One of the two Atlantis resorts is located on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, which is connected by bridge to Nassau, capital of the Bahamas. The second is on a man-made island off the coast of Dubai, called The Palm. The Palm is a man-made archipelago of islands shaped to look like a palm tree from the air.
The Paradise Island Atlantis is the largest man-made marine habitat in the world. Atlantis, The Palm made history by the sheer architectural undertaking of such a feat. The History Channel and Discovery Channel television specials about modern world wonders have noted The Palm.
Atlantis, Paradise Island, is best known for The Dig, a sprawling system of tanks and tunnels that recreate the lost city of Atlantis. It is also known for the Leap of Faith water slide, which uses a tube to travel through a large shark tank. Three hotels (the Royal Towers, Coral Towers and the Beach Tower) range from affordable to ultra-luxurious.
Atlantis, The Palm mimics the Paradise Island resort with a water park and pools, but does not have the expansive aquariums.
The Royal Towers at the Bahamian Atlantis charges $25,000 a night for a stay in the Bridge Suite. This made Forbes' list as the world's third most expensive hotel room. Various movies and television shows have used the resort, including "Casino Royale," "Miss Teen USA 2008," "Holiday in the Sun," "Into the Blue" and an episode of the sitcom "Friends."
Passports are now required for U.S. citizens to enter and leave the Caribbean, which includes the Bahamas. The Bahamian is the official currency, but the U.S. dollar is widely accepted, because they have identical values.
Currency exchange is necessary in the United Arab Emirates outside the resort. Dubai also has stricter modesty standards, so swimwear cover-ups are required when lounging or walking around.
