you a credit.
I would love to hear some more data points on this. We did it in 01/20 and would love to do it again in next few months. Especially curious if the 4 hour play is being enforced. I heard the language changed.
Thanks for the updates you did provide though.
Thanks so much for the tips , very informative and helpful! About the casino experience, we did get $100 free play! Maybe you should update the post
Glad it was useful! Yes, I think maybe the language is confusing. The relevant section above says:
_______________
The Casino Experience Pass
[NOTE: As of January 2019, the Casino Experience Pass is no longer offered.]
You will still get $75 – $100 (peak / off-peak) in slot dollars and access to Aquaventure.
________________
You used to get, on top of the slot dollars, an Experience Pass that included a free Dolphin swim, appetizers and drinks at various restaurants, etc. They removed that, but you still get the slot play.
So is it 4 hours a day? Or is it 4 hours during your stay?
Hi Denise. It’s for the whole stay.
Hi Dave- Is it possible to book a room with the Caesar Diamond benefit for a day? We are only in Nassau for a cruise port stop so would only need access for maybe 6-7 hours. Would the minimum gambling time be adjusted? My dad and I would gamble while my husband and son (16) enjoy the waterpark. We will be there at the end of October 2021 and are all vaccinated.
I don’t think that would work too well – you wouldn’t be able to check in until I think 3pm unless you got lucky, although I think you probably don’t need an actual room, so maybe that’s not an issue. The 4 hours of required gambling is per stay though, regardless of length of stay, so I think that would be a problem as they might charge you the fee for that. If you could check in early, then you’d get a room key which would get them access to the waterpark – but I’m not sure how it works if you don’t have the room key yet (you could call and ask that I guess). Worth a shot as two day passes would be a crazy $300!
Long story short: Maybe possible but a bold move 😉
Thanks, Dave. I’ll call tomorrow and I’ll let you know what they say. I appreciate you getting back to me so quickly.
Did you ever get an answer on this? I’m thinking of doing same in October.
Hi Dave,
This article and comment thread are great! Question – does each room occupant get their own pass/wristband to Aquaventure or just the Caesars diamond card holder?
Hi Hank, Everyone in the room will get their own wristband. Just note the limits on room occupancy which I believe is $50 pp over 2 ppl.
Hi Dave,
Quick question. If I qualified as Diamond in 2021, giving me Diamond all of 2022, does that mean I can do a trip prior to 1/31/22 and then do another before 1/31/23?
Thanks!
I believe you should be able to as it’s one time per “member year”
Thanks!
Nope. I just tried booking past 1/31/22 and they said they aren’t yet granted to book beyond that. They emailed me and said to check back in 2 weeks if they get it extended past that.
That’s correct (and the same every year). The Caesars program year ends then. On Feb 1, you will be able to book for the new program year, through Jan 31, 2023.
Hi, thanks for the great article.
Do you need to have and use 15,000 Tier Credits to book this Atlantis trip?
Unless something has changed for the new program year as of Feb 1st, you do NOT need the tier credits for Atlantic.
Great summary on the experience! Thank you for sharing. I got the Wyndham card and matched the diamond level with Caesars and booked at the Coral in June! We are also going to get massages but their website prices are $200+! I see you only spent $100+tax each massage! That’s a great deal. Did you book there or prior to arrival?
Those massages were many years ago 😉 Trust the current stated prices…
Hi Dave, we just booked for January and our room taxes are in included in the comp. If it’s $66/day for a resort fee, how much would the maid gratuities be?
Completely at your discretion.
I just booked 4 nights as a Diamond Member and they said it is $64.90 per day and $5 maid fee for each person per day. Also, there is a $150 hold put on your credit card. I asked about the required 4 hours of play in the casino and they said that was discontinued. Also, you need to cancel 7 days before otherwise you are charged $200. I also get $100 in free slot play.
Any update on this post for 2022?
I’m currently at Atlantis right now. Booked the 4 free nights and picked up the additional 2 nights for $100/night. I’m in the Coral Tower and they gave me a few upgrade to an ocean view on the 10th floor (but I lost the king bed and got two queens instead).
They put a hold on your card for $150/night and let me tell you, you will spend more than that a day. That said, having a blast, girlfriend loves it here and my staff back home in Canada hate me right now.
There is so much to see and do, but for breakfast I’ve been going to Dunkin’ at the little market place across the street. There are 2 liquor stores there as well with much cheaper prices. Haven’t gambled much but that’s simple because the GF doesn’t gamble and I’d feel weird sitting at the tables without her.
Am I able to gift the stay to a family member or does the Daimond member have to actually go on the trip?
You 1,000% have to go yourself.
Hi! I am looking to go in June with my partner and two children. They will be 13 and 15. I appreciate all of the information found here. I have one question that I cannot confirm and was online for over an hour before being disconnected. I am a Caesars diamond member and will be using those rates and staying in the Coral for 4 nights. I understand that I will still be responsible for the $59 plus 10% VAT. Am I also paying $50 per child per night? Please clarify if you can. Thank you!!
Answering because I don’t want to ignore you but I haven’t been there with kids to know for sure. I have heard there are charges for kids though I’m not sure if that kicks in with the first one or after 2. However, when you call VIP services to reserve, they will definitely know 🙂 Also be advised the resort fee has increased since this post. I think it might be $62 or more now!
Did anyone have any trouble getting a hold of someone at the 888 877-7592 number? I have called 4 times over the last week and no one answers and it disconnects at exactly 1 hour. Is there an alternative way of booking this trip?
Can you try 800-752-9711 and report back if that works? There are two different numbers on two Caesars pages now….
I actually got through today after being on hold for 45 minutes and booked my trip for May. I guess this is still the number but definitely have to be persistent to get through. Thanks for responding and making all of this information known. I can confirm that the resort fees are now $64.90 per night at the Diamond level with a $5 maid fee per night. Additionally they collect $150 deposit per night which is refunded as long as no damage is done to the room.
Also was stuck on hold for 1 hour, hung up auto at 1 hour. Did this for 5 hours total on both me and my partner’s phone. Finally someone picked up around noon PST. Total surprise! Number works FYI just have to be patient. Also we started calling at 5AM the first day that was available for booking.
My partner and I are looking to go in May and I am currently a Diamond member. Am I able to go ahead and book for May or do I need to wait until February for the Caesars year to start over? I just know on the website it say’s all travels must be completed by 1/31/2023. Am I able to book now? I do have the Wyndham biz card so February 1st I will be able to match again.
As you correctly infer, you cannot book now past January 31.
Once you have Diamond in the new Caesars year on Feb 1, you can book through next Jan.
Hi – do you know if the rooms have all been renovated at this point in time? We’re going in May 2023
I haven’t been since the last update – but I very much doubt they’ve invested in renovating the lower tier rooms and if they have it would be in the most minor way.
I booked a trip for May 2023, in late January of 2023, while I still had Caesar’s Diamond status. As of February 1, 2023, I was downgraded to Gold. This new status does not change the terms of the deal that I booked while I was still Diamond, or does it?
In theory, you should not have been allowed to book that (per terms). You may want to call to reconfirm your reservation (without saying why) and I suspect that it will be intact.
If I book now with Diamond status and then reach Diamond Plus before my stay, will resort fees be waived?
I’d be interested to know if they’re still enforcing the 4 hours of rated play. Last I saw, it wasn’t in the terms. But they enforced it when we stayed 01/2020. Others said it was hit or miss.
Offers for free Atlantis stays have updated/changed as of Feb 2024
Question on 4 hours play rule. I understand bet size doesn’t matter and slots or board is fine. But, how does it really matter? Just insert your player card in any slot machine and spin for every 5 mins or so with the lowest bet possible and repeat for 4 hours? I’m not a gambler but completed full MGR and wanted to make use of Atlantis stay.
I am not sure how often you need to hit the button to spin before the system sort of logs out out for inactivity. The lowest bet on any game is probably 25 cents and best odds are probably video poker (have the rules with you on your phone).
Play for an hour at the speed you think is reasonable then go to the player’s desk and ask them to verify what they have. That would surely help you figure out what you need to change or not change.
How do they track the 4 hr play? Minimum spend?
You insert your card into a slot or hand it to the dealer. Time played is tracked via the card.
I have Diamond status from Caesar’s. If I book the trip to Atlantis, is it possible to cancel? My wife is having some medical issues, so I dont want to book it, then not be able to cancel if her condition demands. If I can cancel, is there a fee? If so, how much. I’m willing to pay a fee if necessary, and if not “too” crazy.
AFAIK (which could be wrong – confirm when you are booking), it’s a 72 hour cancellation window. You could also ask them what happens if you cancel later.
If you have two adults in your room, can you do two hour each towards the 4 hour total?
There is only one person booking the offer. They have to play 4 hours. Now if you are using your room card, certainly the play would be credited to the person on the reservation provided you aren’t playing at the same time.
Hi Dave,
Thanks for the information. I gambled A LOt during the football season. And the reality is i don’t gamble much anymore, not to the level of the wagers and casino play i was doing. I am currently Diamond Plus, and have no problem logging the 4 hours, but any idea how much i’d be expected to wager? The line that scares me is “match the level of play previously expected” and how that would relate to the complimentary room promotion. Any advice or knowledge here? Thanks for all the info!!
@Ryan – to be clear we are talking about your offer via Caesars, correct? As Diamond Plus you get an even better offer than us lowly Diamonds 😉 You get to stay in the Royal. As far as the 4 hours, there’s no minimum bet. Just 4 hours of play. Hit the 4 hours and you’re in the clear.
This is great info! Thank you. If you don’t mind me asking, how much did you spend (not including gambling) on your trip? Or how much should one bring for a trip for two adults on a 4 night stay? And then also, what about the air fair, is that included?